sdb vs single stage presses

You would spend about 4 hours a week on a single stage to produce 200 rounds of 38 special. The learning curve for reloading is the same whether you learn on a single stage or a progressive. On the progressive, you start with just one cartridge at a time until you are comfortable with all the operations, and understand why you are doing what you are doing. Once you feel comfortable, then you can run it in a progressive manner. Regarding the Square Deal B, just be aware that it is limited to the straightwall handgun cartridges listed. It cannot load bottleneck or long cartridges. If you want the option to load these, then I suggest the RL550B. But for producing quanitities of 38 Special or similar cartridges, then the SDB excells.

I'd enough with my single stage.  It is painful to do a thousand rounds.  I'd spend hours to resize them, then hours to powder them and seat them with bullets, then hours to crimp them. 

I can't take it anymore.  I will order the Dillion Square Deal "B" shortly.  I need to save my time for other stuffs. :)

Having reloaded for 20+ years I agree with Dillon.  Start with one cartridge at a time in the machine until you get comfortable with each stage.  Having learned on a single stage press, which I believe everyone should have for the limitations Dillon talked about (straigh wall verses bottle neck) nothing beats a progressive press for quantities.

You will still need a powder measure and a primer flipper tray.  You can get them both from the Blue Press.  You might also want to get a kentic bullet puller so when, not if, you mess up you can start over.

Have fun - stay safe - and remember when you drop live primers on the shag carpet in the house your wife will find them with the vacuum cleaner and then you won't be able to load in the house anymore.  (Been there - done that - still hearing about it)

The SDB has one major advantage when used as a single stage press, the primer feed will just leave an unused primer in place if it isn't seated in a sized case.  That means you can run one case through each reloading step by itself and the primers won't continue to feed until you use the current one.

The XL650 won't let you do that so the SDB has advantages when used as a learning tool.

Save money and buy the Dillon Square Deal, I reload with sqb 200 rounds a week.  It works for me, besides I was told a single stage press, like the RCBS Rock chucker is best for large gun calibers like the .303 British.  Thow the RCBS Rock chucker is a strong, ferm press I allways had to change three dies wich is very time consuming.

Dillon has a very good after sales service

Best regards

Luke