Dillon 550b/650 question

wellerjohn · February 19, 2009, 09:17 PM

Hello Gents,

I am looking into buying a Dillon press, been loading single stage turret for years now. Question is about the dies, I want to use my current dies a mix of Lyman and RCBS. The 550B only has 4 stations, so how do you expand your "handgun" brass before filling with powder? Station 1 (size and deprime), Station 2 (expand), Station 3 (powder fill), and Staion 4 (seat bullet).Or don't expand then crimp on the last station. Am I missing something here? The 650XL has 5 Stations and auto indexing, but I here it can be a pain in the butt to setup. Any help would be appreciated.

Wayne_E · February 19, 2009, 09:20 PM

The Dillon's drop the powder through the expander.

wellerjohn · February 19, 2009, 09:26 PM

So you have to buy the dillon dies?

Wayne_E · February 19, 2009, 09:34 PM

No you can use your dies. You need a caliber conversion kit. It has the shellplate, powder funnel/expander and the locator pins. (At least thats what the 550 kit has).

tom234 · February 19, 2009, 09:40 PM

The XL650 is bar none the best machine and the casefeeder is a must to take advantage of it. It is more costly to get set up for different cartridges than the 550. Dillon dies, although more expensive, are benificial since you don't loose you setting to disassemble and clean them.

BigJakeJ1s · February 19, 2009, 09:45 PM

Most people purchase a Dillon powder die (that holds the powder funnel/expander) and tool head for each cartridge setup. That way you can leave all 4 dies set up in the tool head. Some also purchase a Dillon PM for each tool head so they don't have to adjust it either. Just depends on how much you want to spend to save time changing between different cartridges.

If you haven't already, I would also look at the RCBS 2000 and Hornady LNL AP progressive presses.

Andy

wellerjohn · February 19, 2009, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the replies...

cgaengineer · February 20, 2009, 07:25 AM

Check your private messages...

wellerjohn · February 21, 2009, 01:21 PM

Guess I have blue fever, just bought the 650XL case feeder and acessories....

cgaengineer · February 21, 2009, 05:56 PM

You blue press guys aint right!

WESHOOT2 · February 22, 2009, 08:28 AM

Add the powder-check station.

I found the rollwer handle to radically ease use.

Bolt it to the Earth's core.

If resistance is felt, STOP! Investigate.....

February 19, 2009, 09:17 PM	#1
wellerjohn Junior Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Posts: 8	Dillon 550b/650 question Hello Gents, I am looking into buying a Dillon press, been loading single stage turret for years now. Question is about the dies, I want to use my current dies a mix of Lyman and RCBS. The 550B only has 4 stations, so how do you expand your "handgun" brass before filling with powder? Station 1 (size and deprime), Station 2 (expand), Station 3 (powder fill), and Staion 4 (seat bullet).Or don't expand then crimp on the last station. Am I missing something here? The 650XL has 5 Stations and auto indexing, but I here it can be a pain in the butt to setup. Any help would be appreciated.

February 22, 2009, 08:28 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	650 Add the powder-check station. I found the rollwer handle to radically ease use. Bolt it to the Earth's core. If resistance is felt, STOP! Investigate..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

February 19, 2009, 09:20 PM	#2
Wayne_E Member Join Date: January 14, 2009 Location: Washington (the state) Posts: 29	The Dillon's drop the powder through the expander.

February 19, 2009, 09:26 PM	#3
wellerjohn Junior Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Posts: 8	So you have to buy the dillon dies?

February 19, 2009, 09:34 PM	#4
Wayne_E Member Join Date: January 14, 2009 Location: Washington (the state) Posts: 29	No you can use your dies. You need a caliber conversion kit. It has the shellplate, powder funnel/expander and the locator pins. (At least thats what the 550 kit has).

February 19, 2009, 09:40 PM	#5
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	The XL650 is bar none the best machine and the casefeeder is a must to take advantage of it. It is more costly to get set up for different cartridges than the 550. Dillon dies, although more expensive, are benificial since you don't loose you setting to disassemble and clean them.

February 19, 2009, 09:45 PM	#6
BigJakeJ1s Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2005 Location: Arlington TX Posts: 663	Most people purchase a Dillon powder die (that holds the powder funnel/expander) and tool head for each cartridge setup. That way you can leave all 4 dies set up in the tool head. Some also purchase a Dillon PM for each tool head so they don't have to adjust it either. Just depends on how much you want to spend to save time changing between different cartridges. If you haven't already, I would also look at the RCBS 2000 and Hornady LNL AP progressive presses. Andy

February 19, 2009, 09:49 PM	#7
wellerjohn Junior Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Posts: 8	Thanks for the replies...

February 20, 2009, 07:25 AM	#8
cgaengineer Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 264	Check your private messages...

February 21, 2009, 01:21 PM	#9
wellerjohn Junior Member Join Date: July 27, 2008 Posts: 8	Guess I have blue fever, just bought the 650XL case feeder and acessories....

February 21, 2009, 05:56 PM	#10
cgaengineer Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2008 Posts: 264	You blue press guys aint right!