Got a Deal on a Dillon RL550B Set Up...

[brianns]

300BLK and 223 use the same shell plate and pins.

I think .45acp and .308 might be same shellplate too. Maybe that means pins too if the have the same centers.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

I think .45acp and .308 might be same shellplate too. Maybe that means pins too if the have the same centers.

Not always.

The parent case of the 300BLK is 223. Hence the reason for conversion of 223 to 300BLK.

Calipers to measure the base of the case, the indented ring for the extractor, and other measurements are needed, before doing that.

Dillon did have a list of compatible shell plates and calibers. I'm not sure if they still do or not.

 

[brianns]

+1 on my memory.

I found my chart that came with my 550B and able to share now. Hopefully it can be zoomed in. It was only the one page back in 1997. Folks can email Dillon to double check for newer stuff.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

+1 on my memory.

I found my chart that came with my 550B and able to share now. Hopefully it can be zoomed in. It was only the one page back in 1997. Folks can email Dillon to double check for newer stuff. View attachment 465748 View attachment 465749

You sir, are awesome.

 

[brianns]

You sir, are awesome.

Thanks! Check out the link from Dillon's website.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/media/manuals/rl450-rl550-caliber-conversion-chart.pdf

I went retracing my steps to figure out how I began reloading 6.8SPC, a new caliber since I got my gear. Looks like I had found the chart but I had an email from Dillon to confirm too. I had thought another plate I had would work but they confirmed what was on the chart, etc. I had to buy the new shell plate for it. With 45acp and 6.8 I just did handloading without the progressive mode and didn't get the powder funnel and added powder measures. Stuff is just so expensive now or hard to find so I'm using different brand dies and not buying full conversion kits for stuff I'm just doing in small batches.

 

[BFMIN]

"The data in the one book, one caliber books is horribly out of date. I wouldn't use those at all."
Many have been updated.
As for the rest that's fine you do just that.
I will however mention I've been using it absolutely trouble-free for .303 Brit, &.62 NATO, .38 Spl & .357 Mag for some time so I don't think its that drastic a difference. I DID also mention to have a couple of "normal" reloading manuals & check to compare modern & older recipes.

 

[FN509Fan]

My 2 cents on this is to get yourself a small LED, mount it above the bullet seating station and use your eyes to confirm a correct powder charge before seating a bullet. Every. Single. Round.

these guys make some nice stuff

"Skylight" LED lighting Kit for the Dillon RL 550 B and C - Inline Fabrication

LED lighting system for the 550.....perfected. This Patent pending reloading press LED lighting system consists of a machined bushing with...

inlinefabrication.com

 

[4g64loser]

I know.this is a 650 and not a 550 but it's just a pic to illustrate the value of a strip of LEDs around the frame. It's a game.changer. went to this last year and I should have done it long before.

I also fabricated mounts to allow me.to put mirrors on the ceiling to see into the case feeders.