Upgrading from Lee to...

[madjack956]

I got a Dillon 550 with toolhead/powder measure setups for 38/.357, 9mm, .45 ACP, .223, and .308.
I got a RCBS rock chucker for decapping, and a MEC for my shotgun loads. I even have a Dillon Square deal as a backup. I got a tumbler, separator and all the tools, gadgets and gauges that a man would need to make quality ammo.

I have enough components to make 15,000 rounds of ammo.

What I don't have is any time at all lately to reload. I read the reloading forum from time to time and get seriously bummed.

I know this doesn't have jack to do with this thread but I needed to vent.

Sorry for the thread jack OP. You won't regret the Dillon if you go that route. Its well built.

[cindynles]

Check out brianenos.com for good prices on 550 kits. He sell packages that include the tool head, powder measure, dies, caliber conversion kit, etc. for pretty good prices.

http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.conv.550.ez.html

[SixPointEight]

Planning on shopping with Brian. I've been a frequenter of his forum. I suspect Dillon is pretty strict on MSRP, because nobody seems to list items any cheaper

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[Eljay]

The 550 may not be as fast, or have as many gadgets as the 650, but I see that as an advantage. "Fast" is not really a good thing when you're reloading. [....]

Sure it is. Otherwise why get a progressive in the first place?

[RickD427]

Sure it is. Otherwise why get a progressive in the first place?

Just hang onto that thought when you fire an uncharged round. The primer usually will send it about half-way down the barrel.

Then you'll understand why "fast" is not "good."

The progressive is faster than a single stage, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing. (I can't believe that I came up with line right after New Year's eve - What was I thinking (or drinking), OMG, the kid's a poet and doesn't know it.............)

[SixPointEight]

There are ways to mitigate the risk of going faster. Lockout dies for example.

I'll take 600+ rounds per hour on 650 over 50 rounds per hour on a Rock Chucker any day. I ran a 650 without a Lockout die and was still able to visually check powder charges

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[Eljay]

Just hang onto that thought when you fire an uncharged round. The primer usually will send it about half-way down the barrel.

Then you'll understand why "fast" is not "good."

The progressive is faster than a single stage, but too much of a good thing is a bad thing. (I can't believe that I came up with line right after New Year's eve - What was I thinking (or drinking), OMG, the kid's a poet and doesn't know it.............)

I've loaded 13,000 rounds of 9mm alone in the last six months without any squibs. There's zero reason a 550 going at whatever pace it goes should be inherently safer than a 650 with a bulletfeeder doing a thousand rounds an hour. Quite the contrary - I find not having to do anything with my left hand means my eyes are glued to the powder level without distraction. Shorter reloading sessions means you don't lose focus.

Faster can be better in the form of an improved setup, which is why people talk about the relative speeds of different presses. Much better to take an inherently faster setup and run it at a moderate pace than to try to push a slower press past your level of focus.

[Oceanbob]

Go blue.

I am with RickD427.....I love my 550B...

I like to back up that shell plate and I have a case feeder on that 550 but I hardly use it at all. Don't know what I was thinking. I used it a few times when loading a bunch (2000 rounds) of 10MM for my kids (they sneak in a use dads components) I am never in a hurry. I also wear Lexan glasses when operating the handle. My eyes are bad enough without primer fragments in them....haha.

That being said, I have a 1050 set up for .45ACP. But true be told, I don't reload much .45ACP these days. Back in 1993 it was a different story.....

.45ACP is large primer feed.

In a perfect world knowing how these politicians are coming after Ammo, I think if I had to start fresh I would consider a machine dedicated to .223 only. It would be a 1050 with small primer feed so I couid use that de swagger built into the 1050 to clean up military brass. (Mostly lake city). So I may swap my older machine to .223.

Keep my 550 for 10 or 40, .357 and 44 mag to feed the wheel guns and lever guns.....

It's only money. Dillon holds value. (That's what I told my ex. Don't remember which one,.......)

OP. Never be in a hurry when you reload. I lock the door, put on some classical music and turn off my cell. Triple check your work and keep good records. Label everything.

Be well

Bob.

Hey RickD747...enjoy your posts and excellent advice. Have a great New Year.

[SixPointEight]

I was so set on a 550, but now I'm starting to see the Hornady side. Been pestering a few friends that own various presses. I like the 5 die stations, and the rotary measure. And the case feeder really. After I get my bench built I'll make a final decision

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[ar15barrels]

You don't need a separate powder measure for each caliber. You just have a pre-adjusted (to cartridge length) powder die that you move the powder measure into, then you install the pre-adjusted powder measure insert into the measure drum and you're ready to load

You can do the same thing with a Dillon setup by having a pre-set toolhead with a powder die and then just move the powder measure.
You can have pre-set powder bars for different charges instead of adjusting a bar each time if you choose to only own one powder measure.
You still have to change the powder in the measure though.
It's SUPER convenient to just have a complete powder measure all setup for each common cartridge you load and then have a "floater" that you re-configure for less common cartridges.

[ar15barrels]

I balled-out buying Redding dies for my 308(bushing sizing die and micrometer seating) but $100 die sets for pistol!!

With that said, what makes the Redding a better die than the Dillon? I know that Dillon dies have many features that are driving me to want to replace my Lee dies. Anti - corrosion plating, snap ring disassembly, reversible bullet seating plug, all dies can be disassembled and reassembled without losing adjustment etc

The design of the dillon pistol dies are specific to progressive reloading.
Separate seat and crimp dies.
Bigger openings on the seat and crimp dies so bullets go in without being perfectly aligned and then get aligned in the die before seating.

Redding copies those features, but does not have these:
Removable seat/crimp die inserts so you can clean the die without readjusting.
Spring loaded decapping pin that throws the primer off the decapping pin so the primer does not get pulled BACK INTO the primer pocket.

These little enhancements make for a much nicer loading experience.
If you loaded with Dillon's pistol dies for a while and then swapped to rcbs or lee, you would notice the difference immediately.
Without having used them, you just won't understand the difference.

[liber]

It's SUPER convenient to just have a complete powder measure all setup for each common cartridge you load and then have a "floater" that you re-configure for less common cartridges.

Although this is more costly, I have 4 cartridges I load, all with a separate quick change tool head and wouldn't want it any other way. The quick change tool head is about $108/ea as I recall.

Also, OP, if you do go Dillon...check the Dillon Caliber Conversion Finder, it will tell you what is common between the cartridges so you don't need to buy an entire conversion kit.

http://thegunwiki.com/apps/calconversion/

[ar15barrels]

For an even faster conversion, just setup a press for each.
Then you just take two steps to the side and you are loading the different cartridge:



That's how I roll...

[liber]

For an even faster conversion, just setup a press for each.
...
That's how I roll...

Indeed that's a good way to roll!

One day when I'm more flush with cash I will, which won't require any conversion!

[rsrocket1]

I picked an LnL AP. It was a toss up between it and the 550 and I was sure and am still sure most people will be happy with either. Hornady threw in 500 free bullets and Cabelas gave me a $150 GC for buying the Hornady (they didn't carry the Dillon) so that sealed the deal.

LnL bushings are nice, they are not deal makers or breakers. So is 5 stations vs 4 and auto indexing vs manual. I've missed charges with the LnL early on and caught a double charge once while making adjustments. That can happen to anyone with any press. Fortunately a squib takes less than a minute to clear and now my attention is primarily focused on checking the powder level prior to placing the bullet onto the case and always making adjustments with only one bullet on the press.

Dillon has fantastic service, so does Hornady so you really can't go wrong with either.

Good luck with your new 550 and welcome to the world of progressives.