Drinking blue kool-aid soon.

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blarby

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So, I think I've come far enough that I'm ready to try the blue kool-aid.

I have a dillon 450 on its way, and I'm going to set it up for 45acp, and probably leave it that way.

So....... let me have it : Thoughts ? Hints ? Tips ? Tricks ?

I'm not interested in converting it to a 550xjg-400bulletomaster just yet.

I'm having a hard time enough adjusting my mind to not using a single stage.
 
You won't regret it.
Dillon presses are danged expensive, but well worth the lack of frustration.

Personally, I upgraded from a Lee Pro1000 & a Lee Deluxe Turret.
I found very little "Pro" & nothing "deluxe".
I use lots of Lee's other stuff, but the 2 presses I had drove me nuts.

I LOVE my 550.
 
Luckily, I got this one in a very even trade.

I'm very glad I didn't have to shell out the actual coins required- as apparently it takes a lot of Green to make a little Blue.
 
Is yours the original 450 with a manual primer bar and powder measure bar? The 450B/550 have the auto primer bar and powder measure. This is an upgrade I'd seriously consider, not only for the sake of convenience but also for safety.
I've always liked the 450's for their non-existent tool head. Since you're just loading for one caliber you'll never miss it.
 
Congrats, you will enjoy a progressive and Dillon makes one of the best.
 
And to think I was going to sell my 550 B simply because I had so many other press's and had no place to put it. One day I started using it an have not looked back yet. The smoothest operating press made in my humble opinion.
 
The 450 may be an older press, but it makes great ammo. I have several dedicated to single calibers and never tear them down. Good choice.
 
I changed over to the auto prime on my 450 and use a funnel through the die for powder. you cant beat it for a single caliber and it uses the same parts as the 550 in case you ever decide to convert it to a 550. I cant imagine not having my 550, but the 450 is a great machine on its own
 
Congrats!

Call Dillon and get the straight scoop on any 450 upgrades. They are extremely helpful. And remember.... your press is still under warranty!
 
As for warranty, I bought my 550 in 1985 and they still send me replacement parts at no charge. I use mine for 45 acp, 44-40, 32-20, .223 and 45 colt. I can not even guess at the number of rounds this press has produced. It has been my one and only press. I have been thinking about a single stage press for hardness testing along with odds and end stuff. The tool heads make things easy. Good luck with you new press.

DMH
 
I guess my biggest question, without a manual, would be how the powder-through process works.

I am correct in that the 450 uses any standard die- or am I going to need special dillon dies ?
 
Dillon 450, like 550/650/1050, can use all standard 7/8"x14 dies.

Only thing is that if you use Dillon dies on Glocked/overly bulged 40S&W cases, the resizing die may not quite reduce the bottom-most part of the case base and may require Lee FCD/Redding G-Rx dies to pre-resize before reloading the cases.

I just used RCBS/Lee carbide resizing die on 450/550 and they resized most of the bulged cases down to the case base and did not require the use of FCD. YMMV

While waiting for Dillon to send you a manual, you can checkout these 450 Manual pages - http://s338.photobucket.com/albums/...50%20Manual/?action=view&current=scan0003.jpg
 
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It took me a long time to go blue. Resisted it thinking that all the blue talk was mostly hype. Didn't think the extra money was worth it to be honest. I kick myself daily for not having jumped in sooner. Love my two RL550B's and two square deals which will outlive me and probably my kids as well when they inherit them!!!

Congrats blarby!!!
 
I have two 450's. I've been thinking about converting one, the removable tool head would sure be handy. Both have the manual primer and powder system, though I did go to the Lee dies with the powder-through-expander die so powder is automatic now. The manual primer system doesn't bother me.

If I upgrade it, the 550 frame is like $100, and auto-priming is another $100. I did ask Dillon and they told me the manual primer system from the 450 will fit the 550.

Be careful with your manual priming system, parts are no longer available for the most part.

I recommend you load one round at a time at first to get used to it. Go slow when you start running all four stations. The speed will come.
 
If I upgrade it, the 550 frame is like $100, and auto-priming is another $100. I did ask Dillon and they told me the manual primer system from the 450 will fit the 550.
Click to expand...

I'd sell the 450 and then buy a new RL550 at those prices.

In fact if I was looking just to reload .45acp on a 450 it too would be sold and replaced with a SDB
 
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