Dillon Square Deal or 550B

I own both. The RL550 is easier to manipulate because of the larger diameter shellplate, giving more room between casings, larger spaces to put your hands into, and more space between dies. If you already have 9mm dies they will fit into your new RL550.

Both will fit on strong mounts, but they take different mounts and the footprint of the two mounts is different (550 mount is about 3/4 inch wider). The 550 will accept either of the two Dillon roller handles (plastic/aluminum), the SDB cannot.

If you are absolutely determined that you will only load the one caliber on the machine, I'd probably get the SDB, as it comes already set up (adjust powder throw and seating depth) and it will serve you well for many years.

If you have any considerations of expanding your pistol shooting into different calibers or mass producing rifle ammo (AR-15/.223, FN-FAL/.308, etc..) then it would be the 550.
Caliber changes are much easier, especially if you have complete toolheads for each caliber.

Feel free to PM me for further questions.

I only have 550s so can't speak from experience with the square deal.
I do know what I like about the 550,
Yeah, what he said. The square deal has proprietary dies so good only on it if you ever change your mind.
The 550 does rifle as well so you can change your mind about only doing pistol.
The auto advance, progressive, is great when it's great but the 550 is more forgiving if there is a problem. It can also go backwards if néed be.
The 550 also seems to be more popular so I find more deals on used parts and pieces. That being said Dillon does seem to hold a high resale value.
The auto advance does give a little more speed but if you really want to up the game you can get a case feeder and a bullet feeder for the 550.

Very satisfied with SD, after 10 years or so. Best to leave it as one caliber, but it can be changed.

If you really only plan on reloading 9mm then the square deal will be faster and cheaper.

Be honest with yourself though, because as soon as you add another caliber you were better off with the 550.

I have three SDBs, each dedicated to one cartridge. While cartridge changes on the SDBs are not difficult, they are not as convenient as on changes on other progressive presses.

Buying a complete press is alot more expensive as buying a change kit for a press.

SDBs are nice presses but they do use proprietary dies and are limited to handgun cartridges.

I also have a Dillon BL550, the stripped down version of the RL550B. I originally avoided the 550 because of the manual index but bought the BL550 for other particular reasons. I have found the manual index is not really a limitation. It just becomes part of the flow.

The four stations on both presses is a limitation.

On one SDB, I load 38 Special and it is difficult to see in the case to verify the powder charge. Shorter cases like 9x19 or 45 ACP do not have this problem. This is not an issue on the larger framed 550.

Roller handles are not available for the SDB as far as I know. This is probably due to the complexity of the SDB handle. One could probably be made at a cost, but since most reloaders are a thrifty bunch, I doubt enough would pay for one to make production worth while.

The roller handles for the 550 are a fairly simple affair.

I have both. One caliber, SDB. Fast, easy, accurate, and low maintenance.

I have had two SD's for 30 years. They have made more than a ton on ammo and were $130 new back then. I now own 550, 650 and 1050 machines too but still use the SD as well; however, for what they cost these days I would (and have) save up a little more for a different press.

I own two 550's and a SDB. All three have been great machines. The first 550 is roughly twenty years old and other than minor issues (some self inflicted) has run great through thousands of rounds. I prefer the 550 due to larger work area, ability to back up if needed, two chances to view powder level, (one on upstroke at powder station, one when you set the bullet at seating station, SDB tends to block your view.) You can also order a 550 already set up for one caliber like the SDB if you wish. The auto index on the SDB is ok, but once you get the rhythm going with the 550 it isn't an issue for me, just part of the process. As far as speed the 550 is advertised as faster than the SDB and IMHO is faster due to the larger more user friendly work area. As you probably know Dillon has one of the best warranties around. If it breaks they fix it.

I bought an SDB a while back, and have been perfectly happy with it and the rounds produced with it. I started with and continue to shoot 9mm at about a 6:1 ratio to all of our other pistol calibers combined.

I hate changing the priming system from small to large. Every time I do it, there's something out of adjustment and it takes a couple of hundred rounds for me to get it settled back in. That said, once that's done I can produce 400 rounds per hour including the time to reload my primer tubes, and even more if I have all of my tubes ready to go.

The only reason I've considered selling it is for an upgrade to a 550 or 650 so I can produce .223 rounds at a reasonable rate. Instead, I just bought a Lee turret press for the rifle rounds, and I will likely load .45acp on it as well so I can avoid the primer system change on the SDB.

The work area is a bit tight, but it's nothing I've ever had a problem with.

If I were a serious volume shooter, I would also consider a press that would allow a case feeder, but again, my 400/hr load rate is good enough.

As I said, I've been happy with the press, and am glad I bought it. It's got some limitations, but if you're going to stick to 9mm only, the SDB will work great. As it's a Dillon, it'll resell for a good price should you ever change your mind.


ETA: A roller handle conversion from the nice folks at Inline Fabrication

I looked back and forth on it for about 2 months. Finally settled on what I was really shooting. Realized I shot so much more pistol that loading rifle on a progressive wasn't much of an incentive for me. judicious searching on ebay has allowed me to grab several different caliber conversions for a relatively decent price.

That being said they are expensive, moreso than regular dies.

