Question for Dillon 550 users

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buckbrush

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What parts have you broken on your 550? I understand some presses with heavy use (100,000+ rounds) break the crank. What have you broken? I have a spare parts kit, I am just wondering what else breaks.
 
I only have 20,000 through mine - no failures. (other than a de-capping pin)
 
It's genuinely hard to BREAK anything on a Dillon, unless you screw up somehow; I've seen people LOSE small bits into a carpet (magnet comes in handy then), but I don't think I've seen anything break. If there's a weak spot, I think it's that the base of the primer tube housing can strip out or cross-thread if you get stubborn about it, but that's about it.
 
I wore out one of the little white square plastic washer-thingies on the powder measure.

I broke a tool head pin when I forgot to remove it before using a wrench to adjust the seating die....:redface:

Sucked up a locator pin in the vacumn while cleaning up one day.:redface:

Eventually, the plastic ends on the primer drop tube get weak.

The pin holding the primer catcher will sooner or later stop responding to your tweaking.

That's about it.
 
I've loaded approximately 30k rounds on my 550 and can't recall having replaced anything on it, it has worked like a charm. I did buy a spare parts kit when I first bought the press new in 1994, the package is still unopened sitting in my supply kit under my reloading bench.
 
I have had mine since they first came out and can't even guess how many rounds I have loaded with it. The only thing that ever broke on mine was the case feeding guide and only because I left a case on it when I was setting up the other station, the case hit the bottom of the press when I lowered the handle and snapped it off. I called Dillon to buy a new one and they sent me one for free even though normally it would never break unless you do what I did.
 
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