Dillon 550 vs turret press

[dannyd]

Why would i not like the lee? I do have a lee app press that has the sline lock bushings. It seems fairly solid but i have only put apx 2500 pieces of brass through it and most were with a lee universal deprimong die.

For me the threads on the Lee are to fine and they get stuck all the time. The LNL bushings have larger luges and I can remove them easier.

It's all about personal preference and that's just my opinion I use both systems all the time.

I only give imputes on things I have done or equipment I use.

 

[jmorris]

I haven’t had any problems with the Lee interrupted thread design. I did have an LNL that had a bushing that would self quick detach, an o-ring fixed the problem though.

 

[dannyd]

Again it's all personal preference; I have 10 Lee bushings and I have over 200 LNL bushings. And actually I would not have any Lee bushings but ordered the wrong press the first time.

 

[sksshooter]

figured i would update this thread. i ended up picking up a redding t7 today. ran across a decent deal on one local with an extra turret, inline fab quick change base, inline fab roller handle and 3 inline fab wall mounted turret holders. will be parting ways with my rock chucker and i have been convince to pickup an inline fab quick change mount and bases for my dillon 550 and lee app.

 

[Buzznrose]

550 tool heads are a really quick change operation
UNTIL you figure in changing shell plates and even worse, primer size. Primer changes sometime require a little minor twicking as you go. In future I would love to have 2 550s- one dedicated to small primer and one for large primer.
I’ve found using my Lyman Spartan best for my hunting loads (although a T would be nice) and leaving the progressives (SD and 550) set up for 38, 357, 45 and 5.56.
Jmho

You can change primer set up in 60 seconds easy. It took me under 2 minutes the first time I did it recently on my 550c. I followed this video…easy and fast!

 

[EricBu]

figured i would update this thread. i ended up picking up a redding t7 today. ran across a decent deal on one local with an extra turret, inline fab quick change base, inline fab roller handle and 3 inline fab wall mounted turret holders. will be parting ways with my rock chucker and i have been convince to pickup an inline fab quick change mount and bases for my dillon 550 and lee app.

Don't get rid of the chucker. There is always a place for a beefy single stage. I've got 7 presses, and I still use the chucker weekly. Mark my words... you'll regret it all the way up until the day you buy another one.

 

[dannyd]

What he said ^^^^^^^ still have three single stage presses and two LNL's. Always wanted a T-7 maybe next press I buy.

 

[Archie]

I have two - count 'em - two Dillon XL 650 presses. Great for production of a predetermined load, presuming one wants pounds of ammo.
Not so good for short runs of ammo like when working up a load. Doable, but not so good.

I found and bought at a gunshow a used CH press. It has three die holders, three matching shell head holders and enough leverage and strength to resize a 155mm howitzer shell. If the 155mm had shell cases and one could fit it in, somehow.

Now to the heart of the matter. I have a smaller Dillon press, called an AT 500. It is essentially a stripped down 550. I also prime by hand so that isn't needed on the press (but one can if desired). I find it great for small runs and load experimentation, development. AND, it will reload most handgun and rifle ammunition at least up to .30-06 length and quite possibly longer. I have reloaded .458 Winchester. Has shell plate instead of shell head holders, and uses regular dies.

No more difficult to use than anything else. Only drawback is the need for Dillon shell plates and die holders. But many cartridges take the same shell plate and only one die holder is required. More are a luxury. These days, it's the main thing I use. It works as well or better than anything else I've had. I've had several different brands.

 

[sksshooter]

Don't get rid of the chucker. There is always a place for a beefy single stage. I've got 7 presses, and I still use the chucker weekly. Mark my words... you'll regret it all the way up until the day you buy another one.

I'm letting it go. I will likely replace it but will be with something that has a better primer catcher. Im just tired of the primer catch issue with the rock chucker.

 

[EricBu]

I'm letting it go. I will likely replace it but will be with something that has a better primer catcher. Im just tired of the primer catch issue with the rock chucker.

30.00 bucks, works like a champ. https://inlinefabrication.com/products/3d-printed-improved-primer-catch-for-rcbs-rockchucker-supreme

 

[sksshooter]

30.00 bucks, works like a champ. https://inlinefabrication.com/products/3d-printed-improved-primer-catch-for-rcbs-rockchucker-supreme

if it doesn't sale between now and when i place an order for my 550 roller handle from inline fab i may give that a try. but i fully intend to use the t7 like a single stage but i will be able to leave my dies setup. by all indications it seems pretty solid and the primer catch setup is way better so idon't really see the need to pull the chucker back out.

