Dillon upgrade? Toolhead?

[iukamedic]

I’ve been reading some on the Dillon 550c and some various toolheads. I haven’t really found the answer I’m looking for. I have a 550b that I’ve used for several years. Load mostly 9mm, 223, and 300 blackout. Have used it for other calibers also but mainly the ones listed. I have noticed that the tool head moves when in the seated position. Also I get a small variance if I leave out the sizing station and just use the seating and powder station without a piece of brass in the sizing station. Very minor but some loads I would like to cut down on this. My question.
1- Is there a difference in the tool head area of a 550c vs 550b, or are the differences in the lubrication area only?
2- Do the other manufacturers of tool heads (Whidden and Armanov) make a noticeable difference in the area of
consistency that is noticeable for seating depth and powder charge?
Thank you ahead of time for sharing you experience in this.
-Jeff

 

[Bat Rastard]

I am 93% sure the toolheads are unchanged between the 550b and 550c.

 

[nettle]

The 550C has additional grease fittings vs the 550B. Other than that they are the same.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I use mine one round at a time. I don't use the powder measure, but use the powder through die for most calibres, weighing powder separately. No issues, no fancy toolheads, just the basic one and decent dies/mandrel.

 

[DocBII]

iukamedic,

I haven't tried the Armanov toolhead, but I do have a couple of the Whiddens. Whidden makes two types, one with floating rings for dies and one without floating rings, but both will lock up. The floating ring type gave better consistency with rifle dies, however, the whole setup is expensive. I didn't try the non-floating rings with an O-ring under the lock, that might help the consistency but the difference between the floating and non-floating wasn't enough for me to be willing to spend the extra money on the floating lock ring model.

Another option is to find and purchase a kit to convert Dillon tool heads into a locking toolhead. These were inexpensive and I purchased enough to convert twenty toolheads. I haven't converted any of the toolheads yet, life got in the way the experiments.

Have fun,
DocBII

 

[nettle]

There is a little bit of play between the groove and the press and the male fit of the tool head. About the the thickness of Scotch Tape. I shim my tool heads with Scotch Tape