Hi. How many rounds per hour do you make with a Dillon RL550B without the casefeeder? I'm very far from what they tell, no more than 230 - 250, but I use lead wadcutter bullets and I try to be very careful when I seat the bullet. How is the casefeeder? Thanks...
How many rounds with a Dillon RL550B?
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Alot depends on how you calculate your rate, and how they calculate their rate. I feel the published numbers are optimistic and do not include set up time, restocking time, and shut down time.
For instance, Dillon published a cyclic rate on the 550B as 550 rounds per hour and an hourly rate of 500 rounds per hour. It takes me 2 to three minutes to fill a primer tube, so at 550 rounds per hour cyclic rate, that would be 10 plus minutes to re-supply the primer system. So, i lose 10 minutes per hour of production so the rate is now 460/hour. That does not include other delays in production.
For me, I can load 500 rounds in an evening, but the actual time of stroking the press is about an hour or a bit more (note, it is not a 500B, but calculation methods are similar). The rest of the time is setting up and putting away. So, cyclic rate is about 500/hour, but my average rate is more like 150-200 rounds per hour.
There are things I could to to improve on those numbers but it is money for more equipment that I am not willing to spend at this time. My rates are adequate for my needs.
I am sure with time you will get faster as the process gets more familiar.
A case feeder will add speed, but also complexity
Hope this makes sense.
For instance, Dillon published a cyclic rate on the 550B as 550 rounds per hour and an hourly rate of 500 rounds per hour. It takes me 2 to three minutes to fill a primer tube, so at 550 rounds per hour cyclic rate, that would be 10 plus minutes to re-supply the primer system. So, i lose 10 minutes per hour of production so the rate is now 460/hour. That does not include other delays in production.
For me, I can load 500 rounds in an evening, but the actual time of stroking the press is about an hour or a bit more (note, it is not a 500B, but calculation methods are similar). The rest of the time is setting up and putting away. So, cyclic rate is about 500/hour, but my average rate is more like 150-200 rounds per hour.
There are things I could to to improve on those numbers but it is money for more equipment that I am not willing to spend at this time. My rates are adequate for my needs.
I am sure with time you will get faster as the process gets more familiar.
A case feeder will add speed, but also complexity
Hope this makes sense.
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Kingcreek
Member
I can crank about 400 per hour if I want to but I'm not really at it for the speed. I'm happy with 250 if every one is perfect.
cheygriz
member
Technique.
On my RL 450 (upgraded) I normally load 250-300 per hour. But that includes inspecting each round as it comes off of the press, and filling primer tubes manually, and weighing a powder charge every time I refill the primer magazine.
I could increase production by not inspecting every round, and by using an automatic primer tube filler if I so desired.
An automatic case feeder will increase production dramatically, but IMHO, the money would be better spent by trading up to a 650.
"Back in the day" when I was a partner in a small commercial reloading operation, we used primer tube fillers, and a "case prep" machine to decap and check brass before loading on Dillon 1050s. I had no trouble at all, loading 1200-1250 straight walled pistol cases/hour, and 900-950 .223.
I no longer reload commercially, or shoot in competition, so even with the old upgraded 450, I can load a month's supply of ammo in 4-5 hours.
On my RL 450 (upgraded) I normally load 250-300 per hour. But that includes inspecting each round as it comes off of the press, and filling primer tubes manually, and weighing a powder charge every time I refill the primer magazine.
I could increase production by not inspecting every round, and by using an automatic primer tube filler if I so desired.
An automatic case feeder will increase production dramatically, but IMHO, the money would be better spent by trading up to a 650.
"Back in the day" when I was a partner in a small commercial reloading operation, we used primer tube fillers, and a "case prep" machine to decap and check brass before loading on Dillon 1050s. I had no trouble at all, loading 1200-1250 straight walled pistol cases/hour, and 900-950 .223.
I no longer reload commercially, or shoot in competition, so even with the old upgraded 450, I can load a month's supply of ammo in 4-5 hours.
redneck2
Member
May sound like a real smart @$$ reply, but you can load more in an hour than most guys shoot in a year.
