And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Customer service was amazing with Dillon. However, that photo should have a 'additional accessories pictured' disclaimer. After 5 calibers, all with automatic powder feeders with dials instead of bolts, lights, sensors, I'm probably into it for $3000+. But, it's worth every penny for painless operation...once you get it set correctly. LOTS better than the Lee Progressive 1000, but you DO get what you pay for.
I've used a Hornady progressive reloader on and off for the past 40 years, about half the bells and whistles have broke and it's now an overly complicated single stage reloader, but it still does what I need. I certainly don't shoot enough to justify the price of this replacement. Still looks neat. And yeah, go straight to the Dillon site instead.
Used one for steel match competition, excellent piece if machinery, highly recommend. Only thing i chose not to use was the auto primer, went with a Lee hand primer, I found this was very much more consistent primer seating method, and its really not much of a chore, sit watching a movie, do up a couple match and practice sessions of brass in an hour to hour and a half, low drag, did not have to inspect every round coming off the Dillon, plus give each case a good inspection, as i was running a Desert Eagle in .44 mag running full compressed loads of 32 grains H110 under a Sierra 180 grain hp. Safety process for inspecting cases for cracks at the mouth from heavy crimping, and head separation, used only one brass case, from factory loaded PMS 44 rounds. I liked the Dillon for its strong leverage point in the stroke as it made for ease doing a full case sizing, plus smoothing out the heavy crimp I used. Again super high quality in my book, loaded many thousands of rounds in 3 calibers never a lick of trouble in any respect, plus got super consistent powder drop.
It's great to read all the good reviews for Dillon presses. I'm not in the market but it's neat to read what folks that have used them think. Thanks, all.
I'm more a single stage rifle shooter who has used RCBS presses, which is handy for me as they're made about 40 miles from my house, and if you ever need anything you can just walk in the front door and they take care of the problem... for free. Good people.
I haven't bought ammunition here since they passed the (blatantly unconstitutional) ammo registry law so I can't answer your question.
I can answer your question about reloading. It's still legal to reload, with no restrictions on the purchase of reloading equipment or components but give them time. They'll probably get around to that, too.
An example of how insane these new laws are: A California resident can't bring more than 50 rounds into the state legally, but a Nevada resident could load up a U-Haul in Vegas and deliver it to his gang banging buddies in L.A. so long as he 'gives' it to them. It would only be illegal if money changed hands.
Hi, Elmo. I am another longtime customer of the Green Machine. Mail ordered my RCBS Jr. press 1976 while I was stationed in West Germany. Had the entire order sent to my dad's house in Oakland. Decades later, threads in the priming arm gave out, I walked in the front door of RCBS and explained that I was not making a warranty claim, but that I had put 2 million miles on that part and worn it out, and that I wished to purchase a replacement. Guy handed me a brand new one and said, "Have a nice day".
Wife and I lived in Chico for 30 years, raised our kids there. I worked the gun counter at Huntington's for a couple of years, around 2012. Sad to hear they are now closed down. We escaped what Kalifornia has become in 2015, following two of our grown kids to Texas. Still using that same press. And here's a funny thing--I have a brand new spare still in the box. Way back when I was still single, I think it was PV Ranch and Home that had a stack of boxes of one of those loading "kits" RCBS used to sell, except that the only thing in the boxes was the press. Likely some sort of production over-run. They were clearing them out for like $19.95, so what the hell, grabbed one.
Great story. RCBS Jr. presses (I use two), your experience at the RCBS office on Feather River Blvd, Huntington's closure (sad, that). Bings back good memories, all. Even hearing the name PV Ranch and Home makes me smile. I used to go by their store in Red Bluff and stop to drool over their cattle handling equipment and window shop inside. Good times.
I'd love to be able to get together with you and talk about B-17s and such. We have a lot in common.
Agreed, a get together would be splendid, although geography looks to be a bit of a hurdle just now. I would send you a PM with my email address, but I don't see a way to do that here. Perchance, are you a member over at Calguns?
