Lee dies on a Dillon

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I would suggest "Pro Auto Disk" instead as it has elastomer wiper that reduces powder leakage, won't cut powder, teflon coated surfaces for smooth operation and on/off powder hopper for dumping powder back into the bottle - https://fsreloading.com/lee-precision-pro-auto-disk-90429.html or http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Pro-Auto-Disk/dp/B0014DZQZQ

Use the "F" lever and spring to replace the regular lever and bead chain.

I have several PAD units and most small ball/flake powders like W231/HP-38/WSF/AutoComp/Bullseye/PowerPistol/BE-86 will meter consistently with less than +/- .1 gr variance.

With larger flake powders like Unique/Red Dot/Promo, PAD will meter with +/- .2+ gr variance.

If you need to drop powder charges less than what the smallest disk hole will drop, you can use this mod to consistently drop Bullseye down to 1.5 gr and W231/HP-38 to 2.0 gr - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=741988
 
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I would just get another Dillon powder die they cost about $15. Just 2 bolts on the Dillon powder measure and it will come off. You will not need to reset the case flare with a second powder die.
Lee dies are short and you might have to put the locknut on the bottom of the tool head.
 
X-Ring said:
I would just get another Dillon powder die they cost about $15. Just 2 bolts on the Dillon powder measure and it will come off. You will not need to reset the case flare with a second powder die.
Lee dies are short and you might have to put the locknut on the bottom of the tool head.
Click to expand...

This is likely what I'll do... was just hoping for a "just swap the toolhead" setup like I have for my other calibers. Would like to have the Dillon die (full set and powder hopper with charge bar) but just too broke right now.

And you're right, not that much to move the dispenser over... ;)
 
The Lee auto disk will work very well with the Lee dies on the 550B. The Lee measure is inexpensive when compared to the Dillon. The only issue with Lee dies and the 550B are the Lee lock nuts. They will over hand the tool head and thus bind it to the press when the dies are correctly set. The Lee sizer dies also will need to screwed down till the die thread's almost runs out, another reason to use Dillon's 1in lock nuts. Other wise the Lee dies will work just fine on the 550B.
 
I'm using Lee 380 and 9mm dies on my two Dillon 550b's, with the Dillon powder funnel, and have had no problems adjusting the dies. No extra locknuts used.

I also use the LEE FCD and like that little bit of extra sizing, even tho its not really necessary.
 
ulflyer said:
....... No extra locknuts used.
Click to expand...
Don't your Lee lock rings overhang the tool head onto the press itself and bind the tool head onto the press when properly adjusted? I've tried Lee, Hornady and RCBS lockrings and they all overhang the toolhead causing this binding. My 550B is less than a year old so is there a difference in the frames of our presses that causes this to occur on mine and not yours?
 
I have used Lee 45acp dies with my 550B with no problem. I have at least one die with the lee lock nut and have not noticed the problem with it locking the tool head in place.

I just use the regular Dillon powder die and 45acp powder funnel, and transfer my Dillon measure as needed.
 
DaBoone asked: "Don't your Lee lock rings overhang the tool head onto the press itself and bind the tool head onto the press when properly adjusted? I've tried Lee, Hornady and RCBS lockrings and they all overhang the toolhead causing this binding. My 550B is less than a year old so is there a difference in the frames of our presses that causes this to occur on mine and not yours?"

They do overhang but I see no problem with that. Once tightened down, I can adjust the OAL and FCD when needed and also I run two Dillon's, one for 380 and one for 9mm, and have no need to change the dies once they are set up. The presses are around 8-10 years old but suspect they are the same.
 

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Ulflyer Thank you for clarifying this. I misunderstood that you have dedicated presses for each caliber. I only have the one 550B and 7 different tool heads/shellplates and a lot of different locator pins for that workhorse. Thus my confusion about how you got the toolholders to slide in and out using anything but the 1in locknuts. If you don't need to remove it any shellholder would work.

I've found having toolholders for each caliber and once they are setup and dies locked down with these 1in locknuts will also hold their settings. Only slight adjustments for belling, seating depths to accommodate the differences for several of my cast bullets.
 
