12 year old Dillon breaks

[HighLander51]

Disappointment! My 12 year old Square Deal broke the crank arm at roughly 220,000 rounds. I thought it would go at least 500,000 rounds, like my Glocks. And with only 168 rounds for Saturdays USPSA match, not enough to run 6 stages. But the new part will be here on Friday, so I will catch up in time. Lesson learned: load at least 1-2 weeks ahead and order 9mm caliber conversion and dies for my old 550 as a backup.

[Frozenguy]

Ouch..

Do you press like you're mad at the brass? haha.. that's crazy. Love putting equipment to work.

[Kodemonkey]

What did Dillon say? Are they replacing it?

[SWIFT50]

WOW 220,000 rds!

[HighLander51]

What did Dillon say? Are they replacing it?

Yes, of course, all Dillon presses are lifetime warrantied, except the 1050, which is commercial. I should be up and running Friday night, in time to crank out another 100 rounds for the USPSA match on Saturday.

[HighLander51]

Ouch..

Do you press like you're mad at the brass? haha.. that's crazy. Love putting equipment to work.

I load standing up, so yes, you can exert a greater amount of force than sitting down with less effort.

I knew it was pitching out on the last few rounds, didn't feel right...

[Dutch3]

Interesting looking casting. There seem to be a lot of inclusions and voids.

Maybe it's just the lighting.

[HighLander51]

Interesting looking casting. There seem to be a lot of inclusions and voids.

Maybe it's just the lighting.

No, I agree, looks like a metallurgical issue, it broke the left swing arm 3 years ago, and looked like the same failure. Especially the large void in the lower right of the crank arm which matches the lower left of the stud. Doesn't matter, replacement parts are free.

[barrage]

I wonder what the percentage of popular reloading presses are cast this way? I don't mean to **** talk your press, but that looks like some pretty piss poor metallurgy.

[HighLander51]

I wonder what the percentage of popular reloading presses are cast this way? I don't mean to **** talk your press, but that looks like some pretty piss poor metallurgy.

Yea,and it only lasted for 220,00 rounds

[barrage]

Yea,and it only lasted for 220,00 rounds

Which is awesome, but it doesn't change the fact that that casting looks like ***.

Maybe it doesn't matter. I think I could live with my press hitting 220k before breaking even if it was made out duct tape and bubblegum.

Any busted knuckles?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

This is why forged is ALWAYS better than cast.

If it makes you feel better, I snapped a Lyman hand press in my hand once. The Lee hand press I bought to replace it is half the weight, and twice as strong.

[HighLander51]

Which is awesome, but it doesn't change the fact that that casting looks like ***.

Maybe it doesn't matter. I think I could live with my press hitting 220k before breaking even if it was made out duct tape and bubblegum.

Any busted knuckles?

No busted knuckles, it just didn't feel right. Last few rounds were too long.

[HighLander51]

This is why forged is ALWAYS better than cast.

If it makes you feel better, I snapped a Lyman hand press in my hand once. The Lee hand press I bought to replace it is half the weight, and twice as strong.

I can't load 20,000 rounds a year on a hand press, that would leave no time for shooting. That's why you run a progressive, to crank 400-1,500 rounds per hour, depending on the model.

[gmbat]

Dillon received my XL650 for a refurbish on the 20th and it will arrive at my door this Friday, Jan. 31. Bought it in 1992. Can't wait to see the fixes and updates. They stand behind their products, as you have attested to. Good luck on your shoot.