CO Steve

Dillon trimmer mods I can't leave well enough alone so I decided that the switch box on the trimmer should live on an open space on the back of my XL 650 press (this will work for your 550 as well) between the 2 rear mounting bolts where it would be easy to reach and up off the bench. In addition, I shortened the power cable to pair it with the casefeed cable run to my outlet. A better view showing my fabricated mounting bracket with it between the 2 rear mounting bolts. It is solid as a rock and worked out really well. After mounting and adjusting the trimmer (straightforward), I cut a 2½" long piece of old shop vac wand and after rasping out one end, pushed it on the Dillon chip collar. Fits tight and makes attaching the vacuum a cinch. The red box highlights a wood 'collar stay' I made and will discuss below. I fired it up and started trimming. After a bit I noticed that the Dillon collar (Blue plastic collar that the vacuum hose attaches to) would ride up from the weight of the cantilevered vacuum hose attachment. This would let the brass shavings escape from the trimmer head. I noticed this when a brass sliver bounced off my glasses. A quick once over and I realized that the collar needed to be held down for proper and safe operation so I took a piece of scrap plywood and cut a circular 'collar stay' and slipped it on. Works like a charm.

Cheap bullet tray & wrench holder for 550B I needed a bullet tray that was removable, held a fair amount, and was cheap. My 550B AKRO bin is both the perfect size and removable. You likely have all the materials on hand for the 550B so cost is $0. Residual 550B bench mount finished bullet bracket (aluminum) with structure cut off back. 7" long 2x4 cut at angle and lag bolted to strong mount from inside leg. Bracket screwed to front of wood and holes drilled for allen wrenches behind. Spray flat black and you're GTG. Look closely and you'll see a rubber band around the aluminum primer actuator rod housing and rod. This helps keep the actuator rod from walking out of the hole. A drop of oil in hole is a good idea. Also, an empty .45acp or 45 Colt case will fit on the head of the primer follower rod perfectly. Gives it a bit more weight and looks good too. Wood powder measure knobs: Take 2" hole saw and drill in 1/4" thick hardwood. Drop 1/2" hex head bolt in center hole and mark head shape. Take Exacto knife and cut out shape for press on fit. Paint knob, file notch in top edge, mark notch with white crayon, and press on to powder measure adjustment bolt. Print label on self stick printer label and apply. Primer Assy. Stand: A 2nd Primer assys make changing out primer sizes a quick treat. I made these stands from scrap stock I had laying around. Mark your assy (small or large) so you don't forget which is which. Spare primer assy makes primer size change a 20 second effort. The assy was like $30 and even though Dillon doesn't list it, they will sell you a setup. Buy the flat bearing plate too and mount with 2 screws to the housing to keep assy together when off the press.

Lower XL650 Casefeeder: Mark line at bottom of your casefeeder sitting on the support pipe, remove casefeeder and measure distance from line to top of pipe. Mark line just at bend in case feeder support tube and measure up same distance measured before. Cut off support pipe at measured line. Cut same length off of the feed tube (at bottom end, not top). Mount as usual and your casefeeder will be lower and easier to check, fill, change plates, etc. Wood powder measure knobs: Take 2" hole saw and drill in 1/4" thick hardwood. Drop 1/2" hex head bolt in center hole and mark head shape. Take Exacto knife and cut out shape for press on fit. Paint knob, file notch in top edge, mark notch with white crayon, and press on to powder measure adjustment bolt. Print label on self stick printer label and apply. Primer Assy. Stand: A 2nd Primer assy makes changing out primer sizes a quick treat. I made these stands from scrap stock I had laying around. Mark your assy (small or large) so you don't forget which is which. Spare primer assy makes primer size change a 20 second effort.

Cheap bullet tray & wrench holder for XL650. I needed a bullet tray that was removable, held a fair amount, and was cheap. My XL650 AKRO bin is both the perfect size and removable. You likely have most of the materials on hand so cost is minimal. Buy a finished bullet bracket from 550B Strong Mount from Dillon ($18). Mount in holes you drill in leg. Tool holder is a 4x4 post cut down and at an angle, lag bolted from inside leg, with holes drilled into top for allen wrenches (ball end set on sale at Harbor Freight for $6), nails on front for open end box wrenches (on sale at Harbor Freight for $7), and nail for Dillon's bench wrench at back. Sprayed flat black.

Primer Cup Issue: I solved the primer cup problem with a simple length of black electrical tape. The 'fix' has lasted 2 years and 11K rounds. Best of all the fix is easy and free. Take length of tape and fold over 1/3 of it's width on itself then attach it to the rim of the primer cup. It acts like a rubber boot to keep the primers where they belong. I also added some of the same tape to the 'ski jump' to keep the primers in place. Dillon Trimmer Mods I can't leave well enough alone so I decided that the switch box on the trimmer should live on an open space on the back of my XL 650 press (between the 2 rear mounting bolts) where it would be easy to reach and up off the bench. In addition, I shortened the power cable to pair it with the casefeed cable run to my outlet. A better view showing my fabricated mounting bracket with it between the 2 rear mounting bolts. It is solid as a rock and worked out really well. After mounting and adjusting the trimmer (straightforward), I cut a 2½" long piece of old shop vac wand and after rasping out one end, pushed it on the Dillon chip collar. Fits tight and makes attaching the vacuum a cinch. The red box highlights a wood 'collar stay' I made and will discuss below. I fired it up and started trimming. After a bit I noticed that the Dillon collar (Blue plastic collar that the vacuum hose attaches to) would ride up from the weight of the cantilevered vacuum hose attachment. This would let the brass shavings escape from the trimmer head. I noticed this when a brass sliver bounced off my glasses. A quick once over and I realized that the collar needed to be held down for proper and safe operation so I took a piece of scrap plywood and cut a circular 'collar stay' and slipped it on. Works like a charm.