Need help buying a Dillon 550

[glocklife34]

You should also have two primer "pickup tubes" and two primer tubes (large/small) Can't tell from the picture, the older powder drop had two coiled return springs.
550B are nice loaders. Strive to be consistent, minimum waste of motions. focus on the job at hand, speed at a later date.
When I first started I loaded several hundred rounds, found out that they were underpowered for my BHP. Got to know my inertial bullet puller quite well LOL

Here is the operating manual which includes the schematic.

http://dillonhelp.com/Dillon%20Manua...l_may_2007.pdf

Thank you for the manual thats what i need to start.

For the powder drop in the pictures do you think its the old one or the new powder drop? What is the difference of the old and new one?

Hope i wont use my bullet puller that much as you did. Lol. I need to focus and no distraction when i start loading. =)

[LeadPilot]

Thank you for the manual thats what i need to start.

For the powder drop in the pictures do you think its the old one or the new powder drop? What is the difference of the old and new one?

Hope i wont use my bullet puller that much as you did. Lol. I need to focus and no distraction when i start loading. =)

They are the new failsafe powder measures. The older one used springs to reset the powder bar.

[Oceanbob]

They are the new failsafe powder measures. The older one used springs to reset the powder bar.

I think $600 is a good deal. You can't go wrong with Dillon. Best warranty in the world as far as I'am concerned.

New on the left, old (with springs) on the right.

[gbarbo001]

This right here. If I could buy custom die sets they would be made of Dillon sizers, Redding comp micrometer seating dies, and the Lee factory crimp die.

What he said! It took me a while to figure this out, but finally I did.

[gbarbo001]

I have two Dillon 550s and love them. They are easy to operate and Dillon service is outstanding. Buy with confidence.

[Oceanbob]

Those mounting plates for the 550s look Rock Solid. ^^^^^

Nice looking shop...

[gbarbo001]

Those mounting plates for the 550s look Rock Solid. ^^^^^

Nice looking shop...

Thanks.

My workbench top is 3/4" plywood and I was not sure what the constant rocking of the presses would do to it, so I overengineered the mounting plates. What you can't see is the twin plate UNDER the bench top. The bolts go through both plates. Those presses are not going anywhere.....

[chino]

After thousands of loaded rounds in 20 years the only item that has worn out is item 13871, Bellcrank Cube. It is a small plastic component made out of plastic (Delrin?) I called Dillon and they sent me a few free of charge.

[milotrain]

Chino, I made replacements out of brass. They are great, but unnecessary.

[Fivehundo]

That's a good deal. I opted for the 650 but the 550 is a good unit...

[chino]

550 B

Chino, I made replacements out of brass. They are great, but unnecessary.

I noticed that too, however the notion of a steel pin actuating against an anodized aluminum part didn't look right. Before the parts arrived from Dillon a machinist friend made me a couple out of molybdenum disulfide impregnated nylon 6. They have not worn out. Brass sounded good, oilite anyone? LOL

[chino]

FWIW, the old powder drop may be updated to the new "failsafe" configuration (no springs)

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25712/catid/6/Powder_Measure_Failsafe_kit_for_RL550

[glocklife34]

FWIW, the old powder drop may be updated to the new "failsafe" configuration (no springs)

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con..._kit_for_RL550

Is the one on the pictures has the old fail safe? Looks like it has a new one please correct me of im wrong. I couldnt see any difference.

[JDay]

Is the one on the pictures has the old fail safe? Looks like it has a new one please correct me of im wrong. I couldnt see any difference.

Looks like the new one to me. The old one used springs to return the powder bar.

You can always ship the press and all the Dillon accessories to Dillon for a tuneup and they'll update it and make it like new for free. They even clean and polish the dies. You just pay shipping to them. You cannot beat their warranty and customer service.

[glocklife34]

Looks like the new one to me. The old one used springs to return the powder bar.

You can always ship the press and all the Dillon accessories to Dillon for a tuneup and they'll update it and make it like new for free. They even clean and polish the dies. You just pay shipping to them. You cannot beat their warranty and customer service.

Looks like the new one to me. I just confirm it is a dillon 550b. It's nice to know that Dillon will tune up the press for free, im starting to like Dillon superb customer service never heard of anything bad about the company.

Either way if i get the 550 or 650 ill be happy for sure.