Dillon 550 ??

[lonewolf5347]

been going over the press and it is a new learning process.
I been running the Lee press Classic auto index may be the last 20 years.
I have 2 question
1 St question The Operatin Rod mine seem to miss the center or middle plastic roller.what is the fix?
2 question how does the Alignment Tool
Work is it needed on the 550??
Thanks any info will be a great help

[Budzilla 19]

If you call Dillon, they will help you out for sure!! I have one of those alignment tools( if I can find the thing) used it to check the press when I thought I had a problem. It removes any doubt as to that adjustment.

[bgw45]

Take us some pics of the rod. It might help.

[daboone]

If a part is missing call Dillon. I think your talking about the RL550 Automatic Primer system's roller, part #13889. I've only had to use Alignment Tool after a disassembly to get the alignment straightened out. Be sure to download the manual if you don't have it. http://dillonhelp.com/Dillon%20Manual%20PDFs/dillon_rl_550b_manual_may_2007.pdf

[ioon44]

been going over the press and it is a new learning process.
I been running the Lee press Classic auto index may be the last 20 years.
I have 2 question
1 St question The Operatin Rod mine seem to miss the center or middle plastic roller.what is the fix?
2 question how does the Alignment Tool
Work is it needed on the 550??
Thanks any info will be a great help

I made a spacer out of a 22 cal case mouth to keep the rod centered on the plastic roller.

I never had to use the Alignment Tool, I still use the same 550 I got in 1989.

[NSB]

Why aren't you asking Dillon? They have people there who can answer any question you might have and will provide parts (free of charge) as needed. They answer the phone and are very, very helpful. That would be the first place I'd go to for help.

[WinchesterM1]

Dillons phone number is great

It is
1-800-223-4570

I don’t think that was an accident

[garandsrus]

The plastic roller should move freely on the rod, just slide it over a little.

[lonewolf5347]

Got it thanks ��

[lonewolf5347]

Well after getting the few missing part I had nothing to do today let see how she runs, never used a Dillon before.
My press for years was a Lee Classic auto index press.
I could run 100 rounds in about a luttli under the 1 hour time frame.
The press 9 mm first time out Holly molee
50 rounds took me 1/2 hour what the heck any one want to buy this press.
I can do better on the Lee press.
I took a break had to pull 3 rounds was not sure on the powder 3.4 gr. Bulleye charge.??
I then tried a double charge to see how much space is left in the case,not much so you can't double charge bullet will not be able to seat the bullet.
Ok took a coffee break did a few small adjust ments and went back to see how long another 50 rounds will take
12 minutes just had to get the brain to know which hands to out the bullet and then a empty case the same time before using the press handle.
I still run on average 5,000 rounds a year
Will be nice to run 200 rounds an hour o. the Dillon press

[Kraschenbirn]

:-D With practice you'll bet the hang of it. I've had my Dillon 450 (just like your 550 w/o the interchangeable tool head) for over 30 years and, using preloaded primer tubes, can typically run off 300-350 rounds/hour without even breathing hard.

Bill

[dragon813gt]

The advantage of the Dillon is it’s performing multiple functions at one. One pull of the handle yields a loaded round. I know it’s a couple more but oh well. It’s four pulls for one round w/ the Lee. I like both presses but for large runs the Dillon wins hands down. It’s easy to load a couple hundred an hour. You just have to find your rhythm and don’t break pace.

If you have any concerns or need to walk away from the press clear everything off of it. This way you aren’t guessing when you come back. You can also leave the ram in the up position. This way you know exactly where you’re at as well. But for a new user clearing it means no questions.

[fast ronnie]

I got a SDB2 last year in a trade. It sure is nice. Even nicer would be a 650, but can't justify it right now.
I can do about 300 an hour and not have to try.
Still load bottleneck on a single stage as I weigh every round there.

[W.R.Buchanan]

You should to easily be able to do 400-500 per hour. I routinely do 100 rounds in 15 minutes then top primers and go again.

You've got the best non auto indexing progressive ever made, you just have to learn how to use it.

This will take more than 15 minutes.

Randy

[daboone]

You should to easily be able to do 400-500 per hour. I routinely do 100 rounds in 15 minutes then top primers and go again.

You've got the best non auto indexing progressive ever made, you just have to learn how to use it.

This will take more than 15 minutes.

Randy

And that's just with your hand press.:kidding:

[Big Wes]

I loaded 250 rounds yesterday in 26 minutes on my 550B.

[dragon813gt]

I loaded 250 rounds yesterday in 26 minutes on my 550B.

Did that include loading primer tubes? Some people like to leave that part out. Loading the tubes counts as loading time.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've been running a 550 for well over 20 years and my only regret is I don't really have room for two of them on the bench.

With pre-loaded primer tubes 300-400 rounds per hour is easily obtainable. Technique is important but not difficult to master.

And yes, loading primer tubes is part of the total time so if you do that while reloading those numbers go down to about 200-250 per hour. But you can pre-load the tubes while other things are going on. (waiting for a casting pot to warm up, casings running in a tumbler, waiting for molds to cool down for storage, etc. )

[lonewolf5347]

I am getting use to it��

[Big Wes]

Did that include loading primer tubes? Some people like to leave that part out. Loading the tubes counts as loading time.

Oops! you're right I guess I should add ten minutes to my time. My bad!

[garandsrus]

These work great for filling primer tubes!

https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Universal-Automatic-Reloading/dp/B00BQ6A3Y0

Starting with a full primer tube, I loaded 100 40's in under 11 minutes on a 550, reloading at normal speed.

[dragon813gt]

These work great for filling primer tubes!
Many people have good luck w/ them. I gave up. Tried multiple units. Tried the “mods” to make them work better. Tried every technique that people have come up w/. One day I will get around to adapting an old Lee hand primer to fill the tubes.

[bgw45]

Many people have good luck w/ them. I gave up. Tried multiple units. Tried the “mods” to make them work better. Tried every technique that people have come up w/. One day I will get around to adapting an old Lee hand primer to fill the tubes.
+1 never was able to "learn" the techniques. Gave three of em away. Thankful they are useful to some people, disappointed I couldn't make them work for me.

[kayala]

Same here - I've played with automatic tube fillers (FA and Dillon) unfortunately I can't trust either of them and all the time "saved" is negated when I have to disassemble few rounds per 100 due to flipped primers.

[wrench man]

Using an RCBS "PRIMER TRAY-2" it only takes about a minute and a half or so to load 100 primers? and that time(s) is included in the only time I ever paid any attention to rounds perhour, I got 470 rounds of 40S&W in 45 minuets.