Myths and Exaggerated Costs for Dillon Equipment
I've been on this and other forums for months, just for laughs...
And for the 5% good info. from the very few very knowledgeable people here.
Typical of most of the internet, forums are full of BS. These forums in
particular are full of OPINIONATED, KNOW-NOTHING, SELF PROCLAIMED EXPERTS.
I REALLY DON'T like posting anything on the forums and don't intend to argue with spoiled children having tantrums over who's toys are better.
My first post was in response to a clown who said it cost $200 to change calibers on a Dillon XL650.
Now we have someone claiming "A Dillon 650 press (and all the startup accessories) is $ 1500 for 1 caliber" and costs "...or $500 per caliber".
So now we are going to have my second post.
1 - Just what does this person consider to be "all the startup accessories"?
2 - How does this person go from a XL650 that cost $490 and a set of dies (TC Pistol) for $58. That's about $900 in "startup accessories".
Sure you can buy everything Dillon shows but you really DON'T NEED everything to "start up"!
Fact, you CAN buy and use a XL650 WITHOUT the casefeed assembly. I'd recommend anyone who has never used a XL650 start out that way. Doing this and loading ONE case at a time through all stages turns the XL650 into THE BEST "turret" press made! Once someone is used to single loading cases they can try loading a case every time they pull the handle. After that, buy a casefeed assembly if you want to.
I STILL use my XL650 this way for load development or for loading small batches.
3 - Even if you accept this persons list of "startup accessories", his addition and total of $1500 "for 1 caliber", the cost of adding calibers/cartridges varies but is FAR LESS than shown.
Specific Examples - I purchased my XL650 in .44 Magnum.
In order to load 10mm Auto I NEED
1 - a "Caliber Conversion Kit" for $70
2 - Dillon TC Die set for $58
TOTAL $128
To take advantage of the "quick change" features of the XL650 and not have to swap dies between toolheads I NEED
1 - Toolhead for $21
2 - Powder Die (allows Q-C of powder measure) for $8
TOTAL now $157
To load the .40 S&W I NEED
1 - NOTHING
TOTAL now for 2 cartridges is STILL $157
To load .38 Special I need
1 - a "Caliber Conversion Kit" for $70
2 - Dillon TC Die set for $58
3 - Toolhead for $21
4 - Powder Die for $8
TOTAL now for 3 cartridges is $314
To load the .357 Magnum I NEED
1 - NOTHING
TOTAL now for 4 cartridges is STILL $314
To load the .45ACP I need
1 - a "Caliber Conversion Kit" for $70
2 - Dillon TC Die set for $58
3 - Toolhead for $21
4 - Powder Die for $8
TOTAL now for 5 cartridges is $471
To load the 8x57mm Mauser I NEED
1 - Powder Funnel for $9
2 - Lee Die set for $21
3 - Toolhead for $21
4 - Powder Die for $8
TOTAL now for 6 cartridges is $530
So, even if you accept the cost for a XL650 in 1 caliber with "all the startup accessories" as $1500, you can CLEARLY SEE I added 6 (vs.5) cartridges for $530 NOT the CLAIMED $1500!
You can increase your costs per cartridge if you want. You can buy "powder checks", "toolhead stands" and "powder measures" for every cartridge if you want. I buy One of everything for those cartridges I load the most.
Example: I have 5 powder checks. Four of the 5 are installed on the toolheads of the 4 cartridges I load the most. The 5th powder check is swapped between all the others. I have a few toolhead stands for my most loaded cartridges and my son made a stand for the rest from a 1x6 and some wood dowel. Dillon makes "powder charge bars" in Large, Small and X-Small so I currently have 3 powder measures, one with each of the 3 size charge bars already installed.
The "Shell Plate" serves the same function as the "Shell Holder" on a single stage press. Like a "Shell Holder" you don't have to buy one for every cartridge. You need ONE for every "family" of cases that have the same "head dimensions".
The Dillon "Caliber Conversion Kit" INCLUDES the "Shell Plate". That one "Shell Plate" is used for the .45ACP plus all the .308W based cartridges (.243W, .260R, 7mm-08, .338F, .358W & ?), all the .30-06 based cartridges (.25-06, .270W, .280R, .338-06, .35Whelen & ?), the 6.5x57mm, 7x57mm and 8x57mm Mauser cartridges, maybe the .22-250, the .250 and .300 Savage and possibly the 6.5x55mm.
To load any of these on the XL650 you need just the dies of course, the correct powder funnel for $9 and you really should have separate toolhead ($21) and powder die ($6) for each.
In order to use the casefeed assembly you will need a few small and relatively cheap items. But, remember that many of these parts work for the same "case family" or case length.
Example: I'm not sure if I'm using the correct nomenclature but Using the 19 above list of cartridges you would need 2 "CF Adapters", one for the .45ACP and one for everything else (51mm, 57mm and 63mm cases).
With many other Dillon parts there might be just 4 sizes. Example: Small Pistol, Large Pistol, Small Rifle and Large Rifle.
Once you have all 4 sizes you don't need any more regardless of how many cartridges you reload.
What I do is buy the COMPLETE "Caliber Conversion Kit" if I need the "Shell Plate". If I don't need the "Shell Plate" I buy the individual parts. Eventually you can add cartridges without adding any additional parts. An example was for me to add the 6.5 Grendel. Since I already loaded the 7.62x39mm I had the correct "Caliber Conversion Kit" for the 6.5 Grendel. The "Powder Funnel" for the .260Rem. is used. The XL-650 instructions has a guide that shows the parts required for many popular cartridges. Anything not listed, CALL Dillon!
To dispel a few other MYTHS and internet BS...
First, that the Dillon XL650 won't load "long" cartridges. The Dillon "Blue Press" catalog lists the .458 Win. Mag., the .375 H&H Mag., and the Remington Ultra Mags. I can load the .45-110 (.45-2.875"). How much longer do you need?
Second, that you can't load many cartridges on the XL650. Again referring to the Dillon "Blue Press" catalog, the list of "XL650 Caliber Conversion Kit / Machine Stock Numbers" is NOT an ALL INCLUSIVE LIST OF EVERY cartridge that the Dillon XL650 will load. The same is true of the Dillon 550, it will load more than is shown in the listing.
This list is what it says it is, a list of "part numbers" for ordering either specific "Caliber Conversion Kits" or complete machines set-up for a specific cartridge. You can load many more cartridges than what is shown.
Example: With the .45-70 "Caliber Conversion Kit" I can also load the .45-90, .45-100, .45-110 and maybe the .45-120 (at 3.25" CL it might be too long). Once again you might have to add small, cheap parts such as shorter "powder funnels" and for the casefeed assembly different "CF Adapters". Believe it or not this "Caliber Conversion Kit" can also be used for 7.62x54Rmm (Russian) with the proper powder funnel!
Second example: Dillon Makes the 550 "Conversion" for both the 7x57mm and 8x57mm Mauser but only shows "Conversion" and "machine" numbers for the XL650 for the 8x57mm. This does NOT mean you can't load the 7x57mm on a XL650! You buy the Dillon "Kit" or "Machine" in 8x57mm and add a SINGLE $9 part, the "powder funnel". In this way, although neither the 550 or the XL650 shows the 6.5x57mm Mauser, you can load it on EITHER machine with the correct "powder funnel".
C.
Is is my FAVORITE hobby also. Sometimes I shoot just so I can reload more.