Have you ever thought " I really didn't need this 550"? I've been on the fence about buying one for along time. Really trying to talk myself out of it because of the cost. What do yas think?
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Have you ever thought " I really didn't need this 550"? I've been on the fence about buying one for along time. Really trying to talk myself out of it because of the cost. What do yas think?
I am probably not the best person to comment. However, I will anyway! [smilie=1: I have had a Dillon 550B since they hit the market (started with a Dillon 450) after several years with a variety of single stages and turrets).
I presently have two Dillon 550B’s. I am set up for 11 different calibers, both rifle and pistols. However, currently loading just handgun loads.
I am completely satisfied in both the reloaders AND Dillons famous customer service.
I recommend Dillon to anyone that is serious about their reloading and shoot enough to justify a progressive press.
FWIW
Dale53
Like Dale53 I too have two Dillon 550's loading 9 handgun calibers and 223 rem (other rifle calibers I prefer to load on single stage presses). One is set up for large primer and the other for small primer. Really nice machines and Dillon backs them up all the way.
I bought my first 550 in ‘86 and immediately kicked myself for not getting one sooner. Then as I became very active in IPSC and later CAS I was going through tons of pistol Ammo. I bought my first 1050 in ‘05 and beat myself up for not getting one sooner.
I now have 2/550s and 3/1050s with no regrets. I will add that those purchases were painful and set me back, but well worth it.
I will say though, when time is not an issue and mass quantities are not necessary, I really enjoy loading on vintage equipment.
I load all my pistol stuff on a square deal b, so the 550 would be all rifle, 223, 30-30, 30-06 maybe 38-55 and 375 and whatever else I end up with:)
The 550 is ok. I have two. The only downsides...does not auto index...cannot mount a powder check die unless you seat and crimp in one operation.
But for most people who shoot less than 5000 rounds it is a good fit. The cheap caliber conversions are attractive
I prefer the 1050...have two...for bulk loading.
I bought my 550 about 1995 and am very happy with it. I like the manual index. It's just the right machine for my loading needs. I have heard of their no BS warranty but have never had the need to use it.
I have a 550. It’s reliable and produces great ammunition. I added the pistol case feeder to it. I can’t think of a better press. I looked at other brands and decided on this one because the caliber charge was easy and the reputation was great. You won’t regret your purchase.
I started with a 550b in 1992 great machine! I load various pistol cal. on it. Several years later I came across a SDB set up for 45acp for $75.00 so all 45's are done on it now. Last year I got a deal on a used /new 650 set up with 223 and 308 and 45acp with lots of extras, bullets, powder, brass, strong mount, case feeder, tool head and stand, etc etc. for $1300.00 so now I load 223 & 308 rifle cal.on it Just started loading rifle when I bought it. I guess I'm a big Blue fan....lol
I found one used from a guy that was getting out of the game, I almost felt bad at the time but the guy's wife wanted it gone. I got his whole reloading room for $350.
That was in 2004 and have loaded tones of bullets on the thing. I don't think you will be disappointed.
A friend an I went halves on a 550b quite a few years ago. I didn't have a place for it so it was set up in his shop. I hardly used it because it was so inconvenient to go there to reload. He lost interest so I bought his half and by this time I had a small shop to put it in. I only load handgun on it. I have full changeovers for .45ACP, 9mm, .40 and .38/.357. The .40 was the last setup so it has the improved(?) powder drop setup. I have tried to simplify the changeover from one to another by gathering up a bunch of small primer .45ACP so all loading done on the 550 is with small primers.
I made the decision a long time ago to only load those cartridges on the Dillon. All rifle and .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .475 L are done single stage. There are a couple of other handgun cartridges that I haven't decided if I'm going to be active enough with them to make it worth it to set up the 550. I did break down and get a Redding T-7 so odds are that I'll just maintain the status quo for now.
I love mine. Works at my pace. I have four quick changes setup with two in the wings. Also grabbed a five head holder off of Etsy. Thing works great for storing my changes. Good luck.
I have had a 650 forever. Got a 550 a couple years ago and love it. Load my 308, 30-06 and 45acp on it. Nerver have to change the primer setup or the shell plate.
I am still using the same 550 I got in 1986 and added up grades as they came out.
I like being able to use it as a progressive or single stage.
I have owned my 550 since at least 1990. It does what it is supposed to. I tried moving up to a 650, but didn't like it and went back to the 550, as I enjoy the slower pace and more relative safety of the 550 due to its slower pace that lets me check everything at all stages. Fixing mistakes is also far easier than w/ the 650, as is caliber changes.