Understand what you're saying. I honestly don't believe it will cause any prob taking the toolheads in/out. I've had mine out a time or two for various reasons and had no problem. Give it a try; perhaps it will work for you. I never used Lee dies before these and have become a real fan. Can't see why the others are so much more expensive.

I never intended to have but one Dillon but somewhere along the line I come upon the second one at a price too good to pass. Previously I did 45acp and 38 spl but now am onto 380 and 9mm. I'm just a plinker and not a serious shooter but its an enjoyable hobby.
 
EX - I have a 550 & the Lee Pro Auto Disk.
I usually go the extra mile & buy a Dillon powder die, but I'm sure your solution will work fine.

I like the suggestion of buying a "Pro Auto Disk" rather than the linked "Auto Disk"
I have both & MUCH prefer the Pro version.

You can turn the Pro on & off unlike the cheaper one.
And it just seems to work better - no leaking & more consistent charges.

Just my 2¢ worth.
Good luck on whatever you choose to do!
 
Well I not BSing when I tell you that the only locknuts that will not tightly bind the toolhead to the 550B press that I've tried are the Dillon 1in lockrings. I've tried Hornady, RCBS and Lee's and none of them will allow the removal of the toolhead with out untightening and therefore losing the dies adjustments.
 
Unfortunately, Dillon did a remarkable marketing job in designing the toolheads.
I've tried to find jamnuts/locknuts that'll fit.
So far the only ones that I've found that work are Dillon's own 1" locknuts.

I went to Fastenal & they didn't have anything.
 
Maybe Dillin changed the geometry of either the press frame or the toolheads, because the ones I have are at least 10 years old, and I use lots of Lee reloading dies and Lee lock rings on my 550B presses. I have never experienced any binding due to the lock nuts and I swap tool heads a lot. One thing I do, though, is to turn the Lee lock nuts upside down, so that the O-ring is facing up. Otherwise, like was mentioned, there are not enough threads exposed on the lee dies for the lock nuts to work. I think Lee may have also lengthened the thread portions of their dies in recent years, so this may no longer be an issue. My Lee dies are also at least 10 years old.
 
If you have enough threads left on the dies, you can also put spacer washers under the lock nuts to bring them up a bit.
 
I have an older press - not sure how old though, I bought it used - and I mostly use the Lee lock rings. I have a dedicated toolhead for each caliber and I have no problems switching the toolheads out. Not sure why some people here have that problem.
 
I have both the autodisk and the Pro autodisk. If you decide to purchase one spend the extra money and get the Pro, it's worth it.
I don't own a Dillon but use my Lee dies in my Turrent and my LNL.
Quite happy with the sets of Lee pistol dies I have.
 
I've used Lee dies on my 550B for 20+ years without a problem. I use a Dillon powder measure die and a Dillon powder measure in each dedicated caliber specific tool head. I also use Dillon die lock rings exclusively. Works good; lasts a long time.
 
Not sure why some people here have that problem.
Click to expand...

Some calibers don't leave enough threads above the toolhead to get a firm purchase.
I never thought of turning the Lee locknuts upside down. DUH! :banghead:

But they're still too big to get a wrench in there.
The Dillon 1" nuts really do work better (atleast for me they do).

Just my 2¢ worth YMMV
 
The shortest caliber I load for is 9mm (although dies have been purchased for .32 ACP). Perhaps I just don't have any calibers/brass that is too short.
 
daboone said:
Well I not BSing when I tell you that the only locknuts that will not tightly bind the toolhead to the 550B press that I've tried are the Dillon 1in lockrings. I've tried Hornady, RCBS and Lee's and none of them will allow the removal of the toolhead with out untightening and therefore losing the dies adjustments.
Click to expand...

I just bought a bag of Dillon locknuts to remedy this.
 
Don't your Lee lock rings overhang the tool head onto the press itself and bind the tool head onto the press when properly adjusted? I've tried Lee, Hornady and RCBS lockrings and they all overhang the toolhead causing this binding. My 550B is less than a year old so is there a difference in the frames of our presses that causes this to occur on mine and not yours?
Click to expand...


This is interesting because I noticed the Dillon locknuts are now smaller that they were years ago. I have many sets of Dillon dies that are some 20 years old and they have locknuts the same size as Lee. I just bought a 38/357 sizer die and the nuts are now smaller. When or why they changed them I don't know.
 
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