Got my 550b Dillon today

[vmthtr]

Poor packaging and ham handed USPS and I am missing some itmes from it that prevent me from loading on it. Priming system. large primer tube. powder bars. Guy shipped with newspaper for packing material. Not real happy but he said he will make it good.

Mike

[Love Life]

If he doesn't make good give a call to Dillon. I have had a 550b for years and absolutely love it.

[nicholst55]

If he won't, then Dillon almost certainly will.

I was slow on the draw, Love Life! You beat me to it by a second or two!

[357shooter]

Hope it works out. Love my 550 too. It's an awesome press.

[hedgehorn]

Your gonna love that press. I load everything but larger rifles on mine. Keep it clean and lubed and it will outlast you :)

[Kevin Rohrer]

A good reason never to ship large packages via the Post Office.

Consider getting a Strong Mount. It makes using it a lot easier (no more Dillon Lean).

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0655.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0654.jpg

[wrench man]

They can be a little tricky to get set up, but once they are your GOOD! to go, I do load everything on mine including the big riffles, 300, 338, 458 Win Mags, 45-70, if you shoot LOTS of pistol you can replenish your supply in a hurry with the Dillon!

[Love Life]

+1 on the strong mount. That piece is definately worth every penny.

[vmthtr]

How do you tell the small from the extra small powder charge bar??

[220swiftfn]

How do you tell the small from the extra small powder charge bar??

The small charge bar has a "V" shaped cavity, with the slider being square. The extra-small bar is square in both cavity and slider.... (the small still has a triangular cavity open with the slider bottomed out, the extra small just has a small gap from the milled corners....)


Dan

[Alvarez Kelly]

How do you tell the small from the extra small powder charge bar??

It may not be 100%, but;

Both the small and large bars come standard with every Dillon press and Dillon powder measure sold. Both have a wedge shaped opening (where the powder is measured) in the powder bar, kinda shaped like the bow of a boat. Both the extra small and magnum powder bars are optional, and only available seperately. They both "usually" have a more rectangular opening in the bar where the powder goes. As in, NOT shaped like the bow of a boat.

Again, not 100%, but it is accurate most of the time.

Extra small powder bars are not used very often, except for in very small calibers, like 25ACP and some .32s. Hope that helped at least some.

[Love Life]

Was the seller a member of this forum? If so I would like to know so I don't buy from them in the future.

[Throckmorton]

-1,that's neg 1 for the strong mounts,I built my bench tall,saved the money for loading supplies.. :)

also neg 1 for the roller handle,I could get by just fine with the regular ball handle,will not buy another one. imho,ymmv,etc etc Of course,if urs came with it,carry on !

[PatMarlin]

Congrats on the 550B. One of my favorite presses.. :drinks:

Get the best ....:mrgreen:




http://www.patmarlins.com/out550back.jpg



http://www.patmarlins.com/closebase550left.jpg

[vmthtr]

Not a member here, I guess I have the small measure as the powder cavity is not squared off, is "V" shaped. Thanks guys.

[btroj]

Love my 550B. Only issue I ever have is with spent primers going everywhere. That dang primer catcher likes to stick open sometimes.

I took a few runs to get the kinks worked out and learn ow it needs to be set up and run but now it works quite well.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I also have an occasional problem with the primer catcher. Am wondering if it is due to the cotter pin that is used to hold it on the press. Am thinking I might try replacing it with something else.

re: Powder bars. The small one works for most any pistol cartridge. I don't know how high it goes.

Also, I may have extra powder bars. Figure out which ones you have and I will do the same.

Also, if you didn't get a manual with the press, Dillon has PDFs of it available for dload from their site.

Lastly, there is a topic not far below this one that talks alot about the 550 and Strong Mounts.

[Johnk454]

The comments about the spent primer catcher brings back sore memories. Bought my first 550 back in the '80s and quickly sorted out a solution to the sticking chute caused by the cotter pin hanging up.

http://home.comcast.net/~johnk454/550spentprimermod.jpg

Two small self-tapping screws solved the issue and it's been working ever since. The screws aren't tightened down all the way but were coated with red (271) loctite when installed.

[ph4570]

The comments about the spent primer catcher brings back sore memories. Bought my first 550 back in the '80s and quickly sorted out a solution to the sticking chute caused by the cotter pin hanging up.

http://home.comcast.net/~johnk454/550spentprimermod.jpg

Two small self-tapping screws solved the issue and it's been working ever since. The screws aren't tightened down all the way but were coated with red (271) loctite when installed.

I have done a similar thing to my 550's. I used a #2 machine screw (need to drill out the holes a tad), washers and a nylon locking nut. No more flying primers -- well maybe one in a thousand. The cotter pin is a poor design. Dillon should have fixed that flaw long ago along with the powder adjust bolt -- put a knob on it for gosh sakes!

[Kevin Rohrer]

Excellent! I need to get to Loews and get something to replace that cotter pin.

[7of7]

A good reason never to ship large packages via the Post Office.

Consider getting a Strong Mount. It makes using it a lot easier (no more Dillon Lean).

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0655.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0654.jpg

Kevin, I like the signs you have on the wall.. Great signage...


I replaced my cotter pin with a small nail... and smashed the end so it wouldn't come back out.. works fine.. now..

[7of7]

If you load 38, and 357, you might consider an adjustable tool head.. Doug Williams has one he sells on Epay.. It works great, (I have one). Just do a search for it (Adjustable Toolhead Kit for Dillon 550B)

[btroj]

ThR adjustable tool head has to be the smartest bit of gear I have seen in a long time. It is such a simple idea that it is brilliant.
I may need to get one for 38/357.

[sparky45]

Kevin on www.ultimatereloader.com has a review on the adjustable tool head. Looks like a decent accessory.

[PatMarlin]

That website- www.ultimatereloader.com is it a private website, or manufacture owned or?

[Kevin Rohrer]

Kevin, I like the signs you have on the wall.. Great signage...

They are reproductions. During my stint in the Army in the 1970s, I saw the top two signs on the right for real at the Hof Gap. It was kind of scary to see The Fence and realize that another way of life existed on the other side of it.

[sparky45]

That website- www.ultimatereloader.com is it a private website, or manufacture owned or?

To my knowledge Pat, the hosts (Kevin) website is a private site. He demos numerous pieces of reloading equipment without an endorsement for any that he uses. He also did an AR 15 build as well as a .308 build. I find the videos very well organized and thought out. I'm sure he must have some kind of a business relationship with a vender or supplier or else he is wealthy.

[PatMarlin]

He's done and fantastic job. When I get my shop production running full tilt, and a new website, I want to branch out with my products on some other websites. His would be great.