[Roller handle mounting]

What's the best way to mount this thing? Square to the front? Rotated slightly? I know that I will have to adjust it to fit me but I was just checking for a starting point from those that had a few pulls on this handle under their belt.

Thanks

[Scored a 550 - Questions]

I have an original RL550 (preB) model I bought new in about 1985. I upgraded mine a couple of years after the conversion kits came out, I never had any problem with the original powder measure which used gravity and a small spring for the return, but thought the upgrade was a good idea. The primer warming system isn't necessary, my priming system worked just fine without it, but again I thought it was a good idea. If you have one of the old powder measures Dillon has a conversion kit for them as well, its a fairly simple upgrade, and I feel its a good idea.

Interesting, I typed in the second letter of the alphabet and the board inserted a smiley in its place...a little weird, so I'll try it without the space between the pre and the second letter of the alphabet.

Thanks. Got the kit today. Didn't work. Need a couple more parts. The original bellcrank screw did not go all the way through the measure (no star nut, no bushing). Need a longer bolt and a bellcrank bushing to make it look like my other measures and be able to use the nylock nut. The current arrangement allows too much slop in the bellcrank which allows the white bellcrank cube to fall out.

I will drop back by Dillon tomorrow and get the correct parts and confirm whether the springs are still required.

Update: I violated my own 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' policy and it figures. Dillon tech said my powder measure is one of the 'transition' models and the upgrade will not work on it.

Good news though is that since my powder measure is now 'not working', Dillon's No BS warranty kicks in and I get a new powder measure

Hard to beat customer service like that!

[Scored a 550 - Questions]

I have an original RL550 (preB) model I bought new in about 1985. I upgraded mine a couple of years after the conversion kits came out, I never had any problem with the original powder measure which used gravity and a small spring for the return, but thought the upgrade was a good idea. The primer warming system isn't necessary, my priming system worked just fine without it, but again I thought it was a good idea. If you have one of the old powder measures Dillon has a conversion kit for them as well, its a fairly simple upgrade, and I feel its a good idea.

Interesting, I typed in the second letter of the alphabet and the board inserted a smiley in its place...a little weird, so I'll try it without the space between the pre and the second letter of the alphabet.

Thanks. Got the kit today. Didn't work. Need a couple more parts. The original bellcrank screw did not go all the way through the measure (no star nut, no bushing). Need a longer bolt and a bellcrank bushing to make it look like my other measures and be able to use the nylock nut. The current arrangement allows too much slop in the bellcrank which allows the white bellcrank cube to fall out.

I will drop back by Dillon tomorrow and get the correct parts and confirm whether the springs are still required.

[Scored a 550 - Questions]

Thanks. I work about 1 mile from Dillon. I will stop by there this morning and pick up a couple of items. I checked it out a little more yesterday afternoon and it just needed some dust knocked off.

The 550B added the fail safe mechanism, as you noted, and the low primer alarm. That's it. Older 550s can easily be upgraded. In my opinion, if you are used to loading with the failsafe mechanism, it makes sense to have both presses basically the same. If you are not mechanically challenged, you can do the failsafe upgrade, but if the press is at all questionable, I'd send it to Dillon for an overhaul. It'll be the best $49 you ever spent.

And yes, the primer mechanism is the same.

Enjoy your new press!

[Scored a 550 - Questions]

I have been using my 550B for quite a while. Just scored a good deal on a 550 (not 550B from what I gather). I want to set one up for large primers and one for small primers.

What are the differences?

Which do I need to address?

I noticed that the toolheads are the same.

I see that the powder measure doesn't have the $27 'failsafe' kit. Do I really need to upgrade it?

Is the primer assembly the same?

It operates smoothly but I was still thinking about dropping it off at Dillon and have them go through it. Good idea?

Thanks. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Loading 223 on a 550]

It finally came to me what it is called...a headspace gauge...well...DUH!

and here are a few pics of it:

just coincidentally that pic is from this link:

which appears to be a pretty good article.

this is what it actually looks like in the package:

duh! bushings is what those grayish silverish things are called. duh!

anywhooo....there might be some people to come along shortly who just use a case gauge to figure out if the case needs to be resized in the first place.

if the just fired case doesn't fit the case gauge, then they'll go ahead and resize/deprime it. then they will stick it back into the case gauge to see if it fits and how well...and I guess that's how some people adjust their sizing dies. I guess...

You can do the same thing with a caliper and a spent case that fits above the shoulder. It's just a relative measurement.

[Powder measure options]

Give Dillon a call or take a drive over and pose your question to them.

Pat

Will do but they are closed tomorrow Hoping to get some other ideas that might not be 'corporate approved'. Handloaders are an industrious and frugal bunch. I'll spend the $75 per but I would rather not if I don't have to.

[Powder measure options]

New Dillon owner as of today and just loaded up 100 rounds of 223. Not hard to get set up and once I got a rhythm going, I blew through the batch.

I wondered why it took me so long to buy one (550B) since Dillon HQ is less than 3 miles from my office. Been single staging on Rockchuckers for close to thirty years and never thought I needed anything more. Then I had to start loading 223 and 357. That gets old quick on a single stage.

Back on topic. My question has to do with using non-Dillon powder measures. Can you use a Lyman 55 or Lee Perfect Powder measure in place of the Dillon and just manually dump the powder?

I also have a Chargemaster 1500 and see one of those 'funnels' in my future for powders that don't meter so well.