The Dillon 550B reloading press is a stalwart in the reloading community, known for its speed, efficiency, and robust construction. This in-depth guide will explore its features, benefits, drawbacks, and everything you need to know before investing in this popular progressive reloading press. We'll cover setup, operation, common issues, and ultimately help you decide if the Dillon 550B is the right choice for your reloading needs.
Understanding the Dillon 550B's Advantages
The Dillon 550B's popularity stems from several key advantages it offers over other reloading presses:
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High Speed and Efficiency: The 550B is a progressive press, meaning it performs multiple steps in a single press stroke. This significantly speeds up the reloading process, making it ideal for high-volume shooters. You can easily produce hundreds of rounds per hour with practice.
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Reliable and Durable Construction: Dillon presses are renowned for their robust build quality. The 550B is made from heavy-gauge steel, ensuring longevity even under heavy use. This translates to a press that will likely outlast you and several generations of cartridges.
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Versatility: While known for its efficiency with pistol calibers, the Dillon 550B can be adapted to reload a wide range of rifle cartridges as well. This flexibility makes it a valuable tool for shooters with diverse firearm collections. This adaptability requires different dies and adjustments, of course.
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Consistent Reloads: The 550B's design promotes consistency in reloading. The precise mechanisms help create uniform cartridges with consistent powder charges and overall dimensions, contributing to improved accuracy and reliability.
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Large Community and Support: Dillon is a well-established company with a large and active community of users. This means readily available resources, tutorials, and troubleshooting assistance are always within reach.
Setting Up Your Dillon 550B: A Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up a Dillon 550B can seem daunting initially, but with a methodical approach, it’s manageable. The included instructions are excellent; however, many online resources can help you through this process.
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Assemble the Press: Begin by carefully assembling the press according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pay close attention to the details as proper assembly is crucial for optimal performance and safety.
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Install the Dies: The proper installation of dies is essential for accurate and consistent reloading. Each die will have to be set correctly for the specific cartridge. This involves carefully adjusting the die height to ensure proper sizing and powder charge dispensing.
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Case Feed System Setup: The case feed system is a cornerstone of the 550B's efficiency. Ensure the case feed system is set correctly to reliably feed cases to the sizing die. Adjustments to the case feed tray and the case feed mechanism might be necessary depending on the case dimensions.
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Powder Measure Calibration: This is perhaps the most critical step. Accurate powder charges are paramount for safety and consistency. Properly calibrate the powder measure according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use a scale to verify powder charges are accurate for each round.
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Primer System Setup: The automatic primer system should be carefully assembled and tested before starting a full reloading session. This system is a safety-critical aspect of the process.
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Test Run and Fine-Tuning: Before committing to a full run, perform a test run with a small batch of cases. This allows you to identify and correct any minor issues in the setup before committing to a large production run.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
While the Dillon 550B is an exceptional reloading press, it's essential to acknowledge some potential drawbacks:
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Initial Investment: The 550B represents a significant financial investment. The press itself, along with necessary dies, powder measure, and other accessories, can be expensive.
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Learning Curve: Mastering the 550B requires time and patience. The initial setup and fine-tuning can be challenging for beginners. Many experienced reloaders start with a single-stage press before moving to a progressive press like the Dillon 550B.
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Space Requirements: The 550B's size means it requires dedicated workspace. Ensure you have sufficient space to comfortably operate the press.
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Maintenance: Regular maintenance is necessary for optimal performance and to ensure longevity. This includes cleaning, lubricating, and occasional part replacement.
Is the Dillon 550B Right for You?
The Dillon 550B is a powerful and efficient progressive reloading press, but it's not the right choice for everyone. Consider these factors:
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Reloading Volume: If you reload a large volume of ammunition regularly, the 550B's speed and efficiency will make it an invaluable asset. However, if you only reload occasionally, a single-stage press may be a more suitable and less expensive option.
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Budget: The initial investment cost should be carefully considered. The 550B, along with the associated dies and accessories, is a costly investment.
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Space and Time: The press needs dedicated space and time for setup, use, and maintenance. The space requirements are larger than those required for a single-stage press.
Ultimately, the Dillon 550B is a highly capable and reliable reloading press that excels at speed and efficiency for high-volume reloaders who can afford the cost and dedicated space requirements. If your needs align with these factors, the 550B is a very capable machine and will provide years of reliable service.