Dillon press..?

[rwj]

Could someone tell me how wide the strong mount is..?

Though many years old, mine measures 11.5 inches between the outside of the flanges. Good advice to contact Dillon if buying new as there may have been design changes.

 

[biggun2869]

Here is the Lee Pro diskMeasure on my Dillon. Ignore the 4.97 g Bullseye, the measure cannot drop to that accuracy. It is set for 5 gr, and I dropped 100 loads and weighed the total, and it was 4.97 average, so I wrote that on the measure as a setpoint and as a joke to myself.

In this case I sanded out the hole in the disk until it dropped exactly the amount I wanted. That is another advantage of the prodisk.

View attachment 1067830

I'm surprised nobody brought up the square deal B, I have 2, one set up for 45 ACP and one for 38, 357. For just pistol they are hard to beat. I use a Rock Chucker for 41 and 44mag and rifles. The powder measures work very well. Try to get one w/powder return. I bought both of mine used and the 357 doesn't have that. You can either send it back to Dillon for the upgrade or just buy the parts and Dillon has great CS. My 357 has never stuck on me but you have to keep an eye on it. Gary

 

[Sniper338]

1. We're did you purchase yours.. Dillon themselves...? YES! LIFETIME WARRENTY MSKE SURE THRY GOT YOU ON FILE FROM PURCHASES. MAKES LIFE EASIER.

2. Does the powder thrower hold zero , or do you have to constantly adjust it? ONCE ITS SET ITS SET, NO NEED TO ADJUST UNLESS YOU CHANGE POWDERS.

3. I am looking at the 550C , what options can you not live without... NOT SURE I HAVE THE 650XL AND WOULD BUY IT OVER AGAIN, ALL THE BELLS AND WHITLES ARE GREAT. FULLY LOADED WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS TOO SUCH AS THE LED LIGHTS KIT.

BUY ONCE CRY ONCE. THE 650 AINT HARD TO CHANGE OUT TO DIFFERENT CALIBERS EITHER, NO REASON TO HAVE MULTIPLE ONES.

 

[rr2030]

Have two of them, a 450 purchased when they first came out in early 80's and a 550B I purchased from a fellow gun club member. One of the nice things about a Dillon is, well, Dillon. Call them tell them whats broke and a replacement is in the mail. I think the best pistol dies I have for any calibre are the Dillon dies, they just have a few features that make things a little easier.

 

[JayHHI6818]

I have a 550 and load 9mm,38’s,357 Mag,357 Max,44,45,445,6 BR,6.5 BR, 7BR, 6 TCU, 7 TCU. Great press.


http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2018/02/load-winning-ammo-with-progressive-whidden-shows-how/

 

[Steve Blair]

I have had enough of loading pistol on my single stage rcbs press..For you guys useing Dillon presses I have a few questions....

1. We're did you purchase yours.. Dillon themselves...?

I purchased a Dillon 450 when they still had serial numbers, probably thirty-six years ago. Mine has loaded more than a million rounds and still works perfectly. A couple years back, I lost one of the brass retaining buttons for my .45 ACP setup. Called Dillon to ask about a replacement. Their reply was, "You have one with a serial number? What's your address? There's no charge." Made in America, work well, quality built and solidly backed. What's not to like?

 

[Rsadams]

Great , thank for all the replies.... I can't hardly wait , everyone seems to love them and I like that they take care of their customers... I shoot alot of 9mm but would also be using it for .38 , .45 later and maybe even .223 for my M4 since it's iron sights and hair splitting accuracy is hard to get because my eyes at 50 suck anymore and I want for now to keep the iron sights...
My main concern is strong mount or not and were to mount it on my bench , if not I have an rcbs mounted on the edge of the bench and it's perfect hight , the bench was built for sitting so the level is perfect and it works very well so I am assuming that the Dillon could be mounted without the strong mount on the edge also like the rcbs rock crusher...

 

[billlarson]

I have had enough of loading pistol on my single stage rcbs press..For you guys useing Dillon presses I have a few questions....

