Dillon 650 set up cost

TIR · August 19, 2002, 08:45 PM

I am looking into buying a dillon 650XL for reloading 10mm,45acp, and 40 s&w. I am not clear on what the machine comes with nor how much it costs to switch calibers or what exactly is needed. I currently have a Lee four hole turret which can not keep up with my shooting. I have not tried one of the dillons yet, but I have seen them in action and they were impressive. I have tried the Hornady L-n-L and didn't like the lack of a case feed system for them. I usaully load 500+ rds. a week with my Lee turret for 45 and 40 cal. the time involved is becoming a problem i.e. wife not liking it. I would appreciate any and all input and suggestions.

Jeeper · August 19, 2002, 09:14 PM

If you have everything else for loading already like scales and such then you just need the base kit and the casefeeder. Beyond that you just need a conversion kit and an extra toolhead.

Kit ~440
Case feeder~175
Conversion kit for 45~60
toolheads
dies

the 10mm and 40 conversion kit is the same.

sricciardelli · August 19, 2002, 09:52 PM

Jsut tell them at Dillon what you want to load and tell them to send you everything you need....

They will be very helpful.

Waitone · August 19, 2002, 10:07 PM

Call Dillon and tell them your tale. They are good and professional.

blades67 · August 20, 2002, 12:15 AM

The XL 650 will come with one caliber conversion when you order it. The 10mm and .40 S&W use the same caliber conversion and dies, but you'll need a second set of dies if you don't want to readjust your dies when switching between those two calibers.

The 650 will set you back $443.75 (includes one caliber conversion), the case feed is $172.95. The caliber conversion kits are $57.95. If you only need these three items your cost will be $674.65 plus shipping.

You could've found this just like I did by going to Dillon's web site.

WESHOOT2 · August 20, 2002, 05:01 AM

The XL650 allows the use of the Dillon "Powder Check" system; this particular option is without question MANDATORY.

Use one for each head.

TIR · August 20, 2002, 06:01 AM

Thanks guys!! There web sight wasn't the clearest so I figured I'd ask the experts.

ExNavyInHouston · August 20, 2002, 09:55 PM

I just bought a Dillon 650 from Brian Enos ... he gives a stair-stepped discount up to 10% and the most you will pay is $16.99 for shipping.

He saved me about $150 over what it would have cost me locally (5% discount, but then add 8.25% sales tax).

His website (Dillon Page) is:

CLICK HERE: For Brian Enos Dillon Pages

I can also send you an Excel Worksheet I put together to show what Items I bought to get set up and running. You can read my comments (I am a real reloading amature) and you can run ideas by the forum.

Just let me know if you are interested in my research ... I will be happy to share.

Brian is a super guy and he delivered just as promised.

ExNavy

ExNavyInHouston · August 20, 2002, 10:12 PM

Below you will find the order I placed with Brian Enos for my Dillon 650XL. Because I was cutting corners I didn't get everything from Brian - some things from Dillon are just too high for me (i.e tumbler, scales, and calipers, etc).

Plus, I highly suggest you get a Lee Factory Crimp Die for Station 5 (for each caliber you reload - it is a must have if you want squared away rounds - ask around on this advice).

I bought most of the rest of my items from Midway-USA.

Get your BBKII (electronic) scale from Brian also. He charges $99.00 and no shipping. It is a low end scale but you will see they are who make almost everyone elses scales and they put their name on it.

Below is a sample of the spreadsheet I will share if you email me. The price to the far left is the Dillon Catalog price and what I paid is to the right. (To get his 10% discount you have to go over $750 which is easy on the initial purchase.)

Good luck and let me know if you need more info.

