dillon 550 B vs dillon square deal???
- Thread starter ruger22
- Start date
I used a Square Deal for 12 years and it served me well. I just upgraded to a 550 and now I realize that I should have done it years ago. I can do rifle on the 550 (the SD can't), I can use standard dies on the 550 (the SD can't). Changing toolheads takes 5 seconds on the 550 (definitely not on the SD) and this is great because I am loading five pistol calibres.
I also thought that the manual indexing would slow me down on the 550 but it's just as fast when you get into a rhythm. Also, because of the manual indexing on the 550, it's easier to get your powder funnel set up and to set up your bullet seater and crimping die when doing adjustments.
The SD is great if you are doing one calibre but if you are into several then the 550 is definitely the way to go. Hope this helps.
I also thought that the manual indexing would slow me down on the 550 but it's just as fast when you get into a rhythm. Also, because of the manual indexing on the 550, it's easier to get your powder funnel set up and to set up your bullet seater and crimping die when doing adjustments.
The SD is great if you are doing one calibre but if you are into several then the 550 is definitely the way to go. Hope this helps.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
At risk of being way off topic, (or at least divergent), buy the hornady lock and load progressive instead. It does everything the 550 does and auto indexs. It has more room in the work area, a stronger frame and changes calibers quicker. The longest part of the changover is setting powder weight and if you buy a insert for each cartridge (28$) you don't even need to do that. And the dillon uses that have tried my say its way smother, the last one went off to buy one of his own.
Thanks for the info, but...
I can tell you guys are experenced. Being new at loading I have a few more questions...
1) How much time to swap calibers on the SD? Is it pain or just a 10 minute job.
2) I do not own any dies now. So I am buying new dies either if I go SD or 550. Any issue with the dillon dies? If you bought a 550 set up from scratch would you buy another brand dies?
3) Many guys started out with single stage for rifle then went to progressive for handguns. Therefore now use both. But is there any downside to the 550 for rifle?
thanks
I can tell you guys are experenced. Being new at loading I have a few more questions...
1) How much time to swap calibers on the SD? Is it pain or just a 10 minute job.
2) I do not own any dies now. So I am buying new dies either if I go SD or 550. Any issue with the dillon dies? If you bought a 550 set up from scratch would you buy another brand dies?
3) Many guys started out with single stage for rifle then went to progressive for handguns. Therefore now use both. But is there any downside to the 550 for rifle?
thanks
*** Warning I am biased I sell these***
If the dies are in separate toolheads and you don't have to change powder or primer systems...
undo the powder measure (2 screws and the failsafe rod) and take it off
undo 4 allan screws and take it off and put it away
remove the locator buttons and put them away
remove the shell eject
undo the shellplate bolt
remove the shell plate and put it away
and then you go in reverse to put it back together
And then you will have to set your powder throw the alternative to that is to buy a second powder measure (SHAMLESS PLUG and there is one in my garage sale!)
first time you do it maybe 20 minutes but you should be able to get it down to the 10 minute mark
Your very welcome
ruger22 said:
If the dies are in separate toolheads and you don't have to change powder or primer systems...
undo the powder measure (2 screws and the failsafe rod) and take it off
undo 4 allan screws and take it off and put it away
remove the locator buttons and put them away
remove the shell eject
undo the shellplate bolt
remove the shell plate and put it away
and then you go in reverse to put it back together
And then you will have to set your powder throw the alternative to that is to buy a second powder measure (SHAMLESS PLUG and there is one in my garage sale!)
first time you do it maybe 20 minutes but you should be able to get it down to the 10 minute mark
Every manufacturer has there pluses and minues... Lee's a are cheaper.. But the dillons can be cleaned with needing to be readjusted...ruger22 said:
The 550 is one of the most widely used presses.. The only downside is that it's manually indexed but some say that's a bonus as you have more control...ruger22 said:
ruger22 said:
Your very welcome
I have a 550. I have dies from Dillon, RCBS, C&H, and Hornady. For Pistol calibers I think Hornady New dimensions are the way to go. I like the seating/crimping system better than RCBS, But to each their own.
Using any dies alone, was enough to make me pick the 550
Using any dies alone, was enough to make me pick the 550
NavyShooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- XMU Local .303
I'm running a 550 and a SDB. I finally finished getting my 550 setup for 9mm (was running it in .223 only for a while) so now I have multiple toolheads, multiple calibers, and changing is a matter of pulling two pins and swapping out, plus the pins and the shell-plate. Takes about 2 minutes total, including running dry rounds through to prove sizing and charge weight.
The SDB will be adopted by my shooting partner in the not distant future...he's running 9mm and .40, so he's going to have to live with the longer turn-around time on caliber changes, but he's happy with it.
BTW, in a speed run test, I was able to produce 151 rounds in 20 minutes with my SDB. (Including dry primer tube to start, plus re-filling it once, plus topping up powder hopper at the start.)
My 550B is a bit slower than that, but I'm still about 6 rounds a minute produced on it.
The key is economy of motion. Keep a tray of bullets next to the left side of the press so you don't have to dig in a box, and keep a tray of cases on the right side, so you don't have to dig for them either.
NavyShooter
The SDB will be adopted by my shooting partner in the not distant future...he's running 9mm and .40, so he's going to have to live with the longer turn-around time on caliber changes, but he's happy with it.
BTW, in a speed run test, I was able to produce 151 rounds in 20 minutes with my SDB. (Including dry primer tube to start, plus re-filling it once, plus topping up powder hopper at the start.)
My 550B is a bit slower than that, but I'm still about 6 rounds a minute produced on it.
The key is economy of motion. Keep a tray of bullets next to the left side of the press so you don't have to dig in a box, and keep a tray of cases on the right side, so you don't have to dig for them either.
NavyShooter
NavyShooter said:
x2 on the tray of bullets and tray of brass on the left and right sides respectively. I always keep 5 primer tubes filled at all times too, when I am done a loading session I fill the empty tubes for next time. That way I take the cover off the machine and go. I can now load 500 rounds an hour including time to weigh powder every 150 rounds, put them all away in boxes, and measure the dimensions on 10 out of every 100 (my boxes store 100 so I randomly pick 10 of them). Including the time to fill 5 primer tubes at the end and clean up I can do 500 rounds in 1.25 hours.
bear.23 said:
Hi Brian,
I'll let the picture do the talking. Here's the result of just a few hours work over a couple of weekends. I have over 1000 rounds of .45 and about 700 rounds of .40 S&W. Next up is .357 and .38. (Damn, I'm hooked!)
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