xl 650 setup

[tommyid1]

Ive been hand loading for 5 or 6 years now and the number of weapons i have and my ammo needs are outdoing my old trusty Rockchucker.
I'm thinking about the XL 650. I expect to be able to load 9mm, 7.62 5.56 mainly on this press. I have a few questions.

1. all of the die sets i own for pistol and rifle are RCBS 7/8x14 dies I'm pretty sure they will work. I see all of the Dillon dies sets use a 3 die set with a decapping/sizing die, a seater die, and a crimping die. do i have to use Dillon dies? i normally don't crimp my rifle loads.

2. primer pocket swager.
ideally i would like to have this machine be able to do everything from start to finish. this includes swaging the primer pockets on military brass when loading rifle. Would i be able to use a station on the 650 or the Hornady to swage the primer pocket? Or should I just Continue to sort my brass and process the military stuff on the side?

3. I will most likely be using the Dillon rapid trim. Ive read the manual but am not completely understanding how its used. would i decap and full length and neck size before i use this or do i trim and size with just the rapid trim die? i might also look into picking up a Giraud to accompany my single stage press.

4. I don't normally crimp my loads and Ive never had any problems before. Is it really all that necessary to use the crimp die?

5. as far as case feeding goes. i will be using the Dillon automatic case feeder for this press. is it advisable to use this case feeder with brass that has lube on it? I normally use imperial sizing die wax but that would probably not be a good idea with this. If anyone does this what lube are you using, the Dillon spray lube stuff with isopropyl and lanolin or whatever?

6. I use an RCBS competition powder measure. will i be able to use this on the xl650 or should i just use the Dillon powder system?

7. I'm trying to work out my stations and everything i will need. a little help would be appreciated here.

1-neck sizing die, 2-trim die, 3-primer swaging, 4-powder die, 5-bullet seating

where in this process would a primer be seated and any changes you all would make?

i have also considered a different toolhead for decapping resizing and trimming but i want to be able to load all 3 calibers and that seems like 2 toolheads for each caliber. not what i want.

[ar15barrels]

1. yes.
2. no, you would need a dillon 1050 to do that.
3. the dillon trimmer acts as a sizing die and also trims, but it does not decap.
You use a separate decapping die.
4. only for blasting ammo in semi autos, lever guns and heavy recoiling handguns.
5. that's personal preference.
I run all my brass dry and apply lube on station 1 before sizing and trimming on station 3. Then I tumble the brass clean before running it through a 1050 to decap (remove media from tumbling), swage, prime, charge, seat and crimp.
6. The dillon powder measure is fine. The RCBS measure would not be automaticly operated.
7. You can't do all that on a single pass through the machine.
Seek out other threads where I explain the "bucket method".

[tommyid1]

gotcha. so i lube, trim, necksize and deprime on the first pass through the machine.

Lube using an rcbs lube die. then i tumble to clean
then i setup another toolhead to prime, drop powder seat and crimp.


so heres my order list
XL 650
Stock #: Dillon XL 650
Price: $529.95
x1: $529.95
5.56/.223

XL 650 Casefeeder - 110 Volt
Stock #: Dillon XL 650 CF
Price: $209.95
x1: $209.95
for small rifle

Dillon Casefeed Plate Large Rifle
Stock #: 21075
Price: $37.95
x1: $37.95

Dillon Strong Mounts XL650-only
Stock #: 22052
Price: $42.95
x1: $42.95

Dillon Primer Flip Tray
Stock #: 13606
Price: $16.95
x1: $16.95

Primer Pickup Tubes, 2 Small, 2 Large
Stock #: 20056
Price: $19.95
x1: $19.95

Dillon's Rapid Trim 1200B Case Trimmer
Stock #: 22080
Price: $219.95
x1: $219.95

Rapid Trim 1200 B Size/Trim Die
Stock #: RT 1200 B Dies
Price: $42.95
x1: $42.95
for 5.56/.223

Rapid Trim 1200 B Size/Trim Die
Stock #: RT 1200 B Dies
Price: $42.95
x1: $42.95
for 7.62/.308

XL 650 Quick Change
Stock #: 22059
Price: $95.95
x1: $95.95

Dillon Powder Die
Stock #: 20064
Price: $8.95
x4: $35.80
for use on the sizing toolheads 2 for each setup?

XL 650 Toolhead
Stock #: 13863
Price: $23.95
x2: $47.90

XL 650 Caliber Conversion Kit
Stock #: XL 650 Caliber C
Price: $73.95
x1: $73.95
for 7.62/308



what else would i have to add besides another toolhead and caliber conversion kit to do 9mm and maybe 45 down the road?

let me know if this all sounds good i think im starting to figure it out.

[anyracoon]

If you really like the RCBS Uniflow Powder measure you can use this.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=802477

I have one on one of my Dillons.

[tommyid1]

Ill look into that. Do you all recomend the super swager or I have heard if people using countersink bits for it. If you see anything else in the list I'm forgetting please chime in.

