Dillon Help

[ranger351w]

The way I see it if I got a Dillon 550b I would have to get a conversion for every round I load. Someone confirm this?

I load .380,9mm,38-357mag,.45,.44mag and 223 5.56 not counting shotgun.

It would take about 225.00 to just buy the cheap conv kits.

Hope I am wrong. Was planning on buying one but COME ON!

 

[lynxpilot]

You can use a stock model, which will include one quick change kit and one caliber conversion kit, and only buy subsequent caliber conversion kits and dies, but that will mean re-adjusting the dies and possibly changing out the powder bar for every different caliber. That would mean about $45 plus dies for each caliber. I splurged and bought the caliber conversion and a quick change kit for each caliber ($140 per caliber give or take) because I didn't see the reason for having a progressive press for speed and not go whole hog on it. It's expensive for sure, your choice. Right now, I'm set up for 7mm RM, .308 W, .223 R, 30-06, 22Hornet, 500 S&W, .45 ACP, and 9mmL. That's about an extra $1000. Then again, I have no shortage of ammo and can crank out a bunch more in no time at all. If I didn't do it this way, I'd steer away from the Dillon and just use a single stage. I suppose it all depends on how much you go through. If I went single stage, I'd invest in a top-notch powder measure and spend a few extra bucks anyway.

 

[WNTFW]

Ranger351w,
I have a 550B. Price is a drawback. It is a very good press even though I am not a total advocate of Dillon as the only way to go. I tend to see things in pros/cons. Auto index is nice. Manual index is nice too. Both have there pros & cons.

The conversion is needed for every caliber. Some overlap on shell holders. The powder funnel will vary by caliber. You have to change the primer feed for large & small primers between some of your calibers.

I have a few Lee single stages I got used. Single stage is not the worst thing to have. You can still load a lot of ammo. I have 2 identical 1 stage presses that I load bottle neck rifle cartiridges on. It is easy because I leave the sizer & the seater set up. I you use lock rings & mark the dies it is easy to switch them any way.

No matter what setup you still have to think effeciently to minimize setup & moves.

On bottle neck rifle you should (or may) have to trim cases in which case your progressive loading is interupted. With .223 on a 550B I can still fly through a lot of case and see an advantage over single stage. The 550B is easy enough to alter your routine and use as a single stage or progressive. You can stop and take a case out to check charge weight & pick right back up where you were. You can also index twice and skip a station.

I have a friend that went with Lee Pro 1000 as you get the whole press for about $160 with dies.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=788454
He just buys a dedicated press for each pistol caliber & leaves it set up. He swears by them. He shoots/loads a lot more than most people so he does use the presses. I have seen other having problems with them. So do some digging if you consider this press.

 

[loadedround]

Yes, you need a separate conversion kit for each caliber you reload, but quite a few calibers use the same kit such as the 243, 270, 30-06, and 45 ACP(any cartridge that would use the same shell holder would use the same concersion kit. I would also suggest you purchase a Dillon tool head for each set of dies you have. This way you will not be constantly changing and adjusting your dies. Once set they remain locked in your tool head. Also I have found that you can get some really good buys in conversion kits and tool heads if shop online, Ebay still lists Dillon accessories and parts on line. Just check Dillon's price prior to bidding online. I have been running two 550B's for close to twenty years now, so feel free to email me with any questions.

 

[ranger351w]

Ok thats what I was afraid of I am already set up with pro1000 for 9mm and lees 4hole turret press for all the others with plates for each one. I just heard how great Dillon is and was going to try one but to costly.

Thanks guys you have been a great help.
Mike

 

[mallc]

Dillon Owner Says...

Sounds to me like you really want the Lock-n-Load AP. Very nice press and great deal with the 1000 free bullets. Yes, I own a Dillon 650 and an LNL AP. I run 9 mm 40 SW, 45 ACP and bulk .223 on the Dillon. I run anything special and rifle on the LNLs.

Scott

 

[dmazur]

The way I look at it is that the Dillon stuff is more expensive per "caliber" (cartridge)...one reason why I only own 4 calibers.

It's definitely in the back of my mind if I think, yeah a .45-70, that would be nice. Except I've got to buy another conversion kit and toolholder in addition to the die set. hmm...maybe not.

So, if you only own a few calibers, the Dillon doesn't have to be terribly expensive to set up for quick change. If you own 15 or 20, and want to reload all of them on the Dillon, be prepared for sticker shock.

 

[lgbloader]

I run a 550b for 38 spcl, 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 40 S&W and 223 REM. I also sometimes run my cast bullets for 9mm and 45 ACP on it as well. I have caliber changes for them and that is it. I can set up my caliber changes fast enough, usually 5 minutes to change but I enjoy getting the machines set up. I have a nice thermos of hot coffee and some good music playing. I like clear my mind to prep for the assembly process, you know what I mean. I have two tool heads and basically only use one.

Sure, complete quick change caliber kits are a nice sales gimmick but ALL YOU REALLY NEED IS a caliber change kit and a set of dies. That's it.

LGB

 

[dmazur]

You are correct. I ran my 550b for several years and just changed between two sets of dies. Then I got into .30-06, and then .243 and I caved in and got additional toolheads and powder measures.

It is a versatile machine, and just because Dillon sells accessories doesn't mean you have to buy all of them.

 

[Clarence]

If you don't want to drop all the money into it now you can always buy the caliber conversions in the future. That way you don't have to swallow the entire bill at one time.

I have a 550b and I would definitely suggest a different toolhead for each die set. I load a minimum of 500 rds at a time and have complete set-ups for each caliber I load. It takes me maybe 3 minutes to change calibers.

Dillon rocks in my opinion.

 

[Uncle Chan]

There is another option. I bought the AT500 shell plate. It is a "Universal" shell plate that allows for me to load a dozen different calibers without having to spend the $ for new plates for each caliber. Then, all I needed were new tool heads for the die sets. Drawback was you can only load one bullet at a time. Still, it saved a ton of $$$.

 

[rfwobbly]

Just my 2 cents....

The way I see it if I got a Dillon 550b I would have to get a conversion for every round I load. Someone confirm this?

I sold my Lee Pro-1000s (3 of them) to buy a 550b and it will cost you money to convert from ANY progressive to another progressive simply because there is no standardization between progressives as there is with single stage presses. To me, my conversion years ago to 550 was worth it. If I had to make the same choice today I'd sure be in a quandary though !! There are so many good presses aiming right at the 550 crowd. The leaders being the LNL AP and the RCBS 2000.

As it is with any press... you're going to need a shell holder for each cartridge you shoot. The Dillon "caliber conversion kit" includes the shell holder and the powder drop/ expander. If you were shooting somewhat similar cartridges, say 9mm and Makerov, or 45ACP and 30-06, then you could share the shell holder and buy the extra powder drop by itself. (This may be the case with your 380 and 9mm. Check me on that.) To share the entire "caliber conversion kit" you'd have to be shooting something with the same case and bullet diameter, like 9mm and 38 Super.

So the issue is not so much with Dillon, but in the calibers you're shooting being so totally different. Rimmed revolver mixed with auto pistol and rifle. There's very little in common there.

So while I cannot say "you absolutely must buy Dillon", I can say getting rid of your Pro-1000 will be a day to celebrate. I found the things to be probably the worst press Lee ever made. By the way, my Lee dies work just fine in the 500b.