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Thread: Brass Processing on Dillon Progressives

  1. #1
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
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    Brass Processing on Dillon Progressives

    Fellas;
    I really, really, really NEED (ok, at least want to a little) to start processing brass on my Dillon progressive presses. I have a small primer RL 1100 and a 550B.

    I would like to size, swage, and trim 5.56. Also form 300 BO from 5.56 which requires the same three operations.

    The 550 requires a short toolhead, RT 1500 trimmer, 5.56 trim die, 300 BO trim die, and the 550 Swage It from UniqueTek.
    The RL 1100 requires the RT 1500, 5.56 and 300 BO dies, a short trim toolhead, and a 5.56 conversion kit.
    Total cost of needed stuff is about $300 more for the RL 1100.

    I have never trimmed brass on a press before. The RT 1500 comes with an attachment to connect a vacuum cleaner and pull off brass shavings. Forming 300 BO would produce a lot of shavings, I would think.

    I can easily strip and clean the 550. The RL 1100, not so much. I need to better learn it, but haven’t yet. The RL 1100 has the case feeder, the 550 does not. The RL swages on the downstroke; the 550 on the upstroke like priming and requires operator “feel.” The RL 1100 would give me the added option of loading both on it; I can already do that on the 550. I already have the Dillon Bench mounted swager and a Giraud trimmer for 5.56 so am ahead of the game there. The addition of the RT 1500 would make 300 BO forming a breeze.

    My question to those who have done processing like this - am I better off with the slightly slower but easier to maintain/clean and cheaper 550? Or go all out and equip the RL 1100 to do everything?
    Tony
    Last edited by AnthonyB; 01-17-2022 at 08:29 PM. Reason: Can’t type

  2. #2
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    I load 223 with a 1050. There's not enough room to use the 1500 without losing the swaging. In place of sizing I have a homemade case belling die because I was having trouble with the bullets not dropping far enough into the case at the bullet feeder station. I process my brass on a 650. Sizing/depriming and trimming with the 1500 then wet tumble clean. The vacuum is to noisy so I only turn it on when needed.
    I don't make 300 BO but you are probably right - lotsa brass slivers to clean up.
    I would get the 550 case feeder and use that for processing.
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  3. #3
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    the 550 will not hold up to what you are thinking of doing. the 1100 will do it just fine but you will need 2 tool heads, one for processing and one for loading. basicly you start with the processing tool head set up to do case prep then switch it out to the reloading tool head to do the actual loading. most who do it on a scale use multiple machines because the tool head change out is a pain.

    you will also want an autodrive, just sayin
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
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    Thanks for the responses.

    Case processing and loading will be separate operations, so I’ll have plenty of stations.

    Rancher1913, why do you think the 550 wouldn’t hold up? All it would be doing as far as the press knows is sizing and seating a primer, albeit a tight one.

    A short trim toolhead will be required in either option.
    Tony

  5. #5
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    If I were going down this road, I would send Mr Morris a PM and get his opinions. I do not know if he has ever done it but he could be helpful.
    Don Verna


  6. #6
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    I have three 650's, two Super 1050's and a RL1000 all with case feeders. Not interested in an auto drives.

    Almost 100% of the ammo loaded on these presses are two steps. First step is size, deprime and any other steps like trimming and chamfering. Next is tumble to remove lube and clean primer pockets. Final run is prime, drop powder and seat the bullet. I get much more consistent powder drops that way. Normally I don't start weighing induvial powder charges until I am shooting past 600 yards.

    I also switch out dies as needed on the 1050 since I am cheap and don't want to spend the monies on additional die heads.

    The RL 1100 doesn't have a lifetime warranty, but you will not wear it out. The 550 does have a lifetime warranty and it will most definitely stand up to your needs. A friend just one of his 550's in for rebuild. He estimates 750,000 through it and yes Dillon rebuilt it for free.
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  7. #7
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    I have a Super 1050 with an Ammobot Auto-drive. Two toolheads is definately the way to go.

    I'll process 10K rounds of brass (with an undersize U-die), change tool heads and then load ammo without worrying about primer decapping, sizing and primer pocket swaging. The press runs so much smoother that way.
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  8. #8
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    I don’t see how you can form the BLK without 2 passes. Need to either rough cut the cases first in order to form them with decapping, or pull the expander and decap them after form and trim.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by imashooter2 View Post
    I don’t see how you can form the BLK without 2 passes. Need to either rough cut the cases first in order to form them with decapping, or pull the expander and decap them after form and trim.
    Yeah you have to cut off a good 3/8”ish to even get it to trimming size.


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  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I thought I read somewhere that swaging on the upstroke of a 550 would not be warrantied, any truth to that? Not sure how they would know.

    Is there even enough room for a 1500 on a 550 toolhead? I’m interested in this.


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  11. #11
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
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    Sukivel, Dillon shows the RT 1500 handling all the trimming for 300 BO on an RL 1100 in one pass. I am only video smart on this. The UniqueTek website shows swaging on the 550 and then trimming in station 3. Again, I am only video smart - hence the questions.
    Tony

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by AnthonyB View Post
    Sukivel, Dillon shows the RT 1500 handling all the trimming for 300 BO on an RL 1100 in one pass. I am only video smart on this. The UniqueTek website shows swaging on the 550 and then trimming in station 3. Again, I am only video smart - hence the questions.
    Tony
    Ah good to know on the swaging. I wonder how well it works.

    I’m sure the trimmer will trim 300 in one pass, but how long would trimming down that much brass take opposed to cutting it to length in a jig first? That also seems like a LOT of extra reps for a $300 plus trimmer opposed to cutting the brass off with say a $35 chop saw.


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  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    You would have to be nuts to try and swage on a 550 if you already own a Dillon with a swage station that has a back up rod inside the case as it is swaged.

    If that wasn’t enough already, collated case feed should seal the deal.

    Trimming that much off a case (223-300blk) is a lot of chips to get rid of. It’s a lot easier if you cut the majority off then just final trim.


  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by jmorris View Post
    You would have to be nuts to try and swage on a 550 if you already own a Dillon with a swage station that has a back up rod inside the case as it is swaged.

    If that wasn’t enough already, collated case feed should seal the deal.
    I think we had this conversation a few years back…and your point was taken.


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  15. #15
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jmorris View Post
    You would have to be nuts to try and swage on a 550 if you already own a Dillon with a swage station that has a back up rod inside the case as it is swaged.

    If that wasn’t enough already, collated case feed should seal the deal.
    jmorris;
    That is sort of what I was thinking. What about the trimming on the press? Am I making up a problem that doesn’t exist?
    Thanks for the input.
    Tony

  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    Yep I too have watch the video of the 1500 trimmer and sizing in one pass. Just wish the tool head and trimmer were cheaper.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master AnthonyB's Avatar
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    Didn’t get the last part of the post on the trimming earlier. I see it now.
    Thanks again.
    Tony

  18. #18
    Boolit Grand Master jmorris's Avatar
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    Their trimmer is pretty solid and they do advertise them to trim one step.



    That’s a lot of brass shavings though and the little manifolds even get clogged up from time to time with normal trimming of a few thousandths, not hundreds per case.

  19. #19
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    That’s interesting. The trimmer die actually forms the case. Never thought of that.
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  20. #20
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    Wow I just watched that video! If I didn’t see it I would not have believed you could trim that much on a regular downstroke!!!

    If my Uncle Jed passes and leaves me lots of money I’m buying both of those machines, even if I only shoot a thousand rounds of 300 and 5.56 per year combined.


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