askomiko Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 (edited) Hi! I've loaded 9, 38, 40 and 223, with my 550 so far, and now I bought a new 650 for this. I'm planning to start reloading 45, which needs big primers. Should I sell the 550 and get a conversion for 650, or save it. Just how annoying and slow is the big/small primer change in 650? Edited January 12, 2012 by askomiko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCGLOCK Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 it's not slow at all. Some make it out to be a PIA, but it really isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natgas Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I sold my 550 and replaced it with a second 650; one of the best moves I've made Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeyedme Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 It's really not a big deal to change over. Some folks go as far as to have a whole second primer set-up for bolt on convenience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert King Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Sell the 550 and buy the second primer setup for the 650. I bought it from enos and it makes the switch a lot faster. Or better yet, sell the 550 and buy another 650, just keep the second 650 barebones for now. You should be able to get just the press for the same you will get for your whole 550 setup. Then you can get the casefeeder and other stuff later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I made the change from a 550 to a 650 some years ago. I really didn't have bench space for both presses. I have primer setups for both small and large so the change on top of the machine is simply 2 bolts and moving the low primer warning thing (1 allen screw). The primer punch underneath takes a bit more time due the the limited access on the nut. Many fractional wrench turns. In all, perhaps 15 min. Not bad. At first I thought it would be good to have the 550 on the side but that was before the 550 case feeder existed so I was not thrilled at giving up the case feeder. I knew a guy who was just starting out and his g/f wanted to give him a Christmas present but she didn't have a ton of money so I gave her a good deal on the 550. I wound up getting a Mr. Bullet Feeder and now I would not want to use anything else. That 550 will retain it's value so you may want to just put it aside for a rainy day Later, Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Dibs on the 550 when you sell it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I have had a 650 for over 10 years and just picked up a 550 a year ago. Switch the 650 is no problem but when I am running a large batch and I want to load something else I run it on the 550. That being said I like this Idea. I sold my 550 and replaced it with a second 650; one of the best moves I've made Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue edge Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Keep it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS26 Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I haven't bought a 45 because I don't want to have to change to large primers on my 550:) Should I just buy a 650 and then a 45? I only reload 9mm on my 550 I may have to try something new and live a little. BTW sell the 550 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Dibs on the 550 when you sell it! He is in Finland. Shipping would be a killer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Dibs on the 550 when you sell it! He is in Finland. Shipping would be a killer. It would even out if I can get it cheap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Z Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Once you've loaded on the 650 you won't want to go back. Sure, it takes a bit of time to change the primer size around. But you don't sit down and load 200 rounds at a time with a 650. When I sit down to load a caliber I usually don't change dies until I have loaded 4-5000 rounds. Reloading is just an extension of my shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottyPotty Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I dont see the point of having a 550 next to the 650. I was going to do this but it didn't make sense to me have to have to buy 2 different kinds of tool heads, conversion kits, etc. especially when the machine are kind of similar, sell the 550 to buy a basic 650 so all the parts are common to both presses. Or sell and buy something else to enhance your reloading room - giraud trimmer or something. I ended up getting a lee cast turret press that I find works great next to the 650. It handles prep and does a great job at smaller quantity's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colt Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I don't see the point of having a 550 next to the 650 I know what you mean but my 550 was to good of a deal to turn down. My brother got out of the reloading and it was all set up for 5 calibers. Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes777 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Keep the 550. Get the 650 caliber conversions for the ones you shoot a SH(T ton of. A second 650 would be great, but you already got the 550. The primer switch is nothing major. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nilrem Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Keep it. Much more versatile than any of the progressives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-Bear Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 I dont see the point of having a 550 next to the 650. I was going to do this but it didn't make sense to me have to have to buy 2 different kinds of tool heads, conversion kits, etc. especially when the machine are kind of similar, sell the 550 to buy a basic 650 so all the parts are common to both presses. Or sell and buy something else to enhance your reloading room - giraud trimmer or something. I ended up getting a lee cast turret press that I find works great next to the 650. It handles prep and does a great job at smaller quantity's. I regret selling my 550. I have a couple of calibers I would like to reload for but don't. I can't bring myself to fork over $200+ to load a caliber that I would only load a few hundred rounds a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottyPotty Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) I dont see the point of having a 550 next to the 650. I was going to do this but it didn't make sense to me have to have to buy 2 different kinds of tool heads, conversion kits, etc. especially when the machine are kind of similar, sell the 550 to buy a basic 650 so all the parts are common to both presses. Or sell and buy something else to enhance your reloading room - giraud trimmer or something. I ended up getting a lee cast turret press that I find works great next to the 650. It handles prep and does a great job at smaller quantity's. I regret selling my 550. I have a couple of calibers I would like to reload for but don't. I can't bring myself to fork over $200+ to load a caliber that I would only load a few hundred rounds a year. Having a 550 that only does a couple of hundred a year rounds would be a wast of a great press. But let me get this straight - you dont want to pay $200 for caliber changes but you would want to have a 400-600 dollars in a press you would only use for a couple hundred rounds a year? That doesent seem right to me...... I have some calibers I would like to do on my 650 but realized its not worth the money for amount I'm using. I found the Lee turret is perfect for job. $100 press, caliber conversions are about $10 Edited January 23, 2012 by ScottyPotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Keep the 550. It's easier and cheaper to convert for your other calibers. I use a LCT for my small run calibers. Even the 550 is kinda steep for some calibers IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrt4me Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Dibs on the 550 when you sell it! I have three 550s and may soon be selling one or two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Front Man Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Never, ever, sell a perfectly good 550. It's bad karma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Sold my 550 to get a 650 and I'm not kicking myself at all. Only complaint I have is that I crank out ammo so fast I have to pace myself or I can load my whole years ammo needs in one weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Sold my 550 to get a 650 and I'm not kicking myself at all. Only complaint I have is that I crank out ammo so fast I have to pace myself or I can load my whole years ammo needs in one weekend. I think the question is more about having a 650 and a 550 at the same time. 550 for low volume calibers and 650 for high volume calibers. Personally, the 650 is way more press then I need to load .380 and 10mm. 550 is perfect for that if your willing to spend the money needed for caliber conversion. I really like the 550. It's a great press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sc0 Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Keep the 550 unless you absolutely need to sell it for extra money The 550 is capable of loading more calibers, the 550 caliber conversion kits are cheaper, the 550 is less complex and with less parts. The 650 is a great press, but the 550 is a fine press and both work 100% for what they are designed to do. (I bought a 650 first, and then bought a BL550 for .45-70, .338Lapua, and prototype .308 loads.) BTW: changing out the Priming assembly is not difficult at all, only thing easier is a identical press setup for the other primer size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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