New to me Dillon 550

[toallmy]

A kind member has sent me a Dillon 550 . So I spent the morning unpacking it and mounting it to my loading bench . While I was trying to figure out how it works . I have looked a videos and went through the archives here at Cast Boolits wear I found and downloaded directions . There are a few parts I will need to make it do what I want to do with it , but I have discovered I need to do some more research before I even know what I need . This is going to be a fun project . I would like to thank Tenbender sir you packed it as if you thought the shipping company was mad at you so it held up well . By the way I'm going to have lots of questions .

[19Wyoming]

Congrats. There a great press. I have 4. Some prefer the 650, but I don't like auto indexing. Figure out what parts you need, and call Dillon.
They will ship you what you need for free.

[toallmy]

I have put together a list of what I think I need , I will probably think of something else as soon as I place the order . Just considering phone order , or try online order . I'm going to set it up for 223 it came with the shell plate but I need the pins and power funnel along with some of the primer parts . I'll give them a call after work today .

[Petrol & Powder]

I've loaded 10's of thousands of rounds on a 550 and I believe it is an outstanding press. I've used others, including a 650 and 1050 and the 550 gets my vote.
Before you get too far along, oil the ram with straight 30 weight oil and grease the pins in the handle linkage with wheel bearing grease. (there's a set screw in the bottom of the ram that holds the lower pin in place)
The center bolt that the shell plate rotates on should get a little dab of grease on the shoulder just below the bolt head and a little on the bottom of the bolt head. Clean the priming arm and the steel shim that it rides on. Apply a TINY bit of oil to the bottom and sides of the priming arm (no oil near the primer cup). There's a steel rod that actuates the priming arm. That rod pivots at the top and you can place a drop of oil there but the plastic wheel that rides on the lower part of that arm need no lubrication.

The simplicity of the 550 is its strength. There's not much to go wrong and it's a good design.

If you have to stop during the loading cycle (answer the phone, bathroom break, etc. ) always stop the cycle with the handle fully lowered (ram at the top of its travel) . In that position it is nearly impossible to make a mistake when returning to operation. If you stop with the handle up you can inadvertently double charge a case or forget to seat a primer. By returning to operation with the ram fully raised there's no mistaking where you were in the process.


You'll develop your own rhythm and method but the press is easily capable of 300 + rounds an hour with pre-loaded primer tubes on hand. I actually prefer the manual indexing of the 550 and feel it gives me a little more control of the operation.


Dillon is great company to deal with

Good Luck and enjoy your "new to you" press.

[ioon44]

I am using still using the same 550 I got in 1990 with a few up grades , I also prefer the manual indexing of the 550 and feel it gives me a little more control of the operation.

[jakharath]

The 550's are great presses. I've used other manufacturers progressive presses and Dillon 650's and 1050's. Will always have a 550.

[alamogunr]

If you have to stop during the loading cycle (answer the phone, bathroom break, etc. ) always stop the cycle with the handle fully lowered (ram at the top of its travel) . In that position it is nearly impossible to make a mistake when returning to operation. If you stop with the handle up you can inadvertently double charge a case or forget to seat a primer. By returning to operation with the ram fully raised there's no mistaking where you were in the process.


You'll develop your own rhythm and method but the press is easily capable of 300 + rounds an hour with pre-loaded primer tubes on hand. I actually prefer the manual indexing of the 550 and feel it gives me a little more control of the operation.


Dillon is great company to deal with

Good Luck and enjoy your "new to you" press.

Some months ago I was in the same situation as the OP as I had acquired a used 550. I learned by completely disassembling the press and determining which parts needed replacing because of rust, etc. The above advice from P&P struck a note with me as I have come back from an interruption not knowing where I stopped in the process. Leaving the handle in the down position doesn't mean I don't have to determine where in the process I stopped but it does remind me that I need to be sure and not just start pumping.

[r1kk1]

I would ship the press to Dillon for refurbish. You will swear it's a brand new press when you get it back. I had a Square Deal done for 45 dollars.

Take care

r1kk1

[toallmy]

I just got in from work , and jumped on the phone to get the ball rolling on the parts I'm after . The Main thing was a powder funnel and pins , but a few little parts for the primer and powder mechanisms as well . The gentleman said they would get them out tomorrow . We shall see what I forgot when they arrive . The press looks new in great shape, it looks like it has never had a piece of brass go around it .

