Reloading; Newbies questions

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Mikhail2400

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I have a Dillon 550 and I bought RCBS 9mm 3 piece carbide dies.
1st die/step; Sizing and decapping. This sizes the brass and removes the old primer

2nd die/step; Powder

3rd die/step; Expander This one expands the top of the brass slightly so the bullet will sit on top

4th die step; Seat and crimp. This one seats the bullet to the correct depth and slightly crimps the case

My question has to do with steps 2 and 3. Could I switch step 2 and 3 around, use the expander at step 2 and then add powder at 3? For that matter why does it come with an expander anyway, couldnt the powder funnel expand the brass for the bullet to sit on?
Anyway thats all I have right now and until I find some primers its about as far as im going to get. Thanks!!!!
 
Welcome Aboard !

@ You'll leave the RCBS Expander Die that came with the dies back in the box. That is not needed because it is replaced with the Dillon Powder Die and Powder Funnel. The Powder Funnel not only acts as an Expander but also your belling (or "flare") tool, and all the while doing the powder filling job. Sometimes this is called a "powder through system". (Lee also uses this type setup.)

So the setup will be #1 Sizing, #2 the Dillon powder setup, #3 Seating, #4 you'll want to buy a Taper Crimp Die for this position. I highly suggest the basic Lee Taper Crimp Die for $13... not the Lee Factory Crimp Die for $35.

Having the wrong 3 dies for a 550 or 650 is quite common. The RCBS Expander is used when you have something like a Rock Chucker press.

@ Sometimes when using non-Dillon dies you need to place the lock nut UNDER the Tool Head, not on top as is customarily seen. Dillon dies are simply about 1/4" longer to allow the nut on top, and this is not always apparent when you compare die sets.

sHCerN9.jpg

@ You really can't shuffle the die order because the Powder Measure needs the black arm protruding from the ram to physically reset the Powder Measure. That and Seating in position #3 places the bullet placement in just the right position. Bullet seating is really fast and easy with the addition of the Bullet Tray option.


Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
powder.jpg
rfwobbly said:
Welcome Aboard !

@ You'll leave the RCBS Expander Die that came with the dies back in the box. That is not needed because it is replaced with the Dillon Powder Die and Powder Funnel. The Powder Funnel not only acts as an Expander but also your belling (or "flare") tool, and all the while doing the powder filling job. Sometimes this is called a "powder through system". (Lee also uses this type setup.)

So the setup will be #1 Sizing, #2 the Dillon powder setup, #3 Seating, #4 you'll want to buy a Taper Crimp Die for this position. I highly suggest the basic Lee Taper Crimp Die for $13... not the Lee Factory Crimp Die for $35.

Having the wrong 3 dies for a 550 or 650 is quite common. The RCBS Expander is used when you have something like a Rock Chucker press.

@ Sometimes when using non-Dillon dies you need to place the lock nut UNDER the Tool Head, not on top as is customarily seen. Dillon dies are simply about 1/4" longer to allow the nut on top, and this is not always apparent when you compare die sets.

View attachment 970732

@ You really can't shuffle the die order because the Powder Measure needs the black arm protruding from the ram to physically reset the Powder Measure. That and Seating in position #3 places the bullet placement in just the right position. Bullet seating is really fast and easy with the addition of the Bullet Tray option.


Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks alot folks, your answers were exactly what I needed.

About 15 minutes after I started this thread the mail ran and brought my powder measure failsafe kit. After looking it over I realized just how silly it was to ask if I could change the powder step to a new location, lol. I also just realized how old this 550 is. The new kit wont fit because the powder body it was designed for must have came out after my dad bought this one. Even the bellcrank is different.
view
view
 
You’re new to Reloading and you bought a Dillion 550?!?!?!?!

WOW!

go big or go home I guess
 
Mikhail2400 said:
About 15 minutes after I started this thread the mail ran and brought my powder measure failsafe kit. After looking it over I realized just how silly it was to ask if I could change the powder step to a new location, lol. I also just realized how old this 550 is. The new kit wont fit because the powder body it was designed for must have came out after my dad bought this one. Even the bellcrank is different.
view
view
Click to expand...
► What you should have is a gold colored bellcrank that has a 2-plate system. That's the latest model. That's been in use since about year 1998-2000, so you indeed have a classic 550. The bellcrank is held to the powder measure body with a 10-24 screw and self-locking nut that's just barely loose enough to allow it to pivot freely. (Read below)

0tvdeQq.jpg

► The powder bar you show in the photo is the Large size for rifle. For pistol loading that gets replaced by the Small size powder bar (shown above), which is 2 half-thickness plates. The upper plate is stationary, held in place by a white nylon push-in knob. The moving powder shuttle (for both Large & Small) are driven by the bellcrank using a tiny plastic square piece that rides in the rectangular slot clearly visible in your photo.

► You will also need the latest pull rod to work with the dual thickness bellcrank.

► You should be able to update your older powder measure, since the body of the PM never changed. However, several of the smaller parts may have been lost. I suggest you download the 550 User Manual from the Dillon website and this booklet details the assembly and all the parts. Then call Dillon CS on Monday and order by part number.

