Blue, a new favorite colour

[RUFFBIRD]

After many years of handloading on a single stage press I upgraded to this one & the blue colour has never looked better. 8)

Set up my new RL 550B & played with it yesterday setting up the different die stations & with some coffee & a couple of cigars later (not in the reloading room) :lol: had her up & cranking out a loaded round with each pull on the handle. Now don't get me wrong, 35 for my 1'st session I didn't want to double charge any cases, &/or seat the primers in the wrong orientation, & make sure they were flush or just below. My only quirk was when trying to pick up primers with the pick-up tube. I removed the plastic tip & used the deburring tool on the inside of the tube to cut the sharp edge that was preventing primer entry. Now it works like a charm!

Today I was so excited, had to get back to it & charged some .357 mag brass with Trail-Boss powder & some cast bullets. Once I got the different steps in my head, it seemed to go a bit faster. I like the idea of being able to stop & pull the pin, literally & remove the the piece of brass to check something, usually to check the powder weight. I know there is more to learn about it, but what a sweet machine these progressives are.

I will be putting this to good use next year when I can retire, in the mean time I will practice... 8)

Thanks for stopping by, I just wanted to share my new joy with you all!

 

[JPGLSG]

There is nothing like new stuff. New stuff missions are the key to a happy life !!!!!

 

[gatling]

Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.

 

[6gun]

Never cared much for the color blue but could sure get to like it if that were mounted to my reloading bench, "nice".... looks like your all set up.

 

[snowman2]

I bought one just like it last year. This machine works great and beats the heck out of reloading 45 colts on a single stage machine.
Cheers Harv.

 

[KWYJIBO]

My dad went to a Dillon progressive machine years ago and loves it. I'm still doing single-stage, but I don't load a large volume of ammo.

Glad to hear you got yours set up without much trouble.

 

[contender]

I have 3 Dillon blues on my bench, and I'd add another in a heartbeat if the price on it was "right!"

 

[AJGUNNER]

I will be putting this to good use next year when I can retire, in the mean time I will practice...

That will give you one year to get a bunch of components stocked piled while the $$$ are still rolling in. For some strange reason these machine sure are hungry for more and more components.

 

[Jim Puke]

Congrats and you will love it. I am sold on blue, also...even though it took me a few years to make the leap. One this is for sure, I will never go back. :mrgreen:

 

[claybirds]

Great reloader, I really like mine.

 

[RUFFBIRD]

Well, I got a second one cheaper in price than the first when we went into Michigan! Got it at Jay's in Gaylord. They were $100. less than here in Canada & I saved the $56. shipping charge from Alberta too. I am thrilled to have another, I won't have to change out the primer bars when loading with different sized primers, & will have lots of spare parts. Won't need the spare parts kit! :lol:

I ordered a couple of conversion kits for .44 mag & .45 acp, some tool heads & another powder die today to complete my needs for reloading .32 Long/.32 H&R, .38/.357, .44 mag, 45 colt & .45 acp pistol cartridges. In time perhaps a few more powder measures will be added, but can get by with two for now. I have lots of components to feed them, so I believe this winter is going to be more productive in total loaded rounds. 8)

Go ahead & post your Dillons (or any other brand) if you like,....I'm loving the blue now.... :lol: Thanks again folks!

 

[George Tucker]

Very nice Ruff, I have 2 550-Bs, one 650, and two Star Machines, they are for sure a joy to run, George.

 

[Ethang]

I bought a 650 the first year they came out. It has been a wonderful machine. I sent it back to Dillon about 8 years ago to be cleaned and gone through and they upgraded all the original parts to the newest stuff and fully cleaned and lubed it. Looked like a new machine when I got it back, and they did not charge me a dime.

Mike is smart though, anytime I call for a part or problem I end up feeling guilty about being treated so well and buy something else I want or think I need.

 

[contender]

I have to say that over the many years I've owned my 3 Dillons, their customer service AND warranty is by far the best of any company I've ever dealt with.
So, when I need something, even if it's not a Dillon reloading product, I look in the "Blue Press" catalog. Just the other day, I was wanting to dress up a new S&W DA revolver for competition. I had ordered some stuff from Midway, (using my B-Day discount,) but they were out of stock on a few things. Well, I went to the Blue Press, and the cylinder release latch was listed in it, where it had been out of stock at Midway. Without hesitation, I ordered it from Dillon, paying $5 more for the latch, AND since it was only one item, (they didn't have the other item I wanted as well,) the $11 shipping added to the cost of the small part a lot. But I figure I still owe Dillon a lot more than that for all the parts they have sent me for FREE over the years.
Dillon is heads & shoulders above any other company when it comes to customer service.

 

[btrumanj]

RUFFBIRD, that is one slick looking outfit.

Baker

 

[mohavesam]

wife #1 bought me (us) a 550B when they changed to the B model, back when Dillon was still in the airport complex. It was $206 otd.
I now have two and a SD and an AT500.
Mike Dillon is the real deal, never borrowed a dollar from a bank for his business. Good stuff made and serviced the American way.

 

[Joe S.]

I love my 550. If i could ever find more cast 45acp boolits id be using it right now

 

[kentdep]

I have a 550 and a 650XL. The 550 was and is a very good machine. I load all my pistol calibers but .38 Special on the 550. The 650 is set up with all the extras. I run about 15,000 .38 Specials a year on it. With everything set up and ready to go, I can do 100 rounds in about 6 minutes. That is a nice step up from my 550 where 100 rounds would take about 10 minutes (no case feeder).

Welcome to club blue!

Jay