1. We're did you purchase yours.. Dillon themselves...?

2. Does the powder thrower hold zero , or do you have to constantly adjust it... I will be using it mainly for 9mm useing Win231 and 4.2-4.3 grains... Loading 100- 200 rounds at a time...

3. I am looking at the 550C , what options can you not live without...

Thanks in advance..
Shawn

1.dillon direct
2.not the best powder measure.... but more than accurate enough..... UNLESS you are an Oylimpic quality shooter...
3.had a 550 for 25 years.....shot pistol in a league loaded for yrs.+my prairie dog ammo......had problems with primer feed..... called them up.....
THEY SENT ME A NEW PRESS......no questions asked......
xcuse my spelling....
bill larson

 

[Bc'z]

Great , thank for all the replies.... I can't hardly wait , everyone seems to love them and I like that they take care of their customers... I shoot alot of 9mm but would also be using it for .38 , .45 later and maybe even .223 for my M4 since it's iron sights and hair splitting accuracy is hard to get because my eyes at 50 suck anymore and I want for now to keep the iron sights...
My main concern is strong mount or not and were to mount it on my bench , if not I have an rcbs mounted on the edge of the bench and it's perfect hight , the bench was built for sitting so the level is perfect and it works very well so I am assuming that the Dillon could be mounted without the strong mount on the edge also like the rcbs rock crusher...

I have my strong mount mounted to the top of a heavy wood desk, sitting in a office chair it lifts the shell plate up to more of an eye level which I like.
12 1/2" outside flange measurement
8.5" tall.
This way I'm still able to use top drawer.
Rock chucker is mounted on
Inline Fabrication mount it measures
12" outside flang 10.25" tall, but you can get change out plates for both presses.
Probably add another 1/4" in height.

 

[PatMiles]

Not trying to hijack this thread but for any of you gents who might want to start using a Dillon 550 for long range rifle, here are a couple of links with good info on making a 550 a more precision loading platform.

http://www.65guys.com/precision-from-a-progressive-reloader/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mmk8tv8yrk7vii7/12.23.15-Dillon-Prometheus-Article.pdf?dl=0

 

[perry42]

Bought mine (550) back in the 80's from Dillon. I now have a dozen toolheads with the dies mounted and 3 powder drop mechanizms set up for 38/357,9mm Mak, and 45ACP. My loads for 270, 223, 6br, and 308 use the Dillon for seating and crimping only as I size, prime, and load powder individually for rifle cartridges. There has been no difference in accuracy using the Dillon or my single stage press. Reliability has never been an issue.

perry42

 

[Twoboxer]

. . .

I really like the stand but my bench was built for sitting so it might be to high with it... I need to watch some videos to see how high it would be.. 8 inches I think... Maybe just get a stool to sit higher . . .

Since you are seated, you might look at Inline Fabrications Quick Change system instead of a strong mount.

Mount the base plate on your bench and get a plate for the Dillon . . . and one for your Rock Chucker too.

Use either press whenever you like while taking up only one position on your bench.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I have 5 SDB's. They load lots of ammo for IPSC shooting, and tin can killing.

I also have two 550B's. The only PITA feature is switching from small to large primers and vice versa. It's why I bought my second. I've loaded everything from 223 to 45-70 over the last four decades with zero issues. Set 'em and forget 'em. I will dump every 20th round at the powder drop station, just to check. So far, so good, A buddy and I went halves on our first SDB to load 45 acp for IPSC. We filled three coffee cans full of empty primers.

 

[Rsadams]

Since you are seated, you might look at Inline Fabrications Quick Change system instead of a strong mount.

Mount the base plate on your bench and get a plate for the Dillon . . . and one for your Rock Chucker too.

Use either press whenever you like while taking up only one position on your bench.

Great idea I will look into it...

 

[tstowater]

I have a pair of 550Bs. One bought from Dillon and one from a different site used. One for large primers and the other for small primers. Really not necessary but really handy.

