info on caliber changing req. for dillon 550

[ETD1010]

So after a long while of single stage reloading, I think I'm gonna buy a dillon 550. They seem to be a favorite around here, and I've never really heard anything negative on them. However, I'm a bit confused on the caliber changing "kits"... Dillon says that more is needed than the caliber kit... I know dies are needed (duh) but it also recommends the deluxe kit for an additional 80 bucks.. Is this the part that allows you to attach your caliber kit to in order to make the transition easier? I'm just trying to figure out how much it is going to cost to be able to load multiple calibers; basically the total amount of additional equipment needed.... can anyone help me??? :

[Wulf]

To change calibers on the 550 you dont need anything other than the new dies.....UNLESS...

....The case head dimensions on the new cartridge is different than on what you already have equipment for...then you need an appropriate shell plate and buttons. There are charts that tell you which plate and button number go with each cartridge. For instance 45 and 308 use the same plates and buttons, but if you want to load 40 you'll need totally different buttons and a new plate.

....The neck diameter is different...then you need an appropriate powder funnel.

That's it for the mandatory part of the deal.

Powder dies and tool heads are very inexpensive relative to the amount of time they save you readjusting your dies between caliber changes. You can live with just one, but its not worth the hassle.

Powder dropper.....you can make due with just one, but you'll have to switch it from tool head to tool head and adjust the powder charge each time. If you are the kind of guy that develops pet loads its probably worth it to have a dedicated dropper for each tool head that will be set for a pet load. If you tinker with your loads all the time, multiple droppers will only save you the two minutes it takes to move it from one tool head to another.

[Roccobro]

It kinda depends on just how fast and easy you want to make a caliber change. You can get additional spare parts for the powder metering so you don't have to monkey with that on a swap, and that is just one item of a few. I have in my notes a "complete" caliber change on a 650 (one that would take a few minutes) was listed as $196 plus dies. Hornady L-N-L was $102 plus dies and a Lee Pro 1000 at $81.50 plus dies.

I was given a Lee Pro1000 and just bought a Hornady L-N-L AP that I'm still rounding up all the required parts. Compared to the 650 I would be saving quite a few hundred and losing a nicety or two Dillon provides (both have a lifetime guarantee).

I'm sure somebody will be along that has a Dillon and break it down for you to the "only necessary" parts to keep costs down. Probably ar15barrels. the reasons listed above are the reason I bought a L-N-L instead of a Dillon 650.

EDIT:WULF beat me to the button by a minute! Another nice thing on the Hornady is the Lock-N-Load bushings. No need for a tool head (and it's cost per caliber) to keep the dies adjusted and ready to rock on a quick change!

Justin

[ETD1010]

hrm.. well I want to be able to have a fully progessive press for each caliber: .223, .308, .45 ACP, and 10mm. I'm not concerned with how LONG it takes to switch calibers, as long as I can do it while keeping the powder metering in tact and such. Assuming all I'd need is a conversion kit for the different calibers (for plates and button) but can use the same powder meter (after adjusting it), I'd be fine with that. But Dillon sells a deluxe thing that includes a tool head, making me believe that you can (for a price) have independent arrays for each caliber to just swap and go. Thanks so much guys!

[bohoki]

dont forget the priming ive been out of the game for a while do dillon 550 b come with large and small primer gear? or do you just get the one appropriate for the conversion kit you select at time of purchase?

[mike100]

If you have the xl650 w/ the case feeder, the conversion kits are more likely to be needed. You have the plastic feed tube size restriction piece, the aluminum toolhead "under-guide", and the feed chute guide that rests under the shellplate at position #1. Then there is the small/lg primer wheel change-over (not part of the conversion though). then the above mentioned shellplate and buttons. Some calibers may also include the large sized powder bar (like 44 magnum).

You do need them for the 650- no way around it.

