Looking for some opinions here. Im getting tired of setting dies up every time i need to swap one in my rock chucker. Ive been considering a turret press with multiple heads. I like what i see from the redding t7. However i do own a dillon 550 as well. It occured to me today that it is essentially a turret press with smaller turrets. Any reason you can think of not to just buy the caliber conversions i need and a couple tool heads and set my dies up in them? I do not intend to prime on press for my hunting ammo which i currently reload 5 different calibers. The calibers over lap suck as 308 and 7-08, 270wsm and 300wsm, 223 so im really only in need of 3 caliber conversions and tool heads. Give me your thoughts please. Also for clarity im not a fan of rhe hornady quick change bushings and the lee are ok but not sold on them either.
Dillon 550 vs turret press
- Thread starter sksshooter
- Start date
This is the very issue I had and why I went with a Forster Co-Ax. Once I've got my dies set where I want them, it just a matter of simply popping them into and out of the press as needed. There are times when I'll test something with a single case, so it's nice to be able to do it quickly.
My first press was a Rockchucker and I made a lot of good, precise ammo on it. Still have it. Then I went with a Dillon 650 for NM XC and thousands of 223, also started making 9mm for USPSA on it. Sold it, upgraded to a 1050 which now stays set up for 9mm. Started shooting F-Class LR so got a Forster, works well. However, now I make all my 1K ammo on a 550, it really speeds things up and still very precise. For me it's about time/effort balanced with precision. Swapping dies and tool heads is one thing to consider but handling every piece of brass 4+ times is not efficient IMO.......
Cryhavoc
Silver $$ Contributor
You can always convert your Rockchucker to use Hornady bushings and just start swapping out the dies with a twist of the wrist?
Hornady Bushing Conversion kit
Hornady Bushing Conversion kit
i just can't wrap my head around the coax. everyone seems to love them but the handle being up so high doesn't seem like it would be super comfortable to crank through much brass before i got tired of holding my arm up.This is the very issue I had and why I went with a Forster Co-Ax. Once I've got my dies set where I want them, it just a matter of simply popping them into and out of the press as needed. There are times when I'll test something with a single case, so it's nice to be able to do it quickly.
I suppose that all depends on how tall one is and the height of their bench . . . or if one is sitting at their bench to operate the press. For my sizing operation, I like to stand and don't find my arm being up much as all . . . especially since a lot of the time I'm only grabbing the handle just below the grip area.
The Co-Ax has so much leverage that I seldom need to grip the handle up high. And if you don't like the long-high handle, there a shorter one with a nob that can replace it. That leverage the Co-Ax has really helps make all the operations quite easy and not all that tiring (depending on whether you're doing several hundred at a time).
jelenko
Gold $$ Contributor
I've got several tool heads set up for different bullets/loads for 223, 308 and a couple pistol calibers.
Takes 20sec to change the tool head. Since I don't prime on the Dillon, I don't have to change the primer tube and ram.
You do need to change the shell plate though - which is probably 2-3 minutes - but actually 5-7 including the time to find the right one.
I go through a lot of ammo during the season [over 7K rounds]. I use the Dillon for 'short line' ammo and practice ammo for the 'long line'. For matches, I use a CO-AX for the long line ammo.
So, the Dillon makes sense for me. If I was going through a couple hundred or less a month, I might have gone with just the CO-AX.
I went back to a Lee turret a few years back when I realized that the only purpose of a press is to get the case into and out of the dies. When you consider the play in the shell holder any slop or flex in the press itself is minor and irrelevant. Last time I bought a turret they were less than 20 bucks and I have a separate one set up for every rifle and pistol caliber I load for. Best move I ever made, makes changing cartridges a breeze
You wrote "I'm getting tired of setting dies up every time".
I set up my dies and lock the lock ring. I have dies that have been "set-up" for over 20 years. I just screw'em in and go! A new barrel may require a Skips Shim change for the new chamber. I provide the reamer to my GS so chambers usually come out the same.
Frank
I set up my dies and lock the lock ring. I have dies that have been "set-up" for over 20 years. I just screw'em in and go! A new barrel may require a Skips Shim change for the new chamber. I provide the reamer to my GS so chambers usually come out the same.
Frank
Shooter13
Gold $$ Contributor
Have you tried the Hornady Lock n Load inserts? I used them in my RCBS Rebel press and they are spot on! 1/4 turn and they are locked in, I had my concerns and spoke with @BoydAllen and at first thought they were off and not repeatable but it turned out to be my problem and not the LNL. Really slick because I was using 3 different presses in the Ultramount.
From what I have read John Whidden loads his competition rounds on a 550 . Can't argue with 6 national championships .
Hoser
Gold $$ Contributor
I would get a 550 anyday and twice on Sunday.
Full disclosure, I have two 550s on my bench and one Co-Ax. The Co-Ax gets very little use. The 550s load all my long range ammo. With my Prometheus or autotrickler taking care of the powder, I load about 200-250 rounds an hour of perfect ammo.
Toolheads are cheap. They stay set up.
Full disclosure, I have two 550s on my bench and one Co-Ax. The Co-Ax gets very little use. The 550s load all my long range ammo. With my Prometheus or autotrickler taking care of the powder, I load about 200-250 rounds an hour of perfect ammo.
Toolheads are cheap. They stay set up.
DocBII
Gold $$ Contributor
sksshooter,
25 toolheads later, I'm still finding different ways to use the 550 to reload or prepare different types of brass and ammo. For the most precise work, two toolheads per caliber, one for prep and one for seating/crimping. Brian Eno has a list of similar parts between conversion kits, you can order separate parts and empty conversion boxes from Dillon.
Most charging and all priming is not done on the 550. K&M priming tool for primers and Autocharger for good rifle loads. Pistol powder dispensers work fine and are consistent once the powder settles in the powder tube.
HTH,
DocBII
25 toolheads later, I'm still finding different ways to use the 550 to reload or prepare different types of brass and ammo. For the most precise work, two toolheads per caliber, one for prep and one for seating/crimping. Brian Eno has a list of similar parts between conversion kits, you can order separate parts and empty conversion boxes from Dillon.
Most charging and all priming is not done on the 550. K&M priming tool for primers and Autocharger for good rifle loads. Pistol powder dispensers work fine and are consistent once the powder settles in the powder tube.
HTH,
DocBII
Along with a couple of single stage presses, I have a lee 4 hole turret press and an RL550. At least two sets of dies for every pistol cartridge I own and for some rifle cartridges. Changing turrets or toolheads takes seconds. No way I would be screwing dies in and out of a press anymore.
I never realized the Dillon toolheads were so affordable, here is a site that offers them in different colors and custom engraving. This looks like the setup to have
This is the best money I've ever spent in reloading. I can do 5 pieces of this, swap holder and die in 5 seconds, and to 10 pieces of that. I run this my Big Boss II press.
jelenko
Gold $$ Contributor
Wow! That shows you how popular the 550 is.I never realized the Dillon toolheads were so affordable, here is a site that offers them in different colors and custom engraving. This looks like the setup to have
I have more tool heads than I'm already using, but I want a bunch of those!
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