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Posted: 3/21/2012 9:50:45 AM EDT
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I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? |
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Quoted:
I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? It may not be a totally accurate comparison, but that is the way I look at it as well. I was all gung ho for a Dillon press and about to pull the trigger (pun intended) when I realized that the 550 did not offer any of the beneficial features of what I considered to be a progressive press. That being said, Dillon makes a fine piece of machinery, I'm just saving a little more for the 650. |
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I just bought my first progressive last week, a RL550B, and I can definitely say it is anything but a glorified turret press (ya sure you're not thinking of the BL550?). I've only loaded a couple hundred on it so far, but I have say it's plenty fast for me. Even though the price between the 550 and the 650 isn't that much, I also considered the cost of caliber conversions and toolheads. I had a really tough time deciding between the two, but I feel I made a good choice.
Sure you have to take you hand off the press to load an empty case, but you can still crank out 500 rounds per hour... Plenty enough for my needs. One last thing to consider is that Dillon equipment really doesn't lose much value, so if you do end up with one machine and want to upgrade to another, you're not gonna lose your ass selling it. |
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Turret press has A shell holder, holding A case as dies are manually advanced over case until cartridge complete.
Manually advanced Progressive has shellplate holding multiple cases. Shellplate is advanced manually as each case is passed through die station. Dropping a loaded cartridge with EACH handle pull. Auto Progressive works same as manual progressive with shellplate AUTOMATICALLY advanced with each handle pull. |
| As 1911smith stated along with others there is a big difference, when I first started looking I was on a budget but did not want to live at the bench and also did not want to pull the handle 3-4 times to load one round so I went with the 550b and don't regret my decision. |
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Having both a turret press and a 550B, they both mount more than one die at a time and have to be advanced manually. From there, never the two shall meet.
So you have to advance the shell plate manually. So what? Manually place the cases and bullets; again, so what? It will still do every step in the reloading process sequentially and produce a loaded round with EVERY pull of the handle. If you set your workspace up sensibly and refine the ergonomics of your movements, none of the manual manipulation is a hindrance to production and it becomes smooth and consistent. I like the manual operation, personally because it gives me complete control of every step o the process without having to "back it up" if something goes wrong. |
| Personally I would rather advance it manually, after being a maintenance mechanic for about 20 years automation is not always best. Turrents have there place but a 550B is not a turrent. Had my Dillion for a little over 3 years now and don't know how I survived loading without it. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? It may not be a totally accurate comparison, but that is the way I look at it as well. I was all gung ho for a Dillon press and about to pull the trigger (pun intended) when I realized that the 550 did not offer any of the beneficial features of what I considered to be a progressive press. That being said, Dillon makes a fine piece of machinery, I'm just saving a little more for the 650. The cost difference between a 550 and a 650 is not exactly little |
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Some people look at the manual indexing of the 550B as a negative. From my perspective, it is a HUGE positive feature. This is especially true for the beginning relaoder. It puts you in complete control of your press. It does not advance until you want it to advance. That is a feature I like.
I get over 300 rounds an hour on my 5050B when reloading bottle neck rifle cartridges. You won't get that much with any single stage, not even a turret. P.S. - Do you really insert case into the shell holder and rotate the turret until it is complete? Doesn't that cause bearing wear to become an issue? I don't plan to use mine that way. I was going to use it like a glorified single stage that allows permanent mounting of the dies. |
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I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? I think everyone is misunderstanding his question. I believe he is asking about the difference between an RL550b and a BL550. I was in your exact shoes. I went with the BL 550, as I hand prime already, and was not worried about powder, as I have a good setup for that as well. I like the BL550, and you are correct. All it takes to make it an RL550 is to purchase the powder measure, and a priming system. I will eventually get a powder dispencer for my toolheads, but with money being tight, it can wait. |
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I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? It may not be a totally accurate comparison, but that is the way I look at it as well. I was all gung ho for a Dillon press and about to pull the trigger (pun intended) when I realized that the 550 did not offer any of the beneficial features of what I considered to be a progressive press. That being said, Dillon makes a fine piece of machinery, I'm just saving a little more for the 650. The cost difference between a 550 and a 650 is not exactly little Guess it's all relative 
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I have been loading for many years using a Square Deal and a 550B. I have absolutely no desire to upgrade to anything different or newer. If I operate either smoothly, I can produce superbly accurate ammunition.
The automatic Square Deal is different compared to the manually advanced 500B, but I have found that I have no problem switching from one to the other. By the way, I broke a steel leaf spring on the S.Deal that controls the primer feed after close to twenty years of serious .45acp loading, and Dillon sent me two springs and a small nylon plunger within three days free of charge. Something good has to be said for a company that backs their product up like Dillon does. They are great to deal with, and I would never even consider another brand progressive. 
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The only negative I can see on the 550 is that the case feeder won't work with rifle brass. 'Borg That is the only reason I went with the 650 - I certainly do not need the output, however I must confess I'm rather fond of the auto advancing shell plate. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? I think everyone is misunderstanding his question. I believe he is asking about the difference between an RL550b and a BL550. I was in your exact shoes. I went with the BL 550, as I hand prime already, and was not worried about powder, as I have a good setup for that as well. I like the BL550, and you are correct. All it takes to make it an RL550 is to purchase the powder measure, and a priming system. I will eventually get a powder dispencer for my toolheads, but with money being tight, it can wait. Yes, I am looking at the BL500 first, then "upgrade" it later. |
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I don't think I can swing a Dillon 550B at the moment. But if I'm understanding correctly, if I got a 550 it would be nothing more than a glorified turret press? However, I can upgrade it as I see fit later with power dispenser and priming capabilities? I think everyone is misunderstanding his question. I believe he is asking about the difference between an RL550b and a BL550. I was in your exact shoes. I went with the BL 550, as I hand prime already, and was not worried about powder, as I have a good setup for that as well. I like the BL550, and you are correct. All it takes to make it an RL550 is to purchase the powder measure, and a priming system. I will eventually get a powder dispencer for my toolheads, but with money being tight, it can wait. Yes, I am looking at the BL500 first, then "upgrade" it later. If you add up the costs to upgrade you will pay more for it in the long run. |
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