If you actually try to hit what you're shooting at rather than just blasting ammo to make noise, I can load rounds faster on my 550 than you can load and accurately shoot.
Once you're set up (primer tubes loaded), you can turn out a round every 5 seconds pretty easily
If you actually try to hit what you're shooting at rather than just blasting ammo to make noise, I can load rounds faster on my 550 than you can load and accurately shoot.
Once you're set up (primer tubes loaded), you can turn out a round every 5 seconds pretty easily
KeithET
Member
The 550 is a great loader. I have no doubt that it is capable of short term speeds of 550 rounds per hour. That speed is not something I would want to try and sustain though. Its just to fast to keep track of everything. The case feed will help some but I still don't see a sustained 550 rounds per hour.
One thing mentioned by other posters is keeping the machine loaded with primers and powder. I have several primer tubes that I will load up when get ready for an extended loading session of 500 to 1000 rounds. This boosts my loading speed as I don't have to stop and fill a tube when the priming system runs dry. But that's how you measure speed gets kinda fuzzy. Do you count prep time or not. If you only count time loading rounds then I see 350 to 400 rounds per hour as possible but still difficult to sustain for long periods.
After 20 years of running my 550 I have settled on 2 hours minimum to load 500 rounds of pistol ammo. This includes prep(get all the primers tubed up, powder measure set up with the proper charge, bullets in the tray), loading and cleanup time. This works out to ~250 rounds per hour. If I want to do another 500 rounds it would take at least another hour which would be ~333 rounds per hour. The problem with this is I poop out at the 2 hour mark and need a break. For that reason I usually plan on stopping at 500 rounds. If I need more I plan for two sessions of loading.
The thing to remember is do not rush it. That's how mistakes happen. Mistakes while loading can turn out very bad. So I would rather take some extra time to avoid the consequences of pushing myself and the machine to hard.
If higher volume is really necessary then one of the other machines would be in order. If a person were shooting greater then a couple hundred rounds every week and time to spend loading was tight then the 1050 may be a better choice then the 550. Its a time/money/shooting trade off.
Keith
One thing mentioned by other posters is keeping the machine loaded with primers and powder. I have several primer tubes that I will load up when get ready for an extended loading session of 500 to 1000 rounds. This boosts my loading speed as I don't have to stop and fill a tube when the priming system runs dry. But that's how you measure speed gets kinda fuzzy. Do you count prep time or not. If you only count time loading rounds then I see 350 to 400 rounds per hour as possible but still difficult to sustain for long periods.
After 20 years of running my 550 I have settled on 2 hours minimum to load 500 rounds of pistol ammo. This includes prep(get all the primers tubed up, powder measure set up with the proper charge, bullets in the tray), loading and cleanup time. This works out to ~250 rounds per hour. If I want to do another 500 rounds it would take at least another hour which would be ~333 rounds per hour. The problem with this is I poop out at the 2 hour mark and need a break. For that reason I usually plan on stopping at 500 rounds. If I need more I plan for two sessions of loading.
The thing to remember is do not rush it. That's how mistakes happen. Mistakes while loading can turn out very bad. So I would rather take some extra time to avoid the consequences of pushing myself and the machine to hard.
If higher volume is really necessary then one of the other machines would be in order. If a person were shooting greater then a couple hundred rounds every week and time to spend loading was tight then the 1050 may be a better choice then the 550. Its a time/money/shooting trade off.
Keith
I used to crank out 400 an hour on mine. I ordered extra primer tubes and would have those loaded and ready. If I really pushed and had a good rythem I could come close to 500. I don't count setup time, only from the time I start loading.
For practical purposes 350 is about it though.
My 650 with case feeder doesn't do much more but it had a tough breakin. Now that everything is adjusted I'm sure it's faster but I have yet to try it.
The press that does hit advertised RPH is the 1050 I have. That one can and does do 1200 an hour.
One thing I can't stress enough is keeping the primer feed clean. After 500 rounds I stop and clean mine.
For practical purposes 350 is about it though.
