Ques? About Dillon

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gahunter12

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Newbie here from Barrow,Ga. I am getting ready to purchase a RL550b from Brian Enos. My question is do I need to get the tool kit ( Allen wrenches, and 1" wrench)? I was a auto tech for many years and have more tools than I can keep up with. If there's nothing special about the Dillon too kit and holder besides the price, then I'm skipping that. Thanks I have enjoyed reading these post and look forward to the great help everyone here gives!!
 
Thanks! I will be ordering when I get off work in about an hour. From what I understand his prices are going up 5% Friday.
 
Then you bought at the right time if they're going up again. You'll be happy with that press, I had one for 4 years till I went to the 650.

The only advice I'll give you is something that is in the manual that no one reads, flake powders (Unique) can have problems with the powder measure. When that was pointed out to me I quit Unique and went to Universal and couldn't be happier.
 
The tool kit mounted on the back of the press is handy, as you have all the allen keys and the right size wrenches for every fastener you have to turn on the press. However, the press ships with all the necessary allen keys. The ones in the tool kit are longer, dipped in plastic, and have ball ends (easier to use). It's a matter of convenience only. The wrench only works with the special 1 inch lockrings from Dillon. They're not expensive, and the small end of the wrench fits the powder measure adjustment nut. It's faster/easier to work on the press when all the necessary allen wrenches are racked by size in hand's reach.

Get extra toolheads; enough for each caliber you intend to reload. This minimizes changeover time and allows you to leave your dies set for a given caliber. If you're changing the [powder|bullet|load] for a given caliber, all you have to adjust is the powder throw and the seating depth.

Given the choice of spending the $, I'd buy the spare parts kit first. Even though Dillon will send replacement parts with just a phone call/email, the press will be down until that spare arrives. With the kit, you can replace the broken/lost part and finish out the session rather than waiting. The replacement part then goes into the kit for the next time.

Steve

Square Deal B (small primers)
RL 550 B (large primers)
both with tool racks/kits
 
I was a auto tech for many years and have more tools than I can keep up with

Me too..GM Master Tech. Retired now+GLAD of it..
Tell you what, all of the Allen Wrenches that you have will work just fine. You'll only need 4 or 5 of them to do anything you want on a RL550.;)
One little tip that I can give you--You know that 1"-"Crow Foot" wrench that you used on GM carbs., to remove the fuel filter?? That works just GREAT to secure your 1" Dillon Die lock nuts!!;)
I have the Kent Moore style, with the round handle on it, and it works real slick..Bill.:D
 
im curious, what are the symptoms of loading issues with unique? ive loaded many 10's of thousands of rounds on my dillon 550 and always use unique in my autos. I test weigh many charges and havent noticed any variance. what specifically are the issues?
 
Yep. I have a couple of 1" crows foots laying around. The price increase on Brian's site said it would be 2-5% starting around 4pm today. Just can't wait til my blue machine gets here.
 
Thanks for the replies. I have placed my order and got in on the 2011 prices. I got the press, Strng mount, extra primer tubes, dies for mine and the wife's 40's, spare parts kit. I did not get the bullet tray, and empty case bin. I have those taken care of already. Only thing I need is a tumbler and I'm ready. Start working on the bench this weekend.
 
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