Dillon Precision - Which one????

[ar15barrels]

the increased safety of the manual index.

How do you consider manual indexing safer?

[fusionstar]

550 is cheaper to run and change calibers. With a fully loaded 650, your looking at over a grand.
If you somehow forgot to rotate the indexing plate and charge twice AND miss it. Your in a world of hurt. But with full strokes on the 650, chances are slim. I like both. Got a 650 on backorder.

[madjack956]

I use to time my self when I was using my Square Deal, but then I got into rifle calibers and read some benchrest loading manuals when I got my 550, and stopped trying to do everything in record time.

I do it for enjoyment now, and I really milk the whole process. Im more interested in safety and the most accurate rounds, than I am round count.

[morrow]

and the increased safety of the manual index.

This is completely false information. Manual indexing is NOT safer, if anything it's less safe due to the chance of a double charge (pulling the handle again and not indexing it)

There's plenty of good reasons why someone might want a 550, but this is a total made up lie.

[Kurgan]

I've never used a 550 but I've never regretted owning my 650. I load 9mm, 38, 357, 44mag and 45 auto. Looking to start loading rifle calibers next and actually thinking about buying another.

[RandyD]

550 has lower total cost of ownership but lower rounds per hour.
550 are much cheaper and easier to tool up for additional cartridges.
550 are manual index so it is easier to load a squib or a double charge.
I load about 30 cartridges on my 550's.

650 is more expensive and will honestly produce twice as many rounds of ammo per hour when fully setup with a case feeder.
650 are not too hard to change between cartridge setups, but they are more expensive to re-tool than a 550.
650 has an option of a powder check die station that will sound an alarm if you run out of powder or somehow double charge a case.
With the auto index, it is very difficult to double charge a case.
I load about 6 different cartridges on my 650.

My main high volume presses are 1050's though.
They swage primer pockets right on the press.
I have one dedicated to 9mm and another dedicated to 223.
I never have to worry about setting up a machine for a run of ammo the night before a match as these two machines are always ready to walk up to one of them and start pulling the handle...

I agree with ar15barrels.

My first reloader was a cheap single stage reloader. It worked and I learned the basics. Then in 1987, I bought a Dillon 550 and was amazed at the simplicity, speed and quality of the reloads. Then in 1996, I bought a Dillon 650. It is more complicated than the 550, it reloads faster and the quality of the reloads are the same. You won't go wrong with either reloader. One last factor, I could sell either the 550 or the 650 for more than what I paid for them.

[RAP66]

Excellent info gang!!! Thanks for the education. Looks like I cant go wrong with either Dillon press

[finyllw]

I have both. 650 has case feeder, powder checker etc. I use it to load all my pistols rounds, straight cased ammo. It's easy to use, easy to setup and if the stars are lined up, I can crank out several hundred rounds per hour. I usually run out of supplies before I get tired of pulling the handle.

I use the 550 for rifle rounds, necked cases. I load slower on this machine, mainly becasue I want to have a little more precision for the rifle stuff. I recommend either machine. They are fantastic and I will not buy anything else.

Dillons customer service and tech support is off the charts. I find thier dies are way better than anyone elses. I would purchase either one again, but there is no need to, they are that good.

[RAP66]

Dillons customer service and tech support is off the charts. I find thier dies are way better than anyone elses. I would purchase either one again, but there is no need to, they are that good.

That alone is the reason why I've been wanting a Dillon!

I've heard that their support even extends to 2nd, 3rd (and so on) owners!

[CaffeinFeign]

I saved a long time and finally bought a 550 last year. thought a lot about the 650 but after reading a ton of information and looking at the brianenos.com site i took the 550 with every option I wanted. I have never used the 650, but if its anything like the 550..I am sure that it is a wonder to use. I believe you can't go wrong taking the "blue pill"

[kostner]

If you can go with the 650 and you will never have think maybe you made a mistake. Great press and after you get your dies and shell plates you will be set for years. You will still troll the reloading sites to see what the rest of us are doing.
After 20 yrs you will have more than the one press. Enjoy the addiction.

[MIAMIbaseballer]

650... I could never load on a 550 after starting out on a 650.

[alfred1222]

1050 if you ever plan on reloading rifles... Or a hornady LNL

[em9sredbeam]

Depending how much you shoot and how much time and money you have I would say either the 650 or 550. I have a 550 because I load a lot of different calibers and it is less expensive to change calibers on a 550.

[chozenfew805]

As a Noobie to reloading I went with the RL550B because like people already stated, it's easier and cheaper to start! I've reloaded about 3000rds +/- and haven't looked back since.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=624174&page=2