Powder Drop Functional on 550b 1st Station?

[AdamVIP]

Long story short I'm looking at a 550B. I have searched the net and have not been able to figure this out. I saw a similar question on another forum but no one ever really answered it, they just reiterated that the first station deprimes, resizes and primes.

For necked rifle cartridges, I will have all my brass deprimed, cleaned, sized and trimmed prior to use of the 550B. Can I run the first station like so:

1. Place empty casing
2. Push forward to prime
3. Pull back to drop powder.
4. Advance

It seems that most people either leave the station empty or run it through a deprimer again for redundancy. Id like to do it on the first to use a powder cop at the second station since rifle rounds are harder to see into.

What say ye, Calgunners?

[bender152]

Looks unlikely. The "powder rod" (I may not be using the right term) is affixed at the second station. You'd need to figure out a way to move it.

edit - It's the black bar on the left.

[CSACANNONEER]

Just run the first station without any die. No redundancy.

[AdamVIP]

Thanks for the quick pic Bender.

Well that's a bummer. I really wanted that powder check. I know you cant really double charge a 223 but thought it would be good anyways for potential squibs as well as for other cartridges.

[bender152]

What do you have planned for the 4th station? If nothing, you can do a powder check at station 3.

Here's my layout with my brass being pre-prepped.
Station 1 - Universal decapping die (to ensure the primer hole is free of any media) and priming
Station 2 - Powder feed
Station 3 - Bullet seating
Station 4 - Empty (Some people crimp at station 4, but I don't.)

With the above, you can do a check at station 3, then seat your bullet at station 4.

[Lead Waster]

You could do it your way if you buy a powder die converter thing so that you can powder drop with a lee dropper instead of the Dillon powder thing.

[Lead Waster]

Check this thread...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?9879-Other-Powder-measures-on-a-Dillon

[AdamVIP]

What do you have planned for the 4th station? If nothing, you can do a powder check at station 3.

Here's my layout with my brass being pre-prepped.
Station 1 - Universal decapping die (to ensure the primer hole is free of any media) and priming
Station 2 - Powder feed
Station 3 - Bullet seating
Station 4 - Empty (Some people crimp at station 4, but I don't.)

With the above, you can do a check at station 3, then seat your bullet at station 4.

I figured I should plan for crimping on the 4th but it seems there are quite a few people who dont crimp on rifle. Right now I only have 223 with a definite 308 in the future. Does 308 need crimp? Seems like its good insurance either way.

[AdamVIP]

Check this thread...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...es-on-a-Dillon

That is a great thread. Seems going to a different powder measure may be an option. Thanks for the find.

[AdamVIP]

Ok so I just watched a video on the Hornady case activated drop and it seems to work as a self contained unit. I imagine it would work fine. Several reviews say it handles different types of powders better than the Dillon push bar system as well.

This is getting me excited to buy a progressive for sure.

[maxx03]

Check this out. http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296...550B_Press.pdf