RotoMetals2Load DataReloading EverythingInline Fabrication
MidSouth Shooters SupplyWidenersRepackboxTitan Reloading
Lee Precision
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Dillon 450 Question

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    533

    Dillon 450 Question

    I have a old Dillon RL 450 press from a old dear friend of mine that pass away. My question is how do you adjust the powder charge. I used it about 20 years went he had it. I would like to buy a star that helps to turn the shells I notice ebay sells them and do they work good. I also understand a lot of 550 parts will interchange with the 450. This one is set-up with 38 dies in time i would like to get the shell plate for 45 acp and 9mm does 550 shell holder work with the 450

  2. #2
    Banned

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    soda springs Id.
    Posts
    28,088
    the 550 shell holders/plates are the same as the 450's.
    on the old push-pull 450 powder measure there is a screw [bolt head] you turn on the back of the housing away from the black knob.
    in=more, out=less weight.

    you can buy the parts and upgrade the ram's head to a 550's then you can add the new style powder measure and do the auto primer upgrade.

    you have to upgrade the whole frame if you want the changeable die heads.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

    dragon813gt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Somewhere in SE PA
    Posts
    9,989
    R5R explained it well. A call to Dillon will get you the parts you need. I like my 450 just as much as the 550B that gets a lot of use.

  4. #4
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    96
    Quote Originally Posted by bouncer50 View Post
    I have a old Dillon RL 450 press from a old dear friend of mine that pass away. My question is how do you adjust the powder charge. I used it about 20 years went he had it. I would like to buy a star that helps to turn the shells I notice ebay sells them and do they work good. I also understand a lot of 550 parts will interchange with the 450. This one is set-up with 38 dies in time i would like to get the shell plate for 45 acp and 9mm does 550 shell holder work with the 450
    Call Dillon to tell them what you have and that you want to change it into a Dillon RL550C. I believe if you ship it to them They go over everything to change it to a 550 that at last I read about $100. Please remember that you will need to purchase the items for the 550 to change between caliper and you can use any previous dies. I suggest looking at the Hornady nitrile die sets for each caliper and the Dillon parts for caliper changeover. We can tell you that you will be better with the 550.

    I can tell you that you will need a different shell plates for the 550.

    Sent from my LG-H830 using Tapatalk

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Artful's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Valley of the SUNs, AZ
    Posts
    9,254
    actually my shellplates bought with my Rl300, work with my 450. Dillon states the same plate works on 450, 550, 550B and 550C.
    je suis charlie

    It is better to live one day as a LION than a dozen days as a Sheep.

    Thomas Jefferson Quotations:
    "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    5,268
    My question is how do you adjust the powder charge.
    With the bolt opposite the knob on the powder bar.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    1,815
    The 450's were good press's and were a constant progression of changes along the way. Just because its a 450 don't assume parts from another 450 will fit, chances are good they won't. To adjust the powder charge use a box end or open end wrench and turn the bolt heard on the back of the sliding powder bar in or out, it should turn easy unless powder left in the measure corroded it. The early 450's did not have the thumb wheel to advance the shell plate, you pinched the case on the platform and turned it that way. You also had to pull the loaded round off manually. The auto eject kit with the thumb wheel is still available from Dillon for the 450. It was with the introduction of the 450B that the thumb wheel & auto eject were standard, a very nice feature I might add. I hope you got all the pieces and parts the press came with originally as you won't get them from Dillon if you need them. If it was my press I would clean it lube it and use it, appreciate for the great press it is. I'm not positive but I'm thinking the frame between the 550 & 550C is different. If you need some older parts shoot Alvarez Kelly a message. He knows older Dillon's better than the guys currently working on Dillon's call desk. Good luck with a fine piece of history.

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    az
    Posts
    207
    I had a 450 years ago and change it over to a 550.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


    Alvarez Kelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    1,134
    I do have lots of odd ball Dillon parts. I even have an extra star wheel somewhere... Lol
    Last edited by Alvarez Kelly; 09-26-2017 at 08:44 PM.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master



    TNsailorman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Northeast Tennessee Hills
    Posts
    2,565
    Several years ago, I bought a like new 450 stripped frame at a very cheap price with the thought of buying parts to make a new 450. Hah! I found out in a hurry that although there were parts for the 4550 out there, you had better know what you are buying or they will not fit. Kelly answered my inquiry and offered good advice, cheaper to buy a 550 than try to build a 450 from scratch. Dillon told me the same thing and were very up front about them trying to build a 450 from a frame using 550 parts. The representative told me the last one they did for a customer ended up costing him over a hundred dollars more than he would have paid for a 550 as the parts do not all "drop in" and have to be hand fitted. I still have the frame but gave up the effort of trying to rebuild it. I really like the 450 much better than the 550 and I have owned at one time 2 of the 550's and 3 of the 450's. Right now I don't own a progressive and I doubt if I will ever own another. I have no need for speed now as at 75+ years of age, my competition days are over. Besides, I really enjoy the reloading process and single stage presses work just fine for me. The Dillon's are very fine machines and the service is second to none and I certainly can recommend them to anyone wanting a progressive. my experience anyway, james

  11. #11
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    31
    I have delt with Mr Kelly many times on the Brian Enos forums, I always have had great results.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check