12 year old Dillon breaks

[CEDaytonaRydr]

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.

I wasn't suggesting you get one. I mainly have that one so I can deprime while watching TV. I have a Dillon 650 in the garage...

I was just making a point about the superiority of forged aluminum vs. cast.

[stilly]

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.

Wow that looks like painted foam. Good thing they are sending you a replacement. I expected a more solid linear look to the metal...

Are their metal pieces light?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Wow that looks like painted foam. Good thing they are sending you a replacement. I expected a more solid linear look to the metal...

That's typical of how cast aluminum looks. That's why cast pieces have to be physically larger to obtain the same strength as a forged piece.

Are their metal pieces light?

[mark501w]

Get the TIG welder out.

[JamesY]

Get the TIG welder out.

Might cause a spark and ignite all that unburnt powder

[Kodemonkey]

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.

Rock on. I expected that response, just curious if they considered it "commercial volume" and were going to be jerks about it (maybe you didn't tell them that). It looks like a casting defect so I am glad they are standing behind it. It's stories like this that make me feel good about my Dillon purchase.

So, since you load way more than I do I am curious to how long your sizing dies last. Do you use carbide? How many decapping stems have you gone through?

[milotrain]

Would you mind talking a bit about the square deal vs the 550? It sounds like the square deal makes you 9mm faster than the 550. Is that true?

[CalTeacher]

^^I don't necessarily think the SDB is any faster than a 550 if you get your technique down with the 550. The only thing different in the operation of the two presses is that the SDB is auto indexing. With the 550 if you turn the shellplate as you bring your left hand up to station 3 with the bullet then the auto indexing is really no faster. What makes a press fast is a casefeeder+auto indexing like with a 650 or 1050.


To highlander, that is why competitive shooters like to reload with Dillon equipment, eh? They're dependable and if anything goes wrong it is taken care of very quickly. Not knocking any other brand, but Dillon makes some great equipment that is meant for heavy use.

[sargenv]

I finally sent my 650 back to Dillon last year after what I figured was 250,000 rounds loaded and 16 years of use.. they replaced all of the parts I'd expect them to and they replaced the powder measure also.. Sort of hoping I can find time to make it load that many rounds in less time (equals more shooting).. but we'll see.

[the86d]

Glad I got a Dillon, and good to hear they still offer the always-super-warranty on their products.

[HighLander51]

Rock on. I expected that response, just curious if they considered it "commercial volume" and were going to be jerks about it (maybe you didn't tell them that). It looks like a casting defect so I am glad they are standing behind it. It's stories like this that make me feel good about my Dillon purchase.

So, since you load way more than I do I am curious to how long your sizing dies last. Do you use carbide? How many decapping stems have you gone through?

never busted a de-prime pin in the whole time.

[HighLander51]

Would you mind talking a bit about the square deal vs the 550? It sounds like the square deal makes you 9mm faster than the 550. Is that true?

No, not exactly, like Cal Teacher said, it's about rhythm. Like shooting the Steel Challenge, it's the difference between 9mm and .45acp in rhythm. I can load faster on the Square Deal, but only a little bit because it is an auto progressive rather than a manual turn. However, some of my competitive shooting buddies have loaded on a 550 for decades and are faster than me. Doesn't matter because I hate reloading as much as cleaning guns, that's just all prelude to shooting competition... "Are you ready?" "Stand by" beep, ya, that's the part I like.

[HighLander51]

^^


To highlander, that is why competitive shooters like to reload with Dillon equipment, eh? They're dependable and if anything goes wrong it is taken care of very quickly. Not knocking any other brand, but Dillon makes some great equipment that is meant for heavy use.

Yea, if you look at the USPSA/IDPA equipment surveys, Dillon is like 90% of reloading equipment.

[HighLander51]

Get the TIG welder out.

My buddy runs a machine shop and I could have done that, but Dillon replaces the part for free. Still, I saved the broken parts and will repair them in time as a spare. Problem is that I didn't have enough caps for the next match.

[stilly]

Oh yeah. If I see cast vs forged, I go for forged all the time... Dunno where that got into my head, but it has been that way for a LONG time...