Dillon 550 Questions

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eliteboris

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I have been reloading for a while now and think it is time to upgrade, I plan on buying the dillon 550 and would like to know what else i will need to purchase with it. For instance it says I need to buy dies. Are they talking 3 die set or do i need a charging die as well?
Also will my lee dies work or should i spend the money and upgrade that as well? Any other info on getting started with this press would be much appreciated. I do plan on loading multiple calibers both pistol and rifle.
-Joe
 
If I remember correctly, (been 15 years since I bought mine) All you need for your first caliber is dies. It will come with a tool head, powder-through die and powder measure. Any dies will work.

For future caliber changes, you will need a caliber conversion and dies. Although not an absolute must, it only makes sense to buy a tool-head and powder-through die for each caliber you plan to reload so you don't have to take your dies apart each time. You just swap out the toolhead and away you go.

Depending on what cartridge you start with, eventually you will have to buy another powder measure. The measure with the small charge bar for most pistol, the large for standard rifle and maybe the magnum bar if you plan on reloading mag cartridges.

FWIW, I also found the spare parts kit very handy when you have an oops or some little piece breaks. Yes it is guaranteed, yes you will have to wait for a 25¢ part to arrive in the mail. I would rather keep reloading while the part comes.;)

Hope this helps.:)
 
Your lee dies will work.

You will, however, need a 'conversion kit' for all calibres you shoot. They consist of a shellplate, powder funnel (which fits inside the powder die, which comes with the 550) and three little brass locator buttons. They run about $40-$50 per caliber.

Depending on the different calibers you shoot, you'd be best off to get a quick change system and toolhead for each one. That way, you can switch calibers in less than a minute (primer system from small-large can take about 5 minutes).

If you load pistol, you'd be best to get carbide dies - no lube required!

I can crank out about 500-600/hr of .45ACP and around 400/hr of .223 once it's set up. No case feeder or bullet feeder - all by hand!
 
Couple of options "everyone" seems to sell with the 550, is the optional roller handle, and a strong mount. I bought the roller handle with my press, but have never put it on,, the ball handle provides a lot of feel for primer seating and I don't think it would be the same with the roller..strong mount seems appealing some days, but then I'd have to stand to load... In short, try it out of the box first..

If you're going to load different heads (WC, SWC, etc) for one caliber, investing in a Redding Competition seating die has been a good move for me, it save s lots of setup time.. Just my .02
 
The charging die for RL550 is a proprietory Dillon die. It comes with the Dillon conversion kit depending on what caliber you will use. Therefore, any non-Dillon charging/powder you buy will not work with Dillon. In the case of Lee 3-die set, you can only use the decapping/sizing die and seating die. The powder die that came with it will not work on Dillon press.
 
nognog said:
The charging die for RL550 is a proprietory Dillon die. It comes with the Dillon conversion kit depending on what caliber you will use. Therefore, any non-Dillon charging/powder you buy will not work with Dillon. In the case of Lee 3-die set, you can only use the decapping/sizing die and seating die. The powder die that came with it will not work on Dillon press.
Click to expand...

The powder-through die does not come in the conversion kit. The powder funnel for the particular cartridge does. The powder funnel goes inside the powder-through die.
 
Taking it one step further, in my opinion, it only makes sense to buy a 550 quick change kit for each caliber you intend to reload, in addition to the conversion kit. The quick change comes with a tool head stand, a tool head, and an extra powder measure assembly with powder die.

You are going to spend around $30 on just a tool head and powder die, so in my opinion the $100 spent to get the quick change kit is worth it since you no longer need to remove your powder measure (and reset it) for each caliber.

When you have this much invested in a quality setup... what's a little more to make it that much easier to use.
 
I can move a powder measure from one tool head to another in >2 mins. While it's nice to have a $70-$80 measure on every toolhead, it certainly is not a definate requirement. Especially on calibers you don't use as often.

All Dillon stuff does hold it's value, however, and if you can afford it, go for it!:) Or there may be some other do-dads you could spend the money on.
 
joe-nwt said:
I can move a powder measure from one tool head to another in >2 mins. While it's nice to have a $70-$80 measure on every toolhead, it certainly is not a definate requirement. Especially on calibers you don't use as often.
Click to expand...

In my opinion, the time isn't saved in the switching - it's in the dialing in the charge amount - especially if you have to change powder bars.

But I agree - it's not a requirment!
 
canucklehead said:
In my opinion, the time isn't saved in the switching - it's in the dialing in the charge amount - especially if you have to change powder bars.

But I agree - it's not a requirment!
Click to expand...

Good point! I have three measures, each set up with a different powder bar, cause I don't like changing them. However, so far I haven't minded adjusting the measure before I use it. I have an appropriate-sized nut-driver sitting on the bench to ease this adjustment.;)
 
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