Using a bullet seat and crimp die on Dillon 550

[supham]

I purchased a Dillion 550 from a friend and I'm new to reloading. I loaded about 200 rounds of .40 using it as a single stage press, then another 500 rounds doing 1 round through all stations. All is going great. I then loaded about 200 rounds using full progressive (ran out of brass).

I would like to add a powder check die, but don't have a free station.

Can I get a bullet seat and crimp die to free up a station?

Does that make sense? Is the powder check die worth the extra troubles?

Thanks All,

Shannon

 

[30Cal]

Do some testing. Crimp isn't necessarily required.

Also, by threading the seating die body further, it will typically give you a slight roll-crimp. Don't overdo it on a semi-auto. Just barely.

 

[supham]

But wont that reduce my OAL to beyond spec?

 

[1911user]

There are 2 practical solutions. First you could sell the 550 and buy a 650 Dillon which was made with a 5th station for a powder check system. The other option (much more common) is to buy a desk lamp and place it so strong light shines into the case at the powder station. With that you can see each powder charge before placing a bullet. The 550 wasn't designed to be used with a powder check die.

30cal- semi-auto dies taper crimp instead of roll crimp. You're right, the cases don't need to crimped hard, but the bell at the case mouth needs to be removed.

 

[fguffey]

Suphan, I started with the RCBS Piggy back with 5 stations then went to the Dillon 550 B, I do not use Dillon dies, I just did not want to start over and I got use to the lock-out and or powder die, crimping and seating on one station is not an issue for me. I have one 45 ACP that likes new ammo, the only way I can load for it is use a full length sizer die as a crimp die. I visited Dillon in AZ and told them about using the sizer die as a crimp die, they said they tried a number of ideals before settling on the system they use today, they said they tried the sizer die as a crimp die, and it worked.

F. Guffey

 

[Ghost Walker]

You could always use an RCBS seater/crimp die on one station.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012726210895a.shtml