Dillon 650 question

Jrb572

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Dec 7, 2008
    3,211
    1,790
    Missouri
    I know this has probably been asked before. Why won’t the Dillon 650 do 338 Lapua cases? The opening is almost an inch larger than the 550 that they say will work for the Lapua. What am I missing?
     
    Check the Dillon board or gugle it. They didn't have a shell plate for it so one had to modify one of the existing shell plates for it. After that, I think the indexer block had to be shortened and dies couldn't protrude much below the toolhead - it would index before the case was clear IIR all that correctly. I know one guy using an XL650 for .338 LM but I've not seen exactly how he's doing it. I may get a chance to check it out soon and will report back. I think he told me he removed/disabled the auto index feature to do it but, again, I've not seen it or talked in detail with him. He may not be running it as a progressive at all. He is shooting some impressive groups at the range though.
     
    I appreciate it. Yeah I’ve read that online about why it does not work. I just received a 650 and was just looking at it compared to my 550. What I was reading online just did not make sense. If you can use a 550 on 338 a 650 should have no problem. The opening is much taller.
     
    I had a 550, sold it and upgraded to a 650 last year. I never measured shellplate to bottom of toolhead - what's the difference in the openings? I also never had them side by side but the 650 is for sure bigger overall. I've read that the seater die is where the problem lies as it tries to index after bullet seating. I'll try to catch the local .338 LM guys this weekend and find out how the one guy is doing it.
     
    Thank you. I’m going to just use it to size the brass. I’m hoping that the auto index can still be hooked up. 338 brass if I’m not mistaken is shorter than a loaded 30-06 round and it will index on them.