300Whspr
Member
Well... I've been thinking hard about getting into a Dillon for the past 2 or 3 years now, ever since I got my CCW permit, and started shooting semi-auto handguns. Before, all of my reloading requirements were more than adequately met with my RockChucker and my old inherited RCBS JR2 presses. But, I tried loading some 40's on the single stage presses, and it was absolutely maddening, LOL
The past few weeks, I've been thinking REALLY hard about getting into a Dillon, and had pretty much had decided that an RL550C would fill the bill for what I wanted to do.
I bit the bullet, so to speak, when I stumbled into a deal that I couldn't say "no" to last week. I came across an RL550B, that is about 3 or 4 years old, that has been set up in the gentleman's basement, and has never loaded a single round... not a single one. I can't even tell that the powder measure has even been cycled... there is not a single mark on the charge bar. I'm not going to say what I paid for it... but I will just say that I would have been a fool to walk away from it. The only part that I haven't been able to find so far in the "Box O'Stuff" is the spent primer cup that lives on the right support arm. A quick call to Dillon this morning got one headed in my direction... at no charge. I tried to pay, but the gentleman would not let me. Apparently Dillon's customer service lives up to the hype!!
The machine is set up with a caliber conversion kit for 9mm... which, right now I don't even own a 9mm... I shoot 40S&W, so I picked up a "W" powder funnel and some #2 Locator pins, and also a 38 Special/357 Magnum conversion kit. So, now I'll be set up for 40S&W/10mm and 38 Special/357 to start off with, and 9mm also if I just had a set of dies. I'm really wanting a 44mag revolver in a bad way (I already have a TC Contender and Encore both in 44Mag), and I'll get the conversion kit for 44 Mag/Spl when a new Redhawk arrives in my gun safe.
After reading the replies from my other thread, I ordered 3 toolheads from JoferUSA off of the bay last night, a blue, red and green one. I prefer the anodized over the raw aluminum for the added corrosion resistance, since my basement can get a bit humid during the summer months.
I've got a few days off this week, so I'm going to try to get the press mounted on my reloading bench tomorrow. I'm going to put it in the spot that my MEC Versamec currently occupies... since I don't hardly load any shotshells anymore since it is no longer economical (unless you know of a place to get a good price on lead shot... I don't!!) So, the Versamec will go into storage, and the RL550B will take it's place. I built my bench with a 43" table height, so I'm thinking I'm not going to go with the strongmount... my bench has a 3/4" ply top, and I'll double it with a length of 2x8 screwed down to the top of the bench, and then bolt the 550B down to that. That's the same way my RCBS's are mounted and they are ROCK SOLID.
So, my next question is, how are you guys that are mounted directly to the bench handling catching the loaded rounds as they come off the press? I guess I'll have a better idea after I get the press mounted, right now I'm just trying to imagine how it is going to work.
What mods/gadgets are out there that you would consider "must do/have"?
I can't wait to get this thing set up and start churning out some ammo!
The past few weeks, I've been thinking REALLY hard about getting into a Dillon, and had pretty much had decided that an RL550C would fill the bill for what I wanted to do.
I bit the bullet, so to speak, when I stumbled into a deal that I couldn't say "no" to last week. I came across an RL550B, that is about 3 or 4 years old, that has been set up in the gentleman's basement, and has never loaded a single round... not a single one. I can't even tell that the powder measure has even been cycled... there is not a single mark on the charge bar. I'm not going to say what I paid for it... but I will just say that I would have been a fool to walk away from it. The only part that I haven't been able to find so far in the "Box O'Stuff" is the spent primer cup that lives on the right support arm. A quick call to Dillon this morning got one headed in my direction... at no charge. I tried to pay, but the gentleman would not let me. Apparently Dillon's customer service lives up to the hype!!
The machine is set up with a caliber conversion kit for 9mm... which, right now I don't even own a 9mm... I shoot 40S&W, so I picked up a "W" powder funnel and some #2 Locator pins, and also a 38 Special/357 Magnum conversion kit. So, now I'll be set up for 40S&W/10mm and 38 Special/357 to start off with, and 9mm also if I just had a set of dies. I'm really wanting a 44mag revolver in a bad way (I already have a TC Contender and Encore both in 44Mag), and I'll get the conversion kit for 44 Mag/Spl when a new Redhawk arrives in my gun safe.
After reading the replies from my other thread, I ordered 3 toolheads from JoferUSA off of the bay last night, a blue, red and green one. I prefer the anodized over the raw aluminum for the added corrosion resistance, since my basement can get a bit humid during the summer months.
I've got a few days off this week, so I'm going to try to get the press mounted on my reloading bench tomorrow. I'm going to put it in the spot that my MEC Versamec currently occupies... since I don't hardly load any shotshells anymore since it is no longer economical (unless you know of a place to get a good price on lead shot... I don't!!) So, the Versamec will go into storage, and the RL550B will take it's place. I built my bench with a 43" table height, so I'm thinking I'm not going to go with the strongmount... my bench has a 3/4" ply top, and I'll double it with a length of 2x8 screwed down to the top of the bench, and then bolt the 550B down to that. That's the same way my RCBS's are mounted and they are ROCK SOLID.
So, my next question is, how are you guys that are mounted directly to the bench handling catching the loaded rounds as they come off the press? I guess I'll have a better idea after I get the press mounted, right now I'm just trying to imagine how it is going to work.
What mods/gadgets are out there that you would consider "must do/have"?
I can't wait to get this thing set up and start churning out some ammo!
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