Gearhead Jim
Member
Complaining about Dillon will probably be about as popular as complaining about the 2nd Amendment, but here goes:
There have been gaps in my reloading "career" because my agency was giving me almost unlimited ammo for a while, but those days are over and I'm just an old retired guy trying to save money on ammo.
When the Dillon 650 came out, I bought one complete with case feeder, with a .38 Special setup. I now call it the "650", because I can never get more than about six hundred and fifty loaded rounds before something breaks.
First problem:
Sizing die was (Dillon carbide) was set up to not contact the shell holder. Good. I loaded a couple of hundred rounds, checked them carefully, and then loaded another thousand. After about 650 rds total, the carbide ring in the sizing die cracked and left a very deep but narrow scratch in each of my once-fired cases. So narrow that it was hard to see. The scratch was so deep/sharp that about 1/3 of the cases split upon firing, I had to hand-sort all the fired brass to discard the bad cases. Dillon sent me a new die. Thanks.
Second problem:
Can't even remember what it was, but when I called Dillon they told me that some parts had been upgraded and sent me the new ones to solve it. Thanks.
Third problem:
After about 650 more rounds loaded, started getting scratched case mouths from the taper crimp die. Cleaning the die would only stop it for about 25 rds. Called Dillon and they told me to polish the die, which I did but it went right back to scratching again after about 25 rds. Called Dillon again, they told me that walnut tumbling media can get imbedded in the die and cause scratches. Since polishing was only a temporary fix, they told me to switch to corncob. So I spent half a day "decontaminating" my dies, tumbler, squirrel cage, brass bins, etc. Bought corncob media and problem has not come back. Would have been nice to know that at the beginning.
Fourth problem:
After loading about another (you guessed it) 650 rds, the machine gradually quit belling the case mouths. I figured something at the powder station had slipped, but I had used mild Loctite on everything when I put it together and the Loctite was still intact. Took it apart, readjusted the belling, and it worked ok for about the next 650 rounds. Then...
Fifth problem:
Primer feed stopped delivering primers (Winchester SPP) while the tube was still half full. Very carefully took it apart and discovered that one primer had turned sideways in the "wheel", so nothing would move. Cleared the jam, cleaned it all up, and reassembled.
Sixth problem:
After another 650 rds (yes, these numbers are approximate), the machine again stopped delivering primers. This time, it turned out the little indexing arm for the primer wheel was jumping out of the holes about every third stroke. I couldn't figure out why, but the spare parts kit I had bought from Dillon had a spare primer indexing arm. Took everything apart and discovered the new indexer is drilled for a much larger mounting screw than what's on my machine, no way to use it with making shims and stuff like that. Called Dillon today and after 5 minutes listening to the recording, the phone stated ringing to someone there. And ringing and ringing. After about 50 rings, I gave up and hung up. Maybe they are closed today but don't want to admit it.
Anyway, this machine has been a total PITA for me. Doing some quick math, I could have loaded an equal number of rounds on my old single stage press, quicker than on the Dillon when you count all the troubleshooting/repair time.
Do other people have this many problems with the 650, or did I just get a lemon? I'm seriously looking at just paying the excessive prices for "cheap" factory ammo and ditching the Dillon.
There have been gaps in my reloading "career" because my agency was giving me almost unlimited ammo for a while, but those days are over and I'm just an old retired guy trying to save money on ammo.
When the Dillon 650 came out, I bought one complete with case feeder, with a .38 Special setup. I now call it the "650", because I can never get more than about six hundred and fifty loaded rounds before something breaks.
First problem:
Sizing die was (Dillon carbide) was set up to not contact the shell holder. Good. I loaded a couple of hundred rounds, checked them carefully, and then loaded another thousand. After about 650 rds total, the carbide ring in the sizing die cracked and left a very deep but narrow scratch in each of my once-fired cases. So narrow that it was hard to see. The scratch was so deep/sharp that about 1/3 of the cases split upon firing, I had to hand-sort all the fired brass to discard the bad cases. Dillon sent me a new die. Thanks.
Second problem:
Can't even remember what it was, but when I called Dillon they told me that some parts had been upgraded and sent me the new ones to solve it. Thanks.
Third problem:
After about 650 more rounds loaded, started getting scratched case mouths from the taper crimp die. Cleaning the die would only stop it for about 25 rds. Called Dillon and they told me to polish the die, which I did but it went right back to scratching again after about 25 rds. Called Dillon again, they told me that walnut tumbling media can get imbedded in the die and cause scratches. Since polishing was only a temporary fix, they told me to switch to corncob. So I spent half a day "decontaminating" my dies, tumbler, squirrel cage, brass bins, etc. Bought corncob media and problem has not come back. Would have been nice to know that at the beginning.
Fourth problem:
After loading about another (you guessed it) 650 rds, the machine gradually quit belling the case mouths. I figured something at the powder station had slipped, but I had used mild Loctite on everything when I put it together and the Loctite was still intact. Took it apart, readjusted the belling, and it worked ok for about the next 650 rounds. Then...
Fifth problem:
Primer feed stopped delivering primers (Winchester SPP) while the tube was still half full. Very carefully took it apart and discovered that one primer had turned sideways in the "wheel", so nothing would move. Cleared the jam, cleaned it all up, and reassembled.
Sixth problem:
After another 650 rds (yes, these numbers are approximate), the machine again stopped delivering primers. This time, it turned out the little indexing arm for the primer wheel was jumping out of the holes about every third stroke. I couldn't figure out why, but the spare parts kit I had bought from Dillon had a spare primer indexing arm. Took everything apart and discovered the new indexer is drilled for a much larger mounting screw than what's on my machine, no way to use it with making shims and stuff like that. Called Dillon today and after 5 minutes listening to the recording, the phone stated ringing to someone there. And ringing and ringing. After about 50 rings, I gave up and hung up. Maybe they are closed today but don't want to admit it.
Anyway, this machine has been a total PITA for me. Doing some quick math, I could have loaded an equal number of rounds on my old single stage press, quicker than on the Dillon when you count all the troubleshooting/repair time.
Do other people have this many problems with the 650, or did I just get a lemon? I'm seriously looking at just paying the excessive prices for "cheap" factory ammo and ditching the Dillon.