Question.. Dillon 550b or XL650?

[freonr22]

The bushings are separate use any die once adjusted 1/8 turn by hand and die is out change dies in 1 minute shell plate 1 minute other stuff 3-4 minutes google you tube videos bushings 2-3 $ each see above costing

[joelogic]

XL650 w/ casefeeder.
station 1: Deprime
station 3: size and trim
station 5: expand neck

Swage on a super swager while watching a movie.

polish and set aside.

Primer pockets get cleaned when I tumble the lube off.
I would say the super swager uniforms the pockets.
I dont debur the flash hole.

For just processing I can get pretty close to dillon's rating of 800 cases/hr.

[Fyathyrio]

Does the Hornady presses let you use any die as long as you use their lock n load bushings? Does the press come with these bushings?

The press comes with 5 bushings, add'l ones are pretty cheap as singles, 3 packs, or 10 packs. The bushings fit any die with standard threads. (7/8 x 14tpi I believe?)

[CSACANNONEER]

XL650 w/ casefeeder.
station 1: Deprime
station 3: size and trim
station 5: expand neck

Swage on a super swager while watching a movie.

polish and set aside.

Primer pockets get cleaned when I tumble the lube off.
I would say the super swager uniforms the pockets.
I dont debur the flash hole.

For just processing I can get pretty close to dillon's rating of 800 cases/hr.

What are you using to expand the neck? Obviously you removed the expander ball from the decapping rod. Are you using an expanderiron? I just started using one for 50s and I like it a lot.

The super swager does not uniform the depth of the primer pockets.

[joelogic]

To expand the neck I use a carbide sizing die with the carbide ball and the decapping broken off.

How does the primer depth affect the load?

[Ugly Dwarf]

I too usually end up in the minority when I defend my 550. I like it. I'm happy with it. I would buy it again.

I concur with Joe Logic's summation of why you would buy one over the other. I load about 8-10 different calibers, and I never load more than 500-1000 between tooling changes (usually more like 200-300).

Based on what you've stated your loading preferences would be (reloading experience + loading 2 calibers + loading >1000 per tooling swap), I would get the 650 with the case feeder and not look back.

One thing I haven't seen addressed in this thread is your choice of the .223 carbide die set. Can you elaborate on why you plan to get that? As I understand it, that die set is aimed at people loading commercial quantities. Perhaps you knew this already, but you should know that unlike with carbide pistol dies, you will still need to lube your .223 cases using carbide rifle dies.

Good luck with your choices.

Dwarf

[Antihero47]

I had seen that. I can drop those prices by $50 bucks and just get the regular dies. Since I have to lube anyways.

[ar15barrels]

Seems like the consensus is:
high volume + low # of calibers = 650.
low volume + high # of caliber = 550.

That's a great way to put it.

[joelogic]

A compliment from Randall. I must be moving up in the world.

[ar15barrels]

A compliment from Randall. I must be moving up in the world.

I have to add:
high volume + 1 caliber = 1050.

[grammaton76]

I wrote this a while back... the 550's cheaper to get conversions for and has a LOT more conversions available.

650 conversions: http://gunwiki.net/apps/calconversio...hoose+Machines

550 conversions: http://gunwiki.net/apps/calconversio...hoose+Machines

That having been said, I love my 650 and wouldn't trade it for a 550.

[ar15barrels]

People that own a 550 think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
People that own a 650 know that it slices AND dices.
People that own a 1050 can bake the loaf before they slice and dice it.

[Antihero47]

I really appreciate all the help and the ongoing discussion on the matter. I knew I may have created a boo boo by posting a semi 'vs' thread but it seemed to come out OK.

In the beginning when I was loading for precision 30/06 and 308win for the 100 and 200 yard ranges I was having a ton of fun and had a lot of time on the weekdays and weekends to load single stage. Reloading was a hobby that I enjoyed doing and being into every detail really interested me as a new reloader and tinkerer. However with my job becoming more demanding of my time the free time has really shrunk considerably. Couple that with the fact that in essence I was really just wasting money by shooting those calibers at paper in the 100-200 yard range ninety percent of the time. I took it to Angeles and stretched it out to 600 and that was fun, but really nothing I don’t think a good dialed 223 load could not do.

I find myself migrating from the urges of wanting to go out and shoot stuff from long distances with big bullets and spending the dime for the frequent powder , bullets, and primer buys which cost a lot more for a lot less… to tactical carbine/pistol and medium range shooting with cheaper and more plentiful ammo. Hence… reloading for 2 caliber and buying .22’s and buying the right equipment to do it quickly.

Hell… I’m 21 and have a lot more guns on the list, I’m sure I’ll get back to the long range stuff sooner or later and purchase the appropriate barrel length and caliber the second time around.

[GrizzAwoken]

I'm also dealing with the same "question" of getting a 550b vs. a 650. The difference is money between the two is currently not a factor (though the cost of the conversion kits IS one based on value).

I am looking to buy this to have long term and to set something up that I'll have basically for the res to my life and at least this point don't want to be having to buy a different press.

So to simply things, I am looking to reload 5-6 calibers to begin with and then as time goes along and I acquire more "toys" to expand on that. Am I better off getting a 550 or 650? Also to get a 650 with multiple conversion kits, what kind of additional cost am I looking at?

Thanks everyone,

-Grizz

[ar15barrels]

I am looking to buy this to have long term and to set something up that I'll have basically for the res to my life and at least this point don't want to be having to buy a different press.

There's no question then, get the 650.

What you really need to do is go try someone else's 550 and 650 and decide after you use them.

If the cost of conversions is really a concern, I recommend getting BOTH a 550 for the low volume rounds and a 650 for the high volume rounds.
I have about twenty 550 conversions, but only about six conversions for my 650's.