I've been asking questions here for a while now about a Dillon 550 press and finally "pulled the trigger". Ordered the press with 9mm conversion, added 2 more conversion kits for 45acp and 357/38, plus 2 more powder dies. Have 2 tool heads coming from Ebay at almost half the price. That should get me started... and exhaust my budget!
Thanks for all the advise.

I'm sure you will like it for loading pistol ammo. I'm still using my old RL-450 I bought back in the early 80's and it makes loading quick and easy.

One thing you might look at when your budget recovers is going to the Inline Fabrication website and ordering at least the light for your 550C. I just bought one for my 450 and it really lights up the loading platform and makes checking powder levels easy to do at station 2. Their quick change ultramount system is very nice too, if you plan to reload with more than one press and have limited space on your loading bench.

My T-7 press sits up on a Dillon strong mount already. It will come off and get put away for a while, and maybe sold. The only rifle caliber I reload now is 5.56/223, and not very much of it. I haven't heard anybody complain about reloading it on the 550.
The light is something I will look into. Yours is not the first recommendation on it.

Heck, if you had decided to sell that T-7 a month ago you wouldn't have had to look far for a buyer. I just bought me one a month ago to replace my old Pacific 007 single stage press I've had since around 1980 or maybe even earlier. I load 223, 260 Rem, 264 Mag and 380 Auto on the T7 now.

I have a 1984 RL4502. About 10 years ago I bit the bullet and upgraded it to RL550b specs, then moved 4 years ago. When I set up the new bench I placed a 2 bulb 4' florescent shop light above the bench, but it is only one foot out from the wall. I no longer have any shadows blocking my view of the shell area on the Dillon.

Some of the up grades I can recommend are the roller handle and the strong mount (or the equivalent by someone else.) I have 9 large and 5 small primer tubes, I think 10 or 12 of each for large batch production (10 takes 2 hours to use up!) You will want a bullet tray of some sort, to keep the arm movements as short a possible!

An very expensive upgrade I don't recommend it the Case Feeder. It will make loading a very little easier, but not faster for the seasoned user! It also will need removed to do rifle reloading! If I can figure out a rifle adaptation for the case feeder it may be worth it, maybe!

I loaded a 20,000 round batch of 223 back in 1984 when I first bought the 450 (and am still using up the last 6000), and have done several 10,000 round batches of 9mm and 4000-5000 round batches are my normal batches of 45 Colt and 45 ACP, I would do that with several different rounds, but I don't own enough brass for that.

Lastly, Keep that T-7 for your super accurate rifle ammo!

My Dillon is centered on the loading bench, my T-7 is on the right half, and the bullet sizing station is removable and on the left.

Ivan

I think you will be happy with the Dillon.

I think, I purchased my first Dillon 550 in the early 90's .
I have no idea how many tens of thousands of rounds I've loaded on it.
I purchased a second 550 a few years ago. One is set up for small primers & one for large primers. I use the Dillon's to load my pistol ammo and most of my .223.
I've been very happy with Dillon products. They make a good product and have been a good company to deal with.
I also have and use a RCBS single stage press for most of my rifle reloading.
I surely wouldn't give up my Dillons but personally I think it's nice to have both,, a progessive and a single stage.

( edit,,, I purchased an LED flex neck light with a huge paper clip like clamp on it from Lowe's to hook on
the back of my Dillon's ,, ( not in attached picture) I think it was $19.95 ,, It works great and with the flex neck I can move it where I want it ,,)

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You are going to love your new 550C. I have a 550B and it's a "dream machine"!!! It's so smooth. I also bought my trade-in (a SDB) so I could have the 550 for large primers and the SDB for small. I agree with "old&slow" about the flex neck lights. I have one that fits in the hole of the shell plate and was disappointed with the amount of light. Have fun and be careful. Welcome to the "world of Dillon"!!!!!

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I started reloading with an RCBS JRS press, and upgraded first to a Dillon SDB then a 550B. I had planned to load all of my ammo on the Dillon but learned the hard way, it wouldn't happen.

I was loading stick powder in my 30-06 and 308. Stick powder doesn't meter well in a Dillon. As a result, all rifle ammo is loaded on the RCBS press while the pistol ammo comes off the Dillon.

Enjoy your Dillon and welcome to the Blue side!

__________________
Judge control not gun control!

You realize I will put it up for sale and nobody will want it now.

I'm looking forward to this! Yesterday I started 400 rounds of 9mm for a steel challenge match this Sunday, and need to get 300 rounds of 45acp together for a bowling pin match the Saturday after Christmas. This past year I got pretty active shooting matches again and keeping up with the ammo demand has been... well, not fun on the T-7. When you think about it 700 rounds is 2800 pulls of the handle! At my age I want life to be easier!

I don't know...PM me a number and it might be sold Lol...You did get the right machine in the 550C. Take your time learning that 550. It'll still go fast

The LED that fits in the tool head center hole doesn't put enough light in long cases (357, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, ETC) to detect smaller powder charges. I use a "snake light" but like old&slow's idea better.

Bought my first 550 in the early 80s. Best thing I ever bought as I don't enjoy reloading - just a necessary evil to allow me to shoot more. I now have a 2nd 550 and a couple of SDBs along with the Rockchucker. Just broke the crank on my first 550 - rebuilt with free parts supplied by Dillion.

The 550 would be the last press to go.

FWIW,

Paul