Caliber Conversion on the 550
Quote from Reloader on August 29, 2009, 10:22 pmI have an older Dillon 550 or 550B not sure which. I have always used the Dillon for pistol. Anyhow, I reload several different rifle calibers on a OLD single stage press. I would like to use the Dillon as basically a single stage press. My dilema is which caliber conversion kits do I really need. I reload .223, .243, .260, .25-06, .270, and the WSM's. I don't need powder dies as I will weigh and load my charges individually. Most of the above listed cartridges use the same shell holder which is the .308 and the 30-06 family, the .223, and the WSM's family for single stage presses.
I have an older Dillon 550 or 550B not sure which. I have always used the Dillon for pistol. Anyhow, I reload several different rifle calibers on a OLD single stage press. I would like to use the Dillon as basically a single stage press. My dilema is which caliber conversion kits do I really need. I reload .223, .243, .260, .25-06, .270, and the WSM's. I don't need powder dies as I will weigh and load my charges individually. Most of the above listed cartridges use the same shell holder which is the .308 and the 30-06 family, the .223, and the WSM's family for single stage presses.
Quote from Reloader on September 4, 2009, 2:05 pmYou can purchase just the shellplates if you want to.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25282/catid/49/RL450_550_550B_Shellplates
You can purchase just the shellplates if you want to.
http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/25282/catid/49/RL450_550_550B_Shellplates
Quote from Reloader on September 21, 2009, 4:21 amyou can But you will have to change the way the press is meant to be run. If you use your single stage to decap and reprime thats great, But you should set up a new block so that the seater is in station #2 and the crimp is in station #3and #1 & #4 are M T then you should be able to run it as a modified progressive.
the reason using 2&3 this way you keep feeding bullets on the same side.
You can get a copy of the shellplate, pin , funnel list at www.dillonhelp.com/manuals/english/Dillon-RL550B-Manual-May-2007.pdf
you can But you will have to change the way the press is meant to be run. If you use your single stage to decap and reprime thats great, But you should set up a new block so that the seater is in station #2 and the crimp is in station #3and #1 & #4 are M T then you should be able to run it as a modified progressive.
the reason using 2&3 this way you keep feeding bullets on the same side.
You can get a copy of the shellplate, pin , funnel list at http://www.dillonhelp.com/manuals/english/Dillon-RL550B-Manual-May-2007.pdf
Quote from Reloader on September 23, 2009, 11:03 pmI have used my RL550B for pistols only, for the past 15 years. I always handloaded my rifle ammo one at a time, weighing each charge individually, etc. Very time consuming, but worth it for .300 Win and RUM Senderos that me and my sons shoot. However, I just picked up three AR15s to have fun with...no way am I going to load a 1000 rounds of .223 like I do the .300's. Did the caliber conversion, with new powder measure system and new Dillon dies. Just for fun, I pulled the first 10 or 15 cartridges after powder charging to check for accuracy on my electronic scale. Most were EXACTLY the same charge; 1 or 2 were off by .1 of a grain. The quality of the ammo coming off this machine is so good, I am thinking about going this route for all of my semiauto rifles. Think about doing the same...you wont be disappointed with Dillon.
I have used my RL550B for pistols only, for the past 15 years. I always handloaded my rifle ammo one at a time, weighing each charge individually, etc. Very time consuming, but worth it for .300 Win and RUM Senderos that me and my sons shoot. However, I just picked up three AR15s to have fun with...no way am I going to load a 1000 rounds of .223 like I do the .300's. Did the caliber conversion, with new powder measure system and new Dillon dies. Just for fun, I pulled the first 10 or 15 cartridges after powder charging to check for accuracy on my electronic scale. Most were EXACTLY the same charge; 1 or 2 were off by .1 of a grain. The quality of the ammo coming off this machine is so good, I am thinking about going this route for all of my semiauto rifles. Think about doing the same...you wont be disappointed with Dillon.
Quote from Reloader on September 24, 2009, 2:08 pm223 -3 Shellplate , stock#13684
308 & related-1 shellplate, stock# 13692
WSM cartridges-B shellplate, stock#13347
223 -3 Shellplate , stock#13684
308 & related-1 shellplate, stock# 13692
WSM cartridges-B shellplate, stock#13347
Quote from Reloader on October 27, 2009, 1:44 pmThis is my first post, thank you.
On a similar subject, recently purchased a 550B and I shoot mainly 3 calibres. In pistol, .38 special Target. .45 acp. Target/plinking and in rifle .308 cal in Remington 700 Police Urban carbine. also FAL surplus. High-Power competition. I would like Calibre conversions in all three all inclusive set-ups. What would I need to buy and what would the price be?
Thank you,
windoper, Hey Now!
This is my first post, thank you.
On a similar subject, recently purchased a 550B and I shoot mainly 3 calibres. In pistol, .38 special Target. .45 acp. Target/plinking and in rifle .308 cal in Remington 700 Police Urban carbine. also FAL surplus. High-Power competition. I would like Calibre conversions in all three all inclusive set-ups. What would I need to buy and what would the price be?
Thank you,
windoper, Hey Now!
Quote from Reloader on October 28, 2009, 4:34 pmWhat caliber was the machine set up for when you purchased it? Do you have dies for any of these calibers?
What caliber was the machine set up for when you purchased it? Do you have dies for any of these calibers?