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Took the plunge into the Dillon Blue Waters

74_stingray

Silver $$ Contributor
I have been reloading for over 20 years, rifle calibers for hunting as well as .223 for AR15's and several handgun calibers, we do a good bit of handgun shooting at home. I am a retired deputy sheriff therefore I have done a lot of handgun and AR15 shooting. Like many of us reloaders my hands hurt and loading 223 and handgun calibers on my Lyman turret press is more of a chore than it once was. I spent the weekend doing research on the machines plus deciding how to responsibly fund the purchase. This morning I made the decision to purchase the Dillon RL550C with DAA mini case feeder, 9mm and 223 caliber conversions plus Quick change assembly. I do hope it pays off in more ammo, less pain and time. We'll see.
 
For me it is not a matter of which machine make or model so much as it is how much work is required to make what I need.

I haven't reloaded any pistol rounds in almost 2 years. Ever since I started shooting short range bench matches. Now I'm loading between 50 to 100 rounds of rifle every couple weeks. I dread trimming cases!
 
74_stingray said:
I have been reloading for over 20 years, rifle calibers for hunting as well as .223 for AR15's and several handgun calibers, we do a good bit of handgun shooting at home. I am a retired deputy sheriff therefore I have done a lot of handgun and AR15 shooting. Like many of us reloaders my hands hurt and loading 223 and handgun calibers on my Lyman turret press is more of a chore than it once was. I spent the weekend doing research on the machines plus deciding how to responsibly fund the purchase. This morning I made the decision to purchase the Dillon RL550C with DAA mini case feeder, 9mm and 223 caliber conversions plus Quick change assembly. I do hope it pays off in more ammo, less pain and time. We'll see.
Click to expand...
shoulda got the 750. i dont load the whole progressive circuit on my 550 anymore because there are not enough die stations to run a powder checker. i seat and then crimp at different stations. 750 has one more station than a 550. its ok- gives you something to look forward to.
 
Buy the little light that goes into the center of the plate...it helps as you check powder drop. You can also get a Teslong or similar cam and aim it at the opening of the case to view on a computer to see that there is powder. It works, but it slightly slows you down in the name of safety.
 
snert said:
Buy the little light that goes into the center of the plate...it helps as you check powder drop. You can also get a Teslong or similar cam and aim it at the opening of the case to view on a computer to see that there is powder. It works, but it slightly slows you down in the name of safety.
Click to expand...
Good information, thanks
 
snert said:
Buy the little light that goes into the center of the plate...it helps as you check powder drop. You can also get a Teslong or similar cam and aim it at the opening of the case to view on a computer to see that there is powder. It works, but it slightly slows you down in the name of safety.
Click to expand...
i actually used a short piece of wood dowel with a mark on it for awhile. good ideas you got there - ill look it over and see if i can make one of them work. seems i did that but ill try again. still if i was buying new now id get the 750. thanks
 
Don't let yourself get frustrated if you can't figure something out when setting it up or getting it adjusted correctly, support is there to help you.

Some time back a hunting partner got one and was kinda stuck on this/that having never used a progressive let alone a Dillon. They walked him through everything and he to this day raves about their excellent support.
 
74_stingray said:
I have been reloading for over 20 years, rifle calibers for hunting as well as .223 for AR15's and several handgun calibers, we do a good bit of handgun shooting at home. I am a retired deputy sheriff therefore I have done a lot of handgun and AR15 shooting. Like many of us reloaders my hands hurt and loading 223 and handgun calibers on my Lyman turret press is more of a chore than it once was. I spent the weekend doing research on the machines plus deciding how to responsibly fund the purchase. This morning I made the decision to purchase the Dillon RL550C with DAA mini case feeder, 9mm and 223 caliber conversions plus Quick change assembly. I do hope it pays off in more ammo, less pain and time. We'll see.
Click to expand...
Just got mine up and running a few weeks ago. Makes 9mm fast. Still trying to get that muscle memory rhythm of case, bullet, and remembering to push forward to prime
 
brokeasajoke said:
Just got mine up and running a few weeks ago. Makes 9mm fast. Still trying to get that muscle memory rhythm of case, bullet, and remembering to push forward to prime
Click to expand...
The priming on the press will definitely be different for me as I have always hand primed, be it single stage reloading rifle cartridges or handgun loading on the turret. I am looking forward to getting the Dillon operational.
 
I can load about 400 rounds/hour on my 550. I like the extra control when something goes wrong compared to a press that auto indexes. My previous press did auto index and served me well pack when I was shooting 1000 rounds a month or more. Now a days I don't need that volume. As others mentioned your left eye is staring at the case that just received power. That is my powder check. I only load 9mm, 38 super and 38spl on my Dillon. All of my rifle and large pistol ammo is done on a single stage. Less setup and tear down.
I've been eyeing the case feeder as well. Looking forward to a review.
 
Good choice for your first progressive you will enjoy it. Now for the Debbie downer comment, with 9mm ammo prices right now you will not save much on reloading but.... it is a very satisfying to load you own and I do it somewhat for therapeutic reasons.
 
My wife has a DAA case feeder on her 550. I did the setup, instructions could use some help, but it's doable. We get a case that falls on occasion, she has a lighter touch than I do and can sense when a case has fallen, I usually don't until I crush the case. We (generally she) load 9mm and .357 on the 550 ( if/when we decide to do other small primer calibers they will be done on the 550). I do all large primers on my 650. Changing primers is not a big deal on the 550 like it is on the 650, but it still is another step to go through in making a caliber change.

One other cautionary note on the case feeder, keep an eye on the feeder tube that is doing feeding, with 9mm they each hold 25 cases and they run out very fast, so watch out that you don't run the tube on empty before changing to the next full tube. We have both done that more times than we want to talk about.

Mike
 
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