Casual Conversations

[Hondo 60]

Boy did I luck out!
I was having a conversation with a gal named Paula at the local Wallyworld.
She works the Sporting Goods counter.

When I told her I reload my own, she said her husband had bought a press but never used it. Over my next few trips to Wally world we continued our conversation. Turns out when the guy started researching how to reload he decided that wasn't for him. In the mean time he had bought a press to reload his .45-70 T/C.

She said he was thinking of selling & wanted to know if I was interested. I asked her what color? In typical womanese she said "a real pretty blue".

Blue????

So anyway to make a long story short, next payday I'm paying $150 for an RL 550B.

Blue w/o the blue koolaid price. - I think I like that!

 

[Walkalong]

Awesome find. Congrats.

 

[Hondo 60]

So now what do I need to reload .38spl, .357mag, 45Colt, & 223 Rem?

 

[UpTheIrons]

Dies. Lots and lots of dies. Or lots and lots of people who bought dies and never used them.

Congrats on the find, BTW!

 

[rcmodel]

Better get on Dillon's website and start looking at caliber conversion kits.

And make sure the guy knows his wife is selling you his 550B before he comes looking for you!

rc

 

[Hondo 60]

Does the 550 use proprietary dies? Or will standard dies fit?

rc- good thought! LOL

 

[Hondo 60]

Looked at Dillon's website & it's not very helpful.
For shell plates - you have to know the number that fits.

I have Brian Enos's site open now. This looks much easier - conversion kits are sold by the caliber.
So I can order a 38/357 kit & a 45 colt kit etc.

 

[scubadown]

You probably feel so bad about taking advantage of this poor lady that you should send me the 45/70 dies just to make you feel better.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't send him the dies!

The only logical thing to do is buy a Marlin 45-70 with all the money you saved so you can use them yourself!

rc

 

[alfack]

You can use any dies with the Dillon. It is best to use their powder drop die and the case expander is included with the caliber conversion kits. A lot of the caliber conversion kits use the same shell plate and buttons. You may be able to save a few $ by only ordering the ones you need, but I like each caliber to have its own setup. Easier to keep track of that way.

Helluva deal, tho.

 

[CraigC]

Ha, ha, ha! You just 'think' you saved money on that press.

 

[Hondo 60]

rcmodel - I knew there was a reason I like reading your posts.

"Honey, I need a new ....." LOL.

45-70gov, huh? I think I just added to my wish list.
and I just added another 4 feet to my reloading bench, maybe I'll need another 4'.

 

[noylj]

Sort of sounds like one day I came home and my El Camino wasn't in the driveway.
Asked my wife and she said a couple of guys came to the door and offered to buy it. Since I hadn't been driving it much, I must have wanted to get rid of it.
35 years later, and she doesn't remember it but I do...

 

[LiveLife]

Nice going Hondo!

That is a sweet price for a great press.

 

[rfwobbly]

Wow, what a score! I'll happily give you $175 for it.


For each caliber you'll need 1) a 550 tool head, 2) a powder die, and 3) a caliber conversion kit.

The 550 comes with both primer size installers, a very nice powder measure, and both large and small powder bars (rifle powder volumes and pistol volumes).

The most time consuming thing to swap out on a caliber conversion is the powder measure conversion from small bar to large bar, so most people buy a used second powder measure within the first year. Die conversion takes about 3 minutes. Die conversion with primer size conversion takes about 10.

Calibers like 38 Spcl and 357 Mag can use the same dies and caliber conversion kit. At least for a while. Quite a few calibers share dies and/or shell plates. Always check compatibility before buying another whole conversion kit.

Congrats. Hope this helps!

 

[Seedtick]

Hondo, here is a website that might be a help.

Caliber Conversion Finder

ST

 

[MrOldLude]

Wow...I'm actually really jealous.