Dillon RL550B? The Blue Kool-Aid

T

Terranitup

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Hello guys,
I am experienced in reloading 9MM as well as .223/556 as well as 30-06 M2 Ball round. my question is.
I had a Hornady LNL AP at one point sold it to get a Dillon 650 however did not go through with it due to Dillon's high cost of "Caliber Conversion kits" about 80 bucks vs Hornady Bushings/Shell plate 50/60 bucks tops.
I have been looking into the RL550B due to it being about the same cost as the Hornady i used to have, however the main concern i have is the 550B does not index like Hornady or the 650.
has anybody found this annoying? or maybe a drawback to the press, I personally think its a great press looking for more advice from Y'all, I'm leaning towards the 550 because its about 50 bucks to change calibers (i would only need one conversion kit). I do 30-06 on a single stage currently

thoughts are welcome

Thank you
 
Don't be cheap...get the one that you want.

What is $20 or $30 difference in the cost of the caliber conversion on these expensive machines?
 
I have a 550b, great press. Reload 5 calibers on it. Would auto index be nice? Sure. I went from a lee pro 1000 which I had nothing but indexing problems with. So manual index from problematic indexing was welcomed. I'd say it depends on how often you change calibers, and how much volume you reload. At my peak, I was reloading 1000-1500 rounds a week. Two to three hours, not a problem. If I were to reload 5k rounds a week id be looking for a 650 or 1050 depending on how frequently I changed calibers. The manual indexing does not bother me. If I were to do it over again, it's a toss up if is get a 650. I can change calibers, including primer size, in 5min. I don't have a 650 to compare it but I bet it's longer and I change frequently. If it's 15min to change calibers, I'd stay with the 550 as I do it frequently. When I got my 550 the 650 wasn't out. How many calibers you plan on reloading ? If it's just the two and you want the 650 get it. I would continue reloading 06 on a single stage. For me it's low volume and not worth the hassle on a progressive. I trim off the press so it just never seemed worth it for rifle. 223 maybe. But I weigh every charge and I shoot rifle for accuracy not volume. If you reloaded 9mm and 223 you would not have to change primer size. Changing calibers is less than a min on a 550.
 
Many years ago I bought the XL650 and 8 conversions and 7 quick change sets. All this time later, I don’t miss the money and I still can change calibers like a NASCAR pit crew.
 
I find the manual index a positive thing actually.
Why?
Well setup is easier because you can work each station separately.
Hangups/jams are easier to fix because you're able to drop the ram, fix the problem then restart.
I find auto indexing can sometimes be just faster, but not better.
 
I find the manual index a positive thing actually.
Why?
Well setup is easier because you can work each station separately.
Hangups/jams are easier to fix because you're able to drop the ram, fix the problem then restart.
I find auto indexing can sometimes be just faster, but not better.
Click to expand...

This is what I was going to say
 
The 550B is a 4 station press. Noting about whether it auto indexes or not will change that. Of course, the 650 has 5 stations. That means you can have a powder check/sensor AND be able to seat bullets in one station and crimp them in a second station.

The beauty of a progressive press is that once it's set up, you can load a bunch of ammo quickly. I wait until I have the bulk purchase done so I have the necessary components on hand to do the quantity that I want. Usually it's several thousand of 9mm, 40's, 45's, or .357. This means the caliber change pays for itself in the time it takes is spread over the loading session.

Caliber conversions do NOT have to cost so much. Some conversions use the same shell plate, same case feed adapters, and on and on. The back of the 650 manual has the parts list for each conversion. A little time spent there can save big bucks by ONLY getting what parts are unique to the ammo you want to load.

It's a good idea to get a tool head for each caliber you load. Then you simply leave the dies in a tool head, still set-up, that is slid in for each session.

To summarize, get the 650! I did, and I couldn't be happier.
 
My old progressive presses go back to auto advance and case activated powder dumps. The oldest of the two was upgraded to case activated. Problem, then a space between 'Problem' and the question mark ?. My Piggy Back 11 shell plates rotated in one direction only.

I have at least 4 Rock Chuckers, not one of my Rock Chuckers cam over, to cam over would require the ram to change directions.

F. Guffey
 
Kool-Aid

thanks guys for all the replies.
i sold the Hornady because i hated the way the powder system worked i could never get the belling right and was a real b*** to change calibers with the powder which is why i'm attracted to the Dillon plus Hornady seemed like some corners were cut, the thing with the 650 is i'm not sure i would need that extra station, 4 stations would be fine for me.
it seems like a divided house in this thread some of yall tell me to get the 650 or the 550, im more or less having a hard time justifying the extra 130 or so bucks for an extra station and auto indexing.
 