Just suck it up and buy the darn thing, especially if you load >1000-rounds a year per caliber.
Got 2 used 550B's, one large priming system & another for small. Both got the newer powder drop activation/reset.
Manual indexing compared to auto ones gives opportunity to control pace/quality & easier to avoid double charge.
I only prime pistol loads on 'em & need to be alert as it can go sideways if not caught early on. Powder drop is as good as it gets.
I still load big bore rifles single-stage though.
I've got a pair of 650's sitting on the bench.
Come to the Blue side.
Have two, one for small primers and the other for large. Not necessary, but nice. Lots of info on how to improve on them if you feel the desire. I would recommend a light system as a really nice accessory. Mine are mounted on the strong mounts with the bullet trays etc. I still keep my single stages for special needs or desires. Not a speed demon and I check my powder weights more than necessary but it is what I prefer. If I only could have one press, it would be the 550.
I have a 550,650 and 1050. The 550 is the best press Dillon ever made. Not having a auto index is no big deal. The 550 just works. If I could only have one it would be the 550.
I like the 550, but I have never used a 650 or 1050.
I like having quick changes for all of my calibers. 2 minutes to change calibers. 5 minutes if I have to change primer sizes. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ba6d229b01.jpg
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You are all enablers!
I was gifted 2 550Bs. One is strictly 45acp/45AR, the other will be 300 blkout whenever I get back to that project. I have 2 Lyman T2s that handle my 45lc, 450 webley, 45 schofeld, 38 spcl, 310martini and 7.65 Mannlicher. Rifle is done on a big single stage Kodiak Bair. You won’t regret a 550. Other than a few episodes of primer issues that a good cleaning corrected mine are great. I think I like my T2’s a little more though.
You did not say what you are loading for, or what you are using now. I have 5 or 6 presses, but the 550 is my most used. I load all my pistol rounds on the 550. My buddy has a 650 which I thought I would upgrade to, but after working with it, I prefer the 550. The only thing I wish it had would be a 5th station for a bullet feed. I do have a Forster CoAx press that I load my rifle cartridges on. I do not load 223 but if I did I would do that one on my 550 also. I do find it handy to have a single stage press to go with the 550. I deprime on the single stage before I clean my cases for example. I use mostly Lee dies on my 550, and I also have a few Lee powder measures Pro Auto Disc and Auto Drums that work just fine on my 550 with the Lee dies. I keep a dedicated powder measure on my most used loads.
If you lots and shoot enough volume to justify a progressive press, go for it.
Nope, never thought that. Got my first one new in 1991. Added a second in 2006 but needed more volume for all of the competitions I was shooting so I sold one and got a 650. Might sell the 650 if I quit shooting matches but will hang onto the 550 for as long as I am able to reload and shoot.
I relate , I have looked at the 550 many times they are a really the best press around for the volumes I load , but with a case feeder and set up to load the same things I load on the progressive I have now (it works great for me) I can't bring myself to spend the money on it. I don't need one but would enjoy it if I had it :-D
That was me two weeks ago. Except for a brief fling with a Lee Pro 1000 25 years ago, I've used nothing but a single stage for 40 years. Being retired now I have more free time for the range, but also more free time to reload. I thought and thought about a Dillon SDB or 550 and kept thinking "that's a lot of money when I have all this free time". I went so far as to do a build sheet for a 550 on Dillons site to tally the prices and pieces I would need.
My wife took the decision away from me. Without saying a word to me she went to Dillons site and using my sheet as a guide she ordered it. It arrived Saturday and I've been stockpiling ammo since then. Like many above have said, I wish I had done this sooner, like decades ago. I'll keep my old trustworthy Bonanza press but it's now semi-retired.
You need to keep your wonderful wife too. Unless....she has ulterior motives and wants some peace and quiet ....while you are off playing in your reloading room? Either way I’d keep her.
Another plus for the 550 they have a good resale value.
I've had four progressives over many years and I guess I shoot a considerable number of handgun cartridges a year, but certainly don't count them. I occasionally like to experiment with different loads. This can be done on a progressive, but it can be done much more conveniently on another type of press. Got rid of all the progressives and use a '60s model Texan turret press that I had before I ever bought a progressive. It's very adequate for all my handgun cartridge handloading, small or large batches. But, if you really need a progressive, better get one. They do serve their intended purpose well.
I have an RCBS single, 2 Dillon SDB's and a Dillon 550B. Most reloading is done on SDB's for pistol. I use the single stage to deprime if I have the shell holder. When I was shooting CAS with 3 kids I wished I had a 650 not a 550 but now just me the SDB's load all my CAS except the .45-70 Government. I load black on all 3. If limited to one press it would be the 550B on a strong mount from Dillon or Inline Fabrication.
