Dillon Square Deal?

[Guy Miner]

Am considering a Dillon Square Deal for my .45 ACP loading. It's the only center-fire handgun I load and shoot in quantity, and my single stage Rockchucker is mighty slow at cranking out large volumes in a hurry. It takes me about an hour to load 50 rounds of .45 ACP and only minutes to shoot that same box of fifty...

I've no desire to automate my .308 ammo production, only load and shoot about 1,000 rounds of .308 a year now, so it can stay single stage.

I've no desire to go with a progressive on my .44 mag, as I only load and shoot about 500 rounds a year through it.

The .45 ACP though... That thing gets a lot of ammo run through it every year. Am thinking that the little Square Deal press might work out well for me - but I've never tried one.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

Thanks, Guy

 

[Bruce Mc]

I have a Square Deal and load for 45 ACP and 40 S&W. I've had very few problems with the loader. It works well for my needs loading a couple hundred rnds in a sitting. Takes me just a couple hours, but I work slow. It loads both lead and jacketed bullets equally well. The only problem I've had is using the plated hollowpoints. You've got to be extra careful placing them in the mouth of the case or they'll ending up getting mashed on the edges when they're seated. If you want to load for a second caliber you can get a spare tool head so you don't have to worry about adjusting dies when you switch. I highly recommend the loader. I've had mine for over five years and have not had anything break. The loader is very simple and easy to disassemble and clean. Keep extra parts on hand for those pesky lost screws and pins.

 

[Desert Fox]

I have one that's over 20 years old now. I loaded thousands rounds of accurate 9MM, 357, 38, and 44 mag on it and it never skip a beat. It's a very good entry level progressive pistol and revolver press. Dillon warranty is one of the best in the business so you can't go wrong.

 

[Too Tall]

Guy, I think the 550-B will do everything the SD will do, and more. I'd go with the 550-B.

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks for the input guys. I've asked this on a couple of forums and am getting some very good responses. Much appreciated.

When I get a progressive, I've no intention of using it for anything but .45 ACP. That's the only center-fire handgun round I shoot in large quantity.

Have no intention of going progressive with my rifle cartridges either - I'm too happy with the way my rifle ammo turns out now, and the only one I shoot in quantity is the .308 Win, about 1,000 rounds a year is all anymore. Have slowed down considerably in my rifle ammo shooting over the past few years.

All the other rifles and handguns are loaded in fairly small amounts, no need or desire for a progressive for them.

Anyone else with suggestions - please chime in, I'm open to suggestions!

Regards, Guy

 

[Woodycreek]

Its gotta be good press since Dillon makes the Mini-Gun :twisted: I was looking at the SB and 550 series before I found a like new RCBS progressive that was already set up for 10mm/40cal.

 

[CMBTshooter]

You cannot go wrong with a Dillon! The SDB loads about 300 rounds an hour but if you really want to produce a lot of ammo in a short amount of time you should go with the RL500-B or the XL650. I load a ridiculous amount of 10mm on my XL650. It was a pricey investment but it's really paying off and it doesn't take me all day to load what I shoot in an hour.

 

[atmoshpere]

+1 for Dillon progressive presses. Have used the XL650 to load for 40 S&W for several years now and like Bruce, the only trouble I ever had was with plated bullets, and by trouble I mean that I just had to be extra careful seating the bullets. Everything else fed right through. When feeding cases and bullets manually and taking my time to make sure each round comes out right I produce about 14 rounds per minute. The last time I did the math, loading 180 gr montana gold bullets cost about $.17/round. 180 XTP's came out loaded for about $.22/round. That was figuring on using brass 4 times and buying primers by the brick. It's probably a little higher now.

You won't be disappointed in the Dillon.

atm

 

[FOTIS]

Dillon makes a wonderful product. Buy with confidence.

 

[HTDUCK]

Guy,

I used to do alot of pistol shooting.Mainly metal plate matches and IPSC.
Needed a progressive press to keep up with the ammo requirements.
I bought an SDB aound 17 years ago and I have loaded close to 100k rounds on it.

It will load about 400 rounds an hour and every round is run through a taper crimp die.
(Very important with auto loaders)
Press has given me very little trouble over all the years.

Now the dies for an SDB don't fit anything else.
They are also not cheap.