 

[lgjhn]

I'm with frogfurr: I have both a 550B and the Redding T7. I load all my higher volume stuff; pistol/revolver, 5.56 and 300BLK on the 550. For my precision rifle rounds: .308WIN, 7MM-08, .260REM, etc. I use the T7 as I like to weigh each and every powder charge for them, and carefully examine each and every round as it is produced. I could probably do the same on the Dillion, but I just like doing it on the T-7 more so because it offers more visibility for that type of work, and I like it's solid "beefiness".
I really enjoy loading on both of those presses quite a bit, especially for the specific calibers/functions that I'm using them for.
IMHO, Dillon, although pricey, completely stands behind their products as alluded to an above post. Perhaps only RCBS has the same, or better, customer support. I have found my Dillon to be very well-built; and when set up properly, it just runs, and runs, and runs....
Personally, I've never had to call Redding for warranty on any of their stuff, and find it all to be 1st class.
IMHO, the Redding T-7 Turret is the beast of all turret presses and will last you and your offspring for a long, long time IF taken care of properly.
On the flip side, there are some long-range precision/competitive rifle shooters loading on Dillon 550Cs.
I don't think you could go wrong with either approach you take...both are top notch. Seeing where you're already invested in a 550, it may behoove you to develop that route.

 

[sksshooter]

I'm with frogfurr: I have both a 550B and the Redding T7. I load all my higher volume stuff; pistol/revolver, 5.56 and 300BLK on the 550. For my precision rifle rounds: .308WIN, 7MM-08, .260REM, etc. I use the T7 as I like to weigh each and every powder charge for them, and carefully examine each and every round as it is produced. I could probably do the same on the Dillion, but I just like doing it on the T-7 more so because it offers more visibility for that type of work, and I like it's solid "beefiness".
I really enjoy loading on both of those presses quite a bit, especially for the specific calibers/functions that I'm using them for.
IMHO, Dillon, although pricey, completely stands behind their products as alluded to an above post. Perhaps only RCBS has the same, or better, customer support. I have found my Dillon to be very well-built; and when set up properly, it just runs, and runs, and runs....
Personally, I've never had to call Redding for warranty on any of their stuff, and find it all to be 1st class.
IMHO, the Redding T-7 Turret is the beast of all turret presses and will last you and your offspring for a long, long time IF taken care of properly.
On the flip side, there are some long-range precision/competitive rifle shooters loading on Dillon 550Cs.
I don't think you could go wrong with either approach you take...both are top notch. Seeing where you're already invested in a 550, it may behoove you to develop that route.

I ended up getting a t7. So far i like it but havent done much with it. My inline fab mounts will be here monday so ill run some brass through it once i have that

 

[kmw1954]

Good for you! We almost always find a way to adapt to what we are trying to accomplish. The so called "Got to find a better way!" One of the great things about this hobby, there is no right or wrong way just different ways. Why I no longer get into the pissing wars over which press is best. I have five different presses and right now I find I am only mostly using two and neither of them are progressive.

I have a home made quick change plate incorporated into my bench. It is a piece of 5/16" plate steel embedded into the top of the bench and has then been drilled and tapped for all but my RCBS JR3 press. With socket head cap screws it only takes a couple minutes to swap a whole press. This way I do not keep 5 presses mounted to the bench at any given time.

 

[jmorris]

30.00 bucks, works like a champ. https://inlinefabrication.com/products/3d-printed-improved-primer-catch-for-rcbs-rockchucker-supreme

A buddy flew down for a little shooting/reloading last week and I would up getting my RC out and letting him borrow it for awhile, I noticed there were a couple extra primer catch devices I had printed off for it.



They still need the support removed and cleaned up but I can price them right (cover shipping). The one that doesn’t wrap around the shaft would probably for in a small flat rate box. Would still have to come up with a hose though.

 

[sksshooter]

My inline fab micro mount showed up yesterday. Was able to get it mounted up along with the lee app and dillon 550 inline fab plates. Im pretty pleased. Will likely load some up on the redding this weekend.

 

[Big Wes]

The quick change plates are really nice, I have a few of them for my presses, I have a vise, Dillon Swager, RCBS bench primer mounted to one too!
Inline fab is a good company and make some outstanding stuff.