Dillon 550 Case Feeder...Who is using one?

I put one one my 550 and I hated it. It was far too finicky in my opinion. It ticked along at a pretty good pace...but it jammed so often that I don't think it increased my output at all...
 
quigley, you might have gotten a dud?

I got a casefeeder on my 550 and it's the cat's ass. Don't think I would be able to do any volume loading without it
 
I don't want to sound like a hater, but at the point that you consider the case feeder, you may want to sit back and do a needs assessment.

1) How many calibers are you really loading for?
2) How many rounds a month in each?
3) What's the cost to retool to a 650?
4) What are you likely to get selling the 550 and spares?
5) How much was that casefeeder again??
 
Canuck223 said:
I don't want to sound like a hater, but at the point that you consider the case feeder, you may want to sit back and do a needs assessment.
Click to expand...

I will try to address this!

Canuck223 said:
1) How many calibers are you really loading for?
Click to expand...

I reload mainly 9mm.....I will do a run of 1000 .223, and the case feeder would have to be removed for this!

Canuck223 said:
2) How many rounds a month in each?
Click to expand...

I am moving closer to my range, so hopefully a lot more.....say 2-3000 a month


Canuck223 said:
3) What's the cost to retool to a 650?
Click to expand...

I have no idea.....I currently have a 550, with 9mm and .223 setups


Canuck223 said:
4) What are you likely to get selling the 550 and spares?
Click to expand...

I have no idea.....I bought it for a good price a few years ago, and probably won't sell it, as it doesn't owe me anything, and I think the Case feeder is around $250 with a 9mm shell plate/sorter


Canuck223 said:
5) How much was that casefeeder again??
Click to expand...

$250 I think
 
It was fine with .40 cal but once I switched to 9mm it became an utter pain in the ass.

The slight taper in the case coupled with the case lube just pushed it over the edge.

The smallest grain of media in the base that the cases slid on was enough to jam it up.

I really hated it...

It's a good idea...but it's a retro fit for a press that was not originally designed for a case feeder...and in my opinion was not worth the money or the hassle.



chemo said:
quigley, you might have gotten a dud?

I got a casefeeder on my 550 and it's the cat's ass. Don't think I would be able to do any volume loading without it
Click to expand...
 
Quigley said:
It was fine with .40 cal but once I switched to 9mm it became an utter pain in the ass.

The slight taper in the case coupled with the case lube just pushed it over the edge.

The smallest grain of media in the base that the cases slid on was enough to jam it up.

I really hated it...

It's a good idea...but it's a retro fit for a press that was not originally designed for a case feeder...and in my opinion was not worth the money or the hassle.
Click to expand...

all valid points I have not experienced...

Bought the casefeeder barely used, second hand, for a good price
And I only reload for 40cal and larger

Maybe the anger will come if I do come to reload 9mil
 
If you are at the point where you think you need a case feeder, it is probably time to step up to the 650. Conversely, if you don't need a case feeder, you are just as well to stick with the 550.

If you haven't done so already, adding the bullet tray and empty case bin will allow to substantially increase your speed with the 550, albeit not to the same extent as having a case feeder. I find I can easily break 500 rounds an hour with my press so configured.
 
The casefeeder on the 550 does not work well with 9mm in my experience.
Works well with 40 and 45. Won't do 223.
Eventually you will gravitate to the 650, so no point in delaying that inevitability, especially since the dollar is so strong.
I had two 550s (down to one that does large pistol) and now a 650.
 
7.62mm said:
...have to save my pennies for a 650 or Hornady L&L!

Thanks for all your input!
Click to expand...

Have LnL too...that is about to go up for sale On the EE...if you are serious about loading, look no further than the 650 ( unless you are wealthy and can afford to splurge on the 1050)
 
7.62mm said:
What is it about the Hornady that you don't like? I have 3 or 4 friends that have them and seem happy with them!
Click to expand...

The L'N'L is a great low volume pistol and rifle press. It's much better than the Lee for durability. However, it's just to darn fiddly for larger volumes.

I know. I know. For every "hater", three owners will pop up and explain how thiers works perfectly, just as long as you follow thier fool proof three page instruction sheet on preventative maintainance and blood sacrifice to the prophet...
 
7.62mm said:
Please differentiate for me what is low volume and what is high volume!
Click to expand...

To me, if you sit down to load 200 rounds then tidy up and leave, you're low volume. If you need to fiddle and adjust a bit before and after, ok.

If you tend to sit down and crank out 500+ at a time, and having to stop and adjust your pawls, or clean your case feeder slide, or tighten/adjust the primer seater height is cutting into your time, you need a different press.

I guess I'm picky, but if i can't keep my press ticking along for a few hours with just a bit of compressed air cleaning, I'm a grumpy guy.
 
Canuck223 said:
I guess I'm picky, but if i can't keep my press ticking along for a few hours with just a bit of compressed air cleaning, I'm a grumpy guy.
Click to expand...

Oh oh, I just blow on my shell plate once every couple hundred rounds during a short reloading session to clear off any spilled N320 that fell from the cases. I'm supposed to use compressed air?

I still do a quick cleaning of my XL650 after every 10,000 rounds or so and even sometimes inject grease into those nipples when the moon is full while wolves are howling outside.

I've never cleaned my case feed slide. What is that anyway?
 
I have got two case feeders on two 550's. I crank out about 800 - 1000 at a time (9mm; 45 ACP and 38 spl). For me it increased my output but you do need to find your rhythm. I find you cannot hesitate with a stroke (miss aligned case, resistance to a stroke) as the feeder wants to throw in another case if you back up even a little bit during a stroke.

For me a minor inconvenience but if I thought I could trade 550, case feeder, shell plates etc for a comparably equipped 650 I would.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom