Dillon 450 questions

[bluelund79]

I finally got around to sending my beloved 450 off to Dillon today for some tlc. It was gifted to me a few years ago, and loading untold 38spl for my family and I. I'd like to know if anybody has had their 450'site updated to a 550, or just had Dillon refit/refurbish the 450 and leave it as is? I do plan on loading 9mm, 45acp and 44spl/44mag on it as those are the other frequently shot calibers by my wife and kids

[Nueces]

A few years ago, I finally bought a 550, intending to replace the 450 I'd used for many years. Used the 550 box to return the 450 for factory servicing. Idea was to sell the 450. At first, I loathed the floppy die plate of the 550, and planned to go back to the 450, which had come back in fine shape. But installation of the UniqueTek tightening kit solved that problem and the 550 is now as usable a machine as was the 450. So, I will set up the 450 for permanent use with my cowboy 45 Colt loads.

The factory refurbishment is a really good deal.

[Artful]

I have an RL300 and RL450 and I have not purchased the 550 - myself I'd keep as a 450

[seagiant]

I have an RL300 and RL450 and I have not purchased the 550 - myself I'd keep as a 450

Hi,
Bingo!

Art, you ever want to sale the 300 let me know!

[wv109323]

The 450 is a solid machine. I see no reason to update to the 550. I like the manual powder throw and primer feed of the 450. The automated primer and powder measure are the weak points of the 550.
The only advantage of the 550 over the 450 is the changeable tool heads,IMO.

[runfiverun]

I updated my 450 with the powder and primer add-on's.
it worked exactly the same as my other 550's, But I eventually bought the 550 frame and moved everything over from the 450 and then packed up and gave the 450 to a deserving member here.

[bluelund79]

I appreciate the feedback so far. For those that did the update, was it better than previous? I like the manual aspect of the powder drop and primer feed, but that primer feed is one of the reasons its on its way to AZ. I would like to have the toolhead features of the 550 though. I won't be able to get a 550 for awhile.

[pistolshooter]

I have a 450 but have not sent it back to the factory. It still works and looks great, so no reason to send it in. I purchased the auto primer feed set up, but never really liked the way it worked. Just my opinion. I located the parts I needed for the original primer feed and have re-installed it. Works just fine. Great machines.

[runfiverun]

I upgraded because I like the way it [meaning I] didn't forget to put powder in the cases.
I have all of my progressive and semi-progressive presses set-up so that I use similar hand motions while loading.

I even modified the auto-prime feature on my 650, so I have to manually advance the priming wheel, because I didn't know what to do with my right hand and it was throwing my cadence off and making me run the machine all hinky.

[rbt50]

I up dated mine to a 550 years ago. the only thing different is the quick change for the dies. works great

[bluelund79]

For those that sent it in, approximately, what was the turn around time? I didn't ask Dillon, as it's Christmas and New Year's time. Luckily, I have a "work trip" that's taking me away for about 90 days or so. My bench looks really empty with just a single stage press mounted to it.

[Alvarez Kelly]

For those that sent it in, approximately, what was the turn around time? I didn't ask Dillon, as it's Christmas and New Year's time. Luckily, I have a "work trip" that's taking me away for about 90 days or so. My bench looks really empty with just a single stage press mounted to it.

Turn around time varies a lot with how busy they are. Including shipping time, it'll probably be about 3 weeks. It may take a bit longer as they will rehab, rather than replace, some of your parts, as many RL450 parts are completely out of production.

You will be quite pleased when you get it back from Dillon. :-)

Happy loading!

[bluelund79]

Thanks much! Looking forward to doing 38 special and 9x19 in bulk again

[MtGun44]

I had a 450 for decades, upgraded it to auto primer feed and powder measure the minute
that they were available. I bought a 550 about 10 yrs later, and kept the 450 on my most
common caliber at that time. Eventually, I sold the 450 to a friend, bought a second 550
for small primer setup. The issue with the fully upgraded 450 is only how much you will
swap calibers. If you do not swap calibers, keep the 450. If you do, go with a 550, far
easier to change over - no need to reset dies, and I have a powder measure on each of
my 550 tool head setups. I can change in a couple minutes if the shellplate needs changing,
or 1 minute if the shellplate is the same (.45 ACP and .308, for instance).

[Iowa Fox]

Just me but I'd keep the 450 and add a Square Deal to the bench for those pistol rounds. And yes I've got a 450 & Square Deal.

[bluelund79]

Update to original post. They had my rebuild back inside of ten days. Excellent considering the holidays. Dillon went, in my opinion, above and beyond. They completely refinished the frame, replaced the ram and lower arm, installed the auto prime and included both small and large primer tubes. It's better than new! Makes it easy to know the next press will be a 550b. I am tickled with it

[LUBEDUDE]

Update to original post. They had my rebuild back inside of ten days. Excellent considering the holidays. Dillon went, in my opinion, above and beyond. They completely refinished the frame, replaced the ram and lower arm, installed the auto prime and included both small and large primer tubes. It's better than new! Makes it easy to know the next press will be a 550b. I am tickled with it

Yup, that's Dillon for ya, Congrats!