Picking up a Dillon 550B w/ accessories, any other suggestions? list inside >

[///D]

I will be picking up a set of equipment and was wondering if there is anything else I'd need or suggested. I know there is a list of optional Dillon accessories for the 550B but am wondering which particular ones are "really" needed. I just plan to do some light to moderate reloading, maybe 200-500rds/week so I assume the auto casing or the auto indexing wouldn't really be neccessary? For now I am only reloading .45ACP but will eventually be getting into .223

Here is what the set is including:

-Dillon RL-550B Press
-Dillon .45 ACP Dies
-Dillon Small/Large primer and pickup tube
-Dillon Primer flip tray
-Dillon tool wrench
-5 Dillon .45 ACP ammo box
-Dillon .45 ACP case gauge
-RCBS tumbler/case cleaner and Media (walnut & corncob)
-1000 pcs. .45 ACP once fired bass (FED headstamp)
-approx 1 lb. Hodgdon Clay Powder
-approx 1 lb. Hodgdon Titegroup powder
-100 pc. Winchester Large Pistol primers

[Sheldon]

Calipers to measure the overall length of the rounds and a scale to calibrate the powder measure.

[PLINK]

I will be picking up a set of equipment and was wondering if there is anything else I'd need or suggested. I know there is a list of optional Dillon accessories for the 550B but am wondering which particular ones are "really" needed. I just plan to do some light to moderate reloading, maybe 200-500rds/week so I assume the auto casing or the auto indexing wouldn't really be neccessary? For now I am only reloading .45ACP but will eventually be getting into .223

Here is what the set is including:

-Dillon RL-550B Press
-Dillon .45 ACP Dies
-Dillon Small/Large primer and pickup tube
-Dillon Primer flip tray
-Dillon tool wrench
-5 Dillon .45 ACP ammo box
-Dillon .45 ACP case gauge
-RCBS tumbler/case cleaner and Media (walnut & corncob)
-1000 pcs. .45 ACP once fired bass (FED headstamp)
-approx 1 lb. Hodgdon Clay Powder
-approx 1 lb. Hodgdon Titegroup powder
-100 pc. Winchester Large Pistol primers

Here is my list: (most of the items you are getting)

-Dillon 550B
-Dillon dies .45ACP and .40 S&W. I subbed out Dillon Crimp dies for the Lee Factory Crimp Die (Lee FCD). Is the Lee die needed? Do a search on it to come to your own conclusion.
-S/L pick up tubes
-RCBS flip tray - works and cheap
-Dillon wrench
-Dillon tumbler. Very heavy duty but others may work just as well.
-Media seperator - a strainer from Target, a wooden spoon and a bucket. The true media seperators I bet are faster but are not under $10.
-Dillon case gauge
-Case polish- NuFinish Car wax
-Case media- lizard/bird walnut cage litter from pets mart
-Dillon ammo cases - 100 round count
-Once fired brass from Ebay
-Dillon quick change kit (you will want this when you start .223)


(stuff I don't see on your list)


-press cover - nylon laundry bag from WalMart - works and is cheap

-Go with the Dillon digital scale. I bought the Dillon mechanical first and found it is easier working up loads with a digital. Now the mechanical is just for reference.

-Dillon strong mount with bullet tray and case tray. Brings the press up to a nice workable height. Are they needed? That is up to you. I would not have it any other way. I stand when I reload so I can do a visual check on station #3 for my powder charge before seating every bullet.

-As mentioned above you need a caliper - I got mine at Home Depot but I am looking for a nice stainless digital one.

-Dillon bench spare parts kit

-Air in a can - used for computers, etc. Use this to blow the loose powder/ media off of the press/ shell plate.



I use Winchester small (.40) and large pistol primers (.45).

I use Clay Universal (slow/medium burning) for .45 ACP and Titegroup (fast burning) for .40 S&W.

I use Bear Creek bullets and have used Lazer Cast bullets in the past.

Last but not least, order your Dillon stuff from http://www.brianenos.com/store/home.html . You will save on shipping and Brian seems to get my Dillon orders to me faster then when I order from Dillon direct. Brian is a very good guy and will treat you right. Dillon also has great service but I like ordering from Brian because his web site is easier to use/ order from.

Then visit BE's forum for your reference reload data. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?act=idx

I understand I mentioned some of the things you are already getting but I listed it anyway for others who may want to get into reloading.

My .02 cents.

[anyracoon]

Buy more than 100 primers at a time. On a dillon, you would be out in 15 minutes or so at the slowest pace.

