Reloading rifle ammo on a RL-550B

Bill, glad you can get yours to produce great ammo. I take it that the three operations going on with one stroke would be neck sizing (case already primed?), Powder charging (then weighing each charge) and bullet seating. Do you still prime your long range loads on the 550?

Airwolf, I have used Federal 210 Match primers right from the start, after about 20,000 rounds I have never had a click or a hangfire (knock on wood). The brass I was using at the time was IVI as I had all I could ever want and then some. I have since seen the error of my ways and changed over to commercial brass about 15 years ago.
 
Stage 1 - neck size and prime. Believe it or not, there is some good sensitivity when seating the primers with a 550. Maybe you just have to develop the 'feel' over time, but I can sure tell if a primer pocket is too large or loose (or too tight).

Stage 2 - pour charge from RCBS Chargemaster into funnel on a Dillon AT500 powder die (you could use the normal powder die). Prior to this, I used to use the Dillon powder measure and pour each charge from the case onto an electronic scale, then trickle ... then I bought the Chargemaster.

Stage 3 - seat.
 
Thanks everybody for the input - got a lot of valuable info and have already purchased some of the stuff suggested in the thread, like RCBS Chargemaster, clamped shell plates for 4 calibers from UniqueTek and some other stuff.

Now, a question for you guys who load match rifle ammo on the 550B - which dies would you use for 308 and 38-55? Dillon, RCBS, Lee or Redding? And, which dies would you recommend for pistol calibers like 40S&W and 45ACP? I am presently using Dillon dies for 40S&W and I am having several problems: first, the case is sticking on the back stroke on the 2nd stage (flanging and powder discharge - and yes, I adjusted the die to a minimum flanging possible) and you have to actually apply significant force to move the handle up. Secondly, the OAL of the finished rounds varies within 0.008 of an inch. Is it normal or excessive? To me, it's escessive.

Thanks in advance for your answers.
 
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