Dillon RL 550 B. I'm officially spoiled!

[beach elvis]

First, a little background.
I've loaded literally tens of thousands of .44 sp., .44 mag., .45 acp, .357 mag., .223, .30-30 win., and 7.62x39, all using a Lee Hand Press. I have a Century single-stage but it's mounted about 90 miles from my home so I got the Hand Press just to bridge the gap.

This past Christmas, fellow forummer and true, true bud Belfastman gave me a brand spankin' new Dillon RL 550 B! Coming from my Hand Press mentality, jumping to that was like jumping directly from a tricycle to an Indy car!

After much hand-wringing and fear of the unknown, along with being absolutely convinced I'd break something in the course of assembly, I finally got up the nerve to do some loading with it for the first time. Just finished, as a matter of fact. What an engineering marvel that thing is.
(And thank the gods and Belfastman for the freakin' DVD or I'd STILL be in the fetal position.)

Never did find out the best way to empty the hopper, however. Wound up pulling off the toolhead and tipping the hopper back into the bottle. There IS a better way, ain't there?

Anyway, I just loaded 300 rounds of .44 magnum in the time it would take for about 60 to 75 with the Hand Press and this was my first rodeo! Amazing! Now all I gotta do is figure out some .gov-style numbers juggling to bank roll a few caliber conversion kits.

I HAVE DRUNK THE BLUE KOOL-AID, CAMPERS.
I still love me some RCBS, however, and the Hand Press has served me admirably and will continue to.

Belfastman, there aren't the words, brutha.

 

[billd13]

I have had my 550 for about 25 years. The only other way I have found to empty the hopper is to keep loading until you run out of powder.

I have only had one part break on the loader in those 25 years and maybe 80-90,000 rounds and that was a diecast ear on one of my original powder funnels. I load 8 different cartridges, 2 38's, 2 357's, 3 45's plus 223's. That's how many heads I have. It has been extremely reliable, easy, and fast enough for me all these years. You will be very happy with it for a long time.

 

[max]

I have had mine 10 years or longer. So long that the DVD is a VHS tape. I really enjoy it and it works just fine.

 

[nutsforsmiths]

I have had mine about six years and it works great! The great thing about it is you can load so many different calibers with it.

I reload for 22 Jet, 38 S&W, 41Magnum, 45 Auto Rim and 460 Magnum. Next on my list are 357 and 327 dies.

 

[Photog]

Going on 25+ years with mine. Load from 44 special to 416 Rigby on it. A few minor glitches, but easily fixed and the customer care has been great.
Sold my single stage press several years ago and bought a plain jane 550 and added a primer feed on it. Sort of like a turret press, but faster. I load all my match 308 on it along with a few other odd ball rifle calibers that I shoot very little. You made a very good choice.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I bought the 550b when it first came out, so 25+ years for me too.

Minor glitches, easily repaired, fantastic customer service, loads everything from .357 to 45-70.

You can easily use one stage to make it mimic a single stage press if you like or pull out the stops and use it as intended. Whatever you like.

Quality and excellent customer service.

Make mine a Dillon.

 

[Carnage_7]

Uniquetek has come up with an easier way to empty the powder measure: Powder Measure Drain-N-Change Tool.

 

[beach elvis]

Uniquetek has come up with an easier way to empty the powder measure: Powder Measure Drain-N-Change Tool.

Oh yeah! I'll be ordering one of those.
Thank you VERY much for the headsup.

 

[Harrison]

I have had my 550B for over 15 years and have loaded well over 100K rounds on it. I load 38/357, 40S&W, 9mm, 45acp and .223. I have a head set up for each caliber. Had very few problems and only a few minor parts that broke or wore out. Dillon has replaced at no charge any parts that did break or wear out. Customer service is super and the press is accurate and reliable. I bought it new, and at the time it was expensive, but it has been money well spent.

Taking the head off and turning the powder measure upside down over a powder bottle to drain it only takes a minute and is simple. Why add extra gadgets to complicate things.

 

[mack1]

Been loading with a 550 for 6 years it has only required cleaning and oiling and the return spring for the primer. Last year I moved up to the 650 for pistol loading and it is even better but prefer the 550 for rifle and small batches, the 650 is barley started at 300 rds.

 

[Skeet 028]

The 550 is a nice tool but I've really been spoiled

Probably all that is necessary for most of us. I have a 450..and a 550B. Also had a SDB. All are good machines. But oh my. I bought a Dillon 1050 at an auction. 45 ACP. 300 bucks. That thing is just waaaayyyy too good. Took me an hour and a half the first go round to load 1100 45ACPs. Now I have another Super 1050 with caliber setups for .223, 38/357, 9mm,45 Colt another conversion in 45 ACP and 45 Gap. The Gap, 9mm and the 45 Colt are gonna go someplace else as I don't load for them. But for serious loading..ya gotta try one of those machines. I do use the 550 for 41 Mag and 222. The 450 is going to go to a friend of mine. He's using a Lee. If he doesn't want it..ebay bound

 

[Dale53]

Regarding emptying the powder from a Dillon powder measure. It has been suggested to just pop the two pins securing the die head and dump the powder. An alternative method, is to loosen the two allen head cap screws that secure the powder measure to the powder drop riser, then dump the powder. You don't bother the case adjustment, don't have to fiddle with the powder bar safety return, and all in all is a good way to do it.

Just a thought...

Dale53

 

[Beans]

I started my Dillon experience with the 450 when they first came out. Then I upgrade to the 550 when it came out and upgraded again to get the 550b. I have loaded over 500,000 + rds on my 550b.
I am currently running 2 650's and my old reliable 550b. I can see a 1050 in my future.

I also have a RCBS Jr that I started reloading with in the early 70's and a Lyman Spar-t. They all have their place and use.

My old Herters press was sold on ebay. It was so heavy that it cost me almost as much to ship it as what I sold it for.

Before Dillon I had a Phelps progressive loader which used RCBS dies and you could load rifle and pistol ammo on it. I also had a Star that was set up for .38 Specials. Both of those machines are now gone.

 

[beach elvis]

Regarding emptying the powder from a Dillon powder measure. It has been suggested to just pop the two pins securing the die head and dump the powder. An alternative method, is to loosen the two allen head cap screws that secure the powder measure to the powder drop riser, then dump the powder. You don't bother the case adjustment, don't have to fiddle with the powder bar safety return, and all in all is a good way to do it.

Just a thought...

Dale53

AHA! I was curious about that but didn't want to try it because I had no way of knowing if it wouldn't dump the powder from the bottom upon lifting off the die or not.
Thank you very much.
Apparently, Dillon needs a "...for dummies" guide for people like me who found some info to be missing from the manual and DVD. Stuff that folks of normal intelligence would never need to know or already DO know.

 

[Bear-1]

Ive had my 550 about 20 yrs, got a new 650 last week, Dillons customer service is the best in the industry, i now have 2, 550 machines and the new 650, dont get any better than that.

 

[Joed49]

I started with a 550B in 2002, it was a nice press. Kept it for 2 years but sold it when I started having problems with Unique. For some reason mine did not like Unique and started giving me squibs. After the third squib it was gone.

About the time the squib episode hit I came upon a used 1050 for $900 at a gunshop near me. After I saw what the 1050 could do and saw what a powder check die does I sold the 550B and moved up to a 650XL. The 550 is a nice press but . . . I want a powder check die on my progressives.