Reloading Press Question

[JRS]

Ask John Whidden, or Scott Harris how well the Dillon press works

 

[Medic505]

I was going to reply hit Scott Harris up. He loads for a family of 4 excellent shooters on a Dillon/Prometheus set up and I can tell you it doesn't affect their accuracy. All are great shooters.

 

[USMCDOC]

Yeah.. i think that i am getting the point here! Pun intended too! Yeah, i will be off to Home Depot later today.. i have to figure a way to mount it to the workbench.. due to the fact that it has drawers in the front!

 

[DeadEyeDick45]

Here's what I use to mount my Dillon (650). It's rock solid.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LB9R5MK/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[snowpro440]

I think the 550B would work but I think there's a limit to what powder it will dump consistently . Second you would have to clean the primer pockets and case necks then seat the bullets then measure . It would be a long process but it would work if you load that way on a progressive press. To me it would make more sense to use a single stage press not knowing your loading skills. A 12-16" square plate of steel or aluminum would work on top of that bench...

 

[USMCDOC]

Here's what I use to mount my Dillon (650). It's rock solid.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LB9R5MK/?tag=accuratescom-20

Yeah.. i had forgotten all about that mount.. thanks for bringing that up sir!

 

[USMCDOC]

I think the 550B would work but I think there's a limit to what powder it will dump consistently . Second you would have to clean the primer pockets and case necks then seat the bullets then measure . It would be a long process but it would work if you load that way on a progressive press. To me it would make more sense to use a single stage press not knowing your loading skills. A 12-16" square plate of steel or aluminum would work on top of that bench...

My reloading skills are good enough.. brass gets the works before getting loaded.. i have to uniform the pockets, the flash hole, deburr inside and decrimp (i dont' swage, i cut em out), turn necks and trim..

 

[powderbrake]

I use my Dillon 550 for precision loads, but I do use a Chargemaster for the powder. The Dillon powder measure will only hold + - .2 grain with Varget. My 6BR will shoot in the 1's with this setup.
On the 550, I suggest you should always have a case in each position, and the ram fully upwards, as you tighten the lock nuts on the dies.

 

[USMCDOC]

I use my Dillon 550 for precision loads, but I do use a Chargemaster for the powder. The Dillon powder measure will only hold + - .2 grain with Varget. My 6BR will shoot in the 1's with this setup.
On the 550, I suggest you should always have a case in each position, and the ram fully upwards, as you tighten the lock nuts on the dies.

Oh i don't plan on using the powder drop, i only have one.. i used it for the .45. Good advice on the ensureing that the dies are lined up well with the cases.

 

[Shaggy357]

I have two 550s. One was set up for large primers and the other for small. Neither has the primer bar on them now. I have basically stuck with the single stage Rock Chucker to size my brass. I get a better feel with the single stage and one case going into a die for this step. Most of my brass is also primed with a hand priming tool. Just faster to ensure the cases are cleaned, sized, cleaned, prepped, and primed off the Dillon. (Did 1000 .223 cases on Monday.) Most of the loads that have to trickle the powder, get finished with the RC. While the Lyman Electronic scale / powder measure is trickling out the load, I can seat a bullet. So I just finish them all right there so less chance of anything getting spilled.

Any ball or fine powder I can get to +/- .1 gr. pretty easily with the Dillon powder measure. Each set of dies has their own tool head. Dies are set. Only thing I have to adjust when I sit down is the powder measure. When it dumps 3 loads in a row exactly the same, I am ready to rock and roll. Primed brass in, cha-ching, loaded round drops out. 300+ in an hour is EASY! The .223s that I prepped will take about 2 hours to load. Powder measure will hold enough powder for 200 and bullets are bulk so no delay opening another box.

Periodically I will get a wild hair and need to load a new can of pistol ammo. I store my brass in coffee cans. Here in a few weeks I will take time to set up for 45acp. Carbide dies, primer feed, etc will all be set up and ready to go. I will fill up 5 primer tubes and go. Those will come out as accurate as any done on a single stage, but I will do 3-400 an hour vs 100.

The Dillon's are not perfect, but you can load a LOT, and I mean a LOT of ammo with one in a relatively short amount of time.

Better set that Dillon up. If not, sent it to me. I will give it a good home.

Steve