1ea. / $443.95 / XL650 w/ .45 ACP Conversion / $399.56
1 ea. / $57.95 / 650 Conversion 9mm/.38 Super / $52.16
1 ea. / $49.95 /.45 ACP 3-Die Set / $44.96
1 ea. / $49.95 / 9mm 3-Die Set / $44.96
1 ea. / $55.95 / XL 650 Powder Check / $50.36
2 ea. / $15.95 / Toolhead for XL650 / $14.36
2 ea. / $5.95 / Powder Dies / $5.36
2 ea. / $10.95 / XL650 Toolhead Stand / $9.86
1 ea. / $172.95 / LP Casefeed Assy / $155.66
1 ea. / $31.95 / SP Casefeed Plate / $28.76
1 ea. / $11.95 / Primer Pickup Tubes, Sm, 4 Pack / $10.76
1 ea. / $11.95 / Primer Pickup Tubes, Lg, 4 Pack / $10.76
1 ea. / $5.95 / New Style Wrench / $5.36
1 ea. / $31.95 / Aluminum Roller Handle / $28.76
1 ea. / $12.95 / Primer Flip Tray / $11.66
1 ea. / $14.95 / XL650 Spare Parts Kit / $13.46
1 ea. / $8.95 / SS Case Gage, 9mm / $8.06
1 ea. / $8.95 / SS Case Gage, .45 ACP / $8.06
1 ea. / $3.95 / Universal Mounting Kit / $3.56
1 ea. / $27.95 / Bullet Tray / $25.16
1 ea. / $27.95 / Strong Mount / $25.16
1 ea. / $11.95 / Rapid 290 Polish & Case Lube 1/2 Off / $10.76

uglymofo · August 22, 2002, 01:41 AM

Don't do it !! Call Widener's first about the Hornady LNL AP. Hornady has developed a case feeder which should be on the open market by christmas or the first of the year. (Even a delay to 3-03 is worth the wait if you can.) The Hornady system as it exists now, won't piecemeal your wallet with accessories. Widener's price of $319 for the Hornady LNL AP includes shipping. There's damn little to add; most caliber changes vary in cost from $32-45 (for a shellplate and collars).

It's capable right now of 400-500 rounds an hour, will that hold you until the case feeder comes out? The Dillon powder measure is crap next to the Hornady if you ever want to reload rifle casings. Check the boards on that one.

I don't know if that Widener deal includes the shellplate and everything else required for one caliber (when I bought mine, it was $289 w/o shellplate, last year).

Here's a real long thread on the subject of Dillons and Hornadys:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...hreadid=104226

By the way, I was the author on that thread of a lot of posts investigating priming problems. That was finally solved by an offhand comment with a Hornady tech: "Are you using milsurp brass?" It turned out I wasn't swaging the military-crimped primer pockets deeply enough to let the primers set correctly. I adjusted the depth of my swaging tool and haven't had a primer misfeed incident in the last 7000 reloads.

Here's an excerpt from another reader, and reason to ponder the Hornady:

"every time you change calibers in the Dillon, it gets REAL expensive.

I have 45 acp, 45LC, 22-250, 30-30, 25-06, 300WM, 44-40, 35 Whelen, 45-70, 45-90, etc.

Dillon wants to sell you an interchangeable tool head for every caliber, which includes a powder measure. By the time you get shell plates, buttons and powder funnels (come in the caliber conversion kit), the complete measure and tool head you have well over $100 per caliber. The alternative is to reset the dies and powder measure every time, which takes 15-20 minutes. If you load 200 rounds each of 3 different calibers, you'll spend a lot more time setting up than reloading, or you'll have about $1,000 invested in blue paint.

They SHOULD give good customer service if I have $1,000-2,000 into a $359 loader.

If I it to do over, I'd take a REAL hard look at a Hornady LNL (Lock-N-Load). Their dies fit into a sleeve that just slides into the press and requires no re-adjusting. The powder measure has an insert bushing that's $5.95 and can readjusted or you can just buy extra inserts and not have to readjust. Takes a few seconds to change. The powder measure is activated by the case so you just about eliminate spills and double charges (easier to do than it sounds)."

blades67 · August 23, 2002, 07:15 PM

Does Hornady have a Toll free customer service number? Do they send out replacement parts (often lost or broken by the machine owner) free of charge for the lifetime of the machine regardless of where it was purchased? (Dillon and RCBS replace parts for free, but Dillon has a Toll-free number that gets answered by a person, not some machine.) Does the Hornady support case forming? The Hornady price makes it worth a look, but it has to prove its worth.

uglymofo · August 24, 2002, 01:14 AM

Hornady hot line:
800-338-3220 (live bodies)

Yes to replacements free of charge, already used that. Don't know what case forming is.

Straight off their website by cut and paste:

NO-RISK, LIFETIME WARRANTY

All Hornady reloading tools and accessories are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Parts, which by the nature of their function are subject to normal wear such as springs, pins, bearing, etc....and, parts which have been altered, abused or neglected--are excluded from the warranty.

If the product is deemed defective by either workmanship or materials, the reloading tool or accessory will either be repaired, reconditioned or replaced (at Hornady Manufacturing Company's option).

