RCBS RC Supreme VS Dillon 550B

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Agent Tikki

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RCBS RC SUPREME/PIGGYBACK-4 Conversion (I've been told this is similar to the Pro 2000 progressive press by RCBS) VS a Dillon 550b.

Hey guys, I'm looking into getting into reloading mainly for pistols. I've found a couple good deals on these two systems. I may getting an AR15 soon so .223/5.56mm and 6.8spc would be something I'd like to be able to do also in the near future. Can anyone recommend one press over the other? Which is better and why?

TIA.
 
Buy a good single stage press set-up and learn to reload.

By then, you will have an informed opinion on which would better suit your needs.

IMO: Neither one is a good starter press for a beginner.
You need to be more concerned with learning to do each operation right, rather then producing mass quantities of inferior ammo.

Switching from one caliber to another is not something you want to do all the time with a progressive.
It's a simple die change taking all of 30 seconds with a single-stage press.

rc
 
I think what rc is getting at is the single stage is all you need right now, learn the feel of what a case is like when being resized or deprimed or how to properly expand a case mouth.

From what I've seen I'd hate to have the piggy back on my only single stage press it would suck to take it all down to swag some brass or reload larger calibers.

My limited advice is to buy a good (rcbs or hornady) starter kit and spend the extra 400 on supplies.
 
RC + PB /= 2000 (in other words, a single stage with a progressive add-on is never as good as a progressive press designed that way from the start.

Dillon 550 is much better. Hornady LNL AP is much better again. Either can be used as a single stage or turret, and much more easily than removing/installing PB from RC.

Andy
 
The RCBS can be used as a single stage right? and than converted to a 4 stage progressive from what I understand. If this is true, it'd be a better buy for me?
Click to expand...

A 1050 can be used as a dingle stage, they offer good advice. You will always have a use for a single stage though.
 
I started reloading with a Dillon 550 about 12 years ago. With the help of internet, books and the video that came with the Dillon I never had any major problems reloading pistol ammo. The biggest problem I had was getting the proper bell and crimp on 9mm loads, they came out looking like hour glass bullets but they still fired okay. I later purchased a couple of the RCBS Rock Chuckers for reloading rifle ammo. I still have both and they both serve the purpose for which they were bought. I might have been better off starting with a single stage but at the time there was very little information available online for reloading and I couldn't find anyone local that knew much about it either. If you can get a great deal on the Dillon I would get it and pick up a single stage when you start reloading for rifles.
 
If you're a patient person and can pace yourself, don't bother starting with the single stage. Go straight for the progressive, and initially use it like a single stage. One round at a time, one primer at a time, etc. etc.

I'd say go XL650.
 
Dillons would probably serve you well with any caliber that you would require lots of ammo & reloading, I have been using them for years, for my most serious bench rest rounds I use a Redding T-7
 
I don't see any point in fooling with a single stage machine. You won't be satisifed and the money is better spent elsewhere.

I have a very early Dillon RL450 with several hundred thousand rounds now and I've been very satisfied.

So I'd vote for the D550. HOWEVER:

Use it slowly as a single stage for the first 500 rounds or so, until you understand what you're doing. Than means only one cartridge on the ram at a time. Load one completely, all 4 stations (or 5 as the case may be). Inspect at each station. DOn't start the next until it's finished. You must learn and understand reloading.
 
Ya, I've been getting lots of horror stories, about people who just aren't carefull, or drunk or both....blowing up my gun is the least of my worries......

I'm oddly excited by the prospect of reloading. Its not really the money it'll be saving me, actually its seems that I'll be spending a grip of money before I can recoup my investment. I can easily go through a couple hundred rounds in one session at the range. But I really only average 100 or so rounds a month. What interests me also that I can make make rounds as light or as "heavy" as possible. I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of information I'm receiving.

Thank you all for all ur personal experience, please keep it coming!

BTW how many of you reloaders have a chrono?
 
I have a Pact. It's satisfactory and fun to play with. Like everything else there is a learning curve to using it well.

You cannot extrapolate pressures from velocities. Stay within published loads.

If your experience is like mine you will never save any money. You will shoot more and have more fun.

Keep records.

BTW: I have an old Rock Chucker but have never used it since I got the Dillon. When I started Dillon didn't exist.

I load rifle (30-06 for a Garand) on the RL 450 without any problems. Perhaps larger or longer calibers would be a problem, I've no experience to judge.
 
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thx GBW, I'm trying to justify the Grand I'm thinking about dropping. I have a spreadsheet detailing this 'ole hobby of mine. If the wife ever found it, it'd probably be the last you'll ever hear of me....
 
That can be a problem. Never the less I would not trade mine for all the guns and gear ever made. Meantime, dual oven kitchen remodeling, or whatever else she's into. Fair is fair, and anyway she'll never know or care.
 
It seems you asked for advice and rcmodel gave you some real good advice and you completely ignored it. I will agree with him and say buy a single stage press and learn to reload.
 
It seems you asked for advice and rcmodel gave you some real good advice and you completely ignored it.
Click to expand...

Other advice was offered , as well.

Some are best served starting with a SS. Others have the ability to master progressives without a lot of fuss.

My advice? Think it through and make a decision. All anyone here can offer is opinions based on what works for them.
 
++++1 on the single stage! RC has hit the nail on the head in my case by saying, "start on a single stage." I might look into a progressive for handguns, but I love my rock crushter and it may take alittle longer to reload than a progressive....but the process is what I really enjoy. Time is not a factor when reloading for me! Yes, I use a crono with every new load. Master Beta! Best of luck!
 
Agent Tikki said:
. But I really only average 100 or so rounds a month. What interests me also that I can make make rounds as light or as "heavy" as possible.
Click to expand...

atblis said:
I'd say go XL650.
Click to expand...

....a XL650 for 100 rounds a month?:rolleyes:


Agent Tikki.........Take RC's advice and learn the process. Loading for three or four various calibers in that quantity(or even 5 times that many) because of the die and powder changes required is best served with a good SS. Pumping out thousands of one type of round with the same components is better served with a progressive. Even if at some point your wish for or need more production and move on to a progressive, your SS will still be useful for load development and making small batches of hunting type rounds. I shoot 500+ rounds a month of 6 different calibers....I do this all on a Rockcuckker. I also enjoy the process. I like to hand prime and feel the primers seat. I like pulling the handle of the powder measure and looking into each case and comparing it's volume to the other cases. I like feeling the crimp being applied to my big boomers and knowing they will not jump the crimp. Now if I was only shooting 500 rounds of .45 ACP with the same components every time I went to the range, it would be a different story.
 
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