[///D]

Thanks everyone....

PLINK, thanks for the detailed list.....I"m sure I'll have more ?'s as I go along.

[Sheldon]

I forgot to add. Have at least 8 extra primer tubes as it breaks your rhythm up to stop and refill the one they give you.

Personally I have not needed the strong mount nor the bullet tray. Ideally I like the press mounted so that while seated(my reloading position) I can comfortably look into the third station to visually verify the powder level. The strong mount would have put my press way too high. It also increases the footprint of the press and makes it more stable if your bench is not heavy or mounted to the floor or wall, so that might matter in your case.

[gobabygo]

Good lists going. From your original list I would suggest:

More Dillon primer pickup tubes. Obviously only large for now since you're only going to load .45.

Forget the Dillon primer flip tray and get the Midway/Frankford Arsenal Vibraprime. Don't use their tube though or the little white thing, just stick the Dillon tube into the blue handle by itself. PS. The Vibraprime tray is a flip tray also.

No need for the Dillon tool wrench if you have a good set of wrenches.

Can get ammo boxes at Midway also. Don't know the price diferences. I prefer the 50 round boxes over the 100.

You have a tumbler on there (don't know how it compares to the Dillon) but I don't think you have a media/case separator in there. Need a way to remove the cases from the media.

You have cases, powder and primers... probably need some bullets Definitely get more than 100 primers (probably a typo and meant to type 1000?) PS... Clay's does not meter well through the Dillon powder measure. I've given up on it, because I'm picky like that, though it does burn very clean. I use WST for .45 and I working up a Titegroup load is on my to do list.

Ditto calipers and digital scale. Ya know, my cheapy Centech digital calipers from Harbor Freight gives me the EXACT same measurement as my nice dial calipers.

Spare parts kit is nice to have, canned air is definitely good. Strong mount you can get later if you want. Case gauge... you could use your barrel/chamber. I also really like the Dillon roller handle, but it's not absolutely necessary.

I also think that a chronograph is a must for any reloader if you're going to do anything pushing the limits. If you're just going by the guides, then I suppose you don't need it.

Finally, for sure get your press from Brianenos.com and check out the reloading forums on his website.

[Wulf]

Here's an alternative to purchasing the bullet tray and some other mods for the 550 w/strongmount.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49038

[Kruzr]

Think about the bench to mount the press. It needs to be very sturdy and without a wobble when you pull the handle. You may also want to consider the Strong Mount and the Roller handle. I wasn't a believer in the roller handle until my shooter's elbow (tendonitis) got worse with reloading. I got the roller handle and it's much easier.

Not a bad idea to order the Dillon spare parts kit for the 550. That way when something breaks, you can replace it quickly and then call Dillon to have them send out a replacement at no charge.

Having started with a beam balance scale, IMO, a good digital scale is well worth the money in time savings.

[///D]

Thanks again....

It looks like equipment wise I will also pickup:

-Calipers
-Digital scale
-Roller Handle
-Media/Case seperator

Everything else seems like supplies I can re-stock on the way. I have yet to explore w/ the set so I'm sure I'll find out what I'm missing when I run into a dead end.

[anyracoon]

Be sure to get the metal handled roller handle. For $5.00 more it is worth the expense. Alot smoother and will out last the plastic handle one.
Also ditto on the Vibra-prime and extra primmer tubes!

[chunger]

RCBS tumbler Q/C is suspect. . . look at the return rate at Midwayusa. I had one, and it died really really pre-maturely (shipping$$ refund $$). Dillon small tumbler I believe is better made and shakes better. I should have purchased it from the get-go.

I'd go with a cheaper tumbler or step up. . . the small dillon is designed and made better than the RCBS one. Runs much smoother. . . costs more.

I use a laundry bag and bucket as a media separator. Works good but probably not nearly as a proper separator.

[///D]

I just picked up all the said equipment, everything looks good. Skimmed through the instruction manual and I'm finally learning the lingo and the equipment. I got a nice deal on the set so I don't mind opting for the "not neccessary" but very benificial things to have such as the digital scale, flipper tray, and media seperator. Thanks for the advice so far.

Stayed tuned for more questions as I learn

[PistolPete75]

rcbs .223 neck resizing die. when you shoot .223, the neck expands. you need this die to resize the neck back to specs.

[///D]

Guys....in your opinion is the Dillon 'how to' video worth the $5.95? Can one learn just from the video? I still have a VHS player laying around