If I had anything to do over all again - I would have bought a second SDB for small primer. swapping calibers isn't a big deal - swapping out the primer feed is where I find myself grumbling - not that it's hard to do, it's just my personal beef.

SDB is almost impossible to beat for TVM for a progressive loader.

I have numerous presses and the go-to press for pistol is a Square Deal. It is one of the very first ones and it's been running for decades. I have shell plates set up for all calibers I load for, and contrary to popular belief, you can easily change over the caliber in just a few minutes. Dillon has basically re-built it for free, twice.

The 550 is more versatile, for sure. If you every want to do rifle in whatever press you buy, that's the no-brainer choice.

If you're ONLY going to do pistol The Square Deal really does a nice job. You can't go wrong with either choice.

NOTE: I don't do any priming on the Square Deal. All my cases are sized and primed on a single stage, far in advance of any loading.

It does a fine job. but there are many people out there who either prefer the feel of hand seating primers, or do priming in a separate step.

I got into a habit years ago of wrapping my index and middle finger around the steel shield for the primer tube, on the SD's, with the ball in my palm and squeezing the primers in.

Really is about the same feel as I have with and primers.

May seem awkward but it is actually pretty fluid after all this time.

I prefer to clean my cases after sizing but before loading. This affords me a number of priming options but I generally use a hand primer.

Most of my handgun cases are resized on a Hornady L-N-L and shortly after shooting. Small batches go quick and the L-N-L sets up for sizing in a couple minutes. Once i have a sufficient number of cases I load them up.

I find the loading process goes much smoother when the sizing and priming operation is removed from the mix. I can concentrate on powder charging and bullet seating. All of my other progressive presses (Dillon SDB, Dillon BL550, RCBS Pro2000 and L-N-L when used for loading) have the sizing die removed from the press.

This is just one way to reload on a progressive and it makes for a pleasurable experience for me. Not everyone agrees and that is fine.

My first press was the SDB. I have large hands and at the time I had a hand tremor, these conspired to make using the SDB's small frame a real problem for me. About a year passed and my relationship with that press didn't get any better. It has been gathering dust ever since I bought a Hornaday LNL. I haven't even taken the time to set it up for a single caliber use. No doubt it's a well made machine,the ergos just don't work for me.

I own a 550b, And it works fantastic. I have two tool heads one for 9mm and one for .40sw. Soon I will be adding .357 to my pistol loading.

I can not bad mouth the Square Deal, I have not used one. However, since you are asking....

Why is it that I have noticed several people selling the SD and moving up to a 550b or a 650 and nobody goes the other way?

viking499 said:

It has been on my mind for a year or so to get another press. Mainly to load 9mm on to ease my pistol loading from my RCBS. The only reload able pistol I shoot is 9 and 45 and the 45 is only a couple hundred rounds a year, if that. Any rifle reloads I still plan on doing on my RCBS Rockchucker.

I have read many topics on people comparing the two presses. Some like one, some like the other and many say that the 550 is more versatile. And I would agree with the versatility of the 550. But, I am only interested in loading 9mm with it and will not change it to another caliber.

I believe that either one would serve just fine. I do like the auto advance of the SD.

Is there a quality difference between the two, one made better than the other? They both have the same lifetime warranty.

Is one easier to manipulate than the other? They both seem to benefit from the "strong" stand. Will both accept the roller handle?

For those of you that have both or have had both, can you give me a comparison between the two as far as use and manipulation. Keep in mind I am only planning on loading one caliber on it.

I have also looked at the LNL, but seem to keep coming back to the blue press.

PS.......before anyone adds the comment, I AM NOT interested in a LEE press. Had one years ago, did not like it, sold it and went back to loading on my RCBS.

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I hear you on the Lee Press. I had a couple of Lee Pro-1000 progressives. I finally got rid of them when I upgraded to an auto-advancing 4-station Turret press that gave me more throughput than the Lee progressives ever did and left me much more relaxed after a loading session. But since you asked for advice on progressives, I won't tell you the manufacturer's name unless you ask.

Between the Square Deal and the 550, I will point out that the 550 will use the same 9mm dies that you already own ( a small savings). The square deal uses proprietary dies. But using the Dillon dies on the Dillon press is somehow satisfying. Especially for someone OCD.

Lost Sheep

Lost Sheep said:

I hear you on the Lee Press. I had a couple of Lee Pro-1000 progressives. I finally got rid of them when I upgraded to an auto-advancing 4-station Turret press that gave me more throughput than the Lee progressives ever did and left me much more relaxed after a loading session. But since you asked for advice on progressives, I won't tell you the manufacturer's name unless you ask.



Between the Square Deal and the 550, I will point out that the 550 will use the same 9mm dies that you already own ( a small savings). The square deal uses proprietary dies. But using the Dillon dies on the Dillon press is somehow satisfying. Especially for someone OCD.



Lost Sheep

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I started on an auto indexing 4 hold turret. I ditched it for a lee Pro1000. It came no where near as close to the production. Not just in time but in effort. When you shoot the volume I do pulling the handle 4000 times for 1000 rounds is a joke.

cfullgraf said:

I prefer to clean my cases after sizing but before loading.

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Why would you prefer to run dirty brass through your resizing die?