must have and must skip dillon 650 upgrades

[Mayor McRifle]

Here are some ideas: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1348844

[osis32]

thanks for that mayor. some good info there.

[XDJYo]

I've been looking at the roller lever, low mass bearing upgrade and the cam upgrade. I already have the case feeder and will be getting a bullet feeder somewhere down the road. I want to know what's worthwhile to put on there since I haven't put it together yet. I'm curious what you veterans think is worthwhile. I did some googling with mixed results so I'm curious to hear your opinions.

Hi Osis,

East Bay guy over here (Martinez). Just started reloading recently on a 650. I didn't have any instruction aside from the YT videos and the CG threads here and there.

In my own experience, here are the items I would get over the standard Dillon.

Case feeder. HUGE time saver and easy to use and set up. Spendy, but it sure simplifies things and helps to keep your rhythm going. Watch your total height to make sure you can still dump cases in there.

Roller handle. Nice for the ergonomic side of things. However, I've seen a lot of people using the regular ball handle and it didn't seem to bother them too much.

Lighting. This is big for me as my older eyes are 'dim'. The LED lighting kits on eBay are easy to set up and inexpensive. That said, any type of lighting is good whether it's a flashlight stuck in the middle hole (which is what I did for a time) or a table lamp set up next to the press. The last option will take up space on either the press or your bench, so plan wisely so that you have a clutter free area to work.

(ETA): Powder checker thingy. Can be a butt saver. The 650 is pretty fool-proof for powder drops, but there's always that one time...

Live primer and used primer upgrades. One of the better ideas out there. The regular Dillon option doesn't work all that great, especially the live primer chute. The eBay item is quite easy to use and saves the primers from getting all over the floor.

Primer tube feeder. This is the one sucky part of reloading. You have to flip and then pickup each individual primer...It takes so long and unless you do a whole bunch in one sitting (you'd need a bunch of primer tubes), your reloading session keeps getting interrupted. I am looking at the Frankford Arsenal Primer Tube Feeder thingy. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...er-tube-filler
Haven't seen too much on this, but it looks like quite the time saver!

Strong mount. I suppose this all depends on how high your current work bench/stool is. I purposely built my bench to a certain height for reloading, so the press is (pretty much) at an ideal height for me. My stool is a bit too high, but I don't sit so much as lean on the stool.

Right now, I only load 45 ACP. Loaded over 2500 rounds(?) or so. I'm not buying components or other reloading stuff at the moment. Right now it's all about factory ammo (for training classes etc). After 2018, my focus will be getting another toolhead for 9 mm and all of the extras that go along with it. That's a low priority since my wife shoots 45. She does shoot 9 mm, but doesn't shoot it that often.

All the best in your reloading journey.

Happy shooting, reloading and be safe!

[bruce381]

I'm curious should I have one powder measure per caliber? That's kinda what you guys are making it sound like.

NO forget extra powder messure use only one.

BUT get extra tool heads AND powder dies for each caliber.

Then set each caliber on its own head with ADJUSTED powder die.

Then just change calibers and MOVE powder measure as needed only the amount of powder to adjust.

ALSO get the UNITECK spelling? Powder measure micromiter adjustment thing,
works well and when mounted on powder mesure allows fast adjustment per whatever powder you use.

That's it.

[The Shootist]

Subscribed for some good tips and info.....I'm setting my 650 up and look forward to hearing what you all have done to dial it in.

[osis32]

thanks for you're heads up xdjy. I didn't even think about the primers but I do want to be able to pump rounds out since my free time is extremely limited. I'm still going to pick up ample primer tubes. I have the problem of trying to get everything at once to save on shipping.

[XDJYo]

thanks for you're heads up xdjy. I didn't even think about the primers but I do want to be able to pump rounds out since my free time is extremely limited. I'm still going to pick up ample primer tubes. I have the problem of trying to get everything at once to save on shipping.

No problems. I enjoy reloading, but the primer picking up thing is the only part I hate.

I've seen people who have multiple primer tubes pre-filled and hanging on a hanger, so that's convenient. I was kinda wondering if there's any downside to laying a full primer tube on it's side (it's what I do at the moment). Can the primers flip over in the tube leading to upside down primers in the round? (I've had 1 so far).

[osis32]

so Bruce I'm trying to understand your suggestion. you advocate getting just the powder drop die and switch over the powder hopper correct? That's how I'm interpreting it. I'm still learning the nomenclature so I apologize if I'm using the wrong words.