IF IT BREAKS, WE'LL REPAIR IT OR REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE!

This warranty supersedes all other warranties for Hornady products whether written or oral.

TIR · August 24, 2002, 07:23 PM

Uglymofo, I am reconsidering after your post and figuring the set up cost for what I want to be about $1200 for the 650. The wife was not thrilled with that figure. I am glad to here Hornady customer service decent that was one thing I new I could count on with Dillon. How long has hornady been working on there case feeder? I figure on a full progressive that should be mandatory.

uglymofo · August 25, 2002, 05:15 AM

I asked about the case feeder less than a month ago. The email response was it has already been developed and should hit the market right at the turn of the year.

I called to talk to CS or Sales (don't remember which) about the possiblility of an auto primer feed (nothing in the works) and asked for a better estimate on the case feeder. The answer was they had the design "finished and proven in trials" and were looking for a vendor to tool up and manufacture it. WAG ETA was xmas-New Year.

By the way, an example of Hornady CS replacing parts for me: Guy Meredith had sent me instructions on how to modify the powder drop station to bell the case mouth at the same station. This would free up a station for the RCBS lock-out die. For this to work, I had to drill and tap the existing powder measure sleeve in order to adapt a Lyman powder dropsleeve/case mouth bell. As I was leery about screwing up and not having a working sleeve in the event I screwed up, I called Hornady and explained that I was about to try a modification, and the chance was remote that I'd ruin a sleeve, but I wanted a spare in hand just in case, to eliminate possible down time. I was willing to pay for the sleeve, but they sent me the set anyway: 3 sleeves (as I recall, long and short rifle, and pistol, since they come as a set), no charge. I was shocked, but pleased, to say the least. I doubt whether RCBS nor Dillon would send me a spare for a part that was yet unaltered, though I had designs on butchering their part for a purpose not found in the blueprints.

August 19, 2002, 08:45 PM	#1
TIR Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Southern Michigan Posts: 73	Dillon 650 set up cost I am looking into buying a dillon 650XL for reloading 10mm,45acp, and 40 s&w. I am not clear on what the machine comes with nor how much it costs to switch calibers or what exactly is needed. I currently have a Lee four hole turret which can not keep up with my shooting. I have not tried one of the dillons yet, but I have seen them in action and they were impressive. I have tried the Hornady L-n-L and didn't like the lack of a case feed system for them. I usaully load 500+ rds. a week with my Lee turret for 45 and 40 cal. the time involved is becoming a problem i.e. wife not liking it. I would appreciate any and all input and suggestions.

August 20, 2002, 05:01 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	WITHOUT EXCEPTION The XL650 allows the use of the Dillon "Powder Check" system; this particular option is without question MANDATORY. Use one for each head.

August 20, 2002, 09:55 PM	#8
ExNavyInHouston Junior Member Join Date: March 16, 2002 Location: Near Houston, TX Posts: 3	Getting a Dillon I just bought a Dillon 650 from Brian Enos ... he gives a stair-stepped discount up to 10% and the most you will pay is $16.99 for shipping. He saved me about $150 over what it would have cost me locally (5% discount, but then add 8.25% sales tax). His website (Dillon Page) is: CLICK HERE: For Brian Enos Dillon Pages I can also send you an Excel Worksheet I put together to show what Items I bought to get set up and running. You can read my comments (I am a real reloading amature) and you can run ideas by the forum. Just let me know if you are interested in my research ... I will be happy to share. Brian is a super guy and he delivered just as promised. ExNavy

