Caliber conversion options with Dillon 550

ekp

ekp

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Ottawa, ON
Hello,


If I need to load for 9mm and 38 special on the same press, Dillon provides tho options:
- Deluxe Quick-Change Kit (includes Powder Measure)
or a
- Toolhead and Powder Die (without Powder Measure)

From description, "Without the Deluxe Quick-Change Kit, you'll have to move and recalibrate the Powder Measure each time you switch calibers. Although not too big of a deal, it does require quite a bit of time to re-calibrate the Powder Measure every time you change calibers".

Just wondering if somebody can provide opinion about deluxe vs non-deluxe, how is involving to recalibrate the powder measure, considering that delta between theses options is about $70 ?

My main volume would be for 9 mm (~1000-1500/month), with ~300/month for 38.

--
Thanks !
 
It's certainly doable with a single powder measure - however, if you switch back and forth frequently, it can be a PITA - especially if you need change the powder bar.

From 9mm to .38 - I suspect the charges will be quite close in weight? If that's the case, it's not too hard to dial it in from one to the other.

Personally - I just bit the bullet and bought separate measures for each caliber I load... saves some hassle. I just keep a toolhead with all the dies already set up and the powder measure mounted. Changing calibers (if priming size is the same) takes about 12 seconds.
 
"...quite close in weight..." Not really. A .38 target load is nowhere near a light 9mm cast load.
If I had the money for Dillon kit I'd be using a dedicated powder thrower.
"...delta between..." The what?
 
I have a 550 and load 9mm and 38spl on it. I chose to do the whole quick change kit including tool head, dies and powder measure for each calibre. It is certainly doable the other way around. As it is for me, i can switch back and forth between each calibre in no time.

I would recommend that you spend the extra money for the sheer convenience of what you will get. If you load alot of each calibre you will thank yourself for it.
 
I used the same powder measure for all my handgun caliber that is using the small powder bar, however all my dies for each caliber has its own tool head and stand. For the rifle cal, a separate powder measure since rifles uses the large powder bar. However, if you can spare additional $70.00 for each powder measure per caliber, it would be nice.
 
If you can get an extra powder thrower for only $70, that is a bargain. Go for it.

I use the same thrower for all my calibers, so have to change the powder setting each time. If I switch to a rifle caliber, i have to change the powder bar inside the thrower, which is an additional PITA.

I had an extra thrower, but my electrician thought it was an ashtray, and put his cigarette in it.
 
The Uniquetek powder bar micrometer conversion in conjunction with the included calibration spreadsheet allows for quick changes in powder charge at a lower cost than multiple powder measures. It also makes for easier fine tuning than the original bolt.
 
Thank you !

And another question to the audience: based on your experience, what actual production rate should I expect from 550 with some experience ?
 
400 / hr , of std pistol ammo , is easily done [ 2400 in 6 working hours , aka an 8 hr day , for an old guy with not great shoulders] , that includes : lube , delube , & loading the primer mags . chamber checking & boxing
are xtra ,lol . for throwers having 2 is a good thing , it's always nice to have backup . for more diff loads i'd recommend just more powder bars since they take less than a min to change & when set the dillon side stays xact as compared to micro adjustable ones that can creep . micro adjustables are great for load development & dillons are a pita to change back & forth .
 
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I prolly get between 300-400 on my 650 with the case feeder. I decided I would have a tool head, fully setup with powder measure for each calibre, so there's much less adjustment. It's so nice to simply drop in the tool head, fill it with powder, load up some primers, throw cases in the case feed and start going. if I'm using the same powder then there's very little to adjust, just check the first few for powder weight and go. I get a little more throughut when I'm running 40S&W or 44 as I use a Hdy bullet feeder. Running others like .223 there's no dies for the hdy feed (yet?) so I have to place the bullets by hand, so it's a little slower.

I've also noticed that the federal sm primers just don't seem to seat well sing the Dillon. I get prolly 3-5% having sidways or otherwise badly pressed primers using the federal sm pistol v/s Win or CCI.

The 3 things that still irritate me a little:

1) Primer change over takes a little while, so I tend to defer doing one type or another until I've got a good supply to make using Lg or Sm primers. I think in the end I'll buy a second 650 just to have one with Lg and one with Sm primers.

2) While I like the primer system on the Dillon, filling those tubes is a bit of an irritation. Eventually I'll prolly get the primer loader machine and be done with that step.

3) I'd really like them to have a 338LM conversion, as I'd prolly use it to de-cap for cleaning and prime for single stage re-loading if I could.

I find I'm sometimes using the 650 to do a single part of the process as it does things so nicely and automatically. I'll do things like drop in a whack of cases and de-cap/size them to get ready for cleaning (ultrasonic). On the weekend I primed 300+ 223 cases on the Dillon (barely too 30 minutes iirc) that I'll be using for target loads that I'll make on my single stage press. Little things like that make it very handy to have.

Great machine the 650, especially with the case feeder and a bullet feeder.
 
With the kind of volume the OP stated, the 650 is the way to go, and yes -dedicated powder throwers for each caliber.
The Uniquetec micrometer, while a nice to have, will not speed up set up by much from caliber to caliber, as the throw setting sets up on the cartridge case.
 
beltfed said:
With the kind of volume the OP stated, the 650 is the way to go, and yes -dedicated powder throwers for each caliber.
The Uniquetec micrometer, while a nice to have, will not speed up set up by much from caliber to caliber, as the throw setting sets up on the cartridge case.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid of starting with 650 without any experience in reloading. And thanks for the micrometer idea.
And it seems that reloading is a hobby just by itself -))
 
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