Dillon 550 questions

Considering picking up a Dillon 550C. Not 100% sold yet but getting close and I have some questions.

What comes with a conversion kit?

How hard is it to switch calibers once setup?

Can I use the dies I am currently using? I have a mix of brands at this point.

Is there a bullet feeder option available for the 550 that works for 223 especially? My fat fingers struggle to get ahold of those little guys!

I am interested in getting setup to load 223, 40 s&w, and 9mm to start with. The rest of my stuff I don't mind loading on my turret or single stage.

I know it's a lot of questions but just starting to look into the progressive world and the 550 seems to have by far the least amount of issues and the easiest setup reviews

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Originally Posted by GaryS

Considering picking up a Dillon 550C. Not 100% sold yet but getting close and I have some questions.

What comes with a conversion kit?

How hard is it to switch calibers once setup?

Can I use the dies I am currently using? I have a mix of brands at this point.

Is there a bullet feeder option available for the 550 that works for 223 especially? My fat fingers struggle to get ahold of those little guys!

I am interested in getting setup to load 223, 40 s&w, and 9mm to start with. The rest of my stuff I don't mind loading on my turret or single stage.

I know it's a lot of questions but just starting to look into the progressive world and the 550 seems to have by far the least amount of issues and the easiest setup reviews

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Conversion comes with shell plate and location buttons and powder funnel

5-10 min tops to switch calibers completely

You can use any standard die

Don’t know about bullet feeder

Pistol rounds are fast on that press
223 is just as easy

Biggest thing is knowing what features you have to have. I love my 550


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SGTREED

Conversion comes with shell plate and location buttons and powder funnel

5-10 min tops to switch calibers completely

You can use any standard die

Don’t know about bullet feeder

Pistol rounds are fast on that press
223 is just as easy

Biggest thing is knowing what features you have to have. I love my 550


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I have never even seen a progressive in person so the features thing is what I'm trying to figure out. What are location buttons? Does the head with the dies disconnect similar to a turret?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GaryS

I have never even seen a progressive in person so the features thing is what I'm trying to figure out. What are location buttons? Does the head with the dies disconnect similar to a turret?

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Location buttons keep brass in proper place with shell plate

Extra tool head and you can set up each caliber with its own tool head pull 2 pins and slide out and insert new one put the pins in and done


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So each caliber would need a conversion kit and toolhead if I want to leave dies setup.

How much maintenance is there to keep a 550 running?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GaryS

So each caliber would need a conversion kit and toolhead if I want to leave dies setup.

How much maintenance is there to keep a 550 running?

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Clean and grease simple maintenance

I have 9mm 10mm and 45 acp tool heads set up so my switches take about 2 minutes to complete

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d1eacb858b.jpg


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How does the powder drop handle stick powder like varget or H322?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GaryS

How does the powder drop handle stick powder like varget or H322?

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Varget I’ve used and I’ve got it metering around a .2 +- swing perfect plinking ammo that’s why I still have single stages for precision loads haven’t used H322


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SGTREED

Varget I’ve used and I’ve got it metering around a .2 +- swing perfect plinking ammo that’s why I still have single stages for precision loads haven’t used H322


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Thanks for all your answers! I appreciate it!!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GaryS

Thanks for all your answers! I appreciate it!!

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Anytime hope it helps ya look at Dillon site and do a comparison between presses that interest you


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I've got two 550's set up and running. There is a spare parts kit for the press available. Some of the plastic ends for the priming system will wear out over time. With some on hands experience the machine is generally trouble free.

You have good support on the machine. If you have problems the phone support is excellent. The no BS warranty is no BS. The last I talked to a rep had to do with getting a box of miscellaneous die parts put together. Rep talked me through it. The experience here has been universally positive then some. Right on the Dillon website.