Dillon DA 3000

[lordpaxman]

I just got the blue press catalog and they’re introducing the automation package for their RL1100 and CP2000. It costs 2399$ and their video says it’ll take a few hours to install, and give you up to 2K rounds per hour.
http://dillon-automation.com/
While I’m still going to be pulling the handle for a while, it’s at least an interesting announcement.
For those that are going to or have switched to an automated process, any advice on how this package looks compared to others, and/or what to consider when going that route?
I’d be most interested in how they detect powder charges, as that’s the one thing you can’t determine easily after the round has been loaded.

 

[jmorris]

I automated one of my 1050’s before there were any off the shelf conversions. I used an industrial PLC and input from the powder check die, low powder alarm (hard wired no more batteries) as well as an UP and Down limit switch to know when it reaches either end of the stroke.


Since that video I have also added a sensor that looks for the tip of a properly seated bullet. So if it’s not there or in the wrong position the machine stops.

So it will run like this.



but stop on this.




I am not seeing a lot of information on these but this source https://thehebrewhammer.net/tag/dillon/ indicates the Dillon is ammobot setup. If that were the case and building it myself was not an option, I’d probably just get a Mark 7 instead. That said, the ammobot generally keeps the handle.

From the little information they have at the link you posted, I can only see they do not show how or if they can “sense”.

The machine on the right would be for loading vs processing because it has a powder hopper and bullet feeder, I note the lack of a powder check die and no low primer warning. That would be unacceptable to me. Might as well have a blind guy load for you just blindly cranking the handle.




I figured when they brought back the eccentric that the old RL1050 used they would just copy what Craig had designed. The rotary design is an improvement over the extra tolerance stack in all of the Super linkage, assuming you don’t need the extra stroke.

This is one of his drives I put on an RL

http://www.forchtfirearms.com/

If you come across a manual for the Dillon, please post a link.

 

[EricBu]

Yeah, the big Dillon's have kind of jumped the shark for me. I love them for manual loading, but you have to give up to much to automate them. You have to choose: Either a powder check OR give up seating/crimping in separate operations. I think the future of big presses is going to be a 10 station minimum, with lots of sensor options. Unless Big Blue get's with the times, they will fall by the wayside like so many other companies that had good products, got used to owning a market, but could not evolve and change.

 

[jmorris]

Either a powder check OR give up seating/crimping in separate operations.

You didn’t watch the first video of the one I built did you?

5 powder charge
6 powder check
7 feed & seat
8 crimp

But that’s been a possibility since around 2005, even on 5 station presses. You just need a way to incorporate the bullet feed with bullet seat, so it doesn’t occupy a station on its own.

Like this 650 with feed and seat on #4.



I certainly like the idea of more stations as far as adding capability.

 

[EricBu]

You didn’t watch the first video of the one I built did you?

5 powder charge
6 powder check
7 feed & seat
8 crimp

But that’s been a possibility since around 2005, even on 5 station presses. You just need a way to incorporate the bullet feed with bullet seat, so it doesn’t occupy a station on its own.

Like this 650 with feed and seat on #4.

View attachment 1053559

I certainly like the idea of more stations as far as adding capability.

I didn't catch that you were actually seating on the feed station. Did you fab that piece up yourself as well? To late now anywhoo, I"ve got deposits down on two Mark VII Revolutions already. Should be delivered in March.

 

[jmorris]

This is the feeder on the 1050.



IIRC it was 2004 when received e of the first ones they made for the 650’s. They didn’t have a working collator yet so I had to build that part. Just kept doing that after they came out, to save money.

 

[EricBu]

This is the feeder on the 1050.



IIRC it was 2004 when received e of the first ones they made for the 650’s. They didn’t have a working collator yet so I had to build that part. Just kept doing that after they came out, to save money.

That explains it.........GSI quit making that a while ago. AFAIK, there is no current 1050 bullet feeding system that integrates seating. If there is, let me know, because I would be interested. I will still have to keep 2 Dillons around 32 ACP (to small for the Mark VII) and 45-70 (too big for the Mark VII).

 

[jmorris]

I have to admit to not being sure what all is out there right now, it would be too expensive for me anyway.

This might be the only choice for pistol bullets right now.
https://www.doublealpha.biz/us/combo-mini-brbulletfeeder-2-in-1-seating-and-crimping-die

I guess Lee feeder feeds and seats at the same station.
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-...rogressive-press-accessories/bullet-feed-kit/
It just doesn’t work for long and you have to boil the fingers to restore tension, to them.

It’s been awhile but MA-Systems made/or sold a pneumatic version with metal “fingers” and spring adjustable tension that worked well but was really out of reach for most that didn’t reload as a business. This is one of them, with their collator, on an RL



There was also one that always had an add in the Frontsight magazine that worked on the window die principal, for pistols but I haven’t seen the add in years. Seems like it might have been a fellows name, starting with “A”. Like these.

https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell-holders/rifle-dies/gold-medal-match---seater-die/344.html

https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/re...ies/universal-bullet-seating-die/1116715.html

https://www.reloaders.com/products/bullet-seating-die-body-only

Really surprised no one has made a drop on toggle to feed another bullet in as the ram comes up.

