Dillon 550C toolhead slop

[garandman]

So, I'm reloading 223 on a Dillon 550 C and got most everything in decent order....EXCEPT cartridge OAL due to slop in the 550C toolhead. Necessary evil of a progressive press I suppose.

Somewhere I read about a device / solution to toolhead slop in the 550. Can't remember where.

Anyone got any helps? Thx.

 

[cjmill87]

A Whidden Toolhead w/clamp is what you're looking for. Either floating (for rifle rounds) or just the clamped toolhead for pistol round will help to reduce OAL differences

Floating Die Toolhead

Floating Die Toolhead

www.uniquetek.com

 

[LVLAaron]

You're going to get OAL variation regardless. What kind of bullet and how are you measuring?

The whidden toolhead doesn't remove slop. It just moves the "slop" from the toolhead, to the die, where arguably you want things to float.

 

[garandman]

You're going to get OAL variation regardless. What kind of bullet and how are you measuring?

The whidden toolhead doesn't remove slop. It just moves the "slop" from the toolhead, to the die, where arguably you want things to float.

I've measure OAL (to bullet tip) and to ogive. Both vary as much as 0.010. SMK's, Bergers, Hornady's, etc.

I'm getting good concentricity, but I hear ya re: "float"

The Whidden doesn't claim to remove slop... but there is another toolhead maker that does.

 

[LVLAaron]

I've measure OAL (to bullet tip) and to ogive. Both vary as much as 0.010. SMK's, Bergers, Hornady's, etc.

I'm getting good concentricity, but I hear ya re: "float"

The Whidden doesn't claim to remove slop... but there is another toolhead maker that does.

You could certainly use the whidden die to remove slop. Just don't float the dies.

 

[memilanuk]

Another option is to retrofit your existing factory heads using the Uniquetek Toolhead Clamp kit. Basically this is what the Whidden toolhead built off of - they just incorporated it all in a new CNC machined head. The retrofit kit works just fine with the old cast 550 heads as well. Or if you screw up and order a Whidden 'floating' tool head, it'll fix those too.

Between 'freezing' the toolhead, and 'floating' the die rings, I typically get base-to-ogive consistency from the 550B that is on par with what I get from my Forster Co-Ax.

 

[DirtySteve]

You may want to try these tool heads. Cheaper and better made. I will check the slop later today.
https://www.joferusa.com/collection...-750-style-billet-aluminum-tool-head-cnc-made

 

[garandman]

Also just found these.... (the ones I initially heard about)

Toolhead Zero-Play, Free-Float for Dillon RL550C

Upgrade your reloading setup with Armanov Toolhead! Designed to improve efficiency and precision, shop now and experience the ultimate reloading experience.

usa-shop.armanov.com

Choices are great, but too many choices.... lol

 

[garandman]

You may want to try these tool heads. Cheaper and better made. I will check the slop later today.
https://www.joferusa.com/collection...-750-style-billet-aluminum-tool-head-cnc-made

Thx !!

 

[rwj]

So, I'm reloading 223 on a Dillon 550 C and got most everything in decent order....EXCEPT cartridge OAL due to slop in the 550C toolhead. Necessary evil of a progressive press I suppose.

Somewhere I read about a device / solution to toolhead slop in the 550. Can't remember where.

Anyone got any helps? Thx.

A primary key to consistency on a progressive is to cycle it with cases in all stations performing their designated task(s). Empty stations change the forces applied to the frame/tool head and can cause variation. Another is to be consistent with the cyclic rate.

 

[Hoser]

Technique is everything when loading on a 550/650.

I load most all my long range ammo up to 338 Lapua on a 550 and Prometheus. I get as good or better ammo on it than my Co-Ax or Redding UltraMag.

 

[garandman]

Technique is everything when loading on a 550/650.

I load most all my long range ammo up to 338 Lapua on a 550 and Prometheus. I get as good or better ammo on it than my Co-Ax or Redding UltraMag.

Love to hear more.... sure I got alot to learn loading on a 550.....

 

[Rsadams]

Sierra matchking bullets aren't exactly all the same , I use them myself but in serious accuracy loads I sort by weight and base to ogive with a comparator.... It will be a pita...

 

[Mauser06]

I use the Armanov toolheads. The toolhead becomes solid. The dies have a slight float. Gotta use their rings. I like their stuff. The toolhead is nice because all 4 stations can be floated depending on your needs and order of operation.