My 650 with case feeder doesn't do much more but it had a tough breakin. Now that everything is adjusted I'm sure it's faster but I have yet to try it.
The press that does hit advertised RPH is the 1050 I have. That one can and does do 1200 an hour.
One thing I can't stress enough is keeping the primer feed clean. After 500 rounds I stop and clean mine.
easyrider604
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Maximum sustainable rate for me is about 300 per hour. That includes setting up, loading powder, getting the heads from the cabinet, loading the primer tubes, etc.
What matters is how many rounds you can load from the time you enter your reloading room, up till the time you leave the room...ammo all packed up ready for the range....bench cleared of all trash, powder cans etc.
Anyways, I sold the 550B last year and now use a Lee Classic Turret that does about half the 550B.
What matters is how many rounds you can load from the time you enter your reloading room, up till the time you leave the room...ammo all packed up ready for the range....bench cleared of all trash, powder cans etc.
Anyways, I sold the 550B last year and now use a Lee Classic Turret that does about half the 550B.
Buy 30-40 primer tubes and pre-fill them. Fill the powder hopper all the way to the top--and load. You should have enough components at hand to continuously load for an hour plus with out stopping other than to refill the primer tube. I can do 400-450 an hour easily so some of the low round count numbers are puzzling. A Dillon 1050 will produce 700-800 an hour with a relative novice operating the machine--1000 + with some experience(or more).
rscalzo
Member
That's about the norm for most. Trying to maintain a high production rate just tends to cause a lack of concentration after a while. The break every so often to reload the primer tubes give me a bit of a rest. If you need that high of a production rate for extended periods, the 550 probably isn't the machine for you. But for the majority, it's just fine.
Think about it. Is your aim to load up a large quantity and not have to reload again for a long period? If not, why hurry. Loads can be tweaked and it's a great diversion during the winter downtime. Plus, mine and many other 550's seem to require some light maintenance after several hundred rounds of grime getting into the primer slide bar and some other areas.
For me, it varies quite a bit depending on what I'm loading.
My results are similar to everyone elses. I did a fair amount of reloading over the holidays, and at one point decided just to see how many I did in an hour loading 9mm. It was right around 300, which included filling the primer tubes, running out of brass and having to final inspect/reload my brass bin halfway through. I also had a couple stoppages, including a case with a crimped primer pocket that I hadn't noticed and had to remove the crimp. That was a steady pace, nothing more or less than normal.
I do inspect every case for powder, with the aid of a mirror, before seating a bullet. I also find I do my best rates with 45acp, and not as well with 357 mag, since I lightly lube every few cases.
My results are similar to everyone elses. I did a fair amount of reloading over the holidays, and at one point decided just to see how many I did in an hour loading 9mm. It was right around 300, which included filling the primer tubes, running out of brass and having to final inspect/reload my brass bin halfway through. I also had a couple stoppages, including a case with a crimped primer pocket that I hadn't noticed and had to remove the crimp. That was a steady pace, nothing more or less than normal.
I do inspect every case for powder, with the aid of a mirror, before seating a bullet. I also find I do my best rates with 45acp, and not as well with 357 mag, since I lightly lube every few cases.
Hangingrock
Member
I’m not into the rate of production but rather the ease of production. Sometimes one goes slow in order to go fast. Production is what it is. I’m not going balls to the wall to obtain a high production rate. I have my pace of production that I’m satisfied with. What others are able or not able to do matters not to me. I just don’t see it is a race. It’s a lot faster than using a single stage press but it is a relaxed pace which maintains a level of quaintly and quality that satisfies my shooting needs.
Hondo 60
Member
All this talk about speed is scary.
I reload for accuracy. So I'll stop every 10 rounds or so & pull a case to check the charge load.
Then I'll inspect the primers on the finished rounds to make sure they're seated deep enough & check the seating depth of the bullet etc...
The I'll put them in a plastic MTM box.
Ya, I'm probably only getting a sustainable 150/hr but they're done to my satisfaction at a leisurely and SAFE pace.
If I gotta jam, jam, jam ... that takes the fun out of it for me & makes it no different than work.