I began my reloading in 1964 using a Star Progressive reloader. No other progressive measures up, and I.ve owned them all...currently have seven Stars on the bench.
Been using an old Rock Chucker press for decades, but also a Hornady progressive dedicated to .223 for volume production. Never could get the Lee 1000 to function smoothly. Also very sorry to learn about the Huntington’s closure. Purchased several firearms from them over the years.
I have owned a Lee Pro 1000 for a couple of decades. It is a love/hate relationship. I have it mounted to a 1-foot square of 3/4 inch chunk of plywood that I can clamp to my workbench when and where I want. Yes, for not a lot of $$ I can set mine up to feed cases, powder, and primers. Insert a bullet, pull the handle, repeat. My personal buggaboos about progressive presses-- --No way to clean primer pockets. --Primer residue gums up the press. --Finished rifle rounds that need to have the case lube removed. --The Pro 1000 in particular. When there is a glitch (and it will) in say, the primer feed, you are now suddenly in the middle of hell's half acre. All the feeds must be stopped, you have to get at and remove the crushed primer, then re-start everything.
Long ago my reloading evolved into two stages, brass prep and loading. I really only used the Pro 1000 to load bulk handgun and 5.56 ammo. I would set it up to prime only with clean brass, which worked quite well. It was very fast and provided excellent "feel" for primer seating. Then I would remove the primer feed and set up the powder measure, re-running the now primed cases into loaded ammo.
I have never been impressed the Lee company. Too many warranty complaints brushed off as "customer abuse". Also, an arrogant attitude--we were here first, everybody else is just copying us, anybody who does it differently is an idiot.
Get it directly from Dillon or a Dillon dealer. Polish the primer slide bar and it will not gunk up as easy with spent primer dust.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service was amazing with Dillon. However, that photo should have a 'additional accessories pictured' disclaimer. After 5 calibers, all with automatic powder feeders with dials instead of bolts, lights, sensors, I'm probably into it for $3000+. But, it's worth every penny for painless operation...once you get it set correctly. LOTS better than the Lee Progressive 1000, but you DO get what you pay for.
ReplyDeleteAfter wearing out two Lee 1000's I bought a Dillon 650 thirty years ago, everytime I use the Dillon I think what a good investment it was!
ReplyDeleteBuy directly from Dylan and screw the Amazon markup
ReplyDeleteI've used a Hornady progressive reloader on and off for the past 40 years, about half the bells and whistles have broke and it's now an overly complicated single stage reloader, but it still does what I need. I certainly don't shoot enough to justify the price of this replacement. Still looks neat. And yeah, go straight to the Dillon site instead.
ReplyDeleteUsed one for steel match competition, excellent piece if machinery, highly recommend. Only thing i chose not to use was the auto primer, went with a Lee hand primer, I found this was very much more consistent primer seating method, and its really not much of a chore, sit watching a movie, do up a couple match and practice sessions of brass in an hour to hour and a half, low drag, did not have to inspect every round coming off the Dillon, plus give each case a good inspection, as i was running a Desert Eagle in .44 mag running full compressed loads of 32 grains H110 under a Sierra 180 grain hp. Safety process for inspecting cases for cracks at the mouth from heavy crimping, and head separation, used only one brass case, from factory loaded PMS 44 rounds.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Dillon for its strong leverage point in the stroke as it made for ease doing a full case sizing, plus smoothing out the heavy crimp I used. Again super high quality in my book, loaded many thousands of rounds in 3 calibers never a lick of trouble in any respect, plus got super consistent powder drop.
It's great to read all the good reviews for Dillon presses. I'm not in the market but it's neat to read what folks that have used them think. Thanks, all.
ReplyDeleteI'm more a single stage rifle shooter who has used RCBS presses, which is handy for me as they're made about 40 miles from my house, and if you ever need anything you can just walk in the front door and they take care of the problem... for free. Good people.
In Calif you have to give a fingerprint to buy ammo, right? Is it legal to reload your own? Just curious. So many anti gun laws.