[dragon813gt]

It's inevitable that you will want to load load more cartridges on it. Once you have a bunch you may not need to buy the full conversion kits. Dillon has all the information in the back of their instruction. But this conversion matrix makes it simple: http://gunwiki.net/apps/calconversio...hoose+Machines

It's cost me money because "I only needed the buttons" or "I only needed the funnels" :laugh:

[nicholst55]

Petrol & Powder said: "If you have to stop during the loading cycle (answer the phone, bathroom break, etc. ) always stop the cycle with the handle fully lowered (ram at the top of its travel) . In that position it is nearly impossible to make a mistake when returning to operation. If you stop with the handle up you can inadvertently double charge a case or forget to seat a primer. By returning to operation with the ram fully raised there's no mistaking where you were in the process."

Oh, how true it is! Either that, or remove all the brass on the shell plate and start over fresh when you return. Otherwise you'll end up with either a squib or a Ka-Boom! I was fortunate, and got a squib.

[toallmy]

It was interesting trying to figure out how it works without directions , so when I downloaded the owners manual I discovered the reason the primers just fell out , it seems that little white plastic pin did go in the press , it's a primer stop . My powder dispenser looks a little different , I might be missing a piece . But I'm going to take my little darling and go for a drive through the mountains for a couple days and find some Apple cider . So I won't be playing with my toys hopefully the parts will be here when I get back .

[EddieNFL]

Blue Kool-Aide is highly addictive. Enjoy the high.

[toallmy]

I am waiting on the powder funnel so I can see how the powder measure works , my powder of choice for this round is IMR 4064 , but I have read that the Dillon powder measure does not work well with IMR powder . I know the larger stick powder does not run smoothly through most powder throwers but 4064 is a smaller powder . I am hopeful That the powder measure will drop a constant charge with the smaller grain powder . Some feedback would be appreciated .

[wrench man]

I always thought that IMR4064 was some of the larger kerneled stick powder?, the Dillon measure will throw it give or take .2grns and go slow as it will take some time for it to filter thru the 22cal funnel, lift the handle to quick and you'll have it all over the place!

[toallmy]

I received the parts Saturday and installed the powder funnel and adjusted the charge weight to 25.5 , and was pleased with the weight consistently being dropped . After getting it adjusted I weighed 20 or so powder charges with the hopper 3/4 full and it dropped within a tenth of a gr . This was just trying it out and over time I will check a lot of charges but I am very happy with the results so far . I haven't set up the dies in the press yet , or ran primers through the tube . It doesn't seem to need the rod to reset the powder measure so I just removed it and set it aside that gives me plenty of room to get my big five thumbed left hand in there . I wake up early and don't have a lot that needs doing this time of year so it's a project .

[gnostic]

I hope you have better luck with the 550 Dillon than I've had. My powder measure seldom drops a full charge and frequently drops no powder at all. When I bought the Dillon, in the mid 80's, it was the best tool available. I no longer think that's the case.

[dragon813gt]

I hope you have better luck with the 550 Dillon than I've had. My powder measure seldom drops a full charge and frequently drops no powder at all. When I bought the Dillon, in the mid 80's, it was the best tool available. I no longer think that's the case.

How much do you want to sell it for?

[alamogunr]

I hope you have better luck with the 550 Dillon than I've had. My powder measure seldom drops a full charge and frequently drops no powder at all. When I bought the Dillon, in the mid 80's, it was the best tool available. I no longer think that's the case.

I admit that I haven't loaded near the amount of ammunition on my 550 that many here have but what I have loaded, I have been pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the powder measurement. Once set, it doesn't vary.

[Mytmousemalibu]

Although I have a 650, which I love to death BTW, it has pretty much the same powder measure and I can mirror others results in saying it is rock solid consistent with all the powders I have poured through mine so far. By the math and based on the amount of reloading components I go through, I load an average of 12,000rds of 9mm a year alone! I'm about to pick up 3-gun competition too so that's another pile of ammo that will be spilling off the completed round chute. I may just get another machine at this point. I could not be happier with my machine and Dillon's customer service!