Dillon guys i need help

[finattic]

loading 380 acp on a Dillon 550 with a case feeder, makes this press almost a 650. I know the shell plate is the same as the .223, however what is the casefeeder conversion for the 380 I do not see it listed on dillons site and have read somewhere they don't make it for the 380, I don't believe it but I am not sure. has anyone ran into this or do you have the answer, if not I will call Dillon and talk with them.

thanks

[M-Tecs]

I run 650's and 1050. They make 380 conversion for them. Since you have the 223 shell plate you only need a couple of parts (if think - I have never seen a 550 with the case feeder). Call Dillon and they will tell you what you need.

[VHoward]

I am not sure they make a collating plate for 380 for the case feeder. The 380 case might be too short for it to work. Try the small pistol plate in the case feeder. That's what I use for 9mm.

[finattic]

thanks m-tecs probably the best thing to do

[Iron Whittler]

If I remember correctly, you will use the small pistol feed plate in the feeder and there is a small case adapter that goes in the drop tube under the feed plate. This is used with the 9mm cases as well. Hope this is of use to you.:Fire:

[Iron Whittler]

Went on the Dillon web site. This is what you will need= case feed adapter funnel #13688. Look in the manuals section for 650 press, page 10, FIG 18. It shows what it looks like and how to install it. Note, 650 & 550 use same case feed head and plates. Don't put too many cases at a time in case feed hopper, as this may stall the plate or cause jams in the feed tube funnel. This aught to get you up & running.:Fire:[smilie=w:

[Pee Wee]

Finattic,
I have a 550 with a case feeder, I also load 380s, I also could not find the case feeder conversation kit for it, so I called Dillon and the tech I spoke with said there is no 380 conversation available for the 550 case feeder, he also told me that they could not get it to work smoothly because of the size of the case, so they do not offer it. If you find out how to do it or find the parts to do it, please PM me and let me know how to do it.
regards
Pee Wee

[jmorris]

This is the 550 case feed manual.

http://dillonhelp.com/Dillon%20Manual%20PDFs/rl_550_casefeed_manual_may_2007.pdf

p12 has a list of conversion parts, 380 and .223 are not supported for it. Another reason to get a 650 if your wanting case feed.

[finattic]

Pee Wee I called Dillon today and they told me the same thing, I just cant figure out why it will work on a 650 and not a 550. I may have to try something just to see if it will work.

jmorris the 550 was give to me and I got the casefeeder for 100 bucks. I cant beat that deal which is why I got a feeder on a 550. and the 380 is the only thing I am trying to get worked out. if it comes down to it I will load them normally on my 2nd 550, just wanted to speed things up a bit since my wife, daughter, son-in-law and myself all carry 380's so we shoot the on a regular basis. along with all the other stuff we load for.

[VHoward]

I think the collator part will work, but the actual feeding mechanisms are different. That might be the limiting factor. I do know the 380s will feed into my 9mm shell plate just fine. I occasionally find one mixed in. I'm loading on an XL650.

[warf73]

Not sure about the 550, but I did just change over(380acp) my factory setup 650 to 357. The alum collar (case feed body bushing) said SMALL PISTOL on it, and the case feed body bush for the 357 said 357/38. I don't remember station one locator number on either but that would need bought also IF the case feeder on the 550 is same as the 650.

Does the 550 case feeder work on 9mm? I had several jams were 9mm cases didn't get culled out of my 380acp brass and it fed threw fine but would hang up at the sizing station. Maybe that would be a work around for the 380acp using the 9mm case feeder set up?

[Pee Wee]

Pee Wee I called Dillon today and they told me the same thing, I just cant figure out why it will work on a 650 and not a 550. I may have to try something just to see if it will work.

jmorris the 550 was give to me and I got the casefeeder for 100 bucks. I cant beat that deal which is why I got a feeder on a 550. and the 380 is the only thing I am trying to get worked out. if it comes down to it I will load them normally on my 2nd 550, just wanted to speed things up a bit since my wife, daughter, son-in-law and myself all carry 380's so we shoot the on a regular basis. along with all the other stuff we load for.
finattic
It is the way it feeds to the to the shellplate. 650 was built with casefeeder. It feeds from top of stroke, 550 the case feeder was adapted after it was designed and added on, feeds at downstroke.