DeleteI haven't bought ammunition here since they passed the (blatantly unconstitutional) ammo registry law so I can't answer your question.
DeleteI can answer your question about reloading. It's still legal to reload, with no restrictions on the purchase of reloading equipment or components but give them time. They'll probably get around to that, too.
An example of how insane these new laws are: A California resident can't bring more than 50 rounds into the state legally, but a Nevada resident could load up a U-Haul in Vegas and deliver it to his gang banging buddies in L.A. so long as he 'gives' it to them. It would only be illegal if money changed hands.
Thanks Elmo. I can't believe the unconstitutional crap they've gotten away with. Heads should roll.
DeleteHi, Elmo. I am another longtime customer of the Green Machine. Mail ordered my RCBS Jr. press 1976 while I was stationed in West Germany. Had the entire order sent to my dad's house in Oakland. Decades later, threads in the priming arm gave out, I walked in the front door of RCBS and explained that I was not making a warranty claim, but that I had put 2 million miles on that part and worn it out, and that I wished to purchase a replacement. Guy handed me a brand new one and said, "Have a nice day".
ReplyDeleteWife and I lived in Chico for 30 years, raised our kids there. I worked the gun counter at Huntington's for a couple of years, around 2012. Sad to hear they are now closed down. We escaped what Kalifornia has become in 2015, following two of our grown kids to Texas. Still using that same press. And here's a funny thing--I have a brand new spare still in the box. Way back when I was still single, I think it was PV Ranch and Home that had a stack of boxes of one of those loading "kits" RCBS used to sell, except that the only thing in the boxes was the press. Likely some sort of production over-run. They were clearing them out for like $19.95, so what the hell, grabbed one.
Great story. RCBS Jr. presses (I use two), your experience at the RCBS office on Feather River Blvd, Huntington's closure (sad, that). Bings back good memories, all.
DeleteEven hearing the name PV Ranch and Home makes me smile. I used to go by their store in Red Bluff and stop to drool over their cattle handling equipment and window shop inside. Good times.
I'd love to be able to get together with you and talk about B-17s and such. We have a lot in common.
Agreed, a get together would be splendid, although geography looks to be a bit of a hurdle just now. I would send you a PM with my email address, but I don't see a way to do that here. Perchance, are you a member over at Calguns?
DeleteI began my reloading in 1964 using a Star Progressive reloader. No other progressive measures up, and I.ve owned them all...currently have seven Stars on the bench.
ReplyDeleteBeen using an old Rock Chucker press for decades, but also a Hornady progressive dedicated to .223 for volume production. Never could get the Lee 1000 to function smoothly. Also very sorry to learn about the Huntington’s closure. Purchased several firearms from them over the years.
ReplyDeleteI have owned a Lee Pro 1000 for a couple of decades. It is a love/hate relationship. I have it mounted to a 1-foot square of 3/4 inch chunk of plywood that I can clamp to my workbench when and where I want. Yes, for not a lot of $$ I can set mine up to feed cases, powder, and primers. Insert a bullet, pull the handle, repeat. My personal buggaboos about progressive presses--
ReplyDelete--No way to clean primer pockets.
--Primer residue gums up the press.
--Finished rifle rounds that need to have the case lube removed.
--The Pro 1000 in particular. When there is a glitch (and it will) in say, the primer feed, you are now suddenly in the middle of hell's half acre. All the feeds must be stopped, you have to get at and remove the crushed primer, then re-start everything.
Long ago my reloading evolved into two stages, brass prep and loading. I really only used the Pro 1000 to load bulk handgun and 5.56 ammo. I would set it up to prime only with clean brass, which worked quite well. It was very fast and provided excellent "feel" for primer seating. Then I would remove the primer feed and set up the powder measure, re-running the now primed cases into loaded ammo.
I have never been impressed the Lee company. Too many warranty complaints brushed off as "customer abuse". Also, an arrogant attitude--we were here first, everybody else is just copying us, anybody who does it differently is an idiot.