Besides Dillon 550, what else needed?

[blue_ridge]

I've been reloading for 20 years, but always rifle cartridges on single stage press. Am thinking of getting a Dillon 550 and loading 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 45 Colt and maybe some others. What else is needed to reload with a 550 besides dies? Also, what is a good price for a used 550?

 

[freakshow10mm]

Toolheads and conversion kits for additional calibers.

I wouldn't pay more than $300 for a used 550 setup in one caliber.

 

[blue_ridge]

Thanks. Everywhere i've looked so far, they've been going for about $375. That's why I asked, because I thought, why would I pay only $25 less than retail for a USED press??? So I thought they must be selling additional tools. Trying to figure out what is considered "extra".

 

[alfack]

You won't find any steals on used presses because everyone knows how good their customer service is. I.e. you could buy one that's broken and they will fix it for free.

If you have been loading for that long, I'd bet there isn't anything else you need, besides convenience items like tool head stands, tool heads and powder drop dies. That is if you are lazy, like me, and don't like to adjust your dies every time.

 

[blue_ridge]

Okay, sounds good. So if I understand correctly, if I buy a Dillon 550 that has all the original primer and powder bars and tubes I shsould be able to reload without anything additional, other than:

1. reloading dies
2. conversion kit for that caliber

Is this basically correct?

 

[alfack]

Absolutely, except possibly for a generic powder drop die, which the powder funnel from the conversion kit will drop into. I would imagine that the kit would come with at least one, but it never hurts to have extras that you can leave in the tool heads. They are only like $10.

 

[X-Rap]

Yep, I would get some extra primer pick up tubes as that will be a limiting factor in your loading rate per hour.

 

[dmazur]

Yes, you can switch between calibers by changing dies in the toolhead and changing the powder funnel in the powder die (powder measure), followed by changing the shellplate and locator buttons.

If the time required becomes troublesome, and if you change between calibers frequently, Dillon will be glad to sell you one or more of these -

Quick Change Assembly

which is what makes Dillon presses expensive if you reload for a large number of calibers and get the quick-change goodies for each.

It can be used as a progressive press that takes 20 minutes or so to swap all the parts for a caliber change, for a lot less total cost.

 

[rfwobbly]

It's true, there's not much price drop. I bought a broken set of Dillon dies on Ebay and Dillon sent me free repair parts. I inherited a Dillon powder dispenser that someone had tried to modify to work on a Lee press. Dillon sent me free repair parts.

If you find a Dillon press on the lake bottom I'm sure they'd send you a new one.


For your 3 calibers let me encourage you to get...
• 550b already set up for 45ACP
• 2 extra tool heads (die holders)
• 2 extra powder drop tubes (1 for each tool head)
• 10-15 of their 1" die lock nuts since space tight on top of the tool head
• 2 caliper conversion kits. 1 for 40 and 1 for 45 Colt

The shell holders in those 3 calibers will accommodate a huge cross-section of ammo. For instance the 40 shell holder will also do 9mm. So all you need is the 9mm expander, not the full 9mm "caliber conversion kit".

Remember the shipping on extra tool heads and such is zero when you order your press. What will kill you is having to pay $10 shipping on a single tool head or powder drop tube 2 months later!

Enjoy!