Tuesday, February 13, 2018

A Dillon story

I've got a Square Deal B press I picked up used, oh, eight or ten years ago.  I've loaded a bleepload of 9mm and .45acp with it since.  And, as you might imagine, it needed some work.

So I e-mailed Dillon and asked about getting it worked on.  "$67.95 to strip, clean, replace anything that needs it, lube, and adjust.  Includes shipping back to you.  You can send payment or we'll call when it's done."  So I packed it up and sent it, asking for the 'call when done'.

Less than three weeks later UPS dropped a box on the porch.  And the thing looks new, and is smoother than when I picked it up.  Charge sheet inside listing everything replaced and the final bill: $0.

'Nice' is understatement.

5 comments:

taminator013 said...

Wow! If I ever decide to buy a new press I'd probably look into a Dillon just based on your experience.........

Maybe I'll contact MEC and see what they would charge to refurb my ancient Sizemaster 77 12 ga press. Back in the old days they would hand out free parts if you talked to them at sportsmans or gun shows, but now they charge an arm and leg just for little things like O-rings. So I don't hold out much hope that they will be anywhere close to Dillon for their service........

Anonymous said...

Yes, I bought a used 550 from a guy that was frustrated with it. When he assembled it, he didn't line up the key into the keyway. The plastic primer feed lips were seated 180 degrees out and mashed into place. A note to Dillon and they sent me replacements free of charge. It worked perfectly. I feel kind of bad the guy gave up on such a fine machine, but it was good for me.

Unknown said...

I bought a Dillon 550B reloading press back in '98, and two decades later it's still running perfectly. I have accidentally broken items on it that were completely my fault (the primer plastic follower rod should not be used as a ram rod to shove paper towels through a primer pick-up tube; the primer housing only needs to be snug, not tight to the point of stripping out the aluminum threads). In both cases I called Dillon and offered to buy replacement parts, since it was me that broke them, not through any fault of the tool. And in both cases Dillon refused payment and had the replacement parts sent to me within a week at no charge. I only recommend Dillon, and wish other companies had the same "No B.S. Guarantee" that Dillon offers.

Country Boy said...

I'm about to send my old 550 (pre-550B, with the old style powder measure) off for a cleanup and refurb. I'm glad to hear their reputation is well founded.

Critter said...

I bought a 550B many years ago and after a zillion rounds through it it started getting wonky, including the powder measure and primer system. I called them about a repair job and they said send it to them and they'd send it back. Three days (3 days) after I mailed it from lower Alabama to Arizona a box arrived from Dillon. Inside was a new 550C. I defy anyone to match that level of customer service.