[ar15barrels]

I'm a bit confused on the caliber changing "kits"... Dillon says that more is needed than the caliber kit... I know dies are needed (duh) but it also recommends the deluxe kit for an additional 80 bucks.. Is this the part that allows you to attach your caliber kit to in order to make the transition easier? I'm just trying to figure out how much it is going to cost to be able to load multiple calibers; basically the total amount of additional equipment needed.... can anyone help me??? :

In order to change over a 550, you need the following at absolute minimum:
dies
powder funnel
shellplate and case locator pins

On the Dillon 550 caliber conversion kits, you get the proper shellplate, pins and funnel.
Many shellplates are the same.
For example, if you have the 45ACP plate, it's the same as 308/30-06 so you can load almost every cartridge that uses that size case head by only buying extra powder funnels.

If you had a specific list of cartridges, I can help you boil down what you need to buy to load those cartridges.

Now, as you add calibers, I highly recommend getting extra toolheads and powder dies.
This will be about $25 per setup.
I would also recommend a few extra powder measures, but only for the ones you use often.
For example, say you want to load for 5 cartridges, but 2 of them would be an every-month deal and the others are just a few hundred a year.
Get 3 powder measures and dedicate one to each of the high-volume toolheads.
Then share the last one over the other toolheads.

The caliber quick change kit includes the toolhead, powder die, powder measure and a toolhead stand.
The caliber quick change kit is the best way to get powder measures.
Otherwise, when you just need more toolheads and powder dies, just get the 3-packs of those.

[draconianruler]

Check out brainenos.com. It has some good information on what you need and what's nice. It also has a caliber conversion chart to see what is interchangeable.

[ar15barrels]

dont forget the priming ive been out of the game for a while do dillon 550 b come with large and small primer gear? or do you just get the one appropriate for the conversion kit you select at time of purchase?

550 and 650 both come with the parts necessary to do large or small primers.
It's just that on the 650, it's nicer to have a whole extra priming system than to swap the couple of parts that are specific to the size every time you change primer sizes.

[ETD1010]

wow... thanks so much!! That's exactly what I was needing to know Now it's time to put that to use and start getting all the stuff together...

[Sheldon]

What calibers do you plan to reload?? The conversion kit consists of the shellplate, the locator buttons, and the powder funnel. Sometimes you can get away with buying the serparate individual parts of a conversion kit instead of the whole thing if your calibers share some of the components. An example of that would be for loading 45 ACP and .308 Winchester. The conversion kits use the same shellplate and locator pins, but different powder funnels. If you loaded both of those calibers you'de just need one conversion kit along with just the powder funnel for the other. Here is a cross reference chart with the individual components of the 550's conversion kits listed.

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon/cal.conv.chart.html#550cross

I would at a minimum get the toolhead for each caliber I was loading. I did that for years till I slowly purchased a powder measure for every one as well. If you decide to share the powder measure among toolheads you will need to buy an extra powder die for each toolhead.

[ETD1010]

What calibers do you plan to reload?? The conversion kit consists of the shellplate, the locator buttons, and the powder funnel. Sometimes you can get away with buying the serparate individual parts of a conversion kit instead of the whole thing if your calibers share some of the components. An example of that would be for loading 45 ACP and .308 Winchester. The conversion kits use the same shellplate and locator pins, but different powder funnels. If you loaded both of those calibers you'de just need one conversion kit along with just the powder funnel for the other. Here is a cross reference chart with the individual components of the 550's conversion kits listed.

http://www.brianenos.com/pages/dillon/cal.conv.chart.html#550cross

I would at a minimum get the toolhead for each caliber I was loading. I did that for years till I slowly purchased a powder measure for every one as well. If you decide to share the powder measure among toolheads you will need to buy an extra powder die for each toolhead.

.223, .308, .45 ACP, and 10mm.

I can probably figure out what I need. Thanks a lot guys!

[Fjold]

Because of the case head differences you'll need three different kits:

Casehead size of the 223 is .378"
Casehead of the 308 and 45 ACP are .473"
Casehead size of the 10mm is .425"

[ar15barrels]

.223, .308, .45 ACP, and 10mm.

223 kit
308 kit
45 handgun powder funnel
40/10 kit