Systems that took components, all base down, from tubes and fed them one by one, to move them into a hole, have existed for more decades than most of us have been around.



Like I need another project but something like that seater set would be a good one to do.


On the GSI, if you look for one resale, keep in mind a factory Dillon1050 tool head alone is over $200. The GSI’s were $321, if you subtracted the 200 you were already going to spend on another tool head, it was only another $122 for a billet tool head that incorporated a bullet feeder. At least that’s how I justified mine.

 

[GW Staar]

.....................

Really surprised no one has made a drop on toggle to feed another bullet in as the ram comes up.

RCBS actually did have a Gold Medal Seater-like die under their Pro 2000 Rifle collator.....never bought one nor did many others....expensive and poorly marketed....so it is history like so much else of RCBS's poorly marketed progressive business. I did eventually buy a Pro Chucker 7 station press too, and I really love the extra stations that allow me to use rifle bottleneck sizers without expander plugs, M style neck sizers, powder drops without PTX's, and bullet feeder dies, and still seat and crimp separately if I want. But it too will probably die being ignored marketing-wise....no upgrade/improvement program either.

Hopefully Dillon marketing support for their products will continue to be adequate if not outstanding.

 

[EricBu]

And that is why I paid nearly 15K each for Mark VII Revolutions (including several caliber conversions). No fuss, no mess. 10 stations. They had some early bugs, but I've talked to multiple places using them now (several using them as their primary source of income), and they all say the same thing.....learning curve getting them dialed, then they run like butter. Not one of them would go back to a Dillon after running their Revolutions.

I wanted to use the Dillons, I really really did. And I will still have a couple around for some rifle and the 32 ACP........but there is just no comparison between the 1050/1100 and the Revolution. Night and day.

I have to admit to not being sure what all is out there right now, it would be too expensive for me anyway.

This might be the only choice for pistol bullets right now.
https://www.doublealpha.biz/us/combo-mini-brbulletfeeder-2-in-1-seating-and-crimping-die

I guess Lee feeder feeds and seats at the same station.
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-...rogressive-press-accessories/bullet-feed-kit/
It just doesn’t work for long and you have to boil the fingers to restore tension, to them.

It’s been awhile but MA-Systems made/or sold a pneumatic version with metal “fingers” and spring adjustable tension that worked well but was really out of reach for most that didn’t reload as a business. This is one of them, with their collator, on an RL

View attachment 1053762

There was also one that always had an add in the Frontsight magazine that worked on the window die principal, for pistols but I haven’t seen the add in years. Seems like it might have been a fellows name, starting with “A”. Like these.

https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell-holders/rifle-dies/gold-medal-match---seater-die/344.html

https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/re...ies/universal-bullet-seating-die/1116715.html

https://www.reloaders.com/products/bullet-seating-die-body-only

Really surprised no one has made a drop on toggle to feed another bullet in as the ram comes up.

Systems that took components, all base down, from tubes and fed them one by one, to move them into a hole, have existed for more decades than most of us have been around.

View attachment 1053761

Like I need another project but something like that seater set would be a good one to do.


On the GSI, if you look for one resale, keep in mind a factory Dillon1050 tool head alone is over $200. The GSI’s were $321, if you subtracted the 200 you were already going to spend on another tool head, it was only another $122 for a billet tool head that incorporated a bullet feeder. At least that’s how I justified mine.

 

[KY DAN]

I think the Dillon 3000 is a neat concept just one that came at the wrong time i.e. a primer SHORTAGE and when they can be 100.00 or more per 1000qty....... most likely it will fail.

Anyone can afford to buy the machine,.feeding it is a whole other story.

 

[lordpaxman]

Thanks for the replies, all. Certainly the component shortages have us all being careful with our stashes. While I’m not planning on purchasing their automation product just yet, I can see where it would help with just using the press as a case processor. Yes I know they sell just that product but I set up the 1100 with a .223 head/trimmer and having some helper “pull” the handle would be easier. In fact I would think setting the speed correctly one could probably feed bullets manually with that helper.

 

[jmorris]

In fact I would think setting the speed correctly one could probably feed bullets manually with that helper.

You can manually feed machines for sure. Lots of folks have lost digits to them ever since machines have existed.

It’s generally viewed as “crazy” these days.

 

[EricBu]

You can manually feed machines for sure. Lots of folks have lost digits to them ever since machines have existed.

It’s generally viewed as “crazy” these days.

Lol, much like the auto loader in the early version of the T-72. Loader had to time slamming the round in the breech, opening, eject, and closing were automated. Lot of one-armed soviet tankers back in those days.