Dillon 550B powder measure

Roland Thunder · February 8, 2012, 10:33 AM

My understanding is that the powder measure for the Dillon 550B is not caliber specific. How about the the funnel that is used with the powder measure, is it caliber specific? I noticed that Dillon includes a powder measure with the caliber conversion kit.

Vance · February 8, 2012, 10:48 AM

Well, Since the powder station also has to bell the mouth of the case for easy bullet seating, I would think it was caliber specific.

Knight Diver · February 8, 2012, 11:03 AM

The powder measure for the 550B is not caliber specific. The powder funnel, which as you say comes with the caliber conversion, IS caliber specific. The funnel drops into the powder die before you mount the powder measure to the powder die.

Hope this is clear. Bottom line, to your question, the measure is NOT specific to the caliber.

Kevin Rohrer · February 8, 2012, 11:11 AM

The powder measure is generic.

To load powder in cases requires a caliber specific Conversion Kit ($46) that has a Powder Funnel that drops inside the powder measure. However, some kits have the same order number for different calibers (e.g. .308Win and 30/06). This means if you are loading several cartridges of the same caliber (e.g. .30 or .22) and the case heads are the same size (e.g. .308Win and 30/06), you only need one Conversion Kit.

Also, pistol powder funnels do double duty by expanding case mouths so bullets can be inserted.

Does all this make sense?

BigJimP · February 8, 2012, 05:36 PM

The powder measure is not caliber specific ....it has to be adjusted to drop the right amount of powder...and it varies with every caliber ..and every powder you choose to use.

The powder measure funnel ...that goes inside the die...to bell the case mouth...is different for many calibers...but there is some calibers that use the same funnel. As an example...

powder funnel E -- is used for .45acp, .45 auto rim, .45 long colt, .454 Casull, and .45 Win Mag....

powder funnel W ...is used for 10mm and .40S&W

powder funnel D is used for .38 spl and .357 mag

powder funnel F is used for 9mm, .38 super, .357 sig, and .380 auto..

( refer to your Dillon loading manual ...and it gives you all this ..)
----------------
Many of us set up a toolhead ...for a specific caliber...and in it --- we keep the dies installed, a powder measure installed with the right funnel inside it ..and a powder check die that is adjusted for that combination of caliber and powder...
----------------
But if you want to save a few bucks ...you don't need powder measures for each caliber...you can just re-adjust the powder measure each time you change calibers.

You could use one die set for .38 spl and .357 mag ...or you could buy 2 sets - depends on what you want ..../ same thing for .40S&W and 10mm...you could use one die set...as an example...... or (.45 long colt and .454 casull) or ( 9mm and .38 super ) ....etc ....all use the same die sets /same conversion kits...but you have to setup your dies and your powder measures differently for each caliber...

jepp2 · February 8, 2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

My understanding is that the powder measure for the Dillon 550B is not caliber specific.

Yes, but you do realize there are four (4) different powder bars???

Kevin Rohrer · February 8, 2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

I noticed that Dillon includes a powder measure with the caliber conversion kit.

No. The contents of a Conversion Kit are:

*Shellplate
*Powder funnel
*Brass pins

Roland Thunder · February 9, 2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Does all this make sense?

Yes sir....thanks

orionengnr · February 9, 2012, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Yes, but you do realize there are four (4) different powder bars???

But you can load from (at least) .380 to .30-06 using the two that come with the press. I don't know what it would take to require the XS or the XL powder bar...

February 8, 2012, 10:33 AM	#1
Roland Thunder Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Gwinnett County Georgia Posts: 1,136	Dillon 550B powder measure My understanding is that the powder measure for the Dillon 550B is not caliber specific. How about the the funnel that is used with the powder measure, is it caliber specific? I noticed that Dillon includes a powder measure with the caliber conversion kit. __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead, go, instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

February 8, 2012, 11:11 AM	#4
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	The powder measure is generic. To load powder in cases requires a caliber specific Conversion Kit ($46) that has a Powder Funnel that drops inside the powder measure. However, some kits have the same order number for different calibers (e.g. .308Win and 30/06). This means if you are loading several cartridges of the same caliber (e.g. .30 or .22) and the case heads are the same size (e.g. .308Win and 30/06), you only need one Conversion Kit. Also, pistol powder funnels do double duty by expanding case mouths so bullets can be inserted. Does all this make sense? __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer

February 8, 2012, 10:48 AM	#2
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	Well, Since the powder station also has to bell the mouth of the case for easy bullet seating, I would think it was caliber specific.

February 8, 2012, 11:03 AM	#3
Knight Diver Junior Member Join Date: March 6, 2011 Posts: 9	The powder measure for the 550B is not caliber specific. The powder funnel, which as you say comes with the caliber conversion, IS caliber specific. The funnel drops into the powder die before you mount the powder measure to the powder die. Hope this is clear. Bottom line, to your question, the measure is NOT specific to the caliber.

February 8, 2012, 05:36 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	The powder measure is not caliber specific ....it has to be adjusted to drop the right amount of powder...and it varies with every caliber ..and every powder you choose to use. The powder measure funnel ...that goes inside the die...to bell the case mouth...is different for many calibers...but there is some calibers that use the same funnel. As an example... powder funnel E -- is used for .45acp, .45 auto rim, .45 long colt, .454 Casull, and .45 Win Mag.... powder funnel W ...is used for 10mm and .40S&W powder funnel D is used for .38 spl and .357 mag powder funnel F is used for 9mm, .38 super, .357 sig, and .380 auto.. ( refer to your Dillon loading manual ...and it gives you all this ..) ---------------- Many of us set up a toolhead ...for a specific caliber...and in it --- we keep the dies installed, a powder measure installed with the right funnel inside it ..and a powder check die that is adjusted for that combination of caliber and powder... ---------------- But if you want to save a few bucks ...you don't need powder measures for each caliber...you can just re-adjust the powder measure each time you change calibers. You could use one die set for .38 spl and .357 mag ...or you could buy 2 sets - depends on what you want ..../ same thing for .40S&W and 10mm...you could use one die set...as an example...... or (.45 long colt and .454 casull) or ( 9mm and .38 super ) ....etc ....all use the same die sets /same conversion kits...but you have to setup your dies and your powder measures differently for each caliber...