If I had to do it over again I'd buy a 550.
It will do everything the SDB does but will also allow you to load rifle ammo too.
I'd like to load plinking ammo for my AR in volume and can't with the SDB

Howard

 

[C.Smith]

I have a Dillon 550. Love it. I know several people that have used the square deal B including an indoor range that loaded on those for their range loads they sold. YOu can not go wrong with Dillon or their no BS warrant which is just that, great customer service.

Corey

 

[reflex264]

Guy I have a SD and a 550B. Both are great. If just doing pistol rounds the SD is faster. I can do 700 rounds an hour on the SD. I lay all my material out first and have a bunch of primer tubes full. reflex264

 

[Guy Miner]

That's fast...

 

[reflex264]

That's fast...

I read a post on another forum that claimed they were doing 1000 rounds an hour with two people running it. I don't see how. 700 to me is maxed with all your stuff ready. A good easy number is 500 which anyone can do once your used to the way things cycle. My set up include a Lee case columnator mounted next to it on the bench. I dump my cases in the columnator and get all the tubes full. I bought several extra primer straws from dillon so I have the machine full of primers and the extra straws full of primers. I mounted a small bin nest the press on the left side to hold bullets. The time consuming opperations such as loading the primer straws and keeping fresh cases in the columnator could be done by a second party. reflex264

 

[Guy Miner]

Yeah, I'm not going to need anywhere near 1,000 rounds an hour...

I think my biggest decision is going to have to be - is it Really just for large quantities of .45 ACP or am I someday going to want to crank out large quantities of rifle ammo for some match rifle I'm shooting the dickens out of?

If I'm going to add the rifle to the mix, instead of just the .45 ACP, suddenly something like the Dillon 550 makes a lot more sense.

I'll stew on this a bit. Anyone have a bad experience with one of the many progressive presses on the market these days?

Thanks, Guy

 

[boomer68]

I would stick with the Square Deal in your case. I have one and it is fantastic for loading handgun ammo. I take my time and can easily do 200-300 rounds in an hour. Pick up one of the parts kits while you are at it. No need for a 550 if you have no intention of loading rifle on a progressive.

 

[reflex264]

Yeah, I'm not going to need anywhere near 1,000 rounds an hour...

I think my biggest decision is going to have to be - is it Really just for large quantities of .45 ACP or am I someday going to want to crank out large quantities of rifle ammo for some match rifle I'm shooting the dickens out of?

If I'm going to add the rifle to the mix, instead of just the .45 ACP, suddenly something like the Dillon 550 makes a lot more sense.

I'll stew on this a bit. Anyone have a bad experience with one of the many progressive presses on the market these days?

Thanks, Guy

Tried 3 Lees. Pure junk. I even got to explain why to Mr. Lee. Too much slop, impossible primer system and the list goes on. reflex264

 

[rquack]

Like you, I began to consider a progressive machine when loading pistol volumes began to take too long. I purchased the Dillon Square Deal B. It performs flawlessly. Any little hiccups and Dillon support is able to talk you through any repair or required adjustment. The Square Deal is a physically small unit; if you have real large hands, I'd suggest getting a full size loader. I'd also like to respectfully disagree with a prior comment that this is an "entry level" unit. Although it is the lowest priced Dillon loader, it is a very suitable piece of equipment capable of loading high volumes of ammo for a great number of years. It is very accurate and holds all adjustments with great stability. After several years of loading 9mm and .38 special and .357, I'm very pleased with my purchase.

 

[HTDUCK]

Yeah, I'm not going to need anywhere near 1,000 rounds an hour...

I think my biggest decision is going to have to be - is it Really just for large quantities of .45 ACP or am I someday going to want to crank out large quantities of rifle ammo for some match rifle I'm shooting the dickens out of?

If I'm going to add the rifle to the mix, instead of just the .45 ACP, suddenly something like the Dillon 550 makes a lot more sense.

I'll stew on this a bit. Anyone have a bad experience with one of the many progressive presses on the market these days?

Thanks, Guy

Guy, if you are even REMOTELY considering adding volume rifle reloading to the mix then buy a 550.
Trust me on this one, I never thought I would be in that position but I am.
The SDB is a very nice pistol press but.....

Howard