getting started with reloading -die compatibility

You will get much more accurate information if you call or write Dillon and ask them. Then there is no doubt. Welcome to reloading...

roval said:

follow up question if the crimp die is steel redding 85189 then does it mean you have to lube the cases after you seated the bullets.

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NO, with steel dies the only time you need to lube the case is when you send it through the sizing die.

roval said:

...a redding titanium carbide die for 45 acp 88189. it had 3 dies sizer/decapper, expander and seating with crimping. is this set compatible with the Dillon 550b if and when I get it later.


does anyone know what redding shell holder is for 45 acp . it says #1 and #17(I think) in their online catalog. the number one can hold 308 win also so if that's good then that's what I was hoping to get. most of the shellholders don't have descriptions on the calibers when i'm looking them up online. so excuse this question if it's too simple.

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Most all reloading dies made today have a 7/8" diameter and a 14 thread per inch pitch (generally indicated by 7/8-14). There are a few exceptions these days such as dies for the Dillon SDB press and 50 BMG. Dillon is the only manufacturer of SDB dies so they are easy to spot.

Redding, RCBS, Lyman, Forester, Lee, Hornady, Dillon standard dies, and maybe a few others will all screw into just about any standard press on the market today. So, the Redding dies will work in the Dillon press.

With the Dillon progressives, and many other progressives on the market today, case mouth expanding for handgun cartridges can be handled at the same time as charging the case. This frees up a station on the press for other things. Dillon has a special powder measure holder and linkage that includes a drop tube (sometimes called a funnel) that expands the case mouth.

This would replace the Redding expander die.

As far as bullet seating, you can still seat and crimp your cartridges in a single die on the Dillon. Many folks prefer to seat and crimp in separate steps and a progressive, if it has enough stations, does this nicely without adding operations by the user.

One final note on dies, once a die is set up for a particular press, to be used in another press, it has to be readjusted. Not a big deal but it can become an irritation. So, once you get the Dillon, if you are thinking you might reload a particular cartridge back and forth between the two presses, you will want a second set of dies, one for each press.

Did you know that you can operate the Dillon 550B like a single stage? Dillon has a basic model of the 550 that can be upgraded at a later date to their top of the line 550B.

As far as shell holders, If Redding literature says the #1 shell holder will work with 45 AC and 308 Win size case heads, then it will work. For my single stage press, I use the same shell holder for both although it is an RCBS shell holder.

In recent years, I have noticed that the manufacturers are making cartridge specific shell holders for certain cartridges to improve something with the reloading process.

Also, my Hornady L-N-L progressive specifies different shell plates between 45 ACP and 308 Win/30-06 cartridges. The rim and extractor groove varies between the rifle and handgun cartridges. The 45ACP needs to be located more precisely in the progressive press which would prevent many rifle cases from fitting the shell plate.

Hope this helps.

depending on what bullets you are reloading with, the Lee Factory Crimp Die is awesome.

So far as I know, in any "carbide" die set, the sizing die is the only one with carbide. The expanding, seating and crimp dies have no need for carbide.
I don't know if anyone still makes a non-carbide set of pistol dies, but, if they do, the other dies are probably the same as in the carbide set.

I load 38 spl/357 mag on a dedicated Dillon SDB. All other handgun calibers get loaded on the Dillon 550B. Between the separate heads for 9mm, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45 ACP and 45 Colt I have some combination of Dillon, Hornady, RCBS, Lee and Lyman dies. I even have a Lee powder dispenser on one head. Everything works well. Some of the mix and match is due to cost savings and some due to my preference for a certain die. Lately, cost savings is not much of a concern. With the shortage, a lot of dies are now pretty close to the cost of Dillon dies.

Dillon will tell you that Lee dies will not work on their press (650, not sure about 550). They will work, but you'll need to use a thinner lock ring or put the lock ring on the under side of the toolhead.

If you haven't already, pick up a good manual like Lyman's or even Lee's. Also get some check weights in similar weights to your powder charge for the .45 (around 3 to 7 grs depending on components).

dickttx said:

So far as I know, in any "carbide" die set, the sizing die is the only one with carbide. The expanding, seating and crimp dies have no need for carbide.
I don't know if anyone still makes a non-carbide set of pistol dies, but, if they do, the other dies are probably the same as in the carbide set.

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You are correct, other than the sizing die there is no Carbide in the other dies. Actually, there are steel handgun die sets still being made without a Carbide sizing die. Lee has 8 or 9 calibers I guess they didn't see fit to upgrade and redesign because they probably don't sell enough. Dies like the 30 Mauser, 32/20, 44/40 and the like from what I see on their site. BUT, I think Lee is the only company to still have steel die sets.

roval said:

thanks for all the replies. I did know you can operate it as a single stage but since I will need another press for rifles later and the t7 was available in my local sportsman I got it. I still want the Dillon (as a gadget it just looks so cool ) and I know their production finally caught up with demand. this way if I really suck at reloading or have a wife's "get it out of my house accident /incident" I won't be out as much.

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What makes you think you can't load rifle calibers on the 550B? I load .308 and .223 on mine.

The 30 mauser is a bottle neck case, the .32/20, .44/40 are highly tapered. None of them are candidates for carbide sizers.

"Carbide" dies are steel, the only carbide part is a thick "washer" at the mouth that actually does the sizing on straight wall cases.