AR15-SBR Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I am planning on buying a 550 after Christmas. I plan on loading mainly my high volum ammo(9mm.45ACP and 38) and continue to load my rifle stuff on my Rockchucker...for now(I suspect a complete changeover will come). I will be using my RCBS 3 die set on the 550B. Question #1, What do most people do with the empty station? Thanks AR15-SBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnote Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Use a 4 die set up, I guess u could try a powder check, but most seat and crimp in separate stations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Use a 4 die set up, I guess u could try a powder check, but most seat and crimp in separate stationsAgreed. But if 3 dies work OK I guess you could use a powder check or maybe put an FCD in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR15-SBR Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 Cnote...seat and crimp in seperate stations...but why. I don't want to come off as a jerk, so please hear me out. I have been shooting and reloading for over 30 years and during that time my RCBS Rockchucker and RCBS dies have made MANY thousands of accurate pistol rounds. This is why I ask about seating and crimping in seperat stations. I am in a position that affords me the opprotunity to shoot more and to be honest I don't feel like pulling the handle three times for every one round of ammo, this is the reason for the change to a progressive press. I just don't want to start all over on my equiptment. Thanks for letting me vent, if you will AR15-SBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 1. Size/deprime, prime 2. Powder charge 3. Seat the bullet 4. Crimp Is how they are intended to be used. If you want to seat and crimp on 3, go for it, you don't have to have a die in #4. If you leave 3 empty and seat and crimp in 4 you will have to operate the machine, insert cases and feed bullets all with your right hand and do nothing with your left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Thinking out loud here. Wouldn't the ammo be more consistent with all stations full? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UncleTK Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Back in the good old days 1) Resize 2) Prime (Priming Arm on Press) (No Hand Priming Tool) 3) Bell Case for Pistol (Lyman M Die) for lead bullets (Swaged Lead or Hard Cast) 4) Powder 5) Seat & Crimp (Poor results for swaged bullets) If you had a RCBS or Lyman turret press that held 6-7 dies that you turned by hand (YOU HAD A SUPER LOADER) The next big thing was combining Belling & Powder and two separate dies for seat and crimp (Better results for swaged lead) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwhpfan Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 If seat and crimp work for you, just leave the last station empty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Cnote...seat and crimp in seperate stations...but why. I don't want to come off as a jerk, so please hear me out. I have been shooting and reloading for over 30 years and during that time my RCBS Rockchucker and RCBS dies have made MANY thousands of accurate pistol rounds. This is why I ask about seating and crimping in seperat stations. I am in a position that affords me the opprotunity to shoot more and to be honest I don't feel like pulling the handle three times for every one round of ammo, this is the reason for the change to a progressive press. I just don't want to start all over on my equiptment. Thanks for letting me vent, if you will AR15-SBR well, I have some good news for you. with a progressive, you will pull the handle once for each completed round. you will have an extra pull for nothing when you start and one more for when you are ending. with pistols most do separate seat and crimp. you can use the extra station for a powder check. miranda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR15-SBR Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 I guess I will leave #4 open. I thought someone here might be able to inlighten me as to why you should seat and crimp in seperate stations.... Again I am not trying to come across as a Dic#, I just don't buy into the "because THEY designed it that way" line. If there is a practicaland measureable accuracy benefit, that someone can explaine to me, than I am open to trying it...if not then the 4th station is useless. FYI, Tomorrow I am going to pick up a used 550b, that appears to be a good deal, so you don't have to "sell" me on the system. The quality of Dillons Progressive press is what sold me. Again I am just trying to understand the advantage/benefits of seperating the two stations. Thanks for the help AR15-SBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 The main reason to seat and crimp separately is its easier to setup/adjust. With the combined die if you change crimp that also changes oal. It's not a massive deal. Many people do use a combined seat/crimp die. On a progressive the extra die makes no extra work as a single pull of the handle completes all actions. It also allows for the option of using something like the fcd which apart from applying a taper crimp also has a sizing ring go over the completed round to ensure no defects/bulges anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR15-SBR Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share Posted