I am a big fan of Inline Fabrication's stuff. I have one of their mounts along with their bin bracket and die holder. Also have the case ejecter. These add ons have made my Rock Chucker much more efficient. Just ordered the spent primer upgrade and the roller handle.
I have run tens of thousands of rounds through a 550 and in my opinion, there is no better machine available.
I've used the 650 & 1050 and still prefer the 550.
The 550 is the right combination of progressive operation and manual operation. While a machine with automatic indexing, case feeders and bullet feeders might beat a 550 in terms of production rate, they do not beat the simplicity of the 550.
It is just a rock solid performer year after year.
With pre-filled primer tubes, rates around 400 cartridges/hour are possible. Yes, I know - you have to count the time to load the tubes but that can be done while you're doing other things, like waiting for a lead pot to get hot.
Switching from one caliber to another is straightforward. If you have to change primer size, that is a little slower but there are tricks to speed that up.
In a perfect world, I would have two 550 machines and set one up for larger primer and the other for small primer. In reality, I don't load as many large primer cartridges as small primer. When I need to load large primer casings, I switch the machine over and load large primer cartridges in batches.
Dillon's customer service is second to none. That alone is enough reason to buy a Dillon.
I have multiple of all the other Dillon presses and really only bought a 550 so I could have a working knowledge of the press and an informed opinion. I kept it because it does have its strong points. Its not as fast in production as the 1050, 650 or even SD but is much faster than a turret and less work.
Should you get one over something else? Only you could answer that question.
Me, I could live without it but I don't have to.
I had 3 - 550's at one time until about 5 yrs ago. One was set up to take to the range if I wanted to build a handgun load, the others, were large and small primer setup. I sold two to buy other unrelated equipment and probably a gun or two. After being down to one, plus some single stage presses, I recently decided to buy another 550. Now we are into the "C". As a Canadian, we are taking a beating on the dollar. With a 41% exchange on a credit card, plus our 15% tax (which would result in riots in the US, I'm sure,) shipping, the amount was staggering. No more selling these items. They can be disposed of after my passing. The 550 design is simple, the toolhead are reasonably priced. If I take my time, watch the process as the cartridges are put together, I'm able to get along without too many problems. For its price, caliber change, customer service and results - I think it should be tried by everyone who wants to reload. I think by comparison, it's hard to beat! I don't shoot that much but I like convenience and nice gear. I make sacrifices to have it.
At one time I had a SDB, a 550 and a 650 on the bench. I could never get the production rate I expected from the Square Deal B. I was slower on it than on the 550. I had already owned a 550 for over 15 years when I got the SDB so that could have been a factor. I'm pretty much on autopilot on the 550.
That was exactly how I thought. Then a deal came along for a 550B and accessories to load for almost everything I owned at the time. Now I’m glad I bought it. I use it for production runs of known loads. It’s a lot less handle pulls. Won’t say I should have bought it earlier. But I’m very happy w/ the purchase.
A couple years ago a member passed on to me a good deal on a Dillon 550 that seams almost new condition . I set it up to load 223s simply because all my other metallic reloading needs were filled with a loadmaster or single stage . It's a wonderful press ( simplicity is a beautiful thing to see in motion ) if I had it first it would have done everything I needed loaded , and done a good job of it .
Strangely enough I prime on press with the loadmaster , but prime off press for the Dillon , it's not the press that doesn't prime properly it's me I keep forgetting to push the handle forward .....
I suppose there is something wrong with me. I bought a 450 around 1980. I loaded a lot of ammo on it nearly all .45 acp. I sold it to my brother to get him involved in shooting and I got a Star to do my .45 acp. I liked the 450.
I later bought a 550 B and thought it was a step backwards from the 450. This past week I loaded some 9mm and as I was finishing up I noticed the primer system was sticking and needed cleaned. No problem I was finished with the 9mm. I switched over to .223 and I spent at least 2 hours in getting the orimer system cleaned and properly functioning.
I think many have answered the weakness in the 550 " I own 2 or 3 and one for small primers and one for large primers and one for just ________." The truth is the 550 is not real friendly when loading multiple calibers. If they are such a great machine why do you need 2 or 3.
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I’m like everyone else, I have a 550 and a SDB in 9mm. I love dillons customer service the presses run smooth, I don’t really care for the auto index feature which is why I bought the 550.
I got the SDB out of an abandoned house the owner said I could have anything in it I wanted before they tore it down. I found a lot of good stuff in there reloading wise