August 20, 2002, 10:12 PM	#9
ExNavyInHouston Junior Member Join Date: March 16, 2002 Location: Near Houston, TX Posts: 3	Here are Some of the Dillion 650 Prices I Paid Below you will find the order I placed with Brian Enos for my Dillon 650XL. Because I was cutting corners I didn't get everything from Brian - some things from Dillon are just too high for me (i.e tumbler, scales, and calipers, etc). Plus, I highly suggest you get a Lee Factory Crimp Die for Station 5 (for each caliber you reload - it is a must have if you want squared away rounds - ask around on this advice). I bought most of the rest of my items from Midway-USA. Get your BBKII (electronic) scale from Brian also. He charges $99.00 and no shipping. It is a low end scale but you will see they are who make almost everyone elses scales and they put their name on it. Below is a sample of the spreadsheet I will share if you email me. The price to the far left is the Dillon Catalog price and what I paid is to the right. (To get his 10% discount you have to go over $750 which is easy on the initial purchase.) Good luck and let me know if you need more info. 1ea. / $443.95 / XL650 w/ .45 ACP Conversion / $399.56 1 ea. / $57.95 / 650 Conversion 9mm/.38 Super / $52.16 1 ea. / $49.95 /.45 ACP 3-Die Set / $44.96 1 ea. / $49.95 / 9mm 3-Die Set / $44.96 1 ea. / $55.95 / XL 650 Powder Check / $50.36 2 ea. / $15.95 / Toolhead for XL650 / $14.36 2 ea. / $5.95 / Powder Dies / $5.36 2 ea. / $10.95 / XL650 Toolhead Stand / $9.86 1 ea. / $172.95 / LP Casefeed Assy / $155.66 1 ea. / $31.95 / SP Casefeed Plate / $28.76 1 ea. / $11.95 / Primer Pickup Tubes, Sm, 4 Pack / $10.76 1 ea. / $11.95 / Primer Pickup Tubes, Lg, 4 Pack / $10.76 1 ea. / $5.95 / New Style Wrench / $5.36 1 ea. / $31.95 / Aluminum Roller Handle / $28.76 1 ea. / $12.95 / Primer Flip Tray / $11.66 1 ea. / $14.95 / XL650 Spare Parts Kit / $13.46 1 ea. / $8.95 / SS Case Gage, 9mm / $8.06 1 ea. / $8.95 / SS Case Gage, .45 ACP / $8.06 1 ea. / $3.95 / Universal Mounting Kit / $3.56 1 ea. / $27.95 / Bullet Tray / $25.16 1 ea. / $27.95 / Strong Mount / $25.16 1 ea. / $11.95 / Rapid 290 Polish & Case Lube 1/2 Off / $10.76

August 22, 2002, 01:41 AM	#10
uglymofo Member Join Date: August 1, 2001 Posts: 72	Dillon 650 Don't do it !! Call Widener's first about the Hornady LNL AP. Hornady has developed a case feeder which should be on the open market by christmas or the first of the year. (Even a delay to 3-03 is worth the wait if you can.) The Hornady system as it exists now, won't piecemeal your wallet with accessories. Widener's price of $319 for the Hornady LNL AP includes shipping. There's damn little to add; most caliber changes vary in cost from $32-45 (for a shellplate and collars). It's capable right now of 400-500 rounds an hour, will that hold you until the case feeder comes out? The Dillon powder measure is crap next to the Hornady if you ever want to reload rifle casings. Check the boards on that one. I don't know if that Widener deal includes the shellplate and everything else required for one caliber (when I bought mine, it was $289 w/o shellplate, last year). Here's a real long thread on the subject of Dillons and Hornadys: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...hreadid=104226 By the way, I was the author on that thread of a lot of posts investigating priming problems. That was finally solved by an offhand comment with a Hornady tech: "Are you using milsurp brass?" It turned out I wasn't swaging the military-crimped primer pockets deeply enough to let the primers set correctly. I adjusted the depth of my swaging tool and haven't had a primer misfeed incident in the last 7000 reloads. Here's an excerpt from another reader, and reason to ponder the Hornady: "every time you change calibers in the Dillon, it gets REAL expensive. I have 45 acp, 45LC, 22-250, 30-30, 25-06, 300WM, 44-40, 35 Whelen, 45-70, 45-90, etc. Dillon wants to sell you an interchangeable tool head for every caliber, which includes a powder measure. By the time you get shell plates, buttons and powder funnels (come in the caliber conversion kit), the complete measure and tool head you have well over $100 per caliber. The alternative is to reset the dies and powder measure every time, which takes 15-20 minutes. If you load 200 rounds each of 3 different calibers, you'll spend a lot more time setting up than reloading, or you'll have about $1,000 invested in blue paint. They SHOULD give good customer service if I have $1,000-2,000 into a $359 loader. If I it to do over, I'd take a REAL hard look at a Hornady LNL (Lock-N-Load). Their dies fit into a sleeve that just slides into the press and requires no re-adjusting. The powder measure has an insert bushing that's $5.95 and can readjusted or you can just buy extra inserts and not have to readjust. Takes a few seconds to change. The powder measure is activated by the case so you just about eliminate spills and double charges (easier to do than it sounds)."

