New Dillon...

[Rsadams]

I finally ordered my first Dillon today.... A 550c , can't wait for it to show up.... I am so tired if loading for my pistols on a single stage press , just takes way to long especially for 9mm.... Been wanting to get one for years...

 

[Erud]

Good for rifle rounds too!

 

[rwj]

I finally ordered my first Dillon today...

Great choice!

 

[Rsadams]

Once I get the hang of it I will load some .223 for sure for the AR platform... I ordered the Dillon dies for 9mm but I think I will use my dies for everything else... They guy at Dillon said if there short for some reason , to use their locking nuts on the bottom of the tool head because they are thinner than most and they should be fine... I still have the old rock chucker mounted up on the right side of my bench and I guess I will mount the Dillon on the left and hope I have enough room in the middle...

 

[Bc'z]

Get ready to have a surplus of ammo.
I know I do.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Good choice, the 550 is the most versatile. I know just how you feel as I wanted one for a lot of years before it happened. One thing after you get it set up and ready to roll GO intentionally slow. As you get the feel of the machine and what its doing in the different stages the speed will come on its own. A mistake I made was trying to go to fast right off the bat. Another thing is I use a light and look in every case for proper powder height especially on the 223 with the small neck before setting the bullet. I weigh out a charge on the scale and dump it into a case as a master to visually refer to the powder height in the cases. Your going to enjoy your new press.

 

[Scott Harris]

I finally ordered my first Dillon today.... A 550c , can't wait for it to show up.... I am so tired if loading for my pistols on a single stage press , just takes way to long especially for 9mm.... Been wanting to get one for years...

It's not just for pistols!

 

[Urv]

I finally ordered my first Dillon today.... A 550c , can't wait for it to show up.... I am so tired if loading for my pistols on a single stage press , just takes way to long especially for 9mm.... Been wanting to get one for years...

you will love this press being new be sure to check your reloads with a case gauge every 50 0r 100 rds as things change when setting up the new press good luck adn have fun reloading

 

[klamathsteel]

Solid choice !! As mentioned above place a good light above stations 2 and 3 so you can see the powder
charge before you seat the bullet. It's a great machine !!

 

[rwj]

Solid choice !! As mentioned above place a good light above stations 2 and 3 so you can see the powder
charge before you seat the bullet.

Check out https://inlinefabrication.com/colle...kylighttm-led-lighting-kit-for-the-dillon-550. They offer many options for the 550 in addition to this LED light.

 

[Rsadams]

Check out https://inlinefabrication.com/colle...kylighttm-led-lighting-kit-for-the-dillon-550. They offer many options for the 550 in addition to this LED light.

Ohhhh ya , I saw this watching some you tube videos... Definitely will be ordering the light from them.... There's soooo many cool things available for a Dillon....

 

[Rsadams]

you will love this press being new be sure to check your reloads with a case gauge every 50 0r 100 rds as things change when setting up the new press good luck adn have fun reloading

Do you meen as it wears in , in the beginning....?

 

[1911nut]

Solid choice !! As mentioned above place a good light above stations 2 and 3 so you can see the powder
charge before you seat the bullet. It's a great machine !!

That’s important. It’s possible to double charge with the 550. I’ve loaded more than 50 k of 9mm, 45acp and 38 spl and have never double charged a round but a friend blew up a nice 45 bullseye gun doubling charge on his 550.

I use my 550 to size and seat for 222, 22-250, 220 Swift and 219 Wasp. I have separate toolheads for each and I get benchrest size groups with all.

 

[Papa Charlie]

I have Inline Fabrication's lighting system on my Lock-N-Load AP. I wouldn't reload without it. I like Inline Fabrications stand too and don't forget their ergonomic handles. I have all three items and my only regret was waiting to order them.
I am now looking to upgrade my stand to the quick change system. Luckily, they have a modification kit so I don't have to replace the entire stand.