The shell plate also can cause issues. Clean the base of the shell plate. Polish the bottom of the shell plate with fine sandpaper on a dead flat surface. I added a roller thrust bearing and longer bolt. Lock it down so the shell plate is rigid but still freely rotates.

F Class John has some great videos on the subject.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Never had an issue witn the 550B. Are you sure that the issue is with the toolhead, rather than the neck tension, backing out from a compressed powder load or die stem movements? I have tried clamping the toolhead ( just for experiments sake) -no appreciable difference. Mauser 06's post above has some sensible ideas though.

 

[243winxb]

Think as each station like its a different shell holder, with a different deck height. (.125" +/-) If any die makes contact, it acts as a stop.

Doesnt add up to .010", but something to check.

 

[garandman]

Never had an issue witn the 550B. Are you sure that the issue is with the toolhead, rather than the neck tension, backing out from a compressed powder load or die stem movements? I have tried clamping the toolhead ( just for experiments sake) -no appreciable difference. Mauser 06's post above has some sensible ideas though.

It's not a compressed load, and I can see the toolhead move up when seating a bullet.

In my experience, even in chamber type seater, I get as much as 0.004 length to ogive variation.

 

[Rsadams]

It's not a compressed load, and I can see the toolhead move up when seating a bullet.

In my experience, even in chamber type seater, I get as much as 0.004 length to ogive variation.

But just for the sake of argument.... Even if the tool head moves up when seating it can only move up so much.... So as I previously posted wouldn't it come down to the fact that the Bullets themselves are the problem , I know about Sierra matchkings being different in base to ogive length and then you throw in slightly different case head thickness etc it could add up.... Just a thought because I have a 550c and yes it moves but it can only move so much , the shell plate also moves , it has to have some slop or it won't turn...

I don't resize on my Dillon for .223 , I still use my rcbs for rifle resizing , not pistol of course... But with rifle since you have to....... Lube , resize , throw them back into the media to remove the lube , then trim them etc etc... I then use a hand primer to prime because if your crimp is not removed pretty much perfect it will want to hang up.... I then use the Dillon to drop powder , seat bullets and apply crimp.... Believe it or not the Dillon still makes it a ton faster than single stage even with all that other off press work done.... For large rifle like .308 I don't use the Dillon because you only use two dies and no crimp... But there's many people using Dillon for precision loading and there's plenty of videos on YouTube on how they do it...

With this shortage going on I haven't loaded much on my Dillon in the last year but now I might go shoot a box of .223 just to reload them so I can check out what you're seeing.... I shoot iron sights and am blind anymore so I just check oal on a few to make sure it's within spec and let it rip... It only has to shoot as good as a blind ol Man can shoot it with iron sights.... I am interested in what you figure out here on this subject....

 

[garandman]

But just for the sake of argument.... Even if the tool head moves up when seating it can only move up so much.... So as I previously posted wouldn't it come down to the fact that the Bullets themselves are the problem ,

I don't resize on my Dillon for .223 , I still use my rcbs for rifle resizing , not pistol of course...

Good points, both.

Yes, some(?) of my 0.010" (or less) variance is the boolit. In my Berger loads, its about 0.004 even in a chamber-type seater.. I'm wondering if the fixed toolhead can remove some of the remaining 0.006. Yes, the shellplate is also causing some "slop."

I also size on my Rockchucker. So, the DIllon toolhead is getting "canted" pressure from only using 3 stations - powder / seater / crimper, and not the sizer. I do prime on the 550C.

 

[Rsadams]

Good points, both.

Yes, some(?) of my 0.010" (or less) variance is the boolit. In my Berger loads, its about 0.004 even in a chamber-type seater.. I'm wondering if the fixed toolhead can remove some of the remaining 0.006. Yes, the shellplate is also causing some "slop."

I also size on my Rockchucker. So, the DIllon toolhead is getting "canted" pressure from only using 3 stations - powder / seater / crimper, and not the sizer. I do prime on the 550C.

Ohhhhh yes you are correct about the canted situation.... Dillon presses are set up so that all 4 stations should be used.... Sorry it's been awhile since I have done any serious loading on mine because of the current situation.... Yup even when setting it up your supposed to have the stations filled to help prevent cant.... Ok now I seriously would like to see what comes out of this thread since we are doing things the same way...