Square Deal B vs 550b vs Lock-n-Load AP

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

So I'm looking at getting into reloading - these are the 3 machines that are in my budget right now.

I plan to primarily load 40 S&W and honestly don't see anything else in the future. Maybe 9mm but who knows - its pretty cheap to buy.

Any advice?

jeffsoward · Sep 17, 2010

I know some guys that swear by the Square Deal B, but I wouldn't trade my 550B for anything. I can do a changeover in less than 10 minutes, but you won't have to worry about it since you're doing strictly .40 for now (and with 9mm, there's only the toolhead, no primer setup to mess with).

If you want, you can come over sometime and check out my 500 setup. It's like buttah!

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

I may take you up on it. I got the cash for a setup and just ordered 2000 once shot brass. I'm ready to do this.

jeffsoward · Sep 17, 2010

I know it's been said a million times, but Dillon support is second-to-none.
I wouldn't necessarily use their dies though. The Lee dies are cheaper and they resize better, in my experience (with .45), than the Dillon's.
Also, the Dillon decapping die uses a spring-loaded decapper and I've busted three e-clips (that hold it in place on the die) in less than 6000 rounds. The hammer action of the spring is just too much for the e-clips.

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

Where are you located? I have a good deal on a 550b that I can pick up barely used for $300 - just wanna check out how one works first...

jeffsoward · Sep 17, 2010

Sorry, had to take the family to dinner.

I'm in NW OKC.

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

I would love to come play on you 550. That will help me decide.

WhiteyMacD · Sep 17, 2010

Dillon over the all other brands, and the 550 over the SDB. Had my 550b for over a year now, not one problem. Solid build, good support, really fast caliber changes (and not to expensive to buy the quick change kits).

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

I am leaning that way - just would love to put my hands on one and play with it a tad before jumping into this adventure....

tul9033 · Sep 17, 2010

I know there is some blue blood among us, but I will be the lone dissenter and advocate for the Hornady LNL. Once you go progressive I don't think you will ever look back. As far as cost, the LNL is quite a bit cheaper than the 650 and change overs are a hell of a lot less expensive and pretty quick to changeover. Ezject made a big improvement over the old wire ejector and Hornady support has never batted an eye at sending parts out NC (and I have gotten a ton of trival stuff).
I'm always finding new tips and ideas to make the LNL better. A case feeder has really been a nice upgrade too,

jeffsoward · Sep 17, 2010

[quote author=B.S. DuBois link=topic=33.msg272#msg272 date=1284770855]
I would love to come play on you 550. That will help me decide.
[/quote]
If you want to come over Sunday, I should be here all day. Tomorrow's way too crazy; Tulsa in the morning and my sons' birthday party in the afternoon.

Give me a call if you want to come by. PM'd phone number.

bsdubois00 · Sep 17, 2010

Yea - Lets get together Sunday - I'll PM you my info - yea unfortunately the downfall of a college town on game day is the 50,000+ people that come to Norman....

I'll be at home watching TV

jeffsoward · Sep 17, 2010

Awesome!

Rockon71385 · Sep 18, 2010

My 550 is definitely the coolest toy I own by far, and Dillon's customer service is AMAZING. You call them and an actual person answers the phone. There's not even a "Press 1 for sales, press 2 for service" type of menu. You literally call there 800 number and some guys answers the phone. Also, the no questions asked warranty is fantastic. I bought my unit used and it has had to have a few parts replaced. Dillon was excellent about sending parts. They send you the new part with a stamped and addressed evelope to mail the defective part back to them.

Get a Dillon.

jtischauser · Sep 18, 2010

Get a 650 and forget about it.

jtischauser · Sep 18, 2010

[quote author=jeffsoward link=topic=33.msg353#msg353 date=1284847378]
[quote author=jtischauser link=topic=33.msg343#msg343 date=1284845945]
Don't be a kitty cat! Get a 650 and forget about it.
[/quote]
We're not all trophy husbands that get everything they want from their wives.

[/quote]

You obviously have never met my Tara.

Wormydog1724 · Sep 18, 2010

I would like to get into reloading but the start up cost is what is holding me back.

I want to reload with somebody to see if I have the patience and time to do it.

jtischauser · Sep 18, 2010

[quote author=Wormydog1724 link=topic=33.msg361#msg361 date=1284849337]
I would like to get into reloading but the start up cost is what is holding me back.

I want to reload with somebody to see if I have the patience and time to do it.
[/quote]

Patience comes into play with the setup and change over and fixing the machine when it goes down. Its fast to make bulelts when everythingis setup. The time problem is my biggest problem too. I ordered the cadillac setup from Brian Enos. XL650 with casefeeder, extra everything, 223,9, 40, 45 dies and I have made about 300 9mm bullets in the 3 months that I have owned it. If anybody is interested in drinking free beer and making themselves some free ammo I got a machine that needs to be setup. LOL.

Wormydog1724 · Sep 18, 2010

I'd like to reload .40 s&w and .223

I really want to load up some 62 and 77 grain .223 and see how they do out of my WOA barrel. It shoots 50 grain federal bulk pretty good but since its 1:7 twist I think heavier is better.

jtischauser · Sep 18, 2010

[quote author=Wormydog1724 link=topic=33.msg367#msg367 date=1284849751]
I'd like to reload .40 s&w and .223

I really want to load up some 62 and 77 grain .223 and see how they do out of my WOA barrel. It shoots 50 grain federal bulk pretty good but since its 1:7 twist I think heavier is better.
[/quote]

I was shooting my Black Hills 69gr sierra MK today at 400 & 500 with my Accupoint scope and a 300 yard zero. Out of my 18" barrel they are traveling about 2685 ft/sec. I was holding over 16" at 400 and 46" at 500. The full value cross wind at 10+mph had me holidng 10"+ off the south side. My buddy Chris was shooting 55gr Hornady that where running hot at 3000+ (can't remeber the exact number) but he was 10"+ flatter and not any less adustment for windage.

The morale of this long ass story is I am not sold on the heavy bullets. In fact that slower heavy bullet in the Black Hills is going to be out of the range bag after the match next weekend. I gotta get the press working.