Finally drank the blue Kool-aid.
- Thread starter Lt.Dan
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Flintknapper
Member
You won't regret it, love mine.
EBShooting
Member
Welcome to the club. Best press and best service to back it up.
If you can splurge a little, Dillon makes great dies that really seem to compliment the press, but like most things Dillon, spendy (but worth it in the long run IMO and experience) it/they can be. A few days back I checked the ram on my 18 y/o 550B, and it has absolutely no slop, wobble, or perceptible side movement at all when pressed very hard in several positions and ram heights.
By contrast, my less than week old brand new RCBS Rockchucker Supreme, already has (had out of the box) ram movement/minor ram slop after loading less than 100 rifle rounds, and is well lubed and clean. Also the toggle is miss-cast on one end, and it won't allow the ram to center in the fork, and the fork is binding against the ram. No slam against RCBS per se, as this press replaces my 30 y/o RCBS Jr, a lot of my dies and other goodies are RCBS, and they have been very fair the very few times I have contacted them; just the same, I'm not getting the total quality vibe from the Supreme that I do from my 550B. One real treat I like is loading rifle rounds on the 550... So smooth and effortless, and the results every bit as accurate as any SS press I have used.
By contrast, my less than week old brand new RCBS Rockchucker Supreme, already has (had out of the box) ram movement/minor ram slop after loading less than 100 rifle rounds, and is well lubed and clean. Also the toggle is miss-cast on one end, and it won't allow the ram to center in the fork, and the fork is binding against the ram. No slam against RCBS per se, as this press replaces my 30 y/o RCBS Jr, a lot of my dies and other goodies are RCBS, and they have been very fair the very few times I have contacted them; just the same, I'm not getting the total quality vibe from the Supreme that I do from my 550B. One real treat I like is loading rifle rounds on the 550... So smooth and effortless, and the results every bit as accurate as any SS press I have used.
Win1892
Member
It's not Kool Aid, it's enlightenment.
gahunter12
Member
Oh the fun has just begun!!! You are in for a treat! I started on a RL550b, and I am glad I did every day. I will second the Dillon dies. I use Dillon dies on every caliber. The only die I have that's not Dillon is my 38spl Lee FCD for roll crimps. Not only do they work like butter with the press, but they are extremly easy to break down and clean with out removing from the tool head. My wife has told me I can get my second 550 for my birth day! I can't wait til Oct. I want to set one up for LPP, and one for SPP.
Hondo 60
Member
I love my 550, but can't figure out why someone would spend $45 for a piece of bent tubing (roller handle).
I don't mean any offense to those who bought one.
It's your money, so you can do whatever you like with it.
But that thing should be about $10.
I mean, it's nice, looks great, & I'd love to have one.
But I just refuse to allow them to rip me off.
I don't mean any offense to those who bought one.
It's your money, so you can do whatever you like with it.
But that thing should be about $10.
I mean, it's nice, looks great, & I'd love to have one.
But I just refuse to allow them to rip me off.
Ease and convenience of die dissasembly w/o removal is a huge reason I like them over about everyone else. Does not sound like a a big deal unless/until you are a near 100% cast bullet shooter (especially tumble lube), and constantly cleaning crud and shavings from the seater and TC die. Nice too that changing seater plugs takes about 5 seconds, and simply flips over without tools or removal. Icing on the cake is the carbide sizer has a very nice large radius, and if the case has a tapered profile (like 9mm), the insert is tapered as well to suit.
loadedround
Member
The reloading gods surely have blessed you! Great purchase and welcome to the 550 Club.
Kevin Rohrer
Member
It's "movin' up to the east side".
Kingcreek
Member
The 550 I bought over 20 years ago is worth more now used than I paid for it. Same for my square deal B. never regretted the purchase and the customer service and warranty are great.
rfwobbly
Member
Welcome to the Club !!
Dillon does have some deals in their catalog. The big one for me is ammo boxes. If you ever order a tool head, dies or other accessory, for about $10 more you can get 10 ammo boxes thrown in without additional shipping.
Dillon does have some deals in their catalog. The big one for me is ammo boxes. If you ever order a tool head, dies or other accessory, for about $10 more you can get 10 ammo boxes thrown in without additional shipping.
dap22
Member
Congrats Lt. Dan! I love my 2 550's. I've tried the bigger and faster machines (owned 2 of them) but seemed to always gravitate back to the 'ol steady 550 for whatever reason. It's just plain a time tested workhorse that won't let you down. Best of luck.......you'll love it I'm positive.
Oh.....and I spent the bucks for the roller handles as well. I believe they're well worth the extra dough.
Oh.....and I spent the bucks for the roller handles as well. I believe they're well worth the extra dough.
dmazur
Member
Nothing wrong with a shiny new 550B.
Even though I read the manual, I did manage to forget about the setscrew on the ram that locks the bolt in the center of the shellplate. Fortunately, I checked before damaging it with a "bigger wrench" approach. If you don't change shellplates very often, this little setscrew is something that can be overlooked.
Manual indexing is easy. However, if you are ever interrupted during a reloading session, you may return to the press and wonder where you were. (Did I index or not? Do I feel lucky?...apologies to Clint Eastwood.) One method of dealing with this is to finish up the cases in the shellplate, then leave. Another way is to simply leave the press handle down. Then when you return, you know you have to be mid-stroke.
While Dillon will send you a replacement for free, it is nice to have the "primer tube orifice fingers" for the two different sizes on hand as spares. They are only a couple dollars, and worth having when the fingers eventually get tired and fail. (Dillon's customer service is one of the best, but you still aren't going to have the replacements for a few days. Blue color or not.
)
Good luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Even though I read the manual, I did manage to forget about the setscrew on the ram that locks the bolt in the center of the shellplate. Fortunately, I checked before damaging it with a "bigger wrench" approach. If you don't change shellplates very often, this little setscrew is something that can be overlooked.
Manual indexing is easy. However, if you are ever interrupted during a reloading session, you may return to the press and wonder where you were. (Did I index or not? Do I feel lucky?...apologies to Clint Eastwood.) One method of dealing with this is to finish up the cases in the shellplate, then leave. Another way is to simply leave the press handle down. Then when you return, you know you have to be mid-stroke.
While Dillon will send you a replacement for free, it is nice to have the "primer tube orifice fingers" for the two different sizes on hand as spares. They are only a couple dollars, and worth having when the fingers eventually get tired and fail. (Dillon's customer service is one of the best, but you still aren't going to have the replacements for a few days. Blue color or not.
)Good luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Metal Tiger
Member
Fantastic Lt Dan. You will love it. Have loaded so many different calibers in the 550B and that is where it shines. For Huge volume loading of one caliber possibly there are better options but for 2 to 3 thousand rounds a month in 5 calibers the 550B rocks.
aerod1
Member
Nice press! I hope you get a lifetime of pleasure out of it!
Magichelmt
Member
Congrats! I bought mine off a friend. Best gun money I have spent so far.
jack44
Member
I like my 550
Damon555
Member
I was thinking the same thing Hondo......The handle that came with the press is more than adequate, in my opinion.
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