Dillion Reloading Press?

S

stephen

New member
I have a question to those that reload. Any one use the Dillion 550? I have been away from reloading for quite a while, sold all my stuff yrs ago. And am thinking of getting back into it, but would like to go with a progressive press.

Pro's and Cons? of this machine would be helpfull.
 
I load commercially, and I have one... and I would not do it again. It sits and collects dust - I haven't used it in over 6 years.

First, it is a semi-prograssive machine, NOT a progressive machine, which means that it needs to be manually indexed - if you loose track or get interrupted, it is easy to double charge a case... plus it only has 4 stations, fairly limited - you can't use separate crimping dies, or other speciality dies.

If you want a multi-station save your pennys and get the 650 - even without the case feeder, it is a way better press.
 
I,ve just got one up and running this week, and i,m delighted with it, it holds a decap/size die, then the expander/powder die, then the bullet seater, then the crimp die, what more do you want?Yes it is possible to double charge etc, but mistakes can be made with any press, if you arent concentrating, you shouldnt be loading should you really?Yep , the 650 has to be better, there is less to do, but i dont shoot enough rounds to merit one. I will say, that the dillon presses are the finest quality, and work like a swiss watch, i wholeheartedly recommend them.
 
I've had one since 1984 - it started life as a 450 model and has been upgraded each time Dillon improved it. I've reloaded well over a hundred thousand rounds of .45 ACP on the press with a taper crimp die in the number four station. Never had a double charge. At my best I could reload up to four hundred rounds an hour. I've also loaded .357 magnum rounds, .223 and .308 rounds with the 550B. Now I'm reloading .204 Ruger.

There's no doubt the 650 is a better machine, but like baldie says the 550B is just the ticket for careful reloader.
 
I have two on my loading bench along with a Rock Chucker for the large calibers that I just load 20 or 30 rounds for. If your not using a Dillion press, your wasting your time. What a great machine, fast,easy,accurate and what a time saver, can't say enough good about them.
 
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First, it is a semi-prograssive machine, NOT a progressive machine, which means that it needs to be manually indexed - if you loose track or get interrupted, it is easy to double charge a case... plus it only has 4 stations, fairly limited - you can't use separate crimping dies, or other speciality dies.





I have three Dillon presses, 1050, 650 and a 550. I don't crimp my rifle loads but my 550 always has an open die-port, so I can't see why you couldn't have a separate crimping station.

I love the 550. Where it is true that it is not "auto index" it also allows you to index very carfully. Some of my loads are full, about 1/2 way up the neck. It's very difficult to load on the 650 when the cases are that full. If you aren't extremely careful, you will sling powder out of the case when it auto-indexes. I have managed to modify the cam and a couple of springs to mitigate the problem, but just thought I would give you a "heads-up".
 
Thanks,

Went and looked at one at my locale shooting shop. I think I will have to go for it. Only loading for four calibers now, 44 Mag, 45 GAP, 308, and the 223. The GAP and the 223 seem to be fired more than the other's, and tThe cost of ammo is getting to me now.

Once again thanks

Stephen
 
I have a 550 and love it. If you do a search of the 550 you'll find an aweful lot of very happy Dillon 550 users. Maybe if a fellow planned on loading commercially as the gentleman above does a larger more advanced machine would serve better. However, unless mass production is in the future the 550 will do a good job. I too like the ability to carefully index the cases around. Keeps my head in the game that way.
 
stephen, One word of warning though: Make sure that you have plenty of empty brass to load when you get your Dillon. I though I had a lot of brass, but when I got my first Dillon, within a couple of hours I had every stick of brass in the house loaded! I was bummed, brand new press and no more brass!
 
Dtech, I will keep that in mind. I do a lot of shooting with my AR, and right now I have around 3500 LC 2002 empty cases to work on. I hope that can break in the Dillion, or give it at least a good start.
 
Once you get the hang of it, 3500 would last you about 5 hours. I can't stand in front of any loader that long. I have, more than once, started loading with a fresh 8 pound keg of powder, took a break in the middle, but went through the whole keg in one morning. At 25.5 grains/caase, that's a fair amount of loading!
 
I have had my 550 since 92. I load 13 rifle & handgun calibers but have no need for full auto indexing. Often when working up loads I find manual indexing quite convenient.

If you need auto indexing, get a 650. If not, a 550 will serve you quite well.
 
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plus it only has 4 stations, fairly limited - you can't use separate crimping dies, or other speciality dies.




I don't see how the 550 can't use seperate crimp and seating dies. One station is for resize/decap, the second primes and throws powder, the third will seat and the fourth crimp.

While I've no direct experience with the 550 I do have a 650 and it is a quality piece of equipment. The 650 has 5 stations and mine is setup with all the above plus a powder check in station #3. So I don't see why the 550 couldn't seat and crimp in seperate stations.

The auto indexing of the 650 is nice for increased production speeds. Just place the bullet and pull the handle. The 650 used to have the advanatage of having a case feeder, but this is no longer the case as now the 550 has a case feeder available for it.

While the 550 may not be able to match the speed of the 650, it does have the advantage of offering cheaper caliber conversions if you plan on loading multiple calibers.

Brian Enos has some good documentation on how to decide between the various models, based on your need. You can find them on his web page at www.brianenos.com. In addition, he offers some pretty good savings and free shipping on Dillon presses.
 
? so nobady has had a problem reloading rifle rounds? Will be useing mine for 223. Just wondering about the powder throw consistancy. When I was reloading before I checked evry ten rounds, to make sure my thrower was still throwin the set amount, will keep this practice with the dillion, but courios anyway.

Thanks
Stephen
 
I load 223, 30-06, 30-30, 444 Marlin, 22-250, just off the top of my head & have loaded 25-06 in the past. Dillon powder measures work best with ball powder but are not limited to them. I use mostly Vhitavouri powders, which are stick, as well as Varget (stick) and IMR4198 (I think) for the 444, also stick.

I wouldn't use them if I had accuracy problems with my ammo.
 


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