Dillon 650 vs 1050 choice..update

[Dave P.]

I'm going back into reloading a few calibers and have pretty much decided a 650 will do what I want.
If anybody has, or had, both models....any thoughts?
I don't mind spending the extra money on the 1050, but really can't see
much " bang for the buck" on the 1050.
I used a Star universal for several years in the 1980s and was happy with it.
Going to set up for 38/357 and 45acp , 9mm is so cheap that too me it isn't
worth the time/effort to reload.
Getting a case feeder for sure, not sure about the bullet feeder yet?
Open to thoughts about the 2 choices.
Thanks
Dave

 

[Twoboxer]

Hornady user here who has "heard" this question asked in several forums . . . google search revealed the comment below on Brian Enos' web site which is typical of the responses I've seen:

"I've got both and tried to write up something about one vs the other, downstroke priming, roller bearings and linkages, but never got anything I was happy with. The bottom line is for mass quantities of one caliber, the 1050 rules, while for more-than-once-every-5K rounds- caliber changes the 650 is the way to go. Most people I know that load multiple calibers on a 1050 end up buying multiple 1050s so as to leave them set up."

ETA: The reason for this is 1050 changeovers and getting everything adjusted for a smooth run can take more time than the 1050's volume benefits provide. Longer and longer runs eventually lead to acquiring one 1050 for each caliber. While the 1050's extra stations and available tools provide benefits for rifle calibers being reloaded into brass with swaged primer pockets, your calibers do not need that function.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I don't have any blue stuff on my bench, but a fellow down the street has a 1050 in his garage (it's how I met him--it caught my eye one day when the garage door was open and I'd never seen one up close in person!) Set up for .45 ACP, it sits covered until the guys at his range have collected enough brass, and provided enough components, for him to "make a pretty good run all at once." Read: about 20k rounds! He's a range officer at a range out in the desert that caters to the local Marine base and its retirees for a clientele, so they go thru a few .45s now and then. I think he said something about having the dies and such to convert it to .223, but have never seen him run any of that caliber.

All the rest of his loading, which is mostly rather short runs of a few hundred at a time, is done on a Dillon SDB. As mentioned above, he's said pretty much the same thing: the 1050 takes enough time to get set up for best efficiency that it's worth not futzing with it frequently. Point to the 650 there for easier usability.

Rick C

 

[contender]

While I do not own a 1050,,, I have tinkered with one in the past.
I do own a pair of 650's,, a SDB & a 550.
As noted above,,, the caliber changes are easier by all accounts I know of in the 650 over the 1050. The 1050 is close to a factory production type. I think the 650 is the best all around.

 

[Dave P.]

Thanks.
I'd be running maybe 1-2 thousand at a time, from your reply's and what
I've been able to read on other sites I think I'll be happy with a 650.
Contender, do you have a bullet feeder on your 650's?
Dave

 

[DeletedMember275]

Another consideration is that the 1050 does NOT share the Dillon 'No-BS' warranty that the 'hobby' machines have. Dillon considers the 1050 to be intended for production work (read: 'professional'). As such, they charge for repair parts.

 

[contender]

I do not have a bullet feeders for my 650's. I load about a thousand of my match ammo at a time,,, and it doesn't take much time. I also have a pair of the Dillon primer tube fillers. That saves a lot of time too.

 

[Twoboxer]

Thanks.
I'd be running maybe 1-2 thousand at a time, from your reply's and what
I've been able to read on other sites I think I'll be happy with a 650.
Contender, do you have a bullet feeder on your 650's?
Dave

Again, Hornady guy here, with an AP and a Mr. Bullet Feeder. That bullet feeder flat out works, only a couple of adjustments to learn, speeds up operation, and makes it less tiring.

Downsides are it costs money and it takes up a station forcing you to make choices elsewhere.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

I had a star before Dillon started making presses. Graduated to a
550. Decided to get a 1050. When I called Dillon, they talked me
out of a 1050 and into a 650. Glad I did. Really need a 1050 for
commercial. 650 is great and much easier to change calibers.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I bought a 650 with many bells and whistles and it would not seat primers and the low powder warning system would not stay adjusted more than 50 rounds. Sent it back to the factory, they didn't fix it and sent it back. I boxed it up and got a refund.
I have a lock and load now and it works. I humbly suggest you look at a different brand.