[anyracoon]

Tried some of the others but Super Swager is the only way to go unless you are loading on a 1050.

[Sunwolf]

+1 on the super swager.

[USN CHIEF]

+2 on the super swager.

You also need to add a plate for small rifle on your order for the case feed.

[ar15barrels]

gotcha. so i lube, trim, necksize and deprime on the first pass through the machine.

Lube using an rcbs lube die. then i tumble to clean
then i setup another toolhead to prime, drop powder seat and crimp.

<snipped for brevity>

what else would i have to add besides another toolhead and caliber conversion kit to do 9mm and maybe 45 down the road?

let me know if this all sounds good i think im starting to figure it out.

It looks like you are only setting up for 223 and 308 with this list.
In that case, you only need 1 extra toolhead for case prep as 1 toolhead comes with the press and 1 comes with the quick change kit.
Forget about neck sizing, what you need is a neck expanding die such as a Lyman M die for each cartridge as the dillon trimmer does all the sizing, but does not neck expand.
This gets installed in station 5 on the case-prep toolhead.
Also forget about extra powder dies for the trimmer setup as the RCBS lube die and lyman M die will be used as support for the sizing/trimming operation.
You need 2 RCBS lube dies, one for 223 and one for 308 and each will get installed in station 1 on the case prep toolhead.

You will want a decapping die to run on the toolheads that prime, charge, seat and crimp to remove the media that gets in the flash holes during case prep.

[ar15barrels]

You also need to add a plate for small rifle on your order for the case feed.

Look at his list very closely and you will note that the casefeeder comes with the small rifle casefeed plate.

[USN CHIEF]

Look at his list very closely and you will note that the casefeeder comes with the small rifle casefeed plate.

10-4, my bad. LOL.

[ar15barrels]

One other really handy thing is the 650 spare parts kit.
Dillon's customer service is awesome, but there will come a time when you lose a spring, pin or clip in the deep dark recesses of your reloading space and you won't want to wait the day or two for the free replacement parts.
The spare parts kit has all those things that you lose or wear out.
When you actually DO lose them, you have them right away.
Then call dillon and they send you replacements to replenish your spare parts kit.

[tommyid1]

It looks like you are only setting up for 223 and 308 with this list.
In that case, you only need 1 extra toolhead for case prep as 1 toolhead comes with the press and 1 comes with the quick change kit.
Forget about neck sizing, what you need is a neck expanding die such as a Lyman M die for each cartridge as the dillon trimmer does all the sizing, but does not neck expand.
This gets installed in station 5 on the case-prep toolhead.
Also forget about extra powder dies for the trimmer setup as the RCBS lube die and lyman M die will be used as support for the sizing/trimming operation.
You need 2 RCBS lube dies, one for 223 and one for 308 and each will get installed in station 1 on the case prep toolhead.

You will want a decapping die to run on the toolheads that prime, charge, seat and crimp to remove the media that gets in the flash holes during case prep.

What I gather from what u are saying is that I use 1 toolhead for caseprep on both 5.56 and 7.62 and swap the dies for each cartridge? An extra toolhead is cheap enough to have around setup with the lube trim and neck expanding die( I have a habit of calling it neck sizing).is that gonna be more trouble than its worth? If I wanted to load 9mm and .45 I would just need the quick change kits and dies for each calliber right? I'm under the impression that 45 uses same shellplate and other stuff as 7.62 and 9mm uses same shellplate as 5.56. I would also need corresponding casefeed equipment. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
Tom

[ar15barrels]

What I gather from what u are saying is that I use 1 toolhead for caseprep on both 5.56 and 7.62 and swap the dies for each cartridge? An extra toolhead is cheap enough to have around setup with the lube trim and neck expanding die( I have a habit of calling it neck sizing).is that gonna be more trouble than its worth? If I wanted to load 9mm and .45 I would just need the quick change kits and dies for each calliber right? I'm under the impression that 45 uses same shellplate and other stuff as 7.62 and 9mm uses same shellplate as 5.56. I would also need corresponding casefeed equipment. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
Tom

No problem to setup another case-prep toolhead so you never have to unscrew dies to swap them out.

For each new cartridge you choose to load on the 650, you need the following pieces:
Proper casefeed plate
Caliber conversion parts: shellplate, buttons, station 1 locator, powder funnel, body bushing that goes under the casefeed arm bushing, casefeed arm bushing and casefeed adapter.
Dies
Toolhead & powder die
Options: powder measure & toolhead stand

In order to load 9mm, you will need the 9mm conversion kit which includes shellplate, buttons, powder funnel and the small casefeed parts that handle the case between the casefeed tube and shellplate.
You will also need the small pistol casefeed plate.

45 shares the shellplate and buttons with 308.
You still need the small casefeed parts, powder funnel and a large pistol casefeed plate.
When you call Dillon later to order the 45 or 9 parts, tell them what you already have so they don't sell you a complete conversion kit and they will get you just what you need.

Another complete quick-change kit per new cartridge is really nice so you can leave the dies all adjusted and the powder measure setup in the toolhead.