Question for Dillon 650 users

[parallax]

I'm going to order one for replenishing my stock of 30-06, 308 and 6.5 G ammo. I shoot these cartridges regularly in matches and will benefit from this machine over loading with my old Rock Chucker that I use for hunting and load development.

My question is about the options beyond the shell hopper which I definitely will order with it.
What else is essential for efficient production and what is merely convenient?

Thanks,

[montana]

I would recommend the powder check to avoid any double charge. I cant remember if the low primer alarm comes with it but it is needed. I have the 1050 and a friend has the 650. The problem with these reloaders is the priming system. You have to get them adjusted just right and make sure you keep them very clean or you will have problems. I load most of my rifle on my 550. The 5.56 and handgun cartridges are reloaded on my 1050.

[mongoosesnipe]

It comes with the low primer alarm, mine did dot come with low powder alarm but I think they might come with that now but the powder cheek is a defiantly a good thing to buy it will actually pick up a few grain charge diffence or even alarm at different case head stats but it will save you at least once in your loading

I highly recomend Dillion dies if they are available in your calibers I own dies from Dillon, rcbs, hornady, and redding and the Dillon dies are worth the extra coin I didn't get the carbide rifle dies since you still have to lube the cases for rifle any ways I do recomend sizing and loading the cases separately I set up a lube rcbs decaping die and size in station 2 when loading rifle then do all my case prep and clean the cases again and remove leave station 1 empty for the progressive loading rifle

Other than that I would say just get and extra set of large and small primer pick up tubes so you can have 500 primers ready to go while loading, If you have the extra coin I would get an extra powder hopper so you don't have to switch from pistol to rifle it's a bit of a pain if your switching between them a lot, I have the Allen key set with tool holder that mounts on the back of the press it is nice to have all the wrenches you will need handy when switching calibers, I didn't get the roller handle I have loaded probably around 30k rd with the standard ball handle so I don't see the upgrade as worth it, the bullet tray puts the bullets in a handy place but so does a extra box so that's money I didn't spend either

So basically to actually answer your question in addition to the shell hopper and associated feed plates (there's 4 of them) I would get the powder cheek, Allen key tool holder with tools to mount on the back of the press, the strong mount, a tool head and powder dies for each of your heavily loaded calibers, and extra powder hopper, if using non Dillion dies I recomend getting the Dillion die lock rings other brands can get rather crowded on the tool head and get the dillon bench wrench its only a few bucks and fits the dies on the tool head nicely other than that you should be good to go the 650 is a hell of a machine and can realy pump rounds out in a hurry I think my record I probably about 2500 rd in one setting

If you have any questions shoot me a pm

[Butterbean]

I like the bullet tray, strong mount, aluminum roller handle (with my recommendation, a friend replaced his ball with a roller & thought he bought a different machine..), and all of the early warning devices. Tool heads for your popular (and maybe not-so-popular) calibers, as they make caliber conversions so much simpler. Get plenty of primer tubes, as well. The dust cover won't fit if you have the bullet tray & (maybe) the roller handle. I made that mistake. You'll really enjoy the machine.

[rickOshay]

I e got a couple of powder hoppers if anyone would like to have an extra.

+1 on mongoose. I don't use it S a progressive press for rifles. Size/decap then case prep.

I do use the 650 in progressive for most of my pistol calibers.

[mongoosesnipe]

I use my 650 for I volume rifle loading like 556 and occasionally 308 but I still separate the size/case prep from the loading process and I usually hand prime the rifle cases before putting them into the progressive for a final overall q/c on the cases and to insure the primer pockets are not loose on any cases

Another thing I recently picked up which is well worth the money in time savings is the little crow gun works case trimmer it spaces of the shoulder of the case after sizing and makes trimming a breeze (trimming cases is far and away my least favorite part of loading rifle cases) you put it in a drill, I used my drill press and set up a shop back to collect trimmings the run 70 bucks per case family trimmer which is not much more than the trimmer dies for the Dillion but you save a bunch on the motor and it is a simpler set up

[Overwatcher]

+1 to mongoosesnipe's comments and thanks for the heads up on the trimmer..I was going to get the dillion trimmer or my 650.
Roller handle,strong mount,case feeder and low primer sensor are some of my biggest improvements I like.
I have the powder check for my pistol setup but don't think its really necessary for rifle,as I have powder from here to high heaven when there is a double charge in a rifle round..
Its also super slick to have toolheads for all you different calibers..Extra $$ but worth it.
Biggest secret of it all...Dillon Dies and Case Lube!
Good luck.

[mongoosesnipe]

I use the the powder cheek when loading rifle just cause I have it and it insures consistently it picks up small variances most powders drop pretty consistently out of the dillon but the powder cheek will pick up a 1 grain difference if it should happen plus what else are you going to do with that extra die station anyway

[rickOshay]

I added a Hornady powder measure which is more accurate than the Dillon. I also use the Hornady sizing die and the Forester Micro seating die.

[terrywick4]

I added a Hornady powder measure which is more accurate than the Dillon. I also use the Hornady sizing die and the Forester Micro seating die.

How do you keep your reloading room so clean and organized?

[mongoosesnipe]

If you have a small space organization comes naturally I have a decent size space but a metric poop ton of reloading stuff in it if I remember I will throw up some pics when I get home.... Happy st Patrick's day

[parallax]

Guys, I sure appreciate all this advice. I am going to buy the 650 asap.