Two problems with Dillon XL650
In the past 3 years of reloading, I have encountered 2 problems with my XL650. I am set up to load 7 handgun calibers, toolhead/quick change kits all set up, even have primer systems for each size of primer. The whole nine yards. I load .380 ACP, 9mm, .38 Spec, .357 Mag, .40 cal, .44 mag and .45 ACP. Piece of cake and very enjoyable--except for .38 Spec. I can be rolling along just great and all the sudden the shellplate begins stopping just short of the station. I haven't called Dillon on this because usually it is in the evening when I am reloading. I can change calibers and go on with no problem. It usually happens every time I load .38's, but I have never had it happen with another caliber. Any ideas?
The second problem arose this fall when I purchased a 300 Rem Ultra Mag. I knew going into it that I would need to stray from the Blue covered reloading bench, up to then the only non-Dillon item on the bench was a Brown-Sharpe dial caliper that a friend sold me way too cheap when I started reloading! I made my list and picked up a Redding full body sizing die and competition seating die. Next I called Dillon for the conversion kit, belted magnum powder system, toolhead, powder check, another priming system, and was informed of the needed 650 magnum system for the caliber of my choice. I wanted to load the first 20 weighing each powder load, so I just set up the sizing die, took the cases out and prepped them like I wanted to, then put them in station 2 and primed them, weighed the powder into each of them, and then put the case into station 4, put a bullet on it and seated it. The problem is, the Redding competition seating die for 300 Weatherby, 300 Rem Ultra Mag and 7MM STW is set up differently and protrudes below the toolhead so far that the shellplate indexes before the bullet clears the seating die. I can remove the locator pin and remove the loaded round to the left, but if I ever want to go into progressive mode, this will be a pain in the azz. Any ideas or fixes?
Other than that, I wouldn't trade my XL650 for anything else! (Well, maybe straight across for a Super 1050 and the conversion kits for all the calibers I load, if it handled all of them!). Also love that utility at http://www.nfa.toys.com/dillon/ !!!!
Thanks much in advance for the help and advice!
Intuitively obvious, but relatively difficult to prove by the Pythagorean Theorem!
The second problem arose this fall when I purchased a 300 Rem Ultra Mag. I knew going into it that I would need to stray from the Blue covered reloading bench, up to then the only non-Dillon item on the bench was a Brown-Sharpe dial caliper that a friend sold me way too cheap when I started reloading! I made my list and picked up a Redding full body sizing die and competition seating die. Next I called Dillon for the conversion kit, belted magnum powder system, toolhead, powder check, another priming system, and was informed of the needed 650 magnum system for the caliber of my choice. I wanted to load the first 20 weighing each powder load, so I just set up the sizing die, took the cases out and prepped them like I wanted to, then put them in station 2 and primed them, weighed the powder into each of them, and then put the case into station 4, put a bullet on it and seated it. The problem is, the Redding competition seating die for 300 Weatherby, 300 Rem Ultra Mag and 7MM STW is set up differently and protrudes below the toolhead so far that the shellplate indexes before the bullet clears the seating die. I can remove the locator pin and remove the loaded round to the left, but if I ever want to go into progressive mode, this will be a pain in the azz. Any ideas or fixes?
Other than that, I wouldn't trade my XL650 for anything else! (Well, maybe straight across for a Super 1050 and the conversion kits for all the calibers I load, if it handled all of them!). Also love that utility at http://www.nfa.toys.com/dillon/ !!!!
Thanks much in advance for the help and advice!
Intuitively obvious, but relatively difficult to prove by the Pythagorean Theorem!
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I really think it best if you discuss your problems w/ the mfg.
Dillon stands behind their products 100+%
Now as for the problem w/ the Redding die you may just have to live with it as it's design and the design of the press are not compatible. Or you can setup a simple non-progressive press to handle the loading chores for your 300RUM as I don't see your probably needing to turnout large volumes of that cartridge.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Is your .38 special die set Dillon brand? I found that some makes of sizing dies are not flared enough, & shell wobble will cause the case to hang up when it enters the die.
Neal0 -
I'd suggest that You talk with Gary Kieft at Dillon Precission in Scottsdale, Arizona...1-800-323-4570..
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
I agree with nmyers I have same problem with RCBS dies on my 550 when doing 357's. 0 -
as to your problems with the .38 secial; i've had .38 cases with undersize primer pockets. resulting in protruding primers (usualy miltitary .38 brass, but a few commercial cases as well. as to your .300 rum. green goes with blue (single stage press along side the dillion) 0 -
To join the chorus:
For (1), call Dillon.
For (2), buy a single stage press. Unless someone is loading a high volume of the same cartridge, a progressive system doesn't buy much in rifle loads. Load development and such are best done with a single stage, as well.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the french." (Mark Twain) ". . . And liberals." (me)0
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