Dillion 550 best practices

[Cory porter]

I decided to pick up a 550 to load 223 for a couple AR’s. What tool head setup has worked best for you? I’m not concerned about the time it takes to reload. Thought about having two different tool heads

Decapping die
Bushing die, FL die, Small base die
Mandrel?

Empty first station
Powder die
Seater
Crimp

Any thoughts on how you all have decided to go about a 550 or things you can’t live without

 

[DocBII]

Cory,

I use two toolheads in a similar configuration.

De-capping die
Body die
SB die
expander, can move this to second toolhead a use an electric case trimmer.

expander
powder charge
seater
crimper

I've reached the point where I do this with most of the ammo I load on the 550b.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[Richard Jones]

550B here.

I decap and trim separately.

1 - Prime & Redding FL SB bushing die with appropriate bushing.
2 - Powder/expander dump, Dillon
3 - Seater, RCBS
4 - Crimp, RCBS

These are basically plinking/'training' rounds. And it's an AR. I don't worry too much about precise for this application. Any precision loads get done off the 550. If I was loading on the 550 for 'accuracy' I would probably change it up a bit.

 

[memilanuk]

If you tumble with dry media (corn cob, walnut, rice) between tool head #1 and #2, I'd stick a decapping die in station #1 of the second tool head to punch out any stray bits of media stuck in the flash holes.

Using a decapper with a spring to it, like the MA 'flicker', helps make sure the case doesn't get hung up on the decapping pin. Similarly, don't use dies with pins held in two-finger collets - those get pulled out before you even know it, and you have to go back through the already processed cases and find if. Not fun.

 

[Hoser]

Tumble clean in corncob for 30-45 minutes.

I deprime on an automated Dillon 1100 to save myself some time.

First die is a bushing die of some sort. I bump the shoulder back 1-3 thou depending on bolt gun or gas gun.

Next station is where I throw powder. It is dispensed from a Prometheus or a V4 autotrickler.

Next I seat and the last station is a body die if it is going through a semi auto.

I also roll size brass for semi autos and bolt guns. Snugs up the primer pocket a touch and gets rid of clickers.

Below is 338 Lapua ammo. Loaded on Friday and won a ELR match at NRA Whittington on Sunday.

 

[akajun]

before I got my 1050, I used my 550 to load for Service Rifle.
Used two toolheads, one for case prep, one for loading

case prep,
First stage decap,
2nd nothing,
3rd dillon size and trimmer
4th neck expander

The dillon trimmer does leave a bit of a bur but if your stainless pin tumbling that usually knocks it out, if not deburr and clean as usuall. Also if you are using new military brass youll need to decrimp the primer pocket

loading
1st stage prime,
2nd stage, powder
3rd stage bullet seat no crimp
4th stage lee factory crimp set to lightly crimp

FYI when setting your bullet seat and factory crimp die, make sure you have a case in the powder station and the FCD station/Bullet seat Station

 

[Cory porter]

before I got my 1050, I used my 550 to load for Service Rifle.
Used two toolheads, one for case prep, one for loading

case prep,
First stage decap,
2nd nothing,
3rd dillon size and trimmer
4th neck expander

The dillon trimmer does leave a bit of a bur but if your stainless pin tumbling that usually knocks it out, if not deburr and clean as usuall. Also if you are using new military brass youll need to decrimp the primer pocket

loading
1st stage prime,
2nd stage, powder
3rd stage bullet seat no crimp
4th stage lee factory crimp set to lightly crimp

FYI when setting your bullet seat and factory crimp die, make sure you have a case in the powder station and the FCD station/Bullet seat Station

What mandrel did you use for your service rifle

 

[akajun]

What mandrel did you use for your service rifle

If you mean expander
I had an old 223 size die I just adjusted to not size and just the expander ball went in

 

[Cory porter]

If you mean expander
I had an old 223 size die I just adjusted to not size and just the expander ball went in

I assumed you meant you were using an expander mandrel die

 

[akajun]

I assumed you meant you were using an expander mandrel die

No
I had the die so that’s what I used
The Dillon size/ trim die does not have an expander so you have to use something

 

[markm87]

I leave station 1 completely empty on my 550b for everything. Decap, Size, Trim, and Prime all before the Dillon.

Big Boss 2 for all the brass work, and then hand prime. That junky 550b primer system has been dormant for decades. I removed the operating rod and just use stages 2, 3 and 4.