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Jay
Posts: 4,628 Senior Member
new reloading equipment - update
Jay
Posts: 4,628 Senior Member
I posted a thread a while back about some stuff I was able to pick up with the help of a buddy working an estate sale. It included two Dillon Square Deal B's and a lot of reloading supplies. I got both of the Dillons set up some time back. One of them was set up for 45acp and was brand new, never used. The other was 38/357 and was lightly used. I ended up mounting both of them on Inline Fabrication mounts and had a really nice little setup going...
That brings us to this past weekend. The same buddy was able to score a brand new Dillon 550 set up for 45acp for $400 and was offering it to me for what he paid for it. Another friend was interested in my 38/357 Square Deal. So, I sold him that press for $350 and paid $50 on top of that to get the 550.
Why would I sell the 38/357 press and buy the 550 set up to load the same cartridge my other SDb is set up for? Well, aside from wanting a 550 so I can load rifle cartridges, here's the plan..
I have already ordered parts from Dillon and Inline Fabrication to have all my presses set up to work on the one quick change mount. I only anticipate loading certain cartridges in mass quantities on the Dillon presses. Those include 45acp, 45 Colt, 38 special, 357 mag and 223 rem. Everything else I load is in smaller quantities and will be done using the RCBS press, also set up on a quick change plate.
So, the SDb will be set up for 45acp and 45 Colt. The 550 will be set up for 38, 357 and 223. That way I have large primers in one press and small primers in the other, eliminating the need to change primer setups when I change cartridges. I've ordered separate, complete toolheads so all I have to do is swap the complete toolhead, shellplate and I'm ready to go. And I'll end up with more bench space, since I'll only have one press mount on the bench and the presses all on their own quick change plates.
No pics of the new press yet, as I haven't swung by to pick it up yet. I also bought what appears to be a few thousand 224 and 452 bullets, 3 pounds of AR Comp powder and 1 pound of Accurate 2230. All of which I have never used. If any of you have any thoughts on those powders, please feel free to let me know your experiences.
That brings us to this past weekend. The same buddy was able to score a brand new Dillon 550 set up for 45acp for $400 and was offering it to me for what he paid for it. Another friend was interested in my 38/357 Square Deal. So, I sold him that press for $350 and paid $50 on top of that to get the 550.
Why would I sell the 38/357 press and buy the 550 set up to load the same cartridge my other SDb is set up for? Well, aside from wanting a 550 so I can load rifle cartridges, here's the plan..
I have already ordered parts from Dillon and Inline Fabrication to have all my presses set up to work on the one quick change mount. I only anticipate loading certain cartridges in mass quantities on the Dillon presses. Those include 45acp, 45 Colt, 38 special, 357 mag and 223 rem. Everything else I load is in smaller quantities and will be done using the RCBS press, also set up on a quick change plate.
So, the SDb will be set up for 45acp and 45 Colt. The 550 will be set up for 38, 357 and 223. That way I have large primers in one press and small primers in the other, eliminating the need to change primer setups when I change cartridges. I've ordered separate, complete toolheads so all I have to do is swap the complete toolhead, shellplate and I'm ready to go. And I'll end up with more bench space, since I'll only have one press mount on the bench and the presses all on their own quick change plates.
No pics of the new press yet, as I haven't swung by to pick it up yet. I also bought what appears to be a few thousand 224 and 452 bullets, 3 pounds of AR Comp powder and 1 pound of Accurate 2230. All of which I have never used. If any of you have any thoughts on those powders, please feel free to let me know your experiences.
Replies
Fwiw, theres no rule/law saying things cant/wont change over time either.
just wait for that next cool caliber to get into your dreams and see where it falls into your press plans.
But i think for the most part, you may do fine. what i didnt like about the SDb is that they small opening for big paws.
have fun.
- Don Burt
I'll get the new press from my buddy some time in the next couple of days.
Inline Fabrication is apparently a little behind, so it'll probably be next week before I get the stuff from them. But, I should be able to start making some progress this weekend.
As for the reloading components I also bought along with the press, I sorta bought that stuff "blind," as all I had to go on was a picture of what was there and a very vague description. But there was 3 pounds of AR Comp powder and a pound of Accurate 2230 and some "224 and 45 bullets." All of that was $100. The bullets I ended up getting with that deal was 500 55gr Hornady V-Maxs, 900 55gr Hornady FMJ, 900 62gr armor piercing and 500 200 grain .452 RNFP bullets. I'll take that for $100...
After changing it from large primers to small and setting up the new toolhead and powder dispenser, I loaded 100 rounds of 357 mag on it as a practice run and to get everything adjusted the way I want it. I'm using Hornady dies in it right now. Seems to be working pretty well. I'll get out there after work this week and load some more and see how it does long term. With the Inline Fabrication mount and accessories, the loaded rounds are ejected into the back bin, making room for the empty case bin in the front. The bullet tray will, of course, be on the left side right next to the turret. This is on a quick change mount, so the entire thing can be removed simply be taking 2 wing nuts off and lifting it out of the base, hang it on the wall and put the next press on the stand, then reinstall the two wing nuts.