Universal shellplate
Quote from Reloader on November 27, 2007, 8:22 pmI have owned a RL550 (later upgraded to a 550B) for many years, in fact I believe that I may have been the first owner of a 550 in the U.K. My press has given me superb service and has loaded tens of thousands of rounds in various calibres from .32S&W long to .270Win. I have on occasion broken parts and each time Dillon have put matters right even when it has been caused by my own stupidity, the back up support of Dillon is second to none and I am an avid fan of the company.
I have always had a single station press in addition to my Dillon for certain small jobs. In the past this was an old Lyman turret press purchased some 35 years ago when I first started reloading, I foolishly let this go 18 months ago. The Lyman was replaced by a Lee, a gift from a pal who no longer needed it. A couple of weeks ago while full length resizing some 8x57jrs cases the top completely sheared off the top of the Lee, obviously not up to the job, and something never likely to happen with a Dillon! In a dilemma as I don't have a suitable shellplate for 8x57 rimmed, I found by way of experimentation that the shellplate for a .44mag if inverted and tightened down would hold the conventional shellholder, and if inserted in station 1 would be retained by the spring that normally holds cases in place. This allowed me to use the 550 as a single station press and finish seatiing bullets in the remaining 8x57jrs cases.
I am wondering if Dillon have ever thought of manufacturing a universal shellplate for the RL550 that would accept conventional shellholders, thus permitting use as just described. Obviously suitable re-adjustment to dies is necessary when used as such.
I have owned a RL550 (later upgraded to a 550B) for many years, in fact I believe that I may have been the first owner of a 550 in the U.K. My press has given me superb service and has loaded tens of thousands of rounds in various calibres from .32S&W long to .270Win. I have on occasion broken parts and each time Dillon have put matters right even when it has been caused by my own stupidity, the back up support of Dillon is second to none and I am an avid fan of the company.
I have always had a single station press in addition to my Dillon for certain small jobs. In the past this was an old Lyman turret press purchased some 35 years ago when I first started reloading, I foolishly let this go 18 months ago. The Lyman was replaced by a Lee, a gift from a pal who no longer needed it. A couple of weeks ago while full length resizing some 8x57jrs cases the top completely sheared off the top of the Lee, obviously not up to the job, and something never likely to happen with a Dillon! In a dilemma as I don't have a suitable shellplate for 8x57 rimmed, I found by way of experimentation that the shellplate for a .44mag if inverted and tightened down would hold the conventional shellholder, and if inserted in station 1 would be retained by the spring that normally holds cases in place. This allowed me to use the 550 as a single station press and finish seatiing bullets in the remaining 8x57jrs cases.
I am wondering if Dillon have ever thought of manufacturing a universal shellplate for the RL550 that would accept conventional shellholders, thus permitting use as just described. Obviously suitable re-adjustment to dies is necessary when used as such.
Quote from Reloader on November 28, 2007, 8:04 pmWe have never thought of offering a shellplate designed to hold a single-stage shellholder. I will pass it along to our R&D people, and let them mull it over.
We have never thought of offering a shellplate designed to hold a single-stage shellholder. I will pass it along to our R&D people, and let them mull it over.
Quote from Reloader on April 4, 2009, 2:20 pmThanks for sharing this, 8x57! Your resourcefulness has provided a solution for a problem I have had, until now. In addition to my single-station press not being up to the job for some of the small/unusual reloading runs, it takes up an annoying amount of bench space.
Thanks for sharing this, 8x57! Your resourcefulness has provided a solution for a problem I have had, until now. In addition to my single-station press not being up to the job for some of the small/unusual reloading runs, it takes up an annoying amount of bench space.
Quote from Reloader on September 8, 2021, 5:33 pmI recently bought a Redding G-RX carbide base sizing die for 40 S&W. I have found that the Dillon Shellplate #6 (mounted upside down) with the number 7 pin works excellent. Put the pin in first, slide the pusher rod into the shellplate and tighten the shellplate screw down. Do not put the thumb wheel on. It also work fine for holding any standard shell holder. I have used it for Redding, RCBS and Hornady.
I recently bought a Redding G-RX carbide base sizing die for 40 S&W. I have found that the Dillon Shellplate #6 (mounted upside down) with the number 7 pin works excellent. Put the pin in first, slide the pusher rod into the shellplate and tighten the shellplate screw down. Do not put the thumb wheel on. It also work fine for holding any standard shell holder. I have used it for Redding, RCBS and Hornady.