I load HP38 which I believe is the same as 231. The powder measure is very consistent with this powder in my experience.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

There was a guy (cant remember who at the moment) that loaded at br matches for his ppc on a 550 and did very well. I had dillon make me a conversion and set mine up to load from the dillon measure and a harrels. After about a year finding all the quirks and pretty much rebuilding everything itll make very premium 6ppc ammo as fast as you can load the cases and the dillon measure ended up dropping 133 and 322 to .1gr just like a harrels will. I used it when i practiced out the back of my old shop. Itll knock em out and loads very straight. I even had dillon make the dies from my reamer print when they made the conversion kit. Dillon is a great company.

 

[Rsadams]

There was a guy (cant remember who at the moment) that loaded at br matches for his ppc on a 550 and did very well. I had dillon make me a conversion and set mine up to load from the dillon measure and a harrels. After about a year finding all the quirks and pretty much rebuilding everything itll make very premium 6ppc ammo as fast as you can load the cases and the dillon measure ended up dropping 133 and 322 to .1gr just like a harrels will. I used it when i practiced out the back of my old shop. Itll knock em out and loads very straight. I even had dillon make the dies from my reamer print when they made the conversion kit. Dillon is a great company.

Dusty , this maybe something I am just overlooking loading rifle with it.... Since you have to lube the cases still even with Dillon carbide dies , how do you use the press to size them as a progressive but get the lube off the brass... Just wipe them down after loading..?

When I load Rifle on my rcbs I lube , size then run them through the tumbler with Corncob , then trim etc then load... I am not wrapping my head around progressive rifle reloading I guess... Seems like it would be better to do all the prep work sizing then trimming etc on my single stage then using the Dillon for the rest especially since I think it would be good for .223 for the AR platform , were .1 doesn't matter to me because I use iron sites and load any were between 24.5 and 25gr of tac , both shoot fine...

It doesn't seem to me it would be that progressive like it would be for pistol because you would have to resize , remove lube , trim etc then put that piece back in the Dillon and continue with the other steps... I guess it would still be faster than single stage of course but like I said I am just having a problem wrapping my head around the whole thing for rifle...

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yes lube them ahead of time then wipe them off later. I use imperial very liberally so its not like its gumming up the works. I lube them as i inspect them

 

[1lnbrdg]

Dusty , this maybe something I am just overlooking loading rifle with it.... Since you have to lube the cases still even with Dillon carbide dies , how do you use the press to size them as a progressive but get the lube off the brass... Just wipe them down after loading..?

When I load Rifle on my rcbs I lube , size then run them through the tumbler with Corncob , then trim etc then load... I am not wrapping my head around progressive rifle reloading I guess... Seems like it would be better to do all the prep work sizing then trimming etc on my single stage then using the Dillon for the rest especially since I think it would be good for .223 for the AR platform , were .1 doesn't matter to me because I use iron sites and load any were between 24.5 and 25gr of tac , both shoot fine...

It doesn't seem to me it would be that progressive like it would be for pistol because you would have to resize , remove lube , trim etc then put that piece back in the Dillon and continue with the other steps... I guess it would still be faster than single stage of course but like I said I am just having a problem wrapping my head around the whole thing for rifle...

Semi-progressively, Resize, deprime, reprime, trip thru the tumbler for me.

Weigh powder 50 rounds then seat bullets, just like a single-stage though, 1 at a time.

 

[Rsadams]

Thanks guys , kinda what I was thinking , I also use imperial and like it.... Waiting on the money and to place the order , it's coming... I just can't take loading 9mm all night anymore , don't mind so much with big rifle but it just eats up to much of my night not being able to get started till 10:00pm and it takes an hour to hour and a half to load a box... I feel like a little kid with a new toy coming soon... There's just too many good things said about Dillon , their C/S and even the aftermarket for it not to go this route for me...

Once again thanks everyone for your help... Even my wife's behind this decision because I also load 9mm and .38 for her and she knows how long it takes to load a few boxes for her and me to go to the range... With all the money I have in reloading stuff including powder , primers and bullets sitting in my reloading room it breaks my heart to go buy a box of cheap factory ammo unless I can justify needing the brass , which is even hard to do anymore...