Dillon 650 press

[BonoVox]

One of these days I might just start. I have been saving all my 45ACP brass just in case.

[Bombard]

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

Yes this is true. Give all your brass to me!!!!

Actually I have no clue. Though I suspect that is BS.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

Mostly BS. While it MIGHT TECHNICALLY be accurate, that's what the resizing die is for. it brings the brass back to the correct size.



What you DO NOT want to reload is the aluminum casings like CCI Blazer.

[45 ACP]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

There is a lot of conjecture (some of it quite contentious) about this subject. I'm not here to debate the matter, but here's what I know:

1. .40 SW brass doesn't last as long as .45 ACP. It's simple physics. Any round which when loaded properly generates in excess of 40,000 CUP will not last as long when compared to one that generates 16,000 CUP, regardless of the weapon platform from which it is shot. Period.

2. Glock has "unsupported" barrels in their .40 SW and .45 ACP offerings.

Some say this was done only to accomplish feed reliability.

Others say it's a carry-over from when Glock hurriedly introduced the Model 22/23 (.40 SW)

In order to beat Smith and Wesson to the market, Glock undercut the bottom of their 9mm barrel design in order to reliably feed the .40 SW round. This "design" carried over to other offerings.

** I have no idea if any of that is really true. However, please read number 3 ***

3. I don't load or shoot .40 SW so none of the preceding really matters to me.

and most importantly (in my opinion).............

4. All brass will have a "bulge" at the bottom after being fired. This bulge is easily taken out with proper dies and use thereof.

I have seen Bar-Sto's barrel offerings and they have more material in the ramp area, thereby negating any issues of support.

If I *did* load/shoot .40 SW, I would probably limit my use of brass to some undetermined amount of firings, regardless of what barrel I was using. Remember the discussion of pressure earlier?

Fear not the power of the Dillon. When done properly, reloading is quite safe and fun too!

[1buba]

Originally Posted by 45 ACP

3. I don't load or shoot .40 SW so none of the preceding really matters to me.

This is one of the reasons why you are my hero... Friends don't let friends shoot the .40 Short & Wimpy.

[NikNak]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

???? Must be range jargin. My Lee 1000 with Lee dies has never had an issue with any range brass, Glock brass, Taurus Brass, Springfiled brass, S&W brass etc ... the only time I had issues with brass was when shooting 45ACP in a Webley cut to accept 45ACP (moon clips) .. FYI the 455 Eley/Webley is slightly larger diameter, so case splitting at the neck is not uncommon.

My Lee 1000 cost $135.00 with dies !!!!! Dillon is good, great warranty, but Lee also has helped me out in the past with my 32 S& W Long Lee 1000. I have one for each caliber so I never have to change base plates etc .... They are cheap enough .... they include dies, powder drop, primer etc... Never an issue. Just be aware as you reload and don't drink, or smoke when reloading ... simple rules.

[NikNak]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

Originally Posted by El Gato

I bought over a thousand rounds last night at wallyworld... at almost $30.00 a box, 45 ammo is getting crazy... I think I just decided to buy a dillon press with all of the bells and whistles so I can keep my wife's addiction fed...

I will probably buy it set up for the 45 ACP by gosh and start cranking out rounds. My main concern here, besides cost savings, is time savings. I have a hornady pro-7 that I use for all kinds of loads but I want to be able to have a press dedicated to 45 acp, and later maybe a tool head set up for the 44 spl so that I can crank the rounds out in a production mode...

Does anyone have any experience with the Dillon line that might be helpful.

Try LEE 1000 in 45ACP. I have loaded 1000s of rounds and never any issues. I shoot matches, so cycling and reliability is VERY important. They come with dies for under $200.00 MidwayUSA — Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Ammunition, Gun Parts & Rifle Scopes The only extra thing you need is to get the small powder disc(micro disc) for the powder dispenser. Check out Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment

Dillon makes very good product, but since I'd rather spend my $s on bullets than press & ammo ...... I bought the Lee in 1996 and am still cycling it. I also have a 32 S&W Long in Lee 1000 that stays set up.

My Lees are bolted to a base plate(2 X 10 X 18") that I clamp to the reloading bench with a C-Clamp and a couple of long 1/2" carrriage bolts with wing nuts when the press is needed. Otherwise they are clamped to a shelf on my wall and the bench is clear.

I use other presses for my rifles ... Lee Turret, Lyman Turret, Hollywood Turret, C&H 4- station all set up with dies in them so am ready to go as needed.

My $.02 worth. Just start pulling that lever ...

[El Gato]

Great responses... Thanks...
I have reloaded for years and went from single stage loading years ago to the hornady. Old Honady is picky, worn out and needs adjustment alot... also it has problems with large primers... very hard to seat...
I think the 650 with all the bells and whistles (except the powder measure thingee... I always check the powder measure when changing primer tubes) is on "THE LIST" ... after all... what's the point of waitin' around for that les baer pistole if I can't aford to feed it?

