Ahh, I see what you are saying. I guess I’m lucky, as mine is pretty consistent. I just took the shellplate off and measured, and 2 are .125”, and 2 are .126”. Never would have thought to measure that part, thanks.
Found issue reloading rifle on Dillon 550C
- Thread starter Lefty Trigger
- Start date
Ahh, I see what you are saying. I guess I’m lucky, as mine is pretty consistent. I just took the shellplate off and measured, and 2 are .125”, and 2 are .126”. Never would have thought to measure that part, thanks.
Quality control today should be better then back in 1979 when i started using my Dillon RL-450. Same shell plate as a 500.
Setting the FL die by just turning it down to make contact with the shell plate was like russian roulette. Depending on the station the die was set on, shoulder set back was as much as .015" This caused case separation from only 1 station.
No internet back in the dark ages. Didn't know about comparators or L. E. Wilson cartridge gauges .
Is this a problem that you’ve seen recently, or just back then? 1979 was almost 40 years ago, no sense passing bad info if this isn’t an issue anymore. The shellplate that I just measured is about 15 years old, and I’d say that .001” variance between the 4 stations is pretty darned good.
lol the aftermarket guys keep fixing dillon's errors, dillon ignores the flaw.
think i may order 2!\\
think i may order 2!\\
not really , you want to load mil spec blasting ammo ? a 550 will do it all day long.
you want some precision ammo, then the approach is different, but the press speeds up the process over a single stage.
you want some precision ammo, then the approach is different, but the press speeds up the process over a single stage.
For me it doesn’t defeat the purpose. Once I am thru the sizing, trimming, and priming part of my routine I will then put cases into the press and run a mandrel thru then then charge and then seat a bullet so I still make use of three stages at once.
Bottle neck cartridges-
The trim length needs checked after full length resizing on a Dillon progressive press. My experience is with a early model, RL-450.
The first FL sizing needs brass checked and trimmed back if needed, before loading. The Dillon press mounted trimmer may be useful here, If you want to do all loading operations without removing brass from the press?
After trimming, the RCBS X die may be useful? To keep brass trim length in check?
If you measure and know the true length of your chamber , its possible to use brass longer then maximum trim length. Not recomended, but what i did loading for an M16A1. I did spot check trim length of the loaded rounds for safety.
My process for the 2nd loading was-
Clean brass & lube.
Station 1. FL size, deprime, install new primer.
Station 2. Drop powder.
Station 3. Seat bullet. Place ammo on wifes nice clean fluffy towel to wipe off lube.
The early 1979 RCBS FL die allowed priming on station 1. The newer die does not, unless the old decapping assembly is used, its been redesigned. Unless i missed somethimg??
The M16 and 223 shell plate conversion were sold in 2011. The new owner of the shell plate was supplied with my directions on safe set up. The shell plate was also engraved. I tried to exchange the plate with Dillon at the time. They said spec. was +/- .005" No exchange.
DILLON has/had an alignment tool. Dont know if still availabe? Google it.
Be careful with the primer feed. If it jams, dont force it. There have been KABOOMS on line.
Remember, this is my experience with an old model RL-450. Newer units are different and faster.
The trim length needs checked after full length resizing on a Dillon progressive press. My experience is with a early model, RL-450.
The first FL sizing needs brass checked and trimmed back if needed, before loading. The Dillon press mounted trimmer may be useful here, If you want to do all loading operations without removing brass from the press?
After trimming, the RCBS X die may be useful? To keep brass trim length in check?
If you measure and know the true length of your chamber , its possible to use brass longer then maximum trim length. Not recomended, but what i did loading for an M16A1. I did spot check trim length of the loaded rounds for safety.
My process for the 2nd loading was-
Clean brass & lube.
Station 1. FL size, deprime, install new primer.
Station 2. Drop powder.
Station 3. Seat bullet. Place ammo on wifes nice clean fluffy towel to wipe off lube.
The early 1979 RCBS FL die allowed priming on station 1. The newer die does not, unless the old decapping assembly is used, its been redesigned. Unless i missed somethimg??
The M16 and 223 shell plate conversion were sold in 2011. The new owner of the shell plate was supplied with my directions on safe set up. The shell plate was also engraved. I tried to exchange the plate with Dillon at the time. They said spec. was +/- .005" No exchange.
DILLON has/had an alignment tool. Dont know if still availabe? Google it.
Be careful with the primer feed. If it jams, dont force it. There have been KABOOMS on line.
Remember, this is my experience with an old model RL-450. Newer units are different and faster.
I have loaded over 50,000 rounds on a Dillon 550. Varmint and hunting, and never had any problems. Varmint in the .3's and hunting .75". Full length or neck size, and never had a primer that didn't seat properly. There is no reason to buy a semi progressive press if you are not going to use it. If your pistol primers go in, your rifle primers should go in also. If your primers are not seating, you are not doing something right. Mine go in just fine, and I never clean primer pockets and found no difference in accuracy, but then I don't shoot benchrest. I have always used CCI or WW or Remington primers. I use RCBS Gold Medal seaters and length does not vary. I have never loaded a pistol or revolver round on the 550. I use a Square Deal for handgun.
It very well could be me, I'm new to using this press. However in the error of my safety I'm just going to keep reloading my rifle rounds on the single stage and priming my rifle brass with my RCBS bench mounted strip loader. I have not had any issues except brass sticking to the expander die for my handgun rounds and love it for that. Currently working on a design that will let me use my RCBS precision powder measure on the Dillon and it be machine activated, almost have it dialed in...…..
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That's very interesting? The brass is all Starline and for me it's 44spl and 45acp with 44 being the worst.
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