Dillon RL 550 - Page 2

dmazur · May 15, 2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

And when I do I will be loading light loads for 44 mag.

Cautionary note in advance -

H110 (aka W296) has a special instruction to not reduce loads more than 3% (which is different from the typical "reduce 10% and work up") due to erratic velocities with light loads. There are unexplained pressure peaks with these light loads that can cause damage or injury.

As this is one of the most popular powders for the .44 Mag, you should probably be aware of this.

There are "light loads" for the .44 Mag which use other powders.

rodwhaincamo · May 16, 2010, 08:54 AM

I am looking for reduced loads with a low muzzle flash. The powders that have been recommended are:
Hogdgon's HS-6, titegroup, universal
Alliant: red dot, unique
Accurate: 5
Ramshot: silhouette, zip
Winchester: W231, WSF
I intend to create Spl loads w/ 350-450 ft+lbs using a 200 grn HP, and a hog load using hard cast bullets starting at 600 ft/lbs and working my way up from there. All loaded in magnum cases.

barhob · May 20, 2010, 09:19 AM

hi rodwhaincamo,
get some one to help you get started on the 550.
you cannot learn properly from a manual if you have never reloaded on a single stage. only the end result of a loaded round is the same.

a friend of mine (who is very smart and capable) eventually, still called me to help him after loading hundreds of rounds. he is a long time shooter and hunter for 45 years, but had never reloaded. he made a lot of mistakes on his 550 before he asked for help!!! short list---primer seating, powder dumping, bullet seating, OAL, crimping, lead shaving, etc. oh, and accuracy.

i have the dies for all my pistol calibers (6) in various makes of Lee, RCBS and Hornady and tried them on the 550. they work, only much slower.
i have since purchased all new dies in my calibers from Dillon.
their dies just work better on the 550.

cannot speak on rifle dies. no experience.
do not be afraid to ask for help. i have only known a couple of reloaders that would not help a newbie. most will help.

Volucris · May 20, 2010, 04:14 PM

I started with a progressive loading bottleneck rifle cartridges. This **** isn't hard if you know how to read and follow directions. There's no reason to start with a single stage other than cost.

jeepster11 · May 20, 2010, 05:46 PM

its fun and sometimes agrevating at the same time. i started on a lee turret press and then upgraded on to a 550b and i love this press. reloading is so much faster on a progressive but the bad news is no matter how fast you load them you can shoot them faster. good luck with your 550 b

Edward429451 · May 21, 2010, 03:00 PM

There is all sorts of reasons to start with a single stage other than cost. When trying to learn a new activity, there is always some confusion and greyness about something. A learning curve. Some folks learn faster than others and the simpler the operation, the less confusing it is as a rule. Yay for the single stage press. I realize that for some a progressive is not confusing at all, but for others it very well could be. The tactile learner may experiance a longer learning curve and this is entirely acceptable for safety concerns. The K.I.S.S. principle is sound doctrine.

I started on a single stage press (RC), and then progressed with two additional RL550B's and my single stage gets used just as much still as the 550's.

Since you have a 550...buy the parts kit for it. I know Dillon will send you any part for free but it's worth it to have the part on hand instead of having to wait a couple days for it.

I use both type machines regularly and I observe that loading single stage allows a greater degree on concentration and focus on the round itself, whereas when loading on the 550 an amount of concentration must be given to the machine itself as it cycles.

Anyone will naturally give more attention to a round that it is in a single stage press than a progressive because they have to, theres less to look at! This helps newbs with safety and old hands with quality. It's win/win.

I can't prove that my 7.62 X 51 loaded single stage is better than when I load it on the 550...but I have a slightly greater degree of confidence in ammo that comes off the single stage. I definitly have less rejects from loading single stage.

rodwhaincamo · May 22, 2010, 11:43 AM

Edward: Yea, I originally decided to get a single-stage press both for simplicity and cost. As you said, with less to concentrate on there is less room or chance for mistakes.
What is this part kit you refered to?
Thanks,
Bob

alfack · May 22, 2010, 01:32 PM

If you only load 1 round at a time on the 550, it is the same as using a single stage, except you don't have to swap out the dies.

Edward429451 · May 22, 2010, 02:12 PM

Oh the parts kits are about 15 bucks and has an assortment of springs, and primer pick up ends and all sorts of stuff that if a piece is jacked up or lost you don't reload anymore until Dillon shows up at the door. With the kit you back at reloading in <5 minutes.

Nobody's heard of the parts kit because Dillons no BS warranty, thats funny

dmazur · May 23, 2010, 12:08 AM

Parts kit for RL550B -

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...pare_Parts_Kit

I had one part fail after several years of use. Dillon sent me a replacement, but it took a few days.

