Ben Cartwright SASS

Does the 550 use the same head as the 650 case feeder, just totally different hardware? I was thinking if I were to get a case feeder for my 550 and eventually got a 650 could most of the money of a new case feeder be saved by just getting new hardware? Actually a friend told me to ask that, my feeling is that it wouldn't be worth the effort and expense. For now I am seeing what kind of production I get out of the 550 I have. Also once my wife finds out how much shooting even with loading my own costs, she is going to have a fit! With the brass I have I figure it is about 15 cents a round when I buy case bullets. I do cast my own, but it is very time consuming.

Replaced duct tape with velcro can now move mirror around and also see right to the bottom of a 38 special case.

I rigged this up with a desk lamp and some duct tape, it actually works i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad65/n1usd/SW%20forum/Dilloncloseup.jpg

Old Vark I like that idea with the Bar-B-Q light, I had tried the mirror but hadn't thought to stick it in the hole. A friend recommended a dental mirror I will try both but with the light!

I am a brass scrounger and in weighing 20 rounds they varied as much as 8 grains, when I pulled the bullets they were all right on 4 grains of 231. I use Trail Boss because I like it, in my 45-70 it is as accurate at 100 yards as 5744 (or is it 5477) with 3.9 grains in a .38 it has a real whollop and gets the POI right on POA at 10 yards. I also use it my 44-40, haven't tried it in the 30.06 but did nice in the 30-30

Thank you.

I was discussing maybe getting a 650 with the case feeder for .38's and selling my 550B, he said I should check into whether the 650 case feeder has an adapter that would fit the 550B and I could keep the 550B for 44-40 and .45 acp and use it with the 650 case feeder. Does anyone know if they have such an adapter? I wouldn't think so since they make a case feeder for the 550B.

I have never had a squib on my 550 (knock on wood) recently I thought I might have done a double charge of 231 in a 38 Special. I wasn't sure and am in the process of pulling 400 bullets, have done 200 so far, all were fine. I actually switched back to Trail Boss to fill the case so I could see it better. I tried a mirror in the back over the seating die but the shellplate when it moved up hit it. To me, maybe I have a big head, I find it hard to see inside a 38 special or 357 case if using a non-bulky powder. can anyone give me some ideas on how best to check powder to avoid squibs and doubles?

Chevyoneton I too had thought about a second 550B for my .38 Specials, I have 12 different conversion kits and 8 toolheads setup. The biggest thing I see about the 550B is that it seems such a pain to change primers and also no powder checker and it is hard to see inside the 38 cases. I had thought about a large primer machine and a small one. The main reason I am wavering on the 650 or the second 550 is that I have a friend who has a 1050 and he don't mind my running it for my .45s, he even offered to change it over to .38 specials so I could do a couple thousand and get ahead of the game.

Tried the stool with handle at shoulder height, still couldn't see the poweder, to far down in a thin .38 case. I switched back to Trail Boss 3.9 grains behind a 158 grain bullet, plenty of omph for Cowboy shooting as I am not a gamer. Also I stood up all 6' 1" of me. When the handle is at the top of the stroke my forearm is parrell to the ground, the bottom of the stroke is a hair low but I am already on a Strong mount and close to the low ceiling However I can see the power really well since the case is 2/3 full. I need to get a couple mats for the floor.

This morning I was thinking about possibly selling the 550 and the 10 tool heads I have and buying a 650 in it's place. One of the big things to me is that it is hard to double charge a round and hard to get a squib if I also get the powder checker die although talking to Brian today he said don't count on the powder checker visually look into each case. So until I decide what to do I am going to stand to reload and rig a light so I can look into each case before seating the bullet, that should avoid squibs and double charges. Has anyone rigged a mirror so you could sit and still see into the tool head?

I was reading the description of the 550 650 and 1050, it says that if you load 2000+ rounds a month get the 650. In a single caliber, .38 Special, I will normally load 400-500 a month, while also wanting to load the ones listed above. How tough is it to change from small to large primers? That is one of the reasons I was think of a second machine I could leave it set for Small or large primers.

I had been leaning towards kyreb's solution, a brace of 550's one for large one for small, but now I am certainly torn between that and a 650 for my small primer needs, mostly .38's but also 9mm .223 and 30 carbine. The only other small primer round I load is .38 S&W for my "British" Victory's and few Boston Police Colts (BPD marked), I have brass for .380 but have never reloaded it yet. My large primer rounds are 30.06 44-40 45-70 .303 .45 acp 7.62x54R and 8mm

I have been reloading for about a year with a Dillon 550. I have done nothing but small primer rounds, doing my 44-40 and 30.06 on a rock chucker and .45s on a friends 1050. I have never set it for large primers as it works and I don’t want to mess it up, and I am weighing each charge for the 30.06. recently my youngest son (of 3) and I got into Cowboy shooting, his alias is Joe Cartwright. I had been shooting .38's and up till now the 550 has handled it. I go through about 300 round a month (38s) now I will be doing 600-800 a month (38) and 100-200 (44-40) I had been thinking of getting another 550 and set it up for large primers for 44-40 .45acp etc while leaving the other set up for 38s with the occasional 9mm .223 .30 carbine. a friend who has a 1050 suggested a 650 with a case feeder. my output is about 250 38s an hour but I don't rush. I am not sure what to do. Does the 650 seat the primer on the upstroke like t he 550? with the 1050 i couldn’t get used to the motion