I'm considering purchasing a Dillon RL550B to speed up revolver cartridge.Are there any special considerations for loading rifle cartridges on it?

Should it be used as a single stage when loading rifle cartridges?

If used as a progressive,what about the case lube?

For loading 357 & 44,is there any reason not to use my current RCBS carbide dies with a Dillon?I have been reading about the seperate crimping station,but I have never had a problem seating and crimping at the same time.What am I missing?

I've never seen one in use,so any tips/explanations wouls be helpful.

PS:I currently have an RCBS Rockchucker,but due to space limitations,I would like to use "one for all".

With the rifle cases you still need to use the lube. I would suggest resizing your cases, inspecting, and cleaning the primer pockets the old fashioned way if you perform those steps. It allows you to better keep track of some important things. Loading rifle cases on the press is no big deal, but I've only done it with smaller casings.

I've used RCBS dies with great success on the 550B, so you should have no problems there. You'll get a more uniform crimp by performing the process in 2 steps..also opens the option of using a better or special type of crimp die. Some folks like Lee Factory Crimp Dies, Redding Profile Crimp die, etc, etc.

I much prefer seating and crimping in two steps, especially with cast bullets.

Yeah,I knew I would need the lube.I was wondering about running the lubed cases thru the rest of the process.So,you resize,remove and clean/inspect cases.That's kinda what I had in mind.

I'll primarily be doing 22-250 rifle cases.

I'll have to learn more about the crimp dies.I'll be doing 90% cast bullets for pistols.

I've been loading for 25 years,but I have done virtually none for the last 10.

You don't need a special crimp die, just some people feel they enhance the consistency (accuracy) of their loads. I have seen where a good crimp, especially with light loads in a large case could really enhance the way a certain recipe shoots. You could use another standard roll crimp or taper die, you just back the seating stem out so it doesn't seat the bullet any deeper.

The spray on case lube from Hornandy works well for a progressive press. Doesnt gum up the works too much.

I load match ammo for NRA highpower XTC shooting on my Dillon RL550. I use a FL die in its own tool head to size, then toss in the vibratory cleaner to remove the case lube. Inspect primer pockets, clean and trim as necessary. Goes faster than doing it on a single stage as you only need to touch the case once when you put it into the press. I use the automatic case kicker as it goes around the shell plate and ends up in the bin. After sizing, cleaning and trimming, I have powder and seating dies in another tool head to prime, charge with powder and seat the bullet semiprogressively. Really speeds things up over a single stage and the ammo really is match quality. My 223 and 308 ammo would hold the X ring at 600 yards if only I could do my part all the time.

I load .30-06, .308, and ,223 on my Dillon 550B for semi automatic rifles. Have had excellent success, and of course the speed of reloading is marvelous, especially when feeding a hungry match rifle.

Also load .45-70, .243, and .222 on the same press. Works great, and the Dillon parts support/replacement policy is terrific!

Larry

Thanks for the help guys.Great info!

223m70,that's what I wanted to hear.Practices/procedures that are being used.Do you wipe off the cases before throwing them in the vib. cleaner.Doesn't that gum up the media quickly?

llsierra,do you use a procedur similar to 223m70s,or do you run 'em straight thru,case lube and all?

kciH,so if I decide to use a "special" crimp die,which I probably will,I only need the crimp die,to be used with my current dies.

Any other tips/ideas about using the Dillon would be great.I'll definitely be getting one.Best place to purchase one?

PS:I also may load some 223 and 25-06 as I have the dies for them also.Maybe even some 9mm,although with a Bass Pro store in my backyard(3 miles),I can catch those for remarkable prices at times.$3.99 a box once and $4.99 a few times.

I like my RL550B for handgun cartridges, but it's not worth the trouble for rifle, IMO. I much prefer a good turret press like the Redding or the old Lyman T Mag for rifle loading.

<223m70,that's what I wanted to hear.Practices/procedures that are being used.Do you wipe off the cases before throwing them in the vib. cleaner.Doesn't that gum up the media quickly?>

I use Hornady One Shot spray lube for resizing. I stand the cases up and spray from above at about a 45* angle making sure it goes inside the case neck also. That helps keep the expander ball from dragging through the necks. I use standard RCBS dies with the expander ball polished and get excellent neck concentricity. After sizing, I toss into the vibratory case cleaner and use about a 1/4 sheet of Bounce fabric softener to keep down the dust and help keep the media cleaner. I usually run for about an hour but I think 15-20 minutes is really enough to remove the lube.

I do all the normal case prep procedures after sizing and cleaning. I trim with a power trimmer (from Giraud Tool Company, absolutely the best there is for volume use), check primer pockets and overall inspect the cases before going to the next step of actually loading them.

I then use another tool head for the actual loading. I use the RCBS universal decapping die in station 1 to knock out any media that may get stuck in the flash hole and get missed during inspections. I use the standard RCBS seating die for bullet seating. As far as powder charging, for the 30 cal's and other medium size cases, the Dillon measure works fairly well with powders like Varget and IMR4895. Longer grained powders like IMR4064 don't meter nearly as consistently. In smaller cases with stick powder it is not uncommon to experiernce powder bridging across the Dillon powder funnel which can make a real mess when the charge drops after you rotate the shell holder instead of in the case. For 223 and Varget I use an RCBS Uniflow measure mounted to a Hornady case activated powder drop instead of the Dillon measure and it is very consistent and never a problem with powder bridging like the Dillon measure and Varget in 223. You can also ream the powder funnel for the Dillon measure to make the funnel portion a little larger and gradually tapered and eliminate the bridging problem, but it still won't be as consistent as the Uniflow.

For the 223 I keep a couple thousand cases in the works all the time. I clean, size, and clean again after each range session. I trim when I get a batch of at least 500 cases ready to go. I then load a batch when I have at least a thousand cases ready to go. That way you always have enough ammo for any unexpected practice sessions or last minute matches.

I load 270 Win. and 22-250 using my Dillon 550B and a Pact Electronic Powder Trickler. I measure the powder into the case a grain under my desired charge, dump the powder into the powder pan on the scale push the button and the one grain undercharge is trickled out and I have an exact charge everytime. I call it single staging with a progressive. Also if one is loading maximum loads sometimes you have a full case and cannot throw a full charge into the case so cannot load progressivly. You then have to use a drop tube to compact the charge into the case. If one is loading 223 brass or any cartridge using a powder that does not fill the case and you are not concerned about an exact charge everytime there would be no problem loading progressivly.

OP back with an update.I was surprised this thread was back-to-the-top.

Well I picked up a Dillon on eBay for a great deal.I ran a couple hundred 357s through it to get used to it a little.Great machine!I even tested the Dillon No BS warranty.The little ball on the bottom of the primer slide,where the spring attaches was broken off.They are as good as reported,sending me a new slide immediately.I pretty much followed 223m70s advice for loading 22-250s.Great advice!The only thing I may change is to use a hand priming tool.Having the cases sized,decapped,and cleaned,and in hand,it only seems natural to prime in front of the TV.I was getting some trash(powder granules,shaved brass) on the primer punch,and needing to keep a close eye on it,slowing me down.What do you think?Which hand primer?

The only problem I had was putting the bullet on the shell in station 2 and running it into the powder measure,making a mess.I guess you guys have done that also.

223m70,where did you get the Hornady adapter?I have a Uniflow measure.It sounds like something I need to invest in.Great idea about the Universal Decap die also.Thanks again all!