Dillon XL 650

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I use it, and love it. Greatest thing I have ever bought for my reloading room. It is really a marvel of technology and just feels so solid in my hands. Never a worry that it is a cheap piece of junk! Also, Dillon customer service is great to deal with.

Did you have any specific questions that we can help you with? I get about 400-500 handgun rounds an hour at a leisurely pace
 
Another XL650 here:

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Love it, great press, zero fiddling with the setup to get up and running. Still load most of my pistol, .308 and .223 on my 550, but the truly high volume stuff goes through the 650. As Doublehelix said, 450-500 an hours is a leisurely pace with the case feeder. It will do 100rds in about 8-10 minutes. Biggest PITA is keeping the primer tube filled.

Couple of upgrades I've done to mine; live primer "catch" and a spent primer upgrade:

http://www.dillonupgrades.com/

Chuck
 
I've owned a 650xl for 12 years now after upgrading from a 550RL. It's a very good press and I've not had any problems with it since I've owned it. Bottom line is I would get another one if I were looking for another progressive.

Word of advice if you buy one, get the Powder Check Die with it.
 
Have a 650 and it was my first press after having a Lee Turret for about a month. Amazing machine, love it and wouldn't trade it for anything (besides maybe a 1050)
 
I use them, after using pretty much everything you can get in the way of progressive presses, it has the most reliable primer feed system out of all of them.
 
Went from Loadmaster (still have it), to Hornady LnL AP, to XL650. The 650 is by far the best press. Other brands aren’t even close. Still use my Loadmaster for straight walled cases like 38/357 and 45acp. The 650 I use to crank out 1000’s of 9x19. Never a doubt when I set down to that press that it will work 100%. No priming problems, no dies popping up out of collets, consistent COL, seemingly effortless working the handle, no primer brackets breaking... Just confidence I can crank out a thousand rounds of 9x19 anytime I want. When I want to play with the machinery and have the time to “fiddle” I’ll use another press.

The 650 didn’t require any polishing, grinding, shimming this and shimming that, replacing new factory bad parts, bending, updating, thicker o-rings, after market parts to get it to work, and on, and on, and on, and on, .... It comes refined and ready to work as is. The design appears old, haven’t researched it, but obviously Dillon did their homework and came up with a good product. Great press. No support group or safe space needed for this one. Buy with confidence.
 
I have somewhere close to 50,000 rds through my 650XL since I got it early in 2007. I am very happy with the press and it has paid for itself in saving many many rounds ago.
 
I started with a lyman tmag 2 turret and moved on to the hornady lnl for a couple years. The ln bought the 650. It is the best press that i have owned. The only thing i can think of that is a negative is that it is not the press you want to be using if trying to work up loads. The lnl was way more friendly at that
 
I started with a 650 and its the only press I own so I can’t compare to others but I’m very happy with it.

I load rifle and pistol on it
 
another other here and I will add to the list of it's badass. I will add for me, it's actually total overkill for my needs. I hardly load anything other than pistol rounds. It loads rounds almost so fast that it takes all the fun out of it.

It's not perfect though. There are a few things that can be tweaked on it. However, there's enough people like me out there that think the same way - and all my personal shortcomings with the press are easily solved by throwing some money at fleabay.

About the only thing I would say with it. is that I don't think it would make a good press for a beginner. there's a whole lot going on with it, and a lot to pay attention to - therefore a lot of room to make mistakes.
 
About the only thing I would say with it. is that I don't think it would make a good press for a beginner.

As I said above, it was my first press and don’t belive beginners need to be intimidated by it. With the powder check option I actually think it might be safer for a new reloader than a single stage. That just my opinion, others may disagree.

I bought my 650 one month before joining the high road, March of 2015, so I’m still learning
 
another other here and I will add to the list of it's badass. I will add for me, it's actually total overkill for my needs. I hardly load anything other than pistol rounds. It loads rounds almost so fast that it takes all the fun out of it.

This right here! With other presses you’re a reloader. You’re in there. You’re doing stuff. Heading off problems. Nudging here. Nudging there. Working the handle just so so. 650 takes all that away from you. You’re subjugated to nothing more than a handle puller. Boringly reliable and consistent. Guess there’s a reason this is the only press in this category that has a commercially available motorized add on. Wait, there is no other press in this category. Guess that explains the motorized option. ;)
 
I've been "fostering" one now for a couple of years. I like it. I have toolheads set up for 9mm and .223 Remington. I also have two single stage presses set up next to each other that I load other cartridges with. Each tool head costs roughly the same but are much easier to deal with. The biggest adjustment for me was to save enough brass to do large batches at a time. As others have written, you can turn out a lot of ammunition, very consistently, in a relatively short period.
 
Just got one - a used one, I'm at least the 3rd owner - in the last few months. I LOVE it.

Previously did all my loading (lots of it) on a Lee Classic Turret. I still like the LCT, but for high-volume and ease of cranking out the rounds, there's no comparison.
 
As I said above, it was my first press and don’t belive beginners need to be intimidated by it. With the powder check option I actually think it might be safer for a new reloader than a single stage. That just my opinion, others may disagree.
I have to agree. Anyone with some mechanical aptitude could learn on a 650.
 
I bought a XL650 in 1994, when they were a newer design. I couldn’t be happier with it or with Dillon‘s customer service. I have loaded countless thousands of rounds on it. I have tool heads for 9mm, 357, 40, 45, 44, 223, and a couple of spares. Some parts have needed replaced, but no one could find fault with that considering how much it has been used. All parts were replaced free by Dillon. Also I could sell it today for more than I paid for it.
 
Last week on another forum a guy was selling his 650 with case feeder and several dies for $800.

I think it sold in 30 min
 
The fact that Dillon will basically send you the parts to rebuild a 650 that go tossed off a 50 story building helps the resale value. You don't really have to do very much due diligence on whether everything is in good shape... Dillon will bail you out if you buy one that has been wrecked or abused.
 
Here’s a youtuber that became somewhat popular for his work on a different brand. Here’s his take on his new brand he upgraded to.

 
The fact that Dillon will basically send you the parts to rebuild a 650 that go tossed off a 50 story building helps the resale value. You don't really have to do very much due diligence on whether everything is in good shape... Dillon will bail you out if you buy one that has been wrecked or abused.


Wait! What!? I read this yesterday and it didn’t even register. Was outside loading trailer for work tomorrow and it just flashed thru my mind, “did that guy say 50 stories?” 50 stories, you gonna tell that one?
 
I watched the video, he was a bit long winded but right on target. I have always gotten a kick out of the people that buy the Hornady for the bullets. Once those bullets are gone you have to live with the press.

Granted I think the Hornady is a good press but I would take a Dillon over it every time.

I've owned the 550b, the 650xl and the 1050. My absolute favorite was the 1050 though I finally sold it after producing a hugh stockpile of ammo. The 650xl is a fantastic press and I still have it. For my needs it does right by me.

I started with a 550b but came to the conclusion that I want a press that uses a powder check die. Sold the 550b and moved on to the 650xl.
 
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