which press to purchase

[dogguy]

I am looking at the dillon 550 b or the 650. I am having trouble making a decision. I know either will do what I need, there is about a hundred dollar difference, which I could use to get some other components.

I shoot a fairly regularly, but not enough that I need to be pumping out thousands of rounds at a time. Is the auto indexing of the 650 really worth it the extra $$$?

I am loading 223, 9mm, and 40 primarily. I also load 380 and 30/30 to a small degree, but not enough that I would get a conversion for either of those two calibers.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[houdini]

dillon 550

[high pockets]

With the 550, you can probably pay for one of those caliber conversions.

[HotGuns]

I'd go with the 550.
It's way cheaper in the long run. Shell plates, conversion kits, everything.

I can do 600+ rounds per hour with the 550 as long as I have several loaded primer tubes.

[Saugus]

I agree with everyone else. I have a Dillon 550b and love it.

[frankmako]

i got two 550's and i have never looked backed. got the first one in 1985. you can make a lot of ammo on a 550. i did look at the 650 once and all most went with it untill i found a used 550 for my second one.

[AZ_Larz_NY]

My Uncle has the 550 and he is happy with it. I read this article and did some other research and then ordered the Hornady since until midnight you get 500 bullets free.

http://www.comrace.ca/cmfiles/dillon...Comparison.pdf

Good luck!

Be safe!

[showmebob]

I would get the 650 simply since you will then have a 5 station press. Very useable feature in the brand I use.

[BobR1]

My first Dillon was a 450. I upgraded to the 550 a few years later. I am now on my second 550. I have a couple shooting buddies who have 650's however.

The 650 is a Great Machine if you are going to set it up to load ONE Shell, such as 9mm, 38 Special, 40 S&W, 45 acp, etc. It is not the best if you are reloading all of them.

The 550 is way more user friendly for swapping Tool Heads and Shell Plates to load something else.

A buddy of mine has a 650 with case feeder set up for 45 acp in his basement. Not sure about the Bullet Feeder. Talking with him I am sure he is producting atleast twice as much ammunition in the same amount of time that I am with my 550.

I do however take my time, and check for a primer on the arm, and check for powder in the case while I am loading.

Bob

[Archie]

I have a 650. I load both handgun and rifle cartridges and the 650 turns out a lot of ammo quite easily. They are very easy to change calibers EXCEPT for switching from large to small primers. (I ended up buying a second machine and leave one set for small primer and the other for large primer.)

If one reloads only handgun ammo the 550 might do. My buddy has a 550 and it seems to take him much longer to do anything than it does me.

Obviously, not everyone agrees.