I finally spent the dough and bought a Dillon - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

sturmruger · 10-19-2006, 02:50 PM

After meaning to start reloading for years I finally bit the bullet and bought a reloading press. I went round and round about what press to buy and finally settled on a Dillon 550B. I have so far got all of the dies mostly setup and checked to make sure it seats bullets and primers. I am now waiting for my scale to arrive so that I can get my powder measures dialed in. Luckily I only need to load two calibers right now but it still cost me close to $650 for everything and that doesn't inlcude any components.

After doing the math it looks like I am going to be able to load .40 for around $85 per thousand not counting my time. That is with Winchester primers and Master Blaster 145 gr bullets and HS-6 powder. I have the kit to load 9mm but don't plan to load 9 for a while.

griz · 10-19-2006, 02:57 PM

Quote:

After doing the math it looks like I am going to be able to load .40 for around $85 per thousand not counting my time.

That's assuming you're not counting the cost of brass as well?

ichy_trigger · 10-19-2006, 03:04 PM

Dont worry about the cost, it will more than pay for itself and you will soon learn that you will be shooting a whole lot more! Congrats...

**DanTheEldest** · 10-19-2006, 03:05 PM

You'll make your money back in no time. Dillon makes a great product, and their "genuine no b.s. lifetime warranty" can't be beat. Congrats on a nice purchase.

sturmruger · 10-19-2006, 05:34 PM

Since most of my shooting is practice I should be able to get by with not buying all that much brass. Plus I have been picking up brass for year so it will take me a while to deplete my stock.

WyoXD · 10-26-2006, 06:44 PM

Congrats on the new Dillon--you'll love it. But, if you're like a lot of us reloading will never save you money (sure I tell my wife that it does). You'll just end up shooting more, buying more reloading gadgets, maybe even more guns so you can reload more, and then you'll shoot even more!

**Old School** · 10-26-2006, 06:50 PM

Considering that much shooters are lazy, you should never have to buy brass.

Congrats on your new Press!

dogjaw · 10-29-2006, 05:01 AM

I've had a 550B for around 20 years now, and have not had a single repair. The only real issue with the powder charge is you need to pay attention to the little white square that sits in the slot on the side of the powder bar to actuate it. Make sure the allen head cap screw doesn't come loose, as the arm with the white plastic block will slip out of the bar and you won't be throwing any powder. I've gotten into the habit of darting my eyes around when pulling the handle, scanning everything to ensure all is well.

The actual cost of brass when figured on a cost vs brass life basis is so low, I don't even think about it anymore. I'll bet I've reloaded brass of various calibers of pistol and rifle 20 times. Just use name brand stuff like Winchester, RP, etc. You pay a little more if you buy it, but it lasts a lot longer.

You've bought a great press. Enjoy it.

R/T Performance · 11-01-2006, 08:42 AM

About time

Ps I had horrible luck with master blaster.(Tumblers +Molly build up)
And have switched to percision molys(Wich is what I was shooting at the Sectional)I think they may even be a little cheaper

http://www.precisionbullets.com/
If you need brass the best deal I found very clean and cheap even with shipping is cps5700@yahoo.com (He had a booth at MI sectional)

Apdl · 11-01-2006, 09:28 AM

how about some pics of your set up!

10-19-2006, 02:50 PM	#1
sturmruger XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: River Falls, WI Posts: 665	I finally spent the dough and bought a Dillon After meaning to start reloading for years I finally bit the bullet and bought a reloading press. I went round and round about what press to buy and finally settled on a Dillon 550B. I have so far got all of the dies mostly setup and checked to make sure it seats bullets and primers. I am now waiting for my scale to arrive so that I can get my powder measures dialed in. Luckily I only need to load two calibers right now but it still cost me close to $650 for everything and that doesn't inlcude any components. After doing the math it looks like I am going to be able to load .40 for around $85 per thousand not counting my time. That is with Winchester primers and Master Blaster 145 gr bullets and HS-6 powder. I have the kit to load 9mm but don't plan to load 9 for a while. __________________ XD Aficionado pics of my guns

10-19-2006, 03:04 PM	#3
ichy_trigger XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 7,525	Dont worry about the cost, it will more than pay for itself and you will soon learn that you will be shooting a whole lot more! Congrats... __________________ "The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." http://militarysignatures.com/signatures/member2645.png

10-19-2006, 03:05 PM	#4
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,374	You'll make your money back in no time. Dillon makes a great product, and their "genuine no b.s. lifetime warranty" can't be beat. Congrats on a nice purchase. __________________ To make mass murder palatable to the public, one must first strip the victims of their inherent humanity. First were the native Americans ("savages"), then the black slaves (only "partly human"), then the Jews and gypsies in Hitler's Europe ("parasites on society"), and now America's unborn (also "not fully human"). Save the Americans--end abortion now. Insights and documentation on our nation's Christian heritage: www.WallBuilders.com

10-19-2006, 05:34 PM	#5
sturmruger XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: River Falls, WI Posts: 665	Since most of my shooting is practice I should be able to get by with not buying all that much brass. Plus I have been picking up brass for year so it will take me a while to deplete my stock. __________________ XD Aficionado pics of my guns

10-26-2006, 06:50 PM	#7
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,629	Considering that much shooters are lazy, you should never have to buy brass. Congrats on your new Press! __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

10-26-2006, 06:44 PM	#6
WyoXD XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Laramie, Wy Posts: 265	Congrats on the new Dillon--you'll love it. But, if you're like a lot of us reloading will never save you money (sure I tell my wife that it does). You'll just end up shooting more, buying more reloading gadgets, maybe even more guns so you can reload more, and then you'll shoot even more!

10-29-2006, 05:01 AM	#8
dogjaw XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 56	I've had a 550B for around 20 years now, and have not had a single repair. The only real issue with the powder charge is you need to pay attention to the little white square that sits in the slot on the side of the powder bar to actuate it. Make sure the allen head cap screw doesn't come loose, as the arm with the white plastic block will slip out of the bar and you won't be throwing any powder. I've gotten into the habit of darting my eyes around when pulling the handle, scanning everything to ensure all is well. The actual cost of brass when figured on a cost vs brass life basis is so low, I don't even think about it anymore. I'll bet I've reloaded brass of various calibers of pistol and rifle 20 times. Just use name brand stuff like Winchester, RP, etc. You pay a little more if you buy it, but it lasts a lot longer. You've bought a great press. Enjoy it.

11-01-2006, 08:42 AM	#9
R/T Performance XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saranac Mi Posts: 3,491	About time Ps I had horrible luck with master blaster.(Tumblers +Molly build up) And have switched to percision molys(Wich is what I was shooting at the Sectional)I think they may even be a little cheaper http://www.precisionbullets.com/ If you need brass the best deal I found very clean and cheap even with shipping is cps5700@yahoo.com (He had a booth at MI sectional) __________________ XD-9 Tacticle Tru-glow tfo's 3# Canyoncreek trigger Dillon Rl550 1911 Springfield Champion loaded 45 acp Kahr p40 Watch me shoot http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...32660329653237

11-01-2006, 09:28 AM	#10
Apdl XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Burnsville, MN Posts: 2,354	how about some pics of your set up! __________________ "He took off running, and we caught him, and he just kept resisting. So we just kept whipping his ass." -HulkXD "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -Albert Einstein If you are not part of the solution you are part of the precipitate Springfield XD-9 TOTAL COUNT 8206 Daily Carry Springfield 1911 Loaded Target 9mm Walther P22... needs bigger mag Ruger 10/22 Carbine Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308 Win EBR Build in progress

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode