Question on Dillon 550

I have had a Dillon 650 for at least 15 yrs...and you don't sacrifice any accuracy or consistency ( if you set it up right / and follow good procedures ) vs any of the Turret or single stage presses.

The keys are getting it mounted firmly on a solid bench that does not flex ( 3/4" plywood is not rigid enough )...keeping it clean, properly lubed, base plate mounted properly and adjusted, dies clean and adjusted properly, primer feed clean, using good components, etc ...all that little stuff matters on any press..but especially on a press like the 650. As an example my bench has a solid rectangular frame and steel legs...and a 2" solid maple top / top bolted to legs and legs lagged into concrete floor.

Buddies that run single stage presses ...do it for odd ball calibers like .30-40 Krag where he might only shoot 25 rds a year.../ its just easier to run 3 boxes ( 60 rds ) and inventory them for shooting as needed on a single stage - weigh each powder drop, etc.../ but weighing each powder drop doesn't mean it would be inherently more accurate than running that same caliber on the 650. When you weigh each drop...your scale is still only accurate to + or - 0.1 gr....and if you select the right ball or flake powder, the Dillon 650 installed powder measure ( on a press that doesn't vibrate or on a bench that doesn't bounce as you cycle it ) will give you the same + or - 0.1 gr.

But for anything you want to shoot in quantity ...like I shoot about 10 boxes a week of 9mm ( 500 rds )...and it all gets done on the 650..( along with .380, .40 S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 Mag and .44 mag...) and while I don't shoot 10 boxes a week of those calibers....I set up something like .44 Mag and then run 20 or 30 boxes and put them in inventory to pull from for range trips as needed.
 
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Cleanliness is probably the #1 cause of problems with a progressive no matter what brand it is. The Hornady has a slide that pushes a primer forward and if a few flakes or balls of powder gets in there production will grind to a halt.

If I start using mine again on a regular basis I need to make or buy a warning light system that will let me know that the primer slide did not come forward. Did 100 .223's this morning with no issues but I spent time cleaning and checking everything out before using it. I made sure that not only the machine but the entire bench was spotless before I put the first case in. That's probably a good idea no matter what you are loading anyway

BTW I used TAC and can confirm that stuff meters well within .1, out of ten test throws two were .1 off the rest were dead on when weighed
 
Mack59,

The 550 uses standard dies. So you put in a powder-through die made by about anybody or buy their funnel. There may be some odd exceptions, but usually they are fixed by adjustment.

You may want to search on threads about volumetric vs. weighed powder measuring. Surprisingly, many benchrest shooters find volumetric dispensing produces tighter groups, despite small charge weight errors. I suggest you try both methods and shoot groups to see what is actually doing best for what you are shooting.
 
Surprisingly, many benchrest shooters find volumetric dispensing produces tighter groups, despite small charge weight errors. I suggest you try both methods and shoot groups to see what is actually doing best for what you are shooting.
Click to expand...

Same thing I suggest with single stage users that think you can't load accurate ammunition on a progressive. Use the same dies, components and procedures and you'll get the same result, just in less time with less arm movement.
 
On the issue of volumetric powder measuring I just had a surprise. I am putting together a small kit to do some range loading while I was thinking on converting the Hornady on my LnL but would require ordering some parts from Hornady to convert it to benchtop.

About that time I noticed an old and I do mean old Lee Perfect measure sitting on a shelf and I thought what the heck. After disassembly and cleaning I set it up with some RL 10x which is a extruded powder and started throwing charges thinking I would throw low and trickle to weight. To my total amazement the darn thing was dead on the money and threw perfect small charges in the low to mid 20's on a 9 out of 10 basis and the ones that were off were off by .1 except for one .2

I think these things sell for about 20 bucks and this one was throwing as accurately as the 400 dollar chrome and brass jobs. Granted these are small charges and just one powder but still RL10X is about the same length as Varget, 4350 etc. Anyway it's going on the portable reloading setup
 
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It would be easy enough to rig up a funnel on the powder measure die and pour in weighed charges, not as safe as using the measure but it would work if you were careful.
I saved my single stage Lyman turret press to load for rifle and max. loads in .357. There's not enough flex on the turret to make a difference, prolly less than .002". Set the little bar in the back where it screeches when you turn it and it can't flex much.
 
It doesn't take anything special with some measures, just thread the thing into the tool head to the right height.

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Got the Dillon 550 with everything - so can set it up anyway I decide today or tomorrow.

Now just need to redo the reloading room.

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.
 
Good choice, you'll love it. Just take your time and read the instructions, it's all very clear after a bit of time with the machine.
 
I put my 550 on an inline fabrication ultimount . I already have the powder check for the 650 which I think works in the 550 too. I got the inline ergo handle... think I will like it better than the Dillon one, and it was "blemished" so it was $30 shipped.
 
weight checking

Using my Dillon presses, I routinely check powder charges every once in a while by removing a charged shell from the press just to make certain the charges are what I want and are consistent.
 
I've done a lot of playing around with the 550 measure - it is plenty accurate if you use powders that meter easily and don't allow the powder level to drop too low.
 
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