 

[jsh]

I won't put one brand over the other. I have had or used all of the above.

You say you will load 1-2k at a time. Honestly that is not all that many,unless it will be 1-2k every few weeks.
Buddy had a 1050. As mentioned it can be a pita to swap calibers as we soon found out. So he bought another. Forward about 2-3 years. He sold the 1050's, bought a 650 and a 550. Then ended up with four SDB's. Now he shoots more than ever but the 650 sets hardly used. He rebuilds the SDB's about every two years.

My bench has two SDB's, two Hornady's and couple of Rock chuckers.

Look before you leap.
Jeff

 

[MrElectric03]

I own both.

It comes down to how much time you want to spend reloading. I load 9mm and .223 on my 1050 due to the swager. I load many pistol calibers on my 650 plus a few rifle rounds that I prep. The 1050 can easily crank out 1200+ rph with the bulletfeeder and primer tubes filled and ready. Much less stopping to fix little things. The 650 will have small things here and there but can still crank out 600-750 rph(without bulletfeeder, never felt like swapping it over).

If you aren't loading or prepping 9mm or .223 I wouldn't waste the extra money on the 1050 especially with the warranty difference. However swapping calibers on the 1050 is a lot easier than everyone makes it out to be.

 

[mlazarus5388]

Unless you really can make use of the speed and additional rph of the 1050, I'd suggest the 650. Predominantly for the warranty. Dillon will take care of you in the event you need something for the 650.

 

[Dave P.]

Update...decided on the 650 initially set up for .38 special.
Going to use it with out a bullet feeder for a while and see
how it goes.
Setting up the area in my basement ( mostly moving junk ) now.
Decided I wanted a nice bench for this press and got to work
building one. I earn part of my living as a machinist so I wanted something
solid.

Added tap pads on the rear legs in case I wanted to add a back later and a couple of the small
1.25 inch receiver tubes to slip in a single stage press or whatever might occasional use.
Frame is basically done and heading out for powder coat.
Thanks again for the opinions on the press choices.
Dave

 

[contender]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! Nice bench frame. You will likely want the back later on. Also,, as I mentioned,, my 650's are excellent. But I do not see the need (nor reason for the expense,) of the bullet feeding system. BUT,,,,, case feed,,, absolutely! I loaded 300 rounds on one of my 650's the other day in 40 S&W. Spent about 35 minutes doing it. (Of course,, I have the primer tube filler to help,,!)

 

[Twoboxer]

Stunning work! I presume you'll mount the press on the right end of the bench.

What surface are you planning? A nice, thick butcher block perhaps? or steel?

You can probably fabricate the equivalent of Inline Fabrication's line of products, specifically the Quick Change mounts which you may find useful.

Would love to see the next steps, and the finished product too.

 

[Dave P.]

Stunning work! I presume you'll mount the press on the right end of the bench.

What surface are you planning? A nice, thick butcher block perhaps? or steel?

You can probably fabricate the equivalent of Inline Fabrication's line of products, specifically the Quick Change mounts which you may find useful.

Would love to see the next steps, and the finished product too.

Correct on the right front for the Dillon.
Steel top....HR1060 plate flame hardened and blanchard ground to .650 thick. It was
a leftover from a customer's job and they GAVE it to me. ( great guys to work with )
Started out .750 thick, had it ground to the .650.....still weighs maybe 225 pounds.
Main frame is 2.5 inch .250 wall square tube.
Frame went out for powder, will post another picture when it's back and I mount
the top.
Dave

 

[Dave P.]

Got my bench pretty much done.
Frame back from powder coat....

Installed the bottom shelf, stained and poly coated a piece of
Birch plywood. Would never use wood in a real shop/industrial
environment but for home use it'll be ok.

Added a power strip...

Installed the reletivly cheap import drawers, actually
not too bad at the price point.

Then installed the top, bolt on vs. welded to make it easier
to get in my basement.

Will put the feet on after it gets moved.

I post a few shots after it's moved in and get the press mounted.
Dave

 

[contender]

One of the nicest looking benches I've ever seen.

 

[Dave P.]

Thanks Contender, it will outlast me.
When I'm dead and gone somebody else will
get to use it.
Dave

 

[contender]

Just as long as "someone" doesn't decide to sell it for scrap prices! :D

 

[win1894s]

Awesome bench you could rebuild a big block chevy on that!