A few days ago I was buying some lead bullets from a local manufacturer and as always I love walking through his shop looking at the different brass and reloading supplies he has. I noticed two Dillon boxes on a shelf. I asked him how much he wanted he said $300 each. I have a very old 550 probably from the early 80's that I do have to get parts for from time to time. So I told him I would take 1. On the way home a friend of mine popped into my head that's been looking for a Dillon I called him and he said he would take the other one. They didn't come with any dies or plates which doesn't matter to me. I am trying to decide if I keep my old one set up for say .357/9mm for small primers. And the new one for large primer reloading. I would have to remove the press for the bench though and that would be a pain so maybe the old one goes on the shelf.
Dillon 550 B
- Thread starter nick22
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tightgroup tiger
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https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/quick-change-press-mounting-system
Check these out.
This sounds like it was made for you.
Check these out.
This sounds like it was made for you.
AzShooter1
Member
You can't go wrong with a Dillon. You have a 550 so you know not to do anything but reload when you are making ammo. No tv no people bothering you.
I find this is true especially with the 550. It's easy to skip a station and you have to watch out for a double charge or a squib. I loved my 550 but had 2 double charges over a 15 year period. My fault. I lost concentration of what I was doing.
After that I bought a 650 with every bell and whistle they had. Biggest advantage was self indexing. When you shoot over 1000 rounds a week it really helps.
Having a second 550 for different primers is a great idea.
Dillon dies are great and not too expensive.
Lee M die for station one really helps sizing better than the Dillon. I also use a Lee taper crimp die.
I find this is true especially with the 550. It's easy to skip a station and you have to watch out for a double charge or a squib. I loved my 550 but had 2 double charges over a 15 year period. My fault. I lost concentration of what I was doing.
After that I bought a 650 with every bell and whistle they had. Biggest advantage was self indexing. When you shoot over 1000 rounds a week it really helps.
Having a second 550 for different primers is a great idea.
Dillon dies are great and not too expensive.
Lee M die for station one really helps sizing better than the Dillon. I also use a Lee taper crimp die.
jmorris
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Call him back and tell him you’ll take the other one too, that’s better than 50% off. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it and pay you to ship it to me, to make it worth your while.
JJFitch
Member
You didn't mention tool head or powder measure!??
My Dillons are over 40 years old. One for small primers and one for large primers.
The weak spot in the 550 is flipping primers which disrupts the reloading rhythm and may contribute to squibs and double charges.
Having a large enough reloading bench allows for 4 progressive presses and on single stage press. Not having to make changes may help with consistency and precision.
I moved on to two Hornady's for reloading rifle cartridges due to the extra station and a little more room for taller cases.
Smiles,
My Dillons are over 40 years old. One for small primers and one for large primers.
The weak spot in the 550 is flipping primers which disrupts the reloading rhythm and may contribute to squibs and double charges.
Having a large enough reloading bench allows for 4 progressive presses and on single stage press. Not having to make changes may help with consistency and precision.
I moved on to two Hornady's for reloading rifle cartridges due to the extra station and a little more room for taller cases.
Smiles,
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Shak3s1977
Member
I say grab it. I got two 550's set up for large and small primers. Its nice having both. I also will vouch for the quick change plate and stand from Inline Fabrication. I have a SDB on one of those mounts with a plate for a RCBS JR also.
A friend of mine that's looking to get into reloading has been looking for a 550 for a while and he didn't hesitate to buy the other one. Or I should say I bought them both he said he's coming to pay me and pick it up.
dredd
Member
Congratulations on the Dillons!
As mentioned, InLine Fab is a great resource.
I have a small reloading bench.
Over the years I have ended up with more presses than I would have ever imagined.
I have a Dillon 550C, Dillon 450, Two Rockchuckers and a Lyman Turret.
I finally outfitted the presses and bench with the assorted gadgets from Inline to make storing and swapping stuff fast and easy.
As mentioned, InLine Fab is a great resource.
I have a small reloading bench.
Over the years I have ended up with more presses than I would have ever imagined.
I have a Dillon 550C, Dillon 450, Two Rockchuckers and a Lyman Turret.
I finally outfitted the presses and bench with the assorted gadgets from Inline to make storing and swapping stuff fast and easy.
CodeSection
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- Jul 2, 2011
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- 251
Great find......better yet, great friend!
It's definitely in the sticks he bought them as part of a estate from someone who apparently was really into reloading he had two other 550's in his van of stuff he was taking to the gun show in Indy this weekend. Unfortunately for me he is buying his powder from less forgiving sources and it's more in the 45$ per pound range with primers around 120$ per thousand. I did trade him some LRP for LPP straight up though. I love going to his shop/shed I just walk around poking at stuff and asking him what he wants for it. It can be a dangerous place if you were married to an angry wife, fortunately mine is pretty understanding.
I have always used old office countertops for my reloading benches. My son is really into building things I am curious what you guys have as setups for more than 1 press. I currently have a hornady single stage to go with the two Dillons. With those elevated stands do you stand while reloading or use a bar stool? I forgot to mention the presses came with one toolhead and the charging tower no dies or shell plates.
jmorris
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I reload sitting and use an adjustable height chair to keep my shoulder height consistent relative to the top of the press handle as this relationship isn’t consistent from press to press.
My reloading room is just a small office room so I made the bench fairly narrow (also keeps from putting a bunch of junk on top of it). Narrow enough that I put a removable (so I could get it into the house/room) end on it, that with weight take advantage of all the space I could. Top plates are drilled and tapped for the various presses I use, stored on the bottom shelf (more weight for stability). The perimeter is a 6” truss, that is pretty light for the rigidity it offers. There are two power switches in the corner, one shuts off power to everything on the bench the other controls that dental office air compressor (white box).
This is it once I got it into the room. The configuration changes and I am glad I made sub plates that bolt to the bench top, that the presses bolt to. Makes it easy to remove the plate and drill/tap new patterns for other presses on the mill in the shop vs having to bring a mag drill into the house and do everything by layout vs using a DRO. The feet are non marring and adjustable for level.
lightman
Member
Thats a crazy good price! I love going through those kind of shops. Sadly they are getting fewer and fewer. Nice Score!
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