August 19, 2002, 09:14 PM	#2
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	If you have everything else for loading already like scales and such then you just need the base kit and the casefeeder. Beyond that you just need a conversion kit and an extra toolhead. Kit ~440 Case feeder~175 Conversion kit for 45~60 toolheads dies the 10mm and 40 conversion kit is the same.

August 19, 2002, 09:52 PM	#3
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Jsut tell them at Dillon what you want to load and tell them to send you everything you need.... They will be very helpful.

August 19, 2002, 10:07 PM	#4
Waitone Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2000 Posts: 2,904	Call Dillon and tell them your tale. They are good and professional.

August 20, 2002, 12:15 AM	#5
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	The XL 650 will come with one caliber conversion when you order it. The 10mm and .40 S&W use the same caliber conversion and dies, but you'll need a second set of dies if you don't want to readjust your dies when switching between those two calibers. The 650 will set you back $443.75 (includes one caliber conversion), the case feed is $172.95. The caliber conversion kits are $57.95. If you only need these three items your cost will be $674.65 plus shipping. You could've found this just like I did by going to Dillon's web site.

August 20, 2002, 06:01 AM	#7
TIR Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Southern Michigan Posts: 73	Thanks guys!! There web sight wasn't the clearest so I figured I'd ask the experts.

August 23, 2002, 07:15 PM	#11
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	Does Hornady have a Toll free customer service number? Do they send out replacement parts (often lost or broken by the machine owner) free of charge for the lifetime of the machine regardless of where it was purchased? (Dillon and RCBS replace parts for free, but Dillon has a Toll-free number that gets answered by a person, not some machine.) Does the Hornady support case forming? The Hornady price makes it worth a look, but it has to prove its worth.

August 24, 2002, 01:14 AM	#12
uglymofo Member Join Date: August 1, 2001 Posts: 72	Hornady hot line: 800-338-3220 (live bodies) Yes to replacements free of charge, already used that. Don't know what case forming is. Straight off their website by cut and paste: NO-RISK, LIFETIME WARRANTY All Hornady reloading tools and accessories are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. Parts, which by the nature of their function are subject to normal wear such as springs, pins, bearing, etc....and, parts which have been altered, abused or neglected--are excluded from the warranty. If the product is deemed defective by either workmanship or materials, the reloading tool or accessory will either be repaired, reconditioned or replaced (at Hornady Manufacturing Company's option). IF IT BREAKS, WE'LL REPAIR IT OR REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE! This warranty supersedes all other warranties for Hornady products whether written or oral.

August 24, 2002, 07:23 PM	#13
TIR Member Join Date: February 28, 2002 Location: Southern Michigan Posts: 73	Uglymofo, I am reconsidering after your post and figuring the set up cost for what I want to be about $1200 for the 650. The wife was not thrilled with that figure. I am glad to here Hornady customer service decent that was one thing I new I could count on with Dillon. How long has hornady been working on there case feeder? I figure on a full progressive that should be mandatory.

August 25, 2002, 05:15 AM	#14
uglymofo Member Join Date: August 1, 2001 Posts: 72	I asked about the case feeder less than a month ago. The email response was it has already been developed and should hit the market right at the turn of the year. I called to talk to CS or Sales (don't remember which) about the possiblility of an auto primer feed (nothing in the works) and asked for a better estimate on the case feeder. The answer was they had the design "finished and proven in trials" and were looking for a vendor to tool up and manufacture it. WAG ETA was xmas-New Year. By the way, an example of Hornady CS replacing parts for me: Guy Meredith had sent me instructions on how to modify the powder drop station to bell the case mouth at the same station. This would free up a station for the RCBS lock-out die. For this to work, I had to drill and tap the existing powder measure sleeve in order to adapt a Lyman powder dropsleeve/case mouth bell. As I was leery about screwing up and not having a working sleeve in the event I screwed up, I called Hornady and explained that I was about to try a modification, and the chance was remote that I'd ruin a sleeve, but I wanted a spare in hand just in case, to eliminate possible down time. I was willing to pay for the sleeve, but they sent me the set anyway: 3 sleeves (as I recall, long and short rifle, and pistol, since they come as a set), no charge. I was shocked, but pleased, to say the least. I doubt whether RCBS nor Dillon would send me a spare for a part that was yet unaltered, though I had designs on butchering their part for a purpose not found in the blueprints.