I happen to have 2 550s one a B one a C...one large primer the other small primer. Have a 750 set up right now for 38/357. Next up is 223. Also have a 1050 in 45 auto. Think I will sell it. Going to load about 2000 rounds first though. I don't shoot as much 45 as I used to and it easily loads 1000 rounds an hour
Dillon 550 or 750
- Thread starter Chubbs103
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Birdhunter6
Member
Once you get used to your new machine you will love it. I have run a 550 for decades. Simple and quick to switch calibers. No better tool to learn progressive methods.
I have owned both a 1050 and a 650 but they went away. The auto index, higher volume and case feeder couldn't justify the time spent on caliber changes, adjustments and the space the machines took up on my bench. If I had bench space for a loader I was going to set up for a single caliber i would have kept the 650.
I don't load rifle ammo on a progressive press and never load more than 1000 rounds at a time. For my primary calibers, 9mm and .357 I use all Dillon dies except for a 9mm Lee taper crimp die. (I use the Lee crimp die on all my auto loader ammo)
For other pistol calibers I use the same dies I used on single stage presses back in the 80s. (Mostly RCBS) The Dillon dies run smoother & faster but I'm in no hurry. Round count between the 2 types of dies doesn't vary more than 25 an hour or so. Taking my time I average between 350 and 400 rounds an hour.
I would like to get a second 550B just to avoid switching from large to small primers. Truth is swapping out the primer feeder isn't a big deal, but it is more complicated than the caliber switch.
Good luck.
I have owned both a 1050 and a 650 but they went away. The auto index, higher volume and case feeder couldn't justify the time spent on caliber changes, adjustments and the space the machines took up on my bench. If I had bench space for a loader I was going to set up for a single caliber i would have kept the 650.
I don't load rifle ammo on a progressive press and never load more than 1000 rounds at a time. For my primary calibers, 9mm and .357 I use all Dillon dies except for a 9mm Lee taper crimp die. (I use the Lee crimp die on all my auto loader ammo)
For other pistol calibers I use the same dies I used on single stage presses back in the 80s. (Mostly RCBS) The Dillon dies run smoother & faster but I'm in no hurry. Round count between the 2 types of dies doesn't vary more than 25 an hour or so. Taking my time I average between 350 and 400 rounds an hour.
I would like to get a second 550B just to avoid switching from large to small primers. Truth is swapping out the primer feeder isn't a big deal, but it is more complicated than the caliber switch.
Good luck.
When going from one size primer to the other, only the mag tube, primer cup and primer punch need to be exchanged. I know some disassemble the entire primer assembly to remove a slider (which holds the cup) and then must fiddle with aligning the newly installed slider - time consuming and unnecessary.
357 posed a bigger problem. I am using my RCBS dies from probably the late 1970s. The size die and the seating die require too precise an entry into the die for progressive use. I can rotate a single round through the stations without a problem, but if the shell plate is fully loaded I start crushing case mouths.
I bought a Dremel polishing cone and opened up the mouth of the sizing, seating and crimping non Dillon dies made it much easier to insert cases and bullets. I absolutely do not like the new Dillon sizing dies!!!!
I bought a Dremel polishing cone and opened up the mouth of the sizing, seating and crimping non Dillon dies made it much easier to insert cases and bullets. I absolutely do not like the new Dillon sizing dies!!!!
Paul in Nevada
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Did you follow this step?
"Using the die lock rings provided, screw the sizing die
into the toolhead. Raise the platform and screw the die down
until it touches the shellplate. Lower the platform and insert
an empty case into Station One. Raise the platform so the
case is in the die, tighten the lock ring on the die. This will
keep everything centered."
Yes.
I even tried having leaving the the lock rings loose until I had empty cases in both the sizing die and the seat die, then tightening both.
It is actually the seat die that is the problem. The cases go into the size die with very little fuss.
I have a Dillon seat die arriving today. We will see if that improves the situation.
I even tried having leaving the the lock rings loose until I had empty cases in both the sizing die and the seat die, then tightening both.
It is actually the seat die that is the problem. The cases go into the size die with very little fuss.
I have a Dillon seat die arriving today. We will see if that improves the situation.
gnappi
Member
I have two 550's and an unmodded 450 since the early 80's and they make 100% reliable ammo as fast as I'd make them on any other machine on the planet because I take my time.
So, a 500 or? Dunno, if you have the coin, you're in a hurry to make a lot of ammo and want an impressive machine either will make great ammo, or junk as it happens.
So, a 500 or? Dunno, if you have the coin, you're in a hurry to make a lot of ammo and want an impressive machine either will make great ammo, or junk as it happens.
I'm on a 750 for most everything accept 44MAGNUM I do that the what I like to call the traditional way on my lee turret...
I only have one plate on my 750 I just swap the dies its rather easy and I enjoy the setup, the volume of shooting you do and your dislike for loading for the fam would be eliminated with a 750....
I myself can make up to 500 a night of say 9mm or 40 or 45 of good quality range ammo the prep has to be there and the focus but it sure would take the dislike out of it...
Time is key and what I looked at when buying a Dillon, on a turret it took me 5 days to make 500 9mm making 100 a night at that took a good HR now I can make 100 in 10mins so I ask you sir....
WHAT IS YOUR TIME WORTH?
I only have one plate on my 750 I just swap the dies its rather easy and I enjoy the setup, the volume of shooting you do and your dislike for loading for the fam would be eliminated with a 750....