December 10, 2015 BeerBaron, Perfect answer, That is something I can wrap my brain around. Thank You very much Sir. AR15-SBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan550 Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Another reason to seat/crimp in separate stations would be if you're loading lead, plated or coated bullets. In the final fraction of an inch on the stroke, the crimp process will shave some off the bullet as it's being seated, especially on "roll-crimped" ammo. Seating by itself and applying the crimp later prevents this from happening, as the bullet is as far into the case as it is going before the crimp even begins to be done. This can happen with jacketed as well, but not as much........usually. Alan~^~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraightSh00ter Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 If it were me (and I wanted to keep the seat/crimp die) I would see if I could make a bullet feeder work. My guess (having no experience with the 550) is that the biggest challenge is finding a way to load brass with your left hand. If you can do that, something like the RCBS bullet feeder die would let you keep your right hand on the lever, and flip the shell plate and load brass with your left hand. There are threads online about running a bullet feeder die on the 550, but I would see what the guys here do first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 If it were me (and I wanted to keep the seat/crimp die) I would see if I could make a bullet feeder work. My guess (having no experience with the 550) is that the biggest challenge is finding a way to load brass with your left hand. If you can do that, something like the RCBS bullet feeder die would let you keep your right hand on the lever, and flip the shell plate and load brass with your left hand. There are threads online about running a bullet feeder die on the 550, but I would see what the guys here do first.That would be a neat trick as brass goes in on the right side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bkreutz Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 Well, you could leave the hole empty and stare at it contemplating the meaning of life....... or do what I did when I ditched the powder check on my 650 and put one of inline fabs lights into the hole so it shines right down the case after the powder drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vixty Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 i have a fcd in station 4 but it does nothing because my lee seating die removed the bell. I have the seating die backed all the way out to keep from crimping but it still removes the bell and leave the diameter at .376 which works just fine, so no crimp required. I guess I leave a fcd in station for as a just in case although I set it so that with the ram all the way up it touches the bullet then I back it of a quarter turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR15-SBR Posted December 14, 2015 Author Share Posted December 14, 2015 Well, I went ahead and bought it. I got it used whith a BUNCH of extras. Came with 45ACP and 40S&W Dillon dies....I don't even have a 40, but he through in sooooo many components for the 40 I am thinking about going out and buying one. SO for now at least I won't have to look at the empty hole. Guys, Thanks for the info. AR15-SBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I bet your going to love that 550 so much you'll have to get a 650. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DS26 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Bullet feeder!!!! I'm thinking about upgrading to a 650 for the extra hole for the bullet feeder. I already have a case feeder but the bullet feeder and auto indexing would be real nice! Edited January 12, 2016 by DS26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckstur Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Well, I went ahead and bought it. I got it used whith a BUNCH of extras. Came with 45ACP and 40S&W Dillon dies....I don't even have a 40, but he through in sooooo many components for the 40 I am thinking about going out and buying one. SO for now at least I won't have to look at the empty hole. Guys, Thanks for the info. AR15-SBR I will swap you a set of 7.62 dies for the 40 S&W dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR15-SBR Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 chukster....Thanks for the offer but I have 7.62 covered....9mm, 357 or 44 Mag perhaps???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phecksel Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 i bought an M die for the cast lead "experiment". Gone back to jacketed, but still using the M die. It's eliminated the occasional tipped bullet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Dillon 550's are only 4 holers. With a 3 die set, and powder drop thru bell station, there will be no extra hole. The reason for separate seat and crimp is to have more precise control over the OAL independent of the crimp (bell removal) die. And on a progressive it doesn't matter how many holes are in the tool head, it will throw a round every time you pull the handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckstur Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 No surplus in those calibers, thanks.... C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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