reloader901 Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 My first press 25 years ago was a used Square Deal B, my next press a few years ago was a new XL650, and most recently I upgraded to a new Super 1050. (I also have an inexpensive Lee single stage press) A few days ago I bought a used 550B. I used it today for the first time. I works great, but it is really strange getting used to it not auto-indexing. My brain isn't used to it yet, and is expecting it to auto-index on the handle upstroke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkheard Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 So, be very careful until it turns into muscle memory. *muscle memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 The 550 is still the best, only because I've had one since 86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Distant Thunder Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 On 4/1/2017 at 7:54 PM, tkheard said: So, be very careful until it turns into muscle memory. *muscle memory! +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reloader901 Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 So, be very careful until it turns into muscle memory. *muscle memory! Yeah I'm in no rush and am going slowly with the 550B. When I want to make lots of ammo fast my s1050 makes me smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 On Sunday, April 02, 2017 at 9:01 PM, 9x45 said: The 550 is still the best, only because I've had one since 86 +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I went from a rock chucker to a 550, so I am in love with it. When I first got I made a sticker for it. Brass Bullet Pull Push Rotate Still have it on there, and that is my cycle. If I stop, I do it at the end of the cycle and all is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 1 hour ago, rustybayonet said: I went from a rock chucker to a 550, so I am in love with it. When I first got I made a sticker for it. Brass Bullet Pull Push Rotate Still have it on there, and that is my cycle. If I stop, I do it at the end of the cycle and all is good. Kerchink, Kerplunk, Kerchink, Kerplunk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemistShooter Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 On 4/4/2017 at 4:20 PM, rustybayonet said: I went from a rock chucker to a 550, so I am in love with it. When I first got I made a sticker for it. Brass Bullet Pull Push Rotate Still have it on there, and that is my cycle. If I stop, I do it at the end of the cycle and all is good. I have a mantra I recite: "Size" "Seat" "Powder" "Rotate" "Bullet" "Brass" Same damn thing, if I have to stop, only after "Brass". Then I think long and hard and check every station before I start cranking again. Interruptions are when the screw-ups happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 On Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 0:16 PM, ChemistShooter said: I have a mantra I recite: "Size" "Seat" "Powder" "Rotate" "Bullet" "Brass" Same damn thing, if I have to stop, only after "Brass". Then I think long and hard and check every station before I start cranking again. Interruptions are when the screw-ups happen. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reloader901 Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 On 4/15/2017 at 0:16 PM, ChemistShooter said: I have a mantra I recite: "Size" "Seat" "Powder" "Rotate" "Bullet" "Brass" Same damn thing, if I have to stop, only after "Brass". Then I think long and hard and check every station before I start cranking again. Interruptions are when the screw-ups happen. I've made a few hundred rounds with my 550B since buying it a couple of weeks ago. i am beginning to get used to it, but after 25 years of progressive presses SDB, XL650, S1050 I still sometimes am expecting it to auto-index. I'm still experimenting with the last two step you mentioned above (bullet then brass). Yesterday I was doing (brass then bullet), but I think your (bullet then brass) might be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 None of my business, BUT, if you have a SDB, a 650 and a1050, WHY would you also want a 550? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reloader901 Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 I bought the SDB in the mid 1990s. I sold the SDB, and bought an XL650 in 2012. The 650 was okay, but I didn't like the priming system and had wanted a 1050 for 20+ years, so I bought a 1050 and sold the 650. I do not miss the 650, but I sometimes miss the SDB which was a fantastic machine! If the SDB did rifle I probably would have bought a new SDB (or probably would never had sold it). The Super 1050 is great for large runs of ammo, and just for giggles too. However, the 1050 caliber changes are labor intensive and not worth the time for small runs of ammo. The 550B is very flexible and caliber changes are very fast, so a small run of ammo is easy. I had been using a Lee single stage for 50 - 100 rounds, but it was too slow. With the 550 100 rounds is about 15 minutes (I am using different toolheads with powder measures for each caliber). With the single stage 100 rounds was usually costing me 60 minutes or more. The only extra thing I would like to have on the 550B is the option to switch back and forth between manual indexing and auto indexing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safeactionjackson Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 You just have to find the proper rhythm, once you get that down it doesn't take before you have the muscle memory.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tylenol9999 Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 Recently switched from 550 to the 650. Loading 9mm so it made sense. Love it every time I use it. I can keep my eyes on the case with the powder. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 On Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 0:16 PM, ChemistShooter said: I have a mantra I recite: "Size" "Seat" "Powder" "Rotate" "Bullet" "Brass" Same damn thing, if I have to stop, only after "Brass". Then I think long and hard and check every station before I start cranking again. Interruptions are when the screw-ups happen. You know you can run all 4 stations at once? So size seat, powder, deprime and crimp are all contained in the Pull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted April 22, 2017 Share Posted April 22, 2017 On 4/17/2017 at 8:50 AM, reloader901 said: I've made a few hundred rounds with my 550B since buying it a couple of weeks ago. i am beginning to get used to it, but after 25 years of progressive presses SDB, XL650, S1050 I still sometimes am expecting it to auto-index. I'm still experimenting with the last two step you mentioned above (bullet then brass). Yesterday I was doing (brass then bullet), but I think your (bullet then brass) might be better. You have 2 hands, use them both at the same time. Brass and bullet at the same time. As soon as you set the bullet, pick up another as you are pulling the handle down. Handle up, seat primer, grab brass, slide brass into the shellplate while setting the bullet, grab another bullet while pulling the handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rucker61 Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 On 4/22/2017 at 4:24 PM, GrumpyOne said: You have 2 hands, use them both at the same time. Brass and bullet at the same time. As soon as you set the bullet, pick up another as you are pulling the handle down. Handle up, seat primer, grab brass, slide brass into the shellplate while setting the bullet, grab another bullet while pulling the handle. Yup. I work just like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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