► If you need guidance from a real human, then place your general locale in your profile. Someone that looks like this will be right by....

taEErGA.jpg

:p
 
Last edited:
rfwobbly said:
► What you should have is a gold colored bellcrank that has a 2-plate system. That's the latest model. That's been in use since about year 1998-2000, so you indeed have a classic 550. The bellcrank is held to the powder measure body with a 10-24 screw and self-locking nut that's just barely loose enough to allow it to pivot freely. (Read below)

View attachment 970812

► The powder bar you show in the photo is the Large size for rifle. For pistol loading that gets replaced by the Small size powder bar (shown above), which is 2 half-thickness plates. The upper plate is stationary, held in place by a white nylon push-in knob. The moving powder shuttle (for both Large & Small) are driven by the bellcrank using a tiny plastic square piece that rides in the rectangular slot clearly visible in your photo.

► You will also need the latest pull rod to work with the dual thickness bellcrank.

► You should be able to update your older powder measure, since the body of the PM never changed. However, several of the smaller parts may have been lost. I suggest you download the 550 User Manual from the Dillon website and this booklet details the assembly and all the parts. Then call Dillon CS on Monday and order by part number.

► If you need guidance from a real human, then place your general locale in your profile. Someone that looks like this will be right by....

View attachment 970814

:p
Click to expand...
Wow you’re Hot!!!
 
rfwobbly said:
► What you should have is a gold colored bellcrank that has a 2-plate system. That's the latest model. That's been in use since about year 1998-2000, so you indeed have a classic 550. The bellcrank is held to the powder measure body with a 10-24 screw and self-locking nut that's just barely loose enough to allow it to pivot freely. (Read below)

View attachment 970812

► The powder bar you show in the photo is the Large size for rifle. For pistol loading that gets replaced by the Small size powder bar (shown above), which is 2 half-thickness plates. The upper plate is stationary, held in place by a white nylon push-in knob. The moving powder shuttle (for both Large & Small) are driven by the bellcrank using a tiny plastic square piece that rides in the rectangular slot clearly visible in your photo.

► You will also need the latest pull rod to work with the dual thickness bellcrank.

► You should be able to update your older powder measure, since the body of the PM never changed. However, several of the smaller parts may have been lost. I suggest you download the 550 User Manual from the Dillon website and this booklet details the assembly and all the parts. Then call Dillon CS on Monday and order by part number.

► If you need guidance from a real human, then place your general locale in your profile. Someone that looks like this will be right by....

View attachment 970814

:p
Click to expand...

WOW, talk about good customer service!!!

rfwobbly I already have the new two plate bellcrank with the plastic square and connecting rod, it arrived yesterday. The instructions which came with it( I even read em) shows a completely different powder measure body than the one I have. From the Kep screw holding the bellcrank on down my powder measure body is completely different. For instance the Kep screw shown in the video and on the instructions looks to be 3/4 to 1" long while mine is maybe 1/2" long. My kep screw doesnt go all the way thru to be held on with a nut, the one I have screws into a threaded hole in the powder measure body. I guess the 550 I have is probably the very first design or close to it.
Anyway heres a couple of pics which show my powder measure body and what the instructions say I should have. I think I can get the updated body for around $16 but im waiting on Dillon to get back with me
instructions.jpg measure body.jpg
view
view
 
> Wow ! You seem to be right, and I stand corrected. Sincere apologies. I've converted some fairly old 550's and never seen that. (Of course, you may have never seen an apology on the internet ! :D )

Stick with what you learn from Dillon CS. If you remain cordial, they may elect to send you a new body for free. You just never know how they'll respond. However, the bottom line remains... The updated powder measure is far superior to the older model, and the upgrade is well worth your effort and coin to have.

> If all else fails, buy an entire new powder measure. Your complete old-style powder measure is worth at least $50 to someone on Ebay.


Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
rfwobbly said:
> Wow ! You seem to be right, and I stand corrected. Sincere apologies. I've converted some fairly old 550's and never seen that. (Of course, you may have never seen an apology on the internet ! :D )

Stick with what you learn from Dillon CS. If you remain cordial, they may elect to send you a new body for free. You just never know how they'll respond. However, the bottom line remains... The updated powder measure is far superior to the older model, and the upgrade is well worth your effort and coin to have.

> If all else fails, buy an entire new powder measure. Your complete old-style powder measure is worth at least $50 to someone on Ebay.


Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I had to take a picture of your post to show my girlfriend. I think my exact words to her were " See b1t@$ im RIGHT some times, its just you who thinks im always wrong." She went to her moms which was the perfect time for me to see if I could get one of those Dillon girls like you posted the picture of to come give me a hand.
Well it worked!! Heres a picture of the one who showed up, Cindy.
fat cindy.jpg

Maybe it was Randy. Well anyway my press still isnt upgraded, plus Cindy ate my dinner and drank all my beer. I dont know if my bathroom will ever be right but thanks for the tips.
 
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