Primer seeting - Dillon 550

Does the primer punch stick up when you push the handle forward or away from you?Does it feed primers ok?

Make sure the silver-colored cartridge chute the blue cartridge bin attaches to is placed far enough forward so you can move the handle forward enough to raise the primer punch to fully seat the primer.

When I got my 550B, I had some sticking issues with the primer slide. These parts are cast aluminum and are not polished much if any. This is a bit of a different problem from yours, I know but if I were Dillion, I'd work on "fit & finish" of these parts. Dillon promply sent out a whole new assembly free but me being the impatient one, got out my Dremel tool and fixed the problem before the new parts arrived. Seems like some of these parts have to wear a bit to function properly.

► If you "lube" any of this at all, you want to use graphite powder from the lock section of the local hardware store. Mr Jack is right, these primer slides need to be run-in to operate their best. Burr removal is one thing, but don't go removing any material.

► When I got my 550, there was a dragging action on the shell holder. Turned out the primer anvil was 1/2 thou too high. Loosening the set screw and simply pushing it down into the primer slide bar took care of everything. Micro adjustments of the shell plate location and primer slide stop screw were also needed.

► Another biggie is always the placement of the hairpin spring on the loading plate. You want that spring to apply just enough pressure to chase the empty case fully into the shell holder and thereby locate the primer pocket directly over the primer ram. Micro adjustments to the position of the spring have helped me considerably, especially at caliber change time. Watch out, too much pressure and the spring will not allow the rotation of the shell holder.

► And too, consider that it may be an occasional piece of brass with a Mil crimped primer pocket causing this issue. Close inspection of the primer pockets may be in order.

► I've also found that the softer Federal #100 primers typically give more seating issues than say Winchester or CCI. Especially while the press is new. The thicker primer cups seem to bulldoze their way into the primer pocket easier than the softer Federals. I dearly love my Federal primers, but 1 of each 100 will give me a hiccup, whereas Winchesters run flawlessly.

Hope this helps!

"The small primer one feels like it is scraping against something and does not go up and down smoothly at all."

I'd take it apart and check where it's binding

I believe you may have to adjust the primer slide fir to the shellplate.
Loosen the screws below the primer slide and remove the slide spring.
Gently lraise the press handle while simultaneously pushing the slide so that the primer punch shows through the hole kin the shellplate.
Tighten the screws and reinstall the spring.

I believe you may have to adjust the primer slide fir to the shellplate.

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I don't believe this is correct. The manufacturing tolerance of the primer housing, the thickness of the primer slide bearing and the vertical dimension of the primer slide establish the necessary clearance for the primer slide to move without binding.

Provided the primer slide has no burrs and everything is clean.

I believe the two mounting screws are just that. They don't adjust anything.