Dillon presses and multiple calibers....

[glocke12]

Getting back into reloading after taking a hiatus from it for several years due to an increased work load and other stuff...

I currently own an RL550B that in the past I reloaded both 9 mm and 45 ACP on. It has been several years since I touched it, so I spent much of this weekend cleaning it up and refamiliarizing myself with it again, eventually getting to the point where I was able to load up some 9 mm dummy rounds (will be loading some real rounds later today)...

Now that I am getting back into this hobby, and I see myself (hopefully) shooting a couple of hundred rounds at least each of 9mm and 45 ACP monthly...


How many of you who load for different calibers just ended up buying a new press instead of reconfiguring a press to load a different caliber?


thanks

 

[777TRUTH]

Changing pistol calibers on the 550 is no big deal unless you have to change the primer as well.

If convenience is your main motivation add a large primer Dillon SDB.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

or just buy small primer pocket .45 brass.

 

[cfullgraf]

I load 12 different cartridges on my Hornady L-N-L, I know, nota Dillon but it is a progressive.

I do have two Dillon SDBs and they are dedicated for 45 ACP and 9x19 respectively.

I prefer to clean my cases between resizing and reloading, which affords me the opportunity to hand prime the cases. So, I do not have to change the press mounted priming systems when changing cartridges.

As much aggravation that I find the press mounted priming systems are, if I primed on the press, I would probably have two presses dedicated for large and small primers. (note, the resizing die and primer systems have been removed from the SDBs as well)

 

[tightgroup tiger]

How many of you who load for different calibers just ended up buying a new press instead of reconfiguring a press to load a different caliber?

I do, I use to use one press for everything, but I've been using a different press for each handgun caliber lately. My rifle shells all get loaded SS and always will.

It saves so much time that I don't seem to have anymore, with the high volume pistol and revolver rounds.

Everyone's situation is different though, years ago I couldn't afford to do this.

Edit: I don't use Dillon presses but that's irrelevent. The theory is the same reguardless.

 

[loadedround]

I own 3 Dillon presses used for all my reloading. One 650 dedicated to 45 ACP and 10MM only and 2 550B's, set up for both large and small primers. At present I load 14 calibers and have 6 of my more popular calibers set in 550 heads and keep 2 empty 550 heads for the "once in a while" calibers. I've accumulated all this Dillon equipment over some 20+ years of reloading and by selling off older presses and dies since there is no way that I could afford to buy all at once. I also have a Redding Boss press used mainly to form cases and load 375 H&H ammo.

 

[jmorris]

I have at least a dozen presses and 9 progressives at the moment. I think you should have at least two of what ever press. One setup for small primers and the other for large. When you need a part at midnight on Saturday a spare will be right next to you.

 

[ImjinScout]

I own the Hornady LnL and load 3 calibers, 9mm, .40S&W and .45 ACP LPP. Not sure about the Dillon but I don't have any problems changing over to load another caliber. Even if I have to change the primer system no big deal. Now I will say this, I do use a different powder for each one and that takes the longest is to clean to the powder hopper.

I just try to stay up on my loads so that I always have enough to shoot and stay ahead on the reloading, but I can say one thing, I would not want to buy or own 3 different presses just because of caliber.

 

[Hondo 60]

I currently own 2 presses.
One Dillion 550 & one Lee single stage.

I have much more time than money & it only takes 5-7 minutes to do a caliber change & get the right powder drop.

That's the beauty of a 550, it only takes a couple of minutes to do a caliber conversion.

 

[Bud0505]

I reload 4 different pistol calibers and have one Dillon 550B. Doing caliber changes and switching from SP to LP gives me the opportunity to clean my machine. I did purchase a parts kit from Dillon so that I would have spare parts for any that might break and I just call Dillon for a replacement which goes into the kit. No lost time waiting on the mail. Although I really haven't had to use many on the spares over the last twenty five years.

 

[Henry45]

I have two Dillon 650's. One set up for 45LC, and one that I change between 9mm and .380.

I have a Lee Classic Turret that I use for .223/5.56.

No problems switching between the 9 and 380, but if you have to change the primer from small to large, it's much easier to just have a whole primer unit you can drop in. And, much faster.

No problems if your running the same size primers. Pretty quick changeover.

 

[steve s]

I load 9mm, 45 acp, 40 S@W ,38 special, 223,308, 30/06, 300 Weatherby and 338 lapua on my 550. Spend the $$$ and get the conversion kits well worth it.

 

[kelbro]

Two 550s in my shop. One set up for large primers and one for small. Nine complete toolheads setup each with their own powder measure.

Oh yeah, still have the Rockchucker set up for low-volume hunting and high-precision target loads.

 

[angus6]

I went the opposite direction I load 7 different calibers and got rid of a RL550 and XL650 and moved everything over to the 1050 , did end up with a great deal on a SDB recently , still not sure what I'm going to do with it

 

[Snag]

How many of you who load for different calibers just ended up buying a new press instead of reconfiguring a press to load a different caliber?

I don't. I have a 650 and load for three cartridges at the moment. I'm sold on the quick change tool heads.

The ultimate Dillon setup is to have one press for large primers and one for small.

 

[dmazur]

I load 4 different calibers on a 550B (2 pistol, 2 rifle), but they all use large primers so my small primer assembly lives in a drawer.

If I had to reload both large and small primers, I'd probably do larger batches to minimize the number of swaps.

I grumble about reloading .44 Magnum, for example, because it requires a shellplate change as well as a toolhead change. (The other calibers all use a common shellplate.) So, I can understand the dislike of "swapping stuff".

If you really have to do frequent small batches, I'd consider getting a second press. Or, in extreme cases, a press for each caliber. But most would be happy enough with a toolhead set up with the dies for each caliber, and then you just put up with the time required to swap primer assemblies and shellplates.

 

[buckbrush]

one of the things that aggravated me about my 550 was changing primer sizes, it took me 10 minutes or so. My RCBS 2000 takes about 30 seconds, if that. No need for two presses now!

 

[Win1892]

I have a 650 with about a dozen tool heads. I load big batches of 45 ACP, 38WCF, and then use the machine to decap, resize, prime, and flare the mouth on 44Mag, 44 Special, 45LC, and use a single stage to finish. I shoot a variety of projectiles/powder weights and find that the 650 does not adjust between lots of 100 or so very efficiently.

I then change over to small primer and do the same thing.