I reload for accuracy. So I'll stop every 10 rounds or so & pull a case to check the charge load.
Then I'll inspect the primers on the finished rounds to make sure they're seated deep enough & check the seating depth of the bullet etc...
The I'll put them in a plastic MTM box.
Ya, I'm probably only getting a sustainable 150/hr but they're done to my satisfaction at a leisurely and SAFE pace.
If I gotta jam, jam, jam ... that takes the fun out of it for me & makes it no different than work.
Lost Sheep
Member
Speed should not be the object. It is an indicator, though.
As Hond60 said, and I will put it another way, "Haste makes waste". And you really do not want to waste your gun... or your hand... or your eyes... or body parts of someone standing innocently nearby.
I am one of those who keeps track of how fast my reloading goes. But it is solely for curiosity's sake.
Rounds per hour is an indicator of how efficient I am (in much the same way as fps indicates efficiency of the cartridge). But it is not a goal.
Try to push a 45 ACP 230 grain slug to 1500 fps you will probably blow something up.
Try to push a single stage press to 150 rounds per hour, same thing is likely. It will catch up to you. And the faster you go, the faster it will catch up.
My advice: Go slow. Carefully perform each step. Take your time. Your speed will indicate your skill level, but only if you don't push.
You can play "The Minute Waltz" in 30 seconds if you are a really good pianist. But the music suffers. If you miss a note on the piano, your ears may suffer. If you miss a note at your loading press, the consequences are far more dire.
Be safe always, all ways.
Lost Sheep
As Hond60 said, and I will put it another way, "Haste makes waste". And you really do not want to waste your gun... or your hand... or your eyes... or body parts of someone standing innocently nearby.
I am one of those who keeps track of how fast my reloading goes. But it is solely for curiosity's sake.
Rounds per hour is an indicator of how efficient I am (in much the same way as fps indicates efficiency of the cartridge). But it is not a goal.
Try to push a 45 ACP 230 grain slug to 1500 fps you will probably blow something up.
Try to push a single stage press to 150 rounds per hour, same thing is likely. It will catch up to you. And the faster you go, the faster it will catch up.
My advice: Go slow. Carefully perform each step. Take your time. Your speed will indicate your skill level, but only if you don't push.
You can play "The Minute Waltz" in 30 seconds if you are a really good pianist. But the music suffers. If you miss a note on the piano, your ears may suffer. If you miss a note at your loading press, the consequences are far more dire.
Be safe always, all ways.
Lost Sheep
straightShot
Member
I turn the radio off and make sure that I don't miss a charge or double charge a round. I also check the overall length once in a while to make sure that my seating die hasn't backed out or anything.
I can get a rhythm going, but I've never counted the rounds. Something always seems to need to be cleaned or tightened. I err on the side of caution rather than speed. I don't want any squibs or kabooms.
Stay safe!
I can get a rhythm going, but I've never counted the rounds. Something always seems to need to be cleaned or tightened. I err on the side of caution rather than speed. I don't want any squibs or kabooms.
Stay safe!
The way I read most of the posts, people weren't bragging about speed, but simply stating that when they get into a good rhythm they turn out some respectable rate per hour. To me, it's all about the rhythm. Get that down, and the good ammo follows. The only time I make mistakes is when I'm not in a rhythm, and the rate per hour then is terrible anyway.Hondo 60 said:
I have done enough testing and checking to know my machine throws a fairly accurate charge of powder. I visually check each case, as stated, because then I know I won't have a squib or major over charge. Been doing that for a long time, but the charge never varies enough to be noticeable. The trick is to maintain a consistent amount of powder in the hopper.
I find reloading the primer tube is a good time to top up the powder hopper, check charges, take a short break, whatever.
BigBob3006
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Three hundred rounds and hour with pistol cartridges is about standard for me. I'm pretty slow and try to watch every step. If I only watch the seating step I have gone to 400 rounds an hour. The only short cut I take is to charge priming tubes before I start to load and have bullets and powders close at hand to reduce the time factor. I've found that the more automatic my steps become come, the easier loading becomes and the higher my out put is.
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