We have a local bullet caster who is very reasonable and I have been shooting his bullets for years... I load his 240 gr. 44 bullet behind and obscene amount of 2400 in my Dan Wesson and have shot 4 in 100 yard groups...with a scope..from the bench and only once OK?.... but the point is they don't lead excessively...not too hard and not too soft... just right!

I appreciate the thought about the repair kit...

How are the Dillon dies?

[Brian1979]

For God sakes dont buy a Lee. Mine is in a land fill and I sure wish I had that $150 off of what I paid for the 550B right after I tossed the Lee. Thing was the worst POS I have ever used.

Has a bank pen chain thingy to pull the powder trap shut, aluminum cast shell plate with steel bolts tapped into it(stripped mine), a gravity fed primer system that actualyl relies on the press shaking around to help move them along(LOL worst ever).

Did I say dont buy a Lee?

Any dillon is worth the money I have the 550B with all the goodies except that new case feeder upgrade. I dont think it should be a race and the 550 was perfect for me and I like the control I have over it not being auto indexing. Less to tinker with and just a good solid press for the money.

Have fun and be sure to get things like the stong mount and aluminum roller handle. They make life easier and also the bullet tray along with the empty case bin.

Other non obvious things you need are going to be extra primer tubes, primer flipper tray, extra parts kit.

If you every break something or loose it they send it out for free. I lost some silly parts in a move and asked how to buy them and they wouldnt let me. If you have the chance of being put on hold you will get a good laugh out of their NO BS message on their warranty. I suggest calling in and taking a listen just for fun.

For the dies I started with Dillon and have no reason to try others. Anything Dillon is going go to be good stuff and covered under warranty so no worries.

As for the balance beam I like mine but it would be easier to have the digital if you can sport the cash with all this other stuff at the same time. I got the balance beam to start so that my initial start up cost wasnt too much but never was motivated to buy it since this one works great. I may get it now that you brought it to my attention but to keep your initial cost low hit ebay up. Dont be afraid to buy used because Dillon will give you a new press if you can find a rusty old broken one and send it in to them.

Multiple stories of guys finding deals at garage sales on broken rusty presses stuck in storage and getting new ones on the house under their no BS warranty.

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by El Gato

How are the Dillon dies?

They work great for me in 9mm, 40, 45, and 223.

[crocoscottie]

Originally Posted by Bombard

I understand that brass fired through a Glock shouldn't be reloaded, due to overexpansion from the unsupported chamber in the Glock barrel.

Is that also true with an aftermarket Glock barell?

I don't know nothin' about Glock .45 barrels (my Glocks are .40 Short & Weak), but I have compared Glock factory barrels against Bar-Stos. With the barrels removed, I have held them chamber side up and dropped in a factory round. The cartridge in the factory barrel rattles around quite freely, the one in the Bar-Sto is noticeably tighter. You can also quite plainly see the non-supported area of the factory barrel.

Does any of this matter? I dunno. I don't pretend to be a metallurgist, but it seems to me that a looser chamber = more expansion of the case = greater stress on the case with each firing. Yes, resizing the case returns it close to nominal dimensions, but again, this works the brass even more.

There is speculation on the Glock-fan sites that this repeated overworking of reloaded brass is one of the cuplrits behind catastrophic case failures (the other being unjacketed lead bullets in factory polygonally-rifled barrels). Again, I don't know if it's true. I have hedged my bets and put Bar-Stos on both of my .40's (G22 and my new G27). Maybe it wasn't necessary, maybe I'm a doofus for doing so, but I just look at it as an additional layer of (potentially unecessary) protection for my reloads.

BTW, this isn't supposed to present a problem with factory ammo in factory barrels if you're not planning to reload. It's the repeated expansion / resizing that's the alleged problem.

[crocoscottie]

It should come as no surprise that I'm different from everybody else here :

My progressive loader is a RCBS Pro 2000. I haven't gotten into full-blown production mode with it since I got it (lingering effects of young kids, CAP, and slowly disengaging from flying), but my limited experience has shown it to be a very nice press which does a great job. Maybe everybody has an aversion to green paint?

I considered a Dillon 650 but it started adding up to some serious coin when I considered all the caliber conversion kits. I already had my RCBS shellplates and other paraphenalia from the old days with a RCBS Piggyback Progressive, which meant that I didn't have to buy all the incidentals. I reload for a enough differnt calibers that the Dillon conversion kits would have eaten me alive. If I was starting from scratch, it might have been a different story.

In the end, I don't feel in any way limited by the Pro 2000. And RCBS customer support (and probably all the major reloading manufacturers) has been outstanding.

[Sigman]

Originally Posted by 1buba

This is one of the reasons why you are my hero... Friends don't let friends shoot the .40 Short & Wimpy.

I'm going to come over and TP your house for that!

[1buba]

Originally Posted by Sigman

I'm going to come over and TP your house for that!

I did it for you and Akula... LOL