Which Dillon - BL550, Square Deal or RL550?

[steelworker]

I went with the 650 so I could have the auto indexing AND the powder checker station. Its fun to load on it, you just get in rhythm and start cranking out perfect ammunition.

Unless you can find a used one locally thats priced right, I would just call up Grafs or the Dillon factory and order it.

[Mike Kerr]

Have a RCBS Summit and want to speed things up a bit. .....I'll be doing mostly pistol, maybe some small to medium action rifle (222,223,308

Buy a Dillon RL550B. Continue to enjoy life.

[retread]

I still load rifle with a single stage RC when using extruded powder so I can weigh each round but all pistol and rifle that use powder that meters consistently I do on the RL550B. What a pleasure to load on. Hard to beat!

[wrench man]

You've got to be kidding...easy as pie and takes, literally, 1 minute.

I did it that once and will NEVER do it again!, the punch height is fairly specific and if it's off it won't feed!
I don't know why everyone whines about the primer feed?, if you press the shell plate down onto the feed cup before you tighten the allen screws on the bottom it'll line right back up!

[DW475]

RL550, you won't be disappointed!

[alg3205]

I got my first 550 in the 1980's, over time I upgraded the rig to the RL 550 trim level. In the mid 1990's I got another 550, again over time that was also upgraded. My current setup uses one of the 550 using the small primer and a Dillon case feeder. That machine is used to load 9mm, 38/357, 40, and 223. The other machine has the large primer and is used for the 45 acp, 45 auto rim, 308 and 30-06. I also use that machine (large primer) with the Dillon length cutter to get to correct case length. This system works great when I want to load batches of 1,000-2,000. My other loading is done on a RCBS Rock Chucker. I use the Dillon powder measure with no problems, I found for rifle that with a consistent motion the measures work fine with all powders.

The one constant is that any Dillon press will give good service, get the one that best fits your need. I have found that the staff and Dillon will give good advice and not try to up sell you, a 1050 would be nice by kind of overkill if the 550 or 650 will do the trick for you.

Good luck.

[jmorris]

I did it that once and will NEVER do it again!, the punch height is fairly specific and if it's off it won't feed!

If you put an unsized/not deprimed case in station 1 and put force on it like your trying to seat the primer then tighten the set screw it will be fully seated.

If it's too high, you will likely bugger the plastic tip on the primer tube and have to change it.

[TenTea]

If you put an unsized/not deprimed case in station 1 and put force on it like your trying to seat the primer then tighten the set screw it will be fully seated.

If it's too high, you will likely bugger the plastic tip on the primer tube and have to change it.

Another good tip, thanks!

[bgw45]

For the few dollars more the RL provides way more features and benefits. Simple..........RL

[David2011]

I bought my RL550 back in 1991 and have never regretted it. It's very versatile. If you can load .45ACP you can load any rifle cartridge that uses that shell holder by only adding dies and preferably a toolhead. I've found that the Dillon powder measure works as well as or better than any rotating drum measure. With stick powders I think it's better than rotary measures. With a light, fluffy powder I had trouble with the Dillon measure at very light charge weights (under 4 grains). It's like measuring Cheerios and charges would vary +/- 0.2 grains. I was afraid the 0.2 under might not get the boolit out of the barrel so I changed to something that metered more consistently.

David

[lightload]

I bought the RL to keep my life simple during old age. I too prefer to de-prime and prime off press. I did buy a used but like new SDB in .45 acp for $125 and will dedicate it to one .45 load. For some tasks I'll use one of my turret presses.

[alfloyd]

" I had trouble with the Dillon measure at very light charge weights (under 4 grains)."

Dillon makes a extra small powder slide to use with small powder charges, like less than 4 grains.
I have one I use and like it as it does a great job of throwing small charges.

Lafaun

[StuBach]

Have to add weight to this one. First and foremost, good decision to go with Dillon. They are a top notch company that takes great care of their customers. I've been reloading on a 550b since late eighties I believe (was a kid using my Dad's) and it still cranks great and the lifetime warranty is awesome if anything ever breaks.

Like mentioned above, when I built my own reloading bench I opted for the 650 to add auto indexing and "powder cop" which gives nice piece of mind. If you can afford to go this route it is great but conversion sets are a bit pricier and caliber swap time is a bit longer but adds significant production capability.

SDB I've been told is a great starter but you'll outgrow quickly. 1050 is an awesome machine but doesn't carry the warranty which is worth a lot to me.

[jmorris]

SDB I've been told is a great starter but you'll outgrow quickly. 1050 is an awesome machine but doesn't carry the warranty which is worth a lot to me.

I don't use them as much now that I have 650's and 1050's but I wouldn't say I have out grown my SD's over the last 30 years, just have gotten more lazy.

[Lefty Red]

The reason I like the BL 550 is I will always prime and deprime off the press.

My shooting buddy does that for his 44/357s. Deprimes and tumbles, then resizes and primes on his turret. He has his 550b set up with RCBS dies with the expander in station one, Dillion powder charge die on second, third station is RCBS seater, and finally a crimper die.

Jerry

[Lefty Red]

I had a SDB and liked it. It's finicky, like some progressives, and would really thinking of picking another one up for just caliber and load. Especially if I was shooting a lot of bottom feeder calibers like 9/40/45. Would pay for itself within a year of you shot 3000/3500 rounds a year. But it's not a press to run small beaches on and swap out calibers on a regular basis. But it would be doable if you loaded up a large batch of one caliber for a few days then swapped out for another for a yearly or bi annually re supply.
Few things I didn't like about the SDP was the whip like auto indexing and it was cramped working on it. And swapping out primer sizes was more finicky then the larger presses. It's more plastics than the other Dillion's, but still backed up by Dillion.

The 550 is so versatile and highly praised, I can't believe other companies haven't but out a copy cat press like it. A 3/4/5 station progressive, manual indexing, with an easy swap out of tool heads (but couldn't you see a cool version using a Lee Breech Lock or Hornady LNL system) using universal equipment. You remove case feeders and bullet feeders and auto indexing, you have removed 90% of all progressive press's problems. I have the RL550b and very happy with it.

Jerry

[Sam Casey]

I am sold on the 550b. I see Scheels has best price on basic press. Since there seem to be things beyond base press I will need, think I will order direct from Dillon. Can anyone tell me what the dems of strong mount base are ... Size of footprint. And about how high and how wide is 550 on that mount? Need to find a place for it. Thank you.

[Lefty Red]

I am sold on the 550b. I see Scheels has best price on basic press. Since there seem to be things beyond base press I will need, think I will order direct from Dillon. Can anyone tell me what the dems of strong mount base are ... Size of footprint. And about how high and how wide is 550 on that mount? Need to find a place for it. Thank you.

Just a tad over 9"x9".
Oops! That is for the Inline Fab's mount. Sorry

Jerry

[wrench man]

The Strong Mount is 12 1/2" wide and 10" front to back.

[Sam Casey]

Thank you