complete noob to reloading...why not dillon 1050?

[joelogic]

Reloading saves money because you reload not cause you load. If you are going to load 8000 rounds of 9mm, thats a lot of money tied up.

[Spyduh]

Reloading saves money because you reload not cause you load. If you are going to load 8000 rounds of 9mm, thats a lot of money tied up.

Exactly!


Unless you shoot like 2k+ of 9mm a month. Then yes you'll save money not buying factory. But if you plan to shoot 500 rounds of 9mm a month and store the rest. It's a lot of cash tied up into one caliber. Especially if you want to load multiple calibers and have components on hand for each one.

[docrice]

There's another angle to reloading: learning the intricacies of ammunition construction and their variances. I'm just starting to reload, but I went straight to a XL 650 because, like you, prefer to shoot rather than reload. However, for me the understanding of cartridge construction process is an important step in gaining knowledge of firearms use in general.

[freakshow10mm]

The 1050 loads just as fast as the 650 with a case feeder, about 800-1000rds per hour.

With the 1050 you gain a thousand dollars in price, a pocket swaging station (to remove military crimp and uniform pockets), an extra station for powder check die or bullet feeder, but only get a one year warranty. Your conversions are twice as expensive and take a lot longer. Dillon has a stretch payment; 1/3 when it ships, then another 30 days later and final payment 30 days after that.

The 650 is just as fast as the 1050 but can load more cartridges than the 1050, is $1000 less, has much cheaper caliber change costs, and retains the lifetime warranty.

The 550 is a manual index that can load 500/hr, is $100 cheaper than the 650, cheaper changeover costs, and it only takes 5 minutes to change it out.

[Mikeb]

There's another angle to reloading: learning the intricacies of ammunition construction and their variances. I'm just starting to reload, but I went straight to a XL 650 because, like you, prefer to shoot rather than reload. However, for me the understanding of cartridge construction process is an important step in gaining knowledge of firearms use in general.

Give that man a gold star. It is a wonderful process for those inclined. For myself I have to make sure I'm in the right state of mind. Focused and without distractions are the first requirements. If you have the brass you save some money, but not all brass likes to be reloaded forever. So brass management becomes an issue (in some cases).
You said you're familiar with the process...
take care
Mike

[cornflake]

Have you considered other brand? IMHO, Any of Dillon reloaders are priced higher then its worth. Both in initial investment and caliber conversion.

-

[bruce381]

The 1050 loads just as fast as the 650 with a case feeder, about 800-1000rds per hour.

With the 1050 you gain a thousand dollars in price, a pocket swaging station (to remove military crimp and uniform pockets), an extra station for powder check die or bullet feeder, but only get a one year warranty. Your conversions are twice as expensive and take a lot longer. Dillon has a stretch payment; 1/3 when it ships, then another 30 days later and final payment 30 days after that.

The 650 is just as fast as the 1050 but can load more cartridges than the 1050, is $1000 less, has much cheaper caliber change costs, and retains the lifetime warranty.

The 550 is a manual index that can load 500/hr, is $100 cheaper than the 650, cheaper changeover costs, and it only takes 5 minutes to change it out.

I agree 100% but I would start with a 650

[Spyduh]

I agree 100% but I would start with a 650

I also agree that Dillon stuff is priced high.

But with the transferable NO BS warranty will last many lifetimes. In 30-40 years, I bet my grand kids will still be using my press and get all parts warrantied for free.

To add to that, there is something no other press company has: The Brian Enos forums http://www.brianenos.com/forums/ forum. That in itself is very valuable to have a community that can help with reloading. That is why we are all on Calguns is it not? To belong to a community that believes in firearm ownership for California residents.

I'm not bias against other presses as they all will work but with different levels of ease and functionality. I started off with a Lee 4 Turret and used a Lee Loadmaster. They all worked but every press has it's own little quirks. The best support and easiest to get going and change calibers was by far my 650. The Lee Loadmaster was horrible in comparison and an expensive mistake trying to go cheap.

It was an expensive investment but how I see it is. If you're going to buy something. Buy something that's quality and will last a long time. That's how you get your best bang for your buck. If you buy a low quality product you will have to replace it over and over. I.E. buying a $200 MAACO paint job that will last 2 years max or a quality auto shop paint job for $2000 that will last the lifetime of the car.

There will always be people who buy the lower end stuff and just replacing it over and over. Everyone does their own thing and everyone's an adult that can make their own financial decisions that's best for them.

[cornflake]

But with the transferable NO BS warranty will last many lifetimes. In 30-40 years, I bet my grand kids will still be using my press and get all parts warrantied for free.

IMHO, with any luck, reloading technology like Dillion 650 would probably be available for entry level price in 10 years. Your grand kids will either be shoting ray gun or if conventional firearm are still in use, their top-of-line reloader would be fully automatic. So, buying a Dillion for your its lifetime warranty is probably not a smart move.

Oh, almost forgot, if your grand kids still in live in CA by then, they probably wouldn't allow to have gun altogether.

-

[freakshow10mm]

Have you considered other brand? IMHO, Any of Dillon reloaders are priced higher then its worth. Both in initial investment and caliber conversion.

-

For volume, the only other press that compares is the LNL AP. The Lee progressives are a joke. The RCBS isn't as refined as the others. The LNL AP has Dillon 650 features for a Dillon 550 price. If you want the best value that's probably your better choice.

[aethyr]

How well does the case feeder work on the LnL?

One of the reasons I want to go dillon are the safety features. There are threads of primer accidents where the dillon's safety features protected the reloader from injury.

[cornflake]

Got a link to the Dillion's primer safety features info?? I wasn't aware any special was done to Dillon's primer feeding assembly.

As for the case feeder, if you ever see both unit work, they are pretty much the same.

-

[freakshow10mm]

The case feeder of both the Horndy and Dillon operate on the same design principles. I don't think there is much difference and it's rumored both of theirs is made by the same subcontractor.

[freonr22]

I used my LNL yesterday as a single stage w/ case feeder to deprime and size so I could remove the lc crimp on the .223. It really was a pleasure. the only issue I had was my palm is getting sore from pulling the handle 2000 times.

[Spyduh]

I used my LNL yesterday as a single stage w/ case feeder to deprime and size so I could remove the lc crimp on the .223. It really was a pleasure. the only issue I had was my palm is getting sore from pulling the handle 2000 times.

That's what us 650 owners do for rifle calibers. We have 2 tool heads setup.
Edit: *some 650 owners do*. This is the most efficient way. However some are strapped for cash and go with the 1 toolhead method and remove that sizing die in and out.


Toolhead 1 does the sizing/depriming
Toolhead 2 does the reloading