I have been working on a way to make them work, I bought an extra 9mm conversion kit and have been adapting it. The problem is the plunger. I have to figure out how to get the 380 case to work as it hangs up on the next case coming down the tube. I have tried to modifi the ramp but that hits the plunger. The plunger is the problem, trying to come up with a solition but with holidays, I put it on back burner. I also have a second 550 without case feeder a load 380 and 223 on it. If I get it to work I will let you know.

[jmorris]

I just cant figure out why it will work on a 650 and not a 550. I may have to try something just to see if it will work.

The 650 was designed from the start to be a case fed machine for many different rounds and the 550 was and after thought and they found it to only work for some pistol cases.

FWIW the 650 uses the same case feed parts for 380 and 9mm except the station 1 locator.

That said, I don't think it would be difficult to get one to feed 380, there are even folks that have got them to feed some rifle cases as well. Keep us updated and be sure to post photos when you get there.

[Pee Wee]

The 650 was designed from the start to be a case fed machine for many different rounds and the 550 was and after thought and they found it to only work for some pistol cases.

FWIW the 650 uses the same case feed parts for 380 and 9mm except the station 1 locator.

That said, I don't think it would be difficult to get one to feed 380, there are even folks that have got them to feed some rifle cases as well. Keep us updated and be sure to post photos when you get there.
jmorris:
could you send me a picture of that mounted in your 650 so I can see what it looks like, maybe I can get that and make it work in the 550.
thanks,
Pee Wee

[jmorris]

Figure 175 page 38 here.

http://dillonhelp.com/Dillon%20Manual%20PDFs/XL650v6p1.pdf

It is really more of a "slider" than a locator. Designed much like a slotted shell holder, so it keeps the case from tipping going into the shell plate.

[finattic]

jmorris if that is the part your talking about then one for a 223 should work, unless I am missing something. on a 550 the 223 and 380 take the same plate. i guess the big question is do they make a conversion for the 223,

[VHoward]

No on the 223 conversion for the 550 case feeder.

[jmorris]

Yes, on the 650 .223 and 380 use the same locator and no the 550 case feeder is only for some pistol rounds.

That said I know that the 650 set up for 9mm would feed 380 cases because I used to catch them at the powder check station from time to time before I built my brass sorting machine.

Maybe we need some photos or better yet a video showing the problem(s) the 550 has with 380 cases.

[dudel]

No on the 223 conversion for the 550 case feeder.

This person seems to have done it with a mod to a Dillon part.
https://robrobinette.com/Reloading300BLK.htm

[Pee Wee]

A couple of things have to be modified, the station 1 locator for 9mm will work on the 380 some of the time, I am in the process of modifying one to handle the 380. I have already modified the tube adapter. Need to work on a solution for the plunger. It hangs up on the next case to drop and stops the plunger from pushing the case into the locator to slide it into station one. I think I have a solution and in the process of fabricating it next. will let y'all know if that works.

[Pee Wee]

158769 This is the station 1 locator I have raised where the case rest on it .060, this allows the plunger to push the case in the the 1 station, and lets the next case drop. its a little rough prototype but it does work, I got a hand full of brass cases to feed into station one.
158771 This is the case feed adaptor, I had to modify it to get it to drop down closer to the plunger. The one on the left is for 9mm, the one on the right is a modified 9mm to fit 380.
I am going to refine the locator with metal and try it out. I built it up with duct tape first just to see if it would work.
couple of things had to happen, had to be able get the case up enough so the next case did not stop it from progressing and keep the clearance for the plunger to move forward while pushing the case into station one.

[finattic]

looks like it will work, just one question, on the locator what did it start out as before the mod. was it for a 9mm, or 223

[Pee Wee]

looks like it will work, just one question, on the locator what did it start out as before the mod. was it for a 9mm, or 223
its a 9mm

[Pee Wee]

158843 158844158845158846
It works---380ACP On a Dillion 550 With a case feeder

[Pee Wee]

158843 158844158845158846

OK, it works, I made mods to the locator out of nylon so I could shape it and ramp it down and then used a 10thou pcs of alum. for the final finish on top. Did not have to do any more mods to the case feeder adapter as shown above. I had to add a spacer to the front of the plunger to get it to push the case all the way in to the shell holder. I used golf grip tape and left the cover on the side that pushes the case and the sticky side keeps it on the plunger. I am sorry for no video. I took one but could not get it to post, if anyone can tell me how to post a video from an I Pad, PM me and I will give you my cell number. I have cycled it 500 times, every once in a while the case will fall over, usually on the first or second one and then good from there. I will have to cast up some 380 boolits and run it full bore.

