So I’ve got a Dillon 650 set up for loading small primers, but want to limit doing caliber changes and was thinking about picking up a Dillon Square Deal B set up for 9mm. I’d obviously be losing the case feeder, but other than that, is there any other reason to keep loading it on my 650 and not on an SDB? Or should I pick up another 650 or a 750 and leave my current setup for running 9mm? I am running all of my large primer rounds on my 550, so I could pick up another 650/750 and run 9mm on the 550 and add a case feeder for it.
No concern, caliber changes are a pretty straight forward process. I am just thinking I want a dedicated press for 9mm pistol ammo and wanted to get peoples opinions. I’ve got a MEC Marksman, XL 650, and an RL 550 right now.
When I started I got a 1050 and did caliber and primer conversions. It got old fast. So I narrowed my progressive reloading down to just 223 and 9mm and set up a press for each. If all I was going was swapping tool heads it wouldn’t be a big deal. But the case feeder and especially the bullet feeder should be left alone once you get them running smoothly.
From what I’ve heard, this is correct. Not sure if they have a decent priming system on the current 550s, but mine is shit. I don’t even use it. I love the press, but I’ve disabled the priming system by removing the actuator rod.
I owned 2 Square Deal B’s, one set up for 9mm and the other for .38 Special, for over twenty years and they are good reloaders. If you have big hands, it will be difficult to reload on the Square Deal. If you make a mistake, don’t expect to be able to rotate the shell plate counterclockwise and correct the issue. Caliber conversions take longer than on the RL550B.
If you absolutely need to have another reloader, I’d look for another RL550 or RL650.