Ode to Dillion Precision

R

RickD

Moderator
Please let me indulge myself a bit....

When I first decided to buy reloading equipment I didn't really have a clue on which to buy. There were a lot of options. What steered me to Dillion was not anything to do with quality, but there up-front, in-your-face dedication to the individual right to keep and bear arms (which has been turned up a few notches with Peter Caroline's "If you don't vote you suck" article).

So I went with Dillon. Yeah, I also spent some time at Scottsdale Airport sharing airspace with the Dillon "kids". They seemed like nice folks.

Be that as it may, over the years I have found that my support of a pro-rkba company has been rewarded with a quality product. Thousands of rounds reloaded. No KBs in my Glocks ;) .

Time for the third leg of the Trilogy. Today I went to the DP shop in Scottsdale to test their "No BS" warranty. I took a day off to do it. Without going into details, it had nothing to do with a broken or defective product. After a a half-hour of working out the particulars, I left the shop content and with an anniversary present for my wife (a deluxe pistol safe). All is right in the world.

To add to the reasons for supporting Dillon Precision, I add "Customer Service." Rare in today's business environment.

Thank you for your indulgence.

Rick
Not affiliated with Dillion Precision. This message is an unsolicited endorsement of all things Dillon.
 
Dillon is top knotch. Matter of personal opinion, but it seems to me that component mfg's, and reloading suppliers are ahead of the gun mfg's where RKBA is concerned. I agree with you, Dillon is a class act.
 
I load on a RL550B. Great machine. It was my first machine, and my only machine. I figured that I may as well begin with something nice, rather than dump a couple hundred bucks on inferior equipment only to end up getting the top-notch stuff later, and spending money twice. I got the best (I still believe that Dillon is the best after 3 years, and thousands upon thousands of rounds later) right off the bat, and spent a year trying to figure out how it all worked.
The only problems I've had with my machine are operator errors. Frequently I get lulled into the rythmic actions of "brass, bullet, pull-lever, and repeat." a couple of times I've continued to do that with no powder in the powder reservoir, and that really sucks to have to determine which bullets were loaded without a powder charge! Dillon truly is awesome. I have yet to break anything though. My next purchase will be a super-swage 700. If you have a choice, and you have some $, get the dillon.

(another non-dillon affiliated happy customer shamelessly endorsing anything Dillon)
 
Some of the best money I ever spent was on Dillon equip.
I bought the Square Deal in .45 when they first came out. I broke and wore out a couple of parts. I had an increased frequency of failures (still minor stuff) and the customer service rep noticed I had one of thier first machines. He asked if I had loaded alot of rounds on it and I said sure have. How many? dunno, over 30,000, maybe 40,000. He said they wanted my machine to see what was wearing out, and what they could improve. They paid shipping both ways, rebuilt to like new, cleaned it up and sent it back in 10 days total turnaround.
That and the fact that I have never had to talk to more than one person when I call. Never been transfered, put on hold, or fed a line of bullspit. Just great service and straight answers. The SD is still going strong and I'm trying to wear out a 550B.
 
No Powder?

Man, you *are* in the Zone.

I suggest you get the Dillon "low powder" sensor.

When I first decided that I was shooting too much to buy factory stuff, I resisted buying a reloading press. The thought of getting a "Progressive" press (must be for experts only) intimidated me. My only previous background in reloading is when I used my brother's Herters/RCBS single-stage press for my .45 Colt. 18 years ago. I had to melt the lead, cast (and recast) the bullets, then hand-beeswax the dang things. Then, to top it all off, I belled too much and crimped too little. My rounds looked like little penises which wouldn't even chamber. I still have that box of mis-shapen buwwits.

Things are much simpler now with the 550. One pull per buwwit.

Rick
 
Yep, I'd get the low powder sensor, but I'm just making the effort nowadays to pay attention to what I'm doing rather than spend money. I get pretty zoned out when I have my stuff set up and running smoothly. I enjoy that rythm, and not thinking about anything at all. I have lately stopped about every 50 rounds or so, and check all my stuff out to make sure I've got plenty of primers, powder, coffee, and space.

Dillon equipment can be intimidating if you don't get the video to set it up with (especially a first time reloader who's never seen a single stage press). I finally had to drag the whole works over to my brother's house who has a TV, and I put it together using the video. It's been happy times ever since.
 
Yeapers, I managed to screw up a part on the priming system , ( guess who's fault that was), Dillion sent me the parts and there was no BS about it. I love those guys!
 
Well, I'll be a minor, dissenting voice.

I called Mike Dillon some time back to seek his advice and assistance with a grassroots RKBA group. Took about 4 to 5 weeks for him to finally return my calls. And, when he did, I was not impressed with our conversation. He effectively said he supports the NRA, and that will be the extent of his support for the RKBA. I could accept his decision to decline supporting another RKBA group. But, the conversation left a bad taste in my mouth ... it wasn't the message he delivered, it was the way he delivered the message.

Perhaps I caught him on a bad day ... we all have them. But I'm not interested in speaking with Mike Dillon again.

I know the man and his company make great products, and had a great reputation for helping the RKBA. Perhaps that's why I was so disappointed and surprised at his pi$$ poor attitude.

Regards from AZ
 
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