I am thinking about getting a dillon sl 900 and am wondering if anyone out there has one. Is it worth putting up the cash for it and is it as easy to run as it looks. If I get one, I will be letting go of my mec's and lee's on here so watch for them. The mec's are Jr. 410, Jr. 28, Jr. 20, and a sizemaster in 16 ga. with a 20 ga. changeover kit. Also a 12 ga. resizer. So let me know how good the dillon is. If it is as good as my 550b or my square deal then I will be getting it. Thanks
Dillon sl 900
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I saw one being run a few years ago,mand it sure pui out some nice shells,quckly too that one had the shell hopper/feeder on it
I have one in 12 (picked up the 20 ga conversion last week but have yet to mess with it).
It works as advertised...place the wad, crank the handle. For sure get the low powder sensor....you can use powder pretty quick and not realize you're low.
Another tip...watch the new primer come down into the shellplate. Approx 20 grains of propellant flowing through that giant flash hole will make ya remember real quick.
They're fast, but like any progressive, not the best for experimentation and load development.
I never change my loads though, so I crank out a couple bags of shot worth (600-900 rounds) and then cover it back up.
I also have a Dillon 650 and they're comparable in features and doo-dads. Most Dillon products seem to be well thought out and the SL900 is no exception.
Conversions are pricey. The website is misleading in the price....you'll actually require three parts to make the conversion as simple as they tout (conversion kit, powder system and casefeed plate for a grand total of $428 versus the $315 for the conversion kit only).
They're large...very smiliar in dimensions/footprint to my 650 with casefeeder.
All in all, I've got my money out of it and would do it again.
If you want pics or have any other questions, I'll be around.
Ed
It works as advertised...place the wad, crank the handle. For sure get the low powder sensor....you can use powder pretty quick and not realize you're low.
Another tip...watch the new primer come down into the shellplate. Approx 20 grains of propellant flowing through that giant flash hole will make ya remember real quick.
They're fast, but like any progressive, not the best for experimentation and load development.
I never change my loads though, so I crank out a couple bags of shot worth (600-900 rounds) and then cover it back up.
I also have a Dillon 650 and they're comparable in features and doo-dads. Most Dillon products seem to be well thought out and the SL900 is no exception.
Conversions are pricey. The website is misleading in the price....you'll actually require three parts to make the conversion as simple as they tout (conversion kit, powder system and casefeed plate for a grand total of $428 versus the $315 for the conversion kit only).
They're large...very smiliar in dimensions/footprint to my 650 with casefeeder.
All in all, I've got my money out of it and would do it again.
If you want pics or have any other questions, I'll be around.
Ed
Thanks Ed, I kind of thought that it would be like the other presses dillon made but wasn't for sure. I will probably do the same thing you are doing and load 4 or 500 at a time. I might just give you a yell if I get one.
I bought an SL900 one for my son as a college graduation gift(his request) and it's run steadily for over 7 years w/o a hitch. We shoot over 500 trap loads a week during good weather and this press has been a goodsend. We do PM when it's necessary and it runs as good as new. I would buy a second one in a minute if I needed another. We sold off two Mec presses after we bought the Dillon. Go for it, you won't be sorry.
Well, I am going to bite the bullet and get one today. I'll bring it home this afternoon and put it together and run a few through it. It looks like I'll be getting rid of the others, so if anyone has anything to trade just let me know.
Apachejack:
You are making a wise decision on the Dillon SL900. Just a word of caution however, it will take you about an hour or so to assembly by following Dillon's pictured step by step instructions. Please follow their instructions carefully and if you do have a problem, don't hesitate, call Dillon immediately. Remember, you are buying their excellent customer service also. Good luck!
You are making a wise decision on the Dillon SL900. Just a word of caution however, it will take you about an hour or so to assembly by following Dillon's pictured step by step instructions. Please follow their instructions carefully and if you do have a problem, don't hesitate, call Dillon immediately. Remember, you are buying their excellent customer service also. Good luck!
Thanks, loadedround, I already have a 550 and a square deal so I know how good their customer service is. That is the main reason I am getting it. Maybe by tonight I will be loading a few good cowboy action loads.
I had
I had an SL900 with shell feeder (and a 20 gauge kit as well)
Freaking awesome machine and worth every penny IMO. The shell feeder works amazing well.
The low powder alarm saved my but countless times. Definitely get that.
I had an SL900 with shell feeder (and a 20 gauge kit as well)
Freaking awesome machine and worth every penny IMO. The shell feeder works amazing well.
The low powder alarm saved my but countless times. Definitely get that.
Gents, regarding the SL900, how difficult is it to make minor changes, i.e. going from AA hulls to Fed paper? Or changing powder charge and/or shot weight, i.e going from a 1 oz load to a 1 1/8 oz load that have different powder specs?
looks like an amazing machine but too much for me. I am happy with my cheap little MEC 600 Jr. What the heck, I really only bought the thing to assemble slugs.
LGB
LGB
After you crank out a couple 5 gallon bucket fulls in an evening, you come to appreciate the machine.
Powder and shot are changed by the turn of a screw (no bushings). Adjusting crimps and such is also pretty straight forward.
I've never changed hulls. I've used Rem STS from day one so I couldn't tell you.
Changing shot is extremely easy. There is a collar at the bottom of the shot assembly that twists open and drops all the shot into a bucket or whatever you have handy. Regarding changing powder, I just run the hopper empty with hulls or by manually cycling it.
For example, I run 1 oz 9s for skeet and 1 1/8 oz 8s for trap. I use different wads for the different loads, but there is no adjustment difference except shot weight. Powder, wad height, primers and hulls all stay the same.
Ed
Sounds like an amazing machine. I have 2 XL650's and 1 550B. I really like them. If I ever start shooting shot shell to the point that I need to get a progressive press, The Dillon will be the one I get, no doubt about it.
But for now, I really only load Slugs that I cast myself so the MEC 600 JR is really all I need. More than I need really.
LGB
I have set it up and it is a very large machine. I wasn't expecting it to be that big but I'm sure pleased with it. If anyone has a good cowboy action round w/700x powder let me know. I loaded a couple w/AA hulls and 1 1/8 shot and 15.5gr. of powder but I guess the wads were wrong. The crimp went to deep and left enough hole for the shot to come out. I'll have to try another type of wad.
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