Xd I don't think I'm going to enjoy reloading per se but I am going to enjoy flipping Gavin the bird. saving money is nice too though not gonna lie. although I've already dropped line 2k on equipment already and haven't bought a single component....

[XDJYo]

so Bruce I'm trying to understand your suggestion. you advocate getting just the powder drop die and switch over the powder hopper correct? That's how I'm interpreting it. I'm still learning the nomenclature so I apologize if I'm using the wrong words.

Xd I don't think I'm going to enjoy reloading per se but I am going to enjoy flipping Gavin the bird. saving money is nice too though not gonna lie. although I've already dropped line 2k on equipment already and haven't bought a single component....

I kind of read Bruce's post the same way you did, but it doesn't really make sense. I am not sure I want to keep monkeying around with the powder measure each time I change calibers, not to mention making sure I change the case expander thingy.

Reloading is nice. It's a nice little side hobby. I started due to being a cheap skate. I bought all of my stuff before all of this craziness with the ammo laws came into being, but while the ammo crisis after Sandy Hook was still fresh in mind. Ammo was tough to come by and expensive! $50-$60/100 for 45 ACP! Yikes!!! Now, I reload for about $0.18/round for 45 ACP. I'm not sure how much better I could do at the moment. But, my components that I have on hand will soon run out. That will be my next purchase starting next year.

Some of the other side things associated with reloading is the tumbling. I wet tumble, so finding the right mix of Dawn/Lemishine/Pins, time in the tumbler etc is nice. Finding the right process with the best outcome that you're willing to live with.

Then, there's finding the right recipe for your reloads. What bullet, what powder, what type of bullet etc etc etc. Then, testing it out in your guns. When you come across a nice recipe, you tend to stick with it.

After that is the hunt! Hunting for components at the best prices and combining shipping to avoid the hazmat fees or getting in on group buys etc. Check out Active Junky for discounts at Cabela's etc. Same with Ebates. You get rebates on stuff bought thru there and you get a little cash back on them.

One thing I did when I first started was just bite the bullet and buy the components no matter what the price was or where. The first brick of primers was I think $40(!) at a LGS. I paid $30 for a pound of Bullseye from a Calgunner up in Petaluma. It was convenient since the wife and I were up in the wine country anyways. The bullets were a pretty decent price. Just get up and get some experience under your belt. It's pretty intimidating at first cuz you think you're going to blow your house up, but as long as you're methodical and follow everything etc, you'll be fine.

Also, Dillon's Customer Service is fantastic. Once you set up your Dillon and if you run into any issues, you can call their CS line and they will help you out. Same with parts etc.

You'll like it as a hobby cuz it's like kinda almost going to the range, but not as loud.

[osis32]

I think for s and he's I'm gonna pick up this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013XHKL5K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502077005&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=hit+factor+ultimate&dpPl=1&dpID=61cJixXYdXL&ref=plSrch

can't hurt right? that and the primer catch and lights (plus all the other stuff mentioned in the op) I think I'll be good just to start. God this was an expensive venture...

[bruce381]

its easy on the tool head setup and lock down the all dies AND adjust the powder DIE to expand correctly etc. When done laoding say 38 and going to say 9mm take of tool head and powder mseesure and install other tool head with pre adjusted dies and powder Die, put on powder messure and that's it.
Simple.

Do this for every caliber you have.

When set like this the powder measure can be moved from head to head with the only adjustment being to change the amount of whatever powder you are using. no other adjustments need be done.

The Uniteck micrometer thing REPLACES the Dillion powder measure "bolt" that adjusts the amount of powder thrown.

It is a micrometer type tool and if you write down what setting gives what powder amount it is easy to go back to that setting compared to the Dillion "bolt" that has no markings on it.

PM me if you want me to walk you along have fun

[bruce381]

be clear when you have set the powder die to exspand the cases as much as you want and lock it down it will NOT require any re adjustment unless you want to change the case belling.

The powder measure will mount back on a "set" powder die and work with out any adjustment at all other than any powder charge wts you may want to change.

[osis32]

are you referring to this Bruce?

http://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1231

[bruce381]

yeah that's it read about it and you will see it give very accurate repeatable setting just write down fro future use.

I load 7-8 calibers and have only 1 measure with the uniteck thing on it.

[XDJYo]

are you referring to this Bruce?

http://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1231

WHOA!!!!

I have not seen THAT thing before!!! So, if I understand it correctly, you dial in the powder weight (i.e. 4.7 grains..) and BOOM, you get 4.7 grains??? So the dial thingy works like a torque wrench?

Now THATS cool!

That just got bumped up to a 'Gotta have' status!!!