I run a 650 and can add some help and suggestions....
• I think it's safe to assume that most seating dies, especially those made by a company that doesn't offer a progressive press, include the crimp function as part of the seating die. That's OK, the body and the central stem do 2 different functions, and all you need to do is back off the die body just enough to eliminate the crimp function.
• Although you CAN crimp during seating, I thing the vast majority of progressive press users use a Crimp Die in a separate (last place) position. And this because it is generally acknowledged that this is the better way to go. Certainly it preserves the VERY ticklish Crimp Die setting when the die body of the Seating Die has to be removed for service from the Tool Head.
• So
YES, in your shoes I would highly recommend that you buy the
Redding brand Taper Crimp Die, and set that up in the last Tool Head position. You have 5 positions on that press, and forced to make a choice... I would choose the separate Taper Crimp Die over the powder lock-out function. But with 5 positions, I don't see that as any type of mutually exclusive choice. (I would NOT choose the
Lee Factory Crimp Die as my taper crimp die of choice.)
650/750 Tips• The biggest asset you can get for the 650 is the
Dillon Strong Mount (or
InLine Fab equivalent). The reason for this is most 650 users are doing some type of volume reloading... and that means repetitive arm movements. The Strong Mount spreads the load out over more of the bench top, resulting in far less flexing of the bench. Less bench movement means greater efficiency (less human energy consumed) to do the same amount of loading.
Less muscle use equates to less back and shoulder problems going forward. You can thank me later.
• Nothing will speed up your reloading like the addition of a Case Feeder. Adding a Case Feeder moves your point of focus away from the Shellplate, and allows you to focus on the volume of powder in the 3rd station... which is why using a Powder Cop and other powder checking systems is completely redundant. The 650 allows you to look straight into the case.
• In order to see into that case, you may need a lighting system. The best one BY FAR is the "UFO Lights" by
KMS Squared. I've used the others and nothing else comes close.
• The last recommendation I can make is one of the generic Spent Primer Chutes that are widely available. Think about it... if you are making lots of ammo, then you are
also making lots of trash in the form of spent primers and creating an issue with collection and cleanup. The answer is to cap the underside of the press head with a primer collector and use that to connect that area to a large jug or bucket with a hose. Spend primers and
all their smut automatically roll down the tube to the waiting jug... and you never need to lift a finger. Your reloading area is free of mercury-loaded dust and your brass recycling is enhanced.
• I will point out that the best collection of 650 "hop-up parts" is offered by an Ebay seller
Snowshooze. He makes the best roller kits, primer switches, etc. which are all executed extremely well. These are all very nice features to add, but the MOST needed ones, the ones with the greatest utility, are mentioned above.
Also see....
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=85603.msg638394#msg638394Hope this helps.
