LEE sizing die on Dillon 550B setup, conflicting video from both vendors.

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luckey

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Hi, I am using LEE dies on Dillon 550b and getting conflicting info from LEE and Dillon,

from LEE(on LEE press of course): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptFkvr5XP44
It says after die contacts shell plate, turn 1/4 turn FURTHER into the press.

for all the online videos, all say, once contact, back out a little bit.

from Dillon, they did tell me that there is no need to even back out a hair. just light contact and leave as is.

I actually tried all 3 ways, mostly the back out a hair way, one or two cases of LEE's way, but couldn't tell the difference other than technically LEE's way should cover the whole case more, but might case die damage which was the reason with the back out a hair procedure.



which one you guys are using? Thanks!
 
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LEE sizing dies work well in my RL550 press. I set mine up like this:

Install the correct shell plate with the correct clearance so the shell plate moves freely. Screw the sizing die all the way down onto the shell plate so it touches, then back off a quarter or half turn and engage the lock ring. Then try and size a case. The die should not press on the shell plate but be very close. If the die touches the shell plate when sizing, then back it off a little more...
 
this is exactly what DILLON told me, but I was doing what hatman1793 are doing which seems to be the most popular way online. I guess then as long as the end result is good, both are ok. Thanks!

cmccu said:
When the die just touches the shell plate....is where I leave it.
I do not over or under turn...just tighten up.
I've had no issues.
Click to expand...
 
On a single stage I like to make contact then turn in the 1/4 turn. That ensures that the die is the stop point. And as pointed out to me one time if you're using a bottleneck round die this also ensures that the case is sized correctly.

For handgun ammo on my Dillon I don't want to turn the die into the plate as that will force it to tilt the shell plate. So as suggested I bring it down so it just touches and leave it like that. If I were loading bottle neck ammo such as .223 I'd be fine tuning the sizing die to ensure that with all four stations running with cases that the sizing die is still just making contact. I'd fine tune as needed. Otherwise it isn't going to set/sizse the shoulder correctly. On straight wall handgun ammo if there's a slight gap it's not a big deal. I'm talking something up to the thickness of a piece if printer paper here. Not some wide big gap that causes it to not be fully sized.
 
luckey said:
this is exactly what DILLON told me, but I was doing what hatman1793 are doing which seems to be the most popular way online. I guess then as long as the end result is good, both are ok. Thanks!
Click to expand...

That is the qualifying remark...if your cases chamber in the gun, stick with what works and use em', if they don't, change to one of the other mentioned methods. They all have credibility for certain guns...let your gun tell you what it likes.
 
thanks guys. all make sense. I now follow the dillon way even though the slightly back out didn't give me any trouble for my test batch. It's always better to follow the vendor. yes, I am only doing handguns, and always do the drop-in-barrel test for ALL my guns in that caliber. Also, I always pull the ammos I bought as an extra check/verification as well. So, all good. better safe than sorry. :)
 
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