Now that I have a spare parts kit for the 550, I haven't used it...

May 20, 2010, 04:14 PM	#29
Volucris Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2009 Posts: 293	I started with a progressive loading bottleneck rifle cartridges. This ** isn't hard if you know how to read and follow directions. There's no reason to start with a single stage other than cost. __________________ "From my cold, dead hands!*" - Charlton Heston*

May 20, 2010, 05:46 PM	#30
jeepster11 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2008 Location: fairborn ohio Posts: 175	welcome to reloading its fun and sometimes agrevating at the same time. i started on a lee turret press and then upgraded on to a 550b and i love this press. reloading is so much faster on a progressive but the bad news is no matter how fast you load them you can shoot them faster. good luck with your 550 b

May 23, 2010, 12:08 AM	#35
dmazur Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,310	Parts kit for RL550B - http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/con...pare_Parts_Kit I had one part fail after several years of use. Dillon sent me a replacement, but it took a few days. Now that I have a spare parts kit for the 550, I haven't used it... __________________ .30-06 Springfield: 100 yrs + and still going strong

May 16, 2010, 08:54 AM	#27
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I am looking for reduced loads with a low muzzle flash. The powders that have been recommended are: Hogdgon's HS-6, titegroup, universal Alliant: red dot, unique Accurate: 5 Ramshot: silhouette, zip Winchester: W231, WSF I intend to create Spl loads w/ 350-450 ft+lbs using a 200 grn HP, and a hog load using hard cast bullets starting at 600 ft/lbs and working my way up from there. All loaded in magnum cases.

May 20, 2010, 09:19 AM	#28
barhob Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: texas Posts: 11	hi rodwhaincamo, get some one to help you get started on the 550. you cannot learn properly from a manual if you have never reloaded on a single stage. only the end result of a loaded round is the same. a friend of mine (who is very smart and capable) eventually, still called me to help him after loading hundreds of rounds. he is a long time shooter and hunter for 45 years, but had never reloaded. he made a lot of mistakes on his 550 before he asked for help!!! short list---primer seating, powder dumping, bullet seating, OAL, crimping, lead shaving, etc. oh, and accuracy. i have the dies for all my pistol calibers (6) in various makes of Lee, RCBS and Hornady and tried them on the 550. they work, only much slower. i have since purchased all new dies in my calibers from Dillon. their dies just work better on the 550. cannot speak on rifle dies. no experience. do not be afraid to ask for help. i have only known a couple of reloaders that would not help a newbie. most will help.

May 21, 2010, 03:00 PM	#31
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	There is all sorts of reasons to start with a single stage other than cost. When trying to learn a new activity, there is always some confusion and greyness about something. A learning curve. Some folks learn faster than others and the simpler the operation, the less confusing it is as a rule. Yay for the single stage press. I realize that for some a progressive is not confusing at all, but for others it very well could be. The tactile learner may experiance a longer learning curve and this is entirely acceptable for safety concerns. The K.I.S.S. principle is sound doctrine. I started on a single stage press (RC), and then progressed with two additional RL550B's and my single stage gets used just as much still as the 550's. Since you have a 550...buy the parts kit for it. I know Dillon will send you any part for free but it's worth it to have the part on hand instead of having to wait a couple days for it. I use both type machines regularly and I observe that loading single stage allows a greater degree on concentration and focus on the round itself, whereas when loading on the 550 an amount of concentration must be given to the machine itself as it cycles. Anyone will naturally give more attention to a round that it is in a single stage press than a progressive because they have to, theres less to look at! This helps newbs with safety and old hands with quality. It's win/win. I can't prove that my 7.62 X 51 loaded single stage is better than when I load it on the 550...but I have a slightly greater degree of confidence in ammo that comes off the single stage. I definitly have less rejects from loading single stage.

May 22, 2010, 11:43 AM	#32
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Edward: Yea, I originally decided to get a single-stage press both for simplicity and cost. As you said, with less to concentrate on there is less room or chance for mistakes. What is this part kit you refered to? Thanks, Bob

May 22, 2010, 01:32 PM	#33
alfack Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2009 Location: Marysville, Washington Posts: 195	If you only load 1 round at a time on the 550, it is the same as using a single stage, except you don't have to swap out the dies.

May 22, 2010, 02:12 PM	#34
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Oh the parts kits are about 15 bucks and has an assortment of springs, and primer pick up ends and all sorts of stuff that if a piece is jacked up or lost you don't reload anymore until Dillon shows up at the door. With the kit you back at reloading in <5 minutes. Nobody's heard of the parts kit because Dillons no BS warranty, thats funny