Twangbanger
Grandmaster
- Oct 9, 2010
- 7,111
- 113
Good points here:... I'm not a fan of the 450/550...IMO, the manual indexing makes it vulnerable to a double-charge. With a single-stage or turret I can load and inspect in batches, with an auto-indexer the press's own workflow keeps the case from getting charged twice. I have good lighting, a good understanding of the process, load powders that are difficult to double-charge, and I pay attention to what I'm doing...but I'm not perfect and it only takes one. With a manual-index progressive, all you've got to do is forget to index one time, and you've got a double-charge on your hands...it makes me uncomfortable.
1) Primer availability - the modern dilemma is, is it even going to be worth your fuss to reload, given the volume you shoot? Would you be better off just looking for ammo deals? No primers = no reloads. When ammo scares hit, reloaders are just as screwed as everyone else, because the available primers are getting used for factory ammo. How many thousands of dollars of primers are you willing to hoard to insulate yourself from this? And what will powder and primers actually cost, once you pay hazmat shipping? Reloading is only cheaper "if" you can get components, and "if" the value of your time spent pulling the handle is free.
2) Dillon 550 may seem like the cheap way to get the Dillon name, but if you're only loading pistol, Square Deal B may be better. The lack of auto index wears out your thumb, and almost every time I hear of a gun blown up, the ammo was loaded on a 550, the user forgot to index and double charged a case. Yes, an idiot could potentially manage to do it on any press, but auto indexing makes it hard to do. The 550 makes it easy.