I myself can make up to 500 a night of say 9mm or 40 or 45 of good quality range ammo the prep has to be there and the focus but it sure would take the dislike out of it...
Time is key and what I looked at when buying a Dillon, on a turret it took me 5 days to make 500 9mm making 100 a night at that took a good HR now I can make 100 in 10mins so I ask you sir....
WHAT IS YOUR TIME WORTH?
as noted above for range ammo I use the 750 or 1050. Top end loads for 357,41 and 44 get done on the Redding T7. I don't shoot or need as many mag loads. Heck even my bear loads for the 41 I could make on the progressives but I just don't load that many. I load the 223s on the 550. Rifle just takes a bit more care... JMHO YMMV
so it seems most that choose the 550 over the 650/750 is due to caliber changes. I will admit i hate to change calibers on my 650, but I will load 2000 of a caliber before changing out to another caliber, repeat and move to another Caliber, so my machine sits for a while and I am not changing calibers that often.
I have 2 550', a 650 dedicated to 45 ACP and a 1050 dedicated to 9mm. Never used to be worth it to load 9mm before but that changed. The 650 and up are not near as easy to convert calibers on. I have several 550 toolheads set for all the calibers I use and can switch them in about 5 minutes. Very easy once you've done it a few times.
So if I only could have 1, well 2 as I believe 1 for small and 1 for large primers, the 550 wins for me.
So if I only could have 1, well 2 as I believe 1 for small and 1 for large primers, the 550 wins for me.
I have a 550B, 6 years old. should have bought the 750 for the extra die position. Either one is great.
I’ve been hand loading since I was 12, 44 years and counting. The economics of 9mm Luger reloading runs in cycles.
When there are no shortages on ammo I generally replenish my 9mm Luger brass by buying 115 gr FMJ or 124 gr FMJ promo loads from Remington, Federal or Winchester as the prices are often less than a dollar more per box of 50 than it costs me to reload with similar comments into once fired brass.
However even in times of plenty, factory 9mm hollow point or other ammo is still two to three times as expensive as it costs me to load the same components into new or cleaned once fired brass.
The seating die is much larger in diameter to accommodate the bell you put on the case in the charging die to help a cast or swayed lead bullet enter the case mouth cleanly.
If you are having issues with the case not wanting to enter the seating due, it either has way too much bell that is hanging up on the die, or you don’t have enough and the bullet is hanging up on the top of the case.
I’ve loaded well north of 30,000 rounds of .38 Special and .357 Magnum with at three different non Dillion die brands (RCBS, Lee and Lyman) and never had an issue, provided you set the charging die to put a correct amount of bell in the case mouth.
If you consider other cartridges, I’ve also used CH, Redding, and Pacific dies as well as Dillon.
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I have similarly never had issues with non Dillon sizing dies.
However, the paperclip looking spring arm on the case feed plate can cause problems if it is not properly adjusted - especially with long straight wall pistol cases like the .357 Mag. If the end of that spring arm is too high and presses on the case above the level of the shell plate, or os adjusted too far in so that it rides up on the case, it will push the case mouth in toward the center of the press and it will hang up on the edge of the sizing die.
Conversely if it is not adjusted in far enough to just be just barely short of to just barely contacting the case it won’t hole the case against the inner edge of the shell plate and the case mouth can hang up on the edge of the sizing die.
It can be deceptive as the same adjustment works for a whole lot of different cartridges - right up until it doesn’t, and that can cause people to start blaming the seating or sizing die when those are not the problem at all.
Had a 650 and it was fine...someone wanted it MUCH more than I did so it went away and I got a new 750. Nice machine. I have 2 550s a B and a C. The B is loaned out to a friend set up in 9mm. He loads my 9s for me...yippee! The Super 1050 I have is set up in 45 ACP. I haven't loaded enough ammo on it to make it worth keeping... So I am going to load another 1000 or so and will sell it. There will be someone out there in reloading land that will want it. Don't shoot anywhere near as much 45s these days
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I'm usually open to admitting my mistakes. I did try varying the amount of bell on the cases. Keep in mind, this is a set of dies on which I have loaded thousands of rounds of .38 Special and .357 Magnum over many years. I was able to take a single round through every stage without a problem (although the case would sometimes require a little guidance going into the seat die).
I have had no trouble at all using my RCBS 9mm dies on the 550.
I have included some interesting pictures. Early RCBS dies, like my .357 dies, have squared off holes without any radius to the opening. Dillon dies have an impressive radius. Newer RCBS dies have a mild radius.
First picture is my 1977 RCBS .357 Magnum seat die
Second is my brand new Dillon seat die
Third is my 20 year old RCBS .41 Mag seat die to show the newer style like my 9mm dies.
Attachments
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Teach the shooters using the ammo to reload?
My 9 year old de-capped several hundred 9mm this evening and helped me inspect them and look for crimped primer pockets.
Any time he helps with the actual loading, I slow everything down to half speed for safety. He hasn't helped with the Dillon yet.
bruce381
Member
Lot of thread drift here for the same money as 2 square deals get the real deal a 650/750 it will all you want and you can make it faster easier as you go, I took 20 years before I bought a case feeder.
primer swap is 10 minutes it is a none issue.
I can load 200-300 in hour or so on way to range and is much better built than the square deal and like most guns will only go up in value Mine was like $280, 20 years ago and can still sell for current prices used.
Like a gun safe get bigger better than you think you will grow into it.
Bruce