Here is a pic of the stand and the ergo handle that I have. The handle is amazing at reducing stress on my hands and arm when reloading.

https://inlinefabrication.com/colle...cts/ultramount-kit-for-hornady-lock-n-load-ap

 

[Rsadams]

I am hoping that with my health isn't exactly great that I can get my wife to also learn to use the Dillon in case something happens to me... There's so much stuff ready to go as far as Primers , Bullets , Powder etc and she likes to shoot and she carries everyday... The single stage intimated her with no experience and all the steps involved to load a box of ammo... I have sat her down and showed her how , but I know she only sat there because I asked her to try...I understand because I remember the first time I pulled the trigger on my first reload as I am sure we all do..lol

This has been a long time coming , I wish now of course I would have started with a progressive but learning on a single stage really helps you learn reloading in my opinion.... But after years of people raving about their Dillon and how good the C/S etc was I just said ok let's do it... So far the few calls I have made to them with questions before I ordered , they were outstanding , very knowledgeable and definitely not trying to sell you extras you don't need... RCBS has also been very very good with me over the years so I am not disappointed with the money I spent with them and their warranty program has been outstanding because if anyone make a bad thing I promise you I will end up with it...

But now I have brought so many people into the sport or helped people who wanted to get their CHL/LTC like neighbors and friends who want to go to the range I can't stay cought up with my reloading because someone always wants to go I end up staying up late reloading and having to get up way early to go to the range because of the heat in central Texas , now I can justify the cost... Plus the time I need to get away and just enjoy shooting by myself or testing something , it adds up , you don't get trigger time when you're trying to help someone else get better... Plus now that what we call winter is hear it's my time to get out and shoot with sweating to death because I have heat problems , the barrels cool off but I don't...

 

[Rsadams]

I have Inline Fabrication's lighting system on my Lock-N-Load AP. I wouldn't reload without it. I like Inline Fabrications stand too and don't forget their ergonomic handles. I have all three items and my only regret was waiting to order them.
I am now looking to upgrade my stand to the quick change system. Luckily, they have a modification kit so I don't have to replace the entire stand.

Here is a pic of the stand and the ergo handle that I have. The handle is amazing at reducing stress on my hands and arm when reloading.

https://inlinefabrication.com/colle...cts/ultramount-kit-for-hornady-lock-n-load-ap

That's very nice..

 

[Sieg]

Inline Fabrication is a great business!

I first met Dan when he was just starting out, he was buying my KTM dirt bike which he still has. It's been nice to see a really good guy create such a successful niche business.

 

[Rsadams]

That’s important. It’s possible to double charge with the 550. I’ve loaded more than 50 k of 9mm, 45acp and 38 spl and have never double charged a round but a friend blew up a nice 45 bullseye gun doubling charge on his 550.

I use my 550 to size and seat for 222, 22-250, 220 Swift and 219 Wasp. I have separate toolheads for each and I get benchrest size groups with all.

Thanks for your reply , and I will watch for it and squibs... I normally only load a box or two at a time when I am going to go practice , it takes an hour to an hour and a half to load up a box of 9mm on my single stage , so even if it takes a half hour being safe with the Dillon , I am totally good with that... Plus over the years I have found powders I like which may not exactly be the greatest but a double charge would be either completely full or over flowing in everything I shoot.... Exept for my wife's .38spl , now that one scares me because half full is a double... For it I may stick to the single stage because I like to drop powder , check , and seat a bullet right then before moving on to another... I am starting with 9mm and won't change from it till I feel comfortable with the Dillon , pretty much everything I have is 9mm , I sold a .45 I don't shoot anymore to fund the Dillon..

 

[ballistic64]

My only regret with Dillon is that I didn't get one 30 yrs ago. I could never shoot my pistols as much as I do now without one.

 

[powderbrake]

You will be pleased with the Dillon 550. It appears that you are a fairly experienced reloader, so the only advice I can give at this time is you will develop a "feel" for the Dillon, and if it doesn't feel right... STOP!!!
Dillon makes it easy to stop and restart with their brass buttons being removeable to remove a case from a station.

The Dillon dies are great for pistol, the large radius makes it easy for the case to find it's way into the sizer, even if it doesn't start out straight. This radius does not allow you to size as far down as some other brands, but there is a simple solution for that, the Lee carbide factory crimp die in station 4.
https://leeprecision.com/reloading-dies/hand-gun-dies/lee-carbide-factory-crimp-die/

I use this on my dillons for my 9mm, 45 and 40S&W. I do not use the crimper at this station, but the carbide rim resizes the case to insure no wrinkles, or bulges. I started using this for IDPA matches, so I didn't produce a round that would not chamber.