What is a toolhead?

[Madmax]

I am looking to get into reloading and see people talk about the dillon 550. And one thing you need to change out is a toolhead with different rounds I guess. So what is a toolhead and how dose it work? thanks

 

[Slimjim]

Just a metal plate with holes for your dies, you set the dies up once in a tool head, and then just swap it out with the next caliber, then you can swap back, and its like reloading just as you were before, all the settings are the same. Get a tool head for every caliber you reload, its easier.

 

[Valkman]

Check out the pic below - see that thing on the left the roll of paper towels is leaning against? That's a toolhead with powder measure on a toolhead stand that also holds the conversion kit. It holds everything for .38 SPL/.357 while the stuff in the Dillon is .45ACP. Swap out the toolheads and conversion kits and you're ready to load, unless you need to change primer sizes. If you do you switch out the primer magazine also.

 

[SDC]

The toolhead just lets you adjust all of your dies the way you want them, then LEAVE them that way, so when you want to switch to another calibre, you switch toolheads instead of the dies in the toolhead.

 

[Cortland]

Note that there are other systems besides toolheads. On their Lock-N-Load progressive press, Hornady uses Lock-N-Load bushings. Individual dies are threaded and tightened into these lugged bushings; the bushings (with die) can then be inserted into the press with 1/6 of a turn. I tend to like this better because it's just as fast to switch out as a toolhead, but gives you more versatility. For instance, I can easily change between roll crimp or taper crimp or seat/crimp with powder checker, etc. by moving around individual dies. This isn't really feasible with a toolhead. Also, some folks speculate that removeable toolhead presses (like Dillons) are subject to more flex when loading larger rifle calibers than presses with a solid top plate.

 

[Carlos]

IN other words, you disconnect the operating rods, pull two pins, pull the toolhead with power measure attached, insert new head in different caliber, change out the caliber plate, adjust it, and you're ready to go.

So, bottom line, you're switching calibers in minutes, and the dies are already set just like the last time you had everything perfect.

That's killer.

Ideally, you'll want a separate powder measure to avoid the additional step of having to unscrew "two" more screws, and go through that process, which takes longer.

Nice setup, Valkman.

 

[Bronson7]

Deleted.

 

[g56]

IN other words, you disconnect the operating rods, pull two pins, pull the toolhead with power measure attached, insert new head in different caliber, change out the caliber plate, adjust it, and you're ready to go.

So, bottom line, you're switching calibers in minutes, and the dies are already set just like the last time you had everything perfect.

Exactly right, real convenient to change calibers. The only thing that fouls it up a little bit is changing primer sizes, say from 9mm to 45acp, that takes about another 5 minutes to change sizes in primers, still not a big deal though.

 

[Cortland]

An alternative to buying separate Dillon powder measures for each toolhead is to buy one good D) powder measure. With RCBS or Hornady rotary-type powder measures, you can get a micrometer adjustment dial. Once you establish your loads, record the setting on the micrometer and you can dial in your powder measure instantly in the future. If you go this way on a 550, however, you'll be stuck seating and crimping at one station since the RCBS and Hornady measure don't do charging-through-expansion (although you can modify the Hornady to do so). Either way, a $60 Dillon measure on each toolhead can get pricy. And if you shoot a lot of different loads with the same caliber, a dedicated measure on that toolhead saves a smaller percentage of time (since you still have to guess & check to dial it in) and tends to make less sense economically.