I use two 550Bs and would not want the auto indexing feature offered by the 650. Seems like potential for trouble should something happen during an auto index (and things do happen). A few owners of 650s have been forthright enough to acknowledge that this is a consideration (on previous threads on the subject). Stick with the 550B manual index, which allows you to reverse without unnecessary delay. Hang-ups will still occur with manual indexing but are much easier to clear and the frustration factor will remain at a much lower level.
 
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I have the 550B, also. Great press...just remember...it is easy to double charge a case...if you happen to omit advancing the shellplate, it will happen.
 
I drank the Blue Kool-Aid, & I'm happy to have done so.
But it ain't perfect (what is?).

The Dillon powder meter is a weak point for consistent drops, particularly with stick powder. It can be managed but it takes effort.

The primer feed is a little problematic, regular cleaning of the transfer bar, track & base unit is needed to keep it running smoothly. Mine is older non coated so I use a dry lube (CRC), but I'm told the newer mods are a big improvement.

I don't load pistol cases with powders that occupy less then 50% of case volume so if I get a double charge I know all about it without the need for a powder check die or station for one. Most of my reloading is bottle neck rifle cases so 3 dies is plenty. I do use the 4th station for .357 cases but for a Lee Carbide FCD, not any powder check.

I did find that built in strip lights are a HUGE improvement in progressives with that big shadowy top plate I'd get one if you go progressive.
:cool:
 
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I have a 550B and love it, the manual index is not annoying at all and I would rather have that then auto index. One thing you won't agree with me is I prefer using the horandy/rcbs powder measure setup just like you had on your Hornady. I was never able to resolve my issue with H110 powder leaking from the Dillon powder measure or getting it to stop trickling power out of the powder/expander die. Dillon is great but their powder measures do not live up to their use of the word precision, they are very sloppy and will leak fine powder unlike the RCBS or Horandy.

Once you learn how to set up and change the RCBS/Horady measure its no big deal, actually I find it faster to change over than the dillon IF your using a separate limit bar for each caliber and using the perfect powder die.
 
I've been known to use my old Lyman #55 for IMR 3031:eek:
Dillon makes an adapter for it to fit, but I have yet to dream up an auto dump with it.
 
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Wogpotter, I too couldn't live with the Dillon powder measure when loading .223 and using WC-844 surplus powder. So here's my solution;

image9.jpg


With the powder sensor removed;

image2_2.jpg


That's the Hornady case activated powder die with an older Hornady measure. It handles any powder better than the Dillon.

I still use the Dillon measures for my pistol rounds, the CAPD is only used for rifle, .223 and .308.

It's too easy to forget to manually advance the shell plate of a 550, resulting in a double charge. I can't say that from personal experience, mines the 650. But I do have a Lee classic turret, when loading with the auto advance disabled, I HAVE failed to turn the dies to the next station resulting in an overflowed powder charge.
 
I need to comment on snuffy's statement that it is too easy to forget to advance the 550B shell plate and end up with a double charge. Has never even come close to happening with over 30 years of operating two 550s. It's even difficult to visualize how you would allow this to happen. To begin with it becomes just habit and ingrained to advance the shell plate after an operation. You would normally do the advancing left handed while grabbing a new case with the right to insert into vacant station one. But if there is still a case (primed) in station one, that should tell you something. So is this double charging exercise a fact or mostly just fantasy, that it sounds like something that "should" happen? If it has happened to you, let us know and in detail how you let it happen. And then did you notice a double charge at the bullet seating station (or before), or not at all and blew up the gun? ;)
 
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I guess its possible. That's why I wont use powders that fill less than 50% of the case volume. Id rather clean up a powder spill than a KABOOM!:p
To date I haven't done it in 25+ years of running a 450 & a 550 though.
 
Thanks guys for all the help. I'm torn right now between getting another Hornady due to it being about 370 at cabelas right now vs the Dillon starting at almost 500 bucks.
one of the reasons why I hated it was the powder drop assembly. It was a pain in the ass to change. I love the quick change "lock and load" However I'm willing to live with it provided I can get another powder drop the same exact one that comes with the press is this possible?
Plus 500 free bullets.
maybe I made a mistake........
thoughts?
 
Yes, the 550 is aggravating....because it does not manually index / and it doesn't have room for a powder check die.../ but the lack of auto indexing isn't just aggravating, because the more steps you have to do by hand ( like indexing ) the more chance you have of introducing human error into the equation.

Buy the 650 ...it has all the features you want.../ and contrary to some folks having issues with the Dillon powder measure, I think its fine.

I load about 25,000 handgun rounds a year on my 650 ( 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag )...with probably 75% of it being in 9mm and .357 Mag.../ and I've had the 650 for at least 12 yrs ...and for what its worth, I'd buy it again !!
 
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