[VHoward]

I'm not familiar with I-pads. But do you know how to upload a video to youtube? Then post the youtube link here.

[Pee Wee]

No I Don't know how to do that either.

[VHoward]

Usually when you have a youtube account, there will be an upload video button. Then you just navigate to where your video is (folder or directory) and click upload. That should do it.

[Pee Wee]

https://youtu.be/h8B_p7iDhp4
OK, this works, just click on it and you will see the video.

[Pee Wee]

https://youtu.be/h8B_p7iDhp4

[VHoward]

That looks good. Glad you figured it out.

[finattic]

Good job pee wee that will work and prove to be worth the time. Thanks for the work and thanks for sharing it

[Pee Wee]

Thanks Guys,
Kinda makes me wonder, if I can figure it out and fabricate the parts in about 5 hours total time why Dillon could not make it work. I am going to see if I can get the 223 to work next. Someone has done it as I remember a post here earlier that showed the fabricated part to make that work.

[Pee Wee]

Got 223 to work on the 550 with the case feeder.
159184Ok this is the Mod. For the 223. I took a 9mm conversion kit and opened up the mouth .850. I did not modifiy the locater.



159185 It feeds with no problems.

The casefeed plate for 223 well work in the case feeder.

[dudel]

Got 223 to work on the 550 with the case feeder.
Ok this is the Mod. For the 223. I took a 9mm conversion kit and opened up the mouth .850. I did not modifiy the locater.

The casefeed plate for 223 well work in the case feeder.


Congrats! That's great news. I was on the fence with the 550 casefeeder, you made the choice much easier.

[jmorris]

Looks like a winner!

[Pee Wee]

Thanks Guys, I will try to post video later, it took me forever to get the 380 video to work, and I don't remember how so I will have to figure it out again. I'm getting ready to swage 22 caliper bullets with Duke of Florida. I have 600 ready to load so when I get the bullets swaged I will post video and how that went with the 223 on a Dillon 550 with a case feeder.

[Pee Wee]

finattic:
sent you a couple of PMs, read the last one first, will make sense when you open second one.



Good job pee wee that will work and prove to be worth the time. Thanks for the work and thanks for sharing it

[Pee Wee]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=158771&d=1453493200&thumb=1
Here are the final mod that were made to the 9mm conversion kit to work on 380ACP.
the green 9mm caliper conversion tube has to be lowered .052 thou.
159452
This is the final mod to the station 1 locator. Made the mod out of plastic with a top off of alum. the plastic is .060 thou thick cut to size of the rail, then angle cut and tapered down where the case head enters the rail to hold it to go into the shell plate. I then added .010 thou. alum. piece to the top of the plastic just for slide finish. I also added two sided golf tape with only one side peeled off to stick to the plunger.(needed this to push case all the way into the shell plate). I have run over a 500 cases thur this setup and only had a few fall over, all in all I am very happy with the result.

[alfloyd]

The Dillon 650XL takes a different case feed adapter for the 380ACP.
I called Dillon and told them I was having problems feeding the 380 cases with the 9MM adapter and they sent me a new adapter to use with the 380 cases. It hole is a little smaller than the 9MM one.

This adapter is the one that the clear plastic tube fits into.

Lafaun

[Pee Wee]

The Dillon 650XL takes a different case feed adapter for the 380ACP.
I called Dillon and told them I was having problems feeding the 380 cases with the 9MM adapter and they sent me a new adapter to use with the 380 cases. It hole is a little smaller than the 9MM one.

This adapter is the one that the clear plastic tube fits into.

Lafaun

I called dillon to see if the 650 conversion kit would work on a 550, they told me no. The parts are configured different. I called my local dillon dealer to see if he has any conversion kit for the 650 and 550 in stock so I could go down to compare them. He does so I went down but he was closed yesterday. Won't be back till next Thursday. had to have surgery on his elbow. He said he would let me bring it home to see if it would work. I will post findings.