Dillon RL550B tips and Tricks

[theunrulychef]

Man, I just tumble my 9mm and load them on the 650. You guys have too much time.

Yeah, for pistol brass pretty much this. Tumbling is almost optional. I put a bunch more work into rifle brass prep.

Blurry pic of my 550 below. My mods here:
• I used adhesive strip LEDs to line the frame for lighting. Also works great for the gun cabinet / safe.
• The calculator is a round counter I rigged up, but I rarely use it. There is a contact that grounds out when you cycle the shellholder, adding a number on the calculator.
• I use wire nuts on the powder adjustment bolt head for something easy to grab onto. Sometimes a quick hit with a lighter or torch helps them to form fit.
• I mounted a very small flat piece of plastic to the spent primer bin. That keeps most of the primers in the bin.

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, for pistol brass pretty much this. Tumbling is almost optional. I put a bunch more work into rifle brass prep.

Blurry pic of my 550 below. My mods here:
• I used adhesive strip LEDs to line the frame for lighting. Also works great for the gun cabinet / safe.
• The calculator is a round counter I rigged up, but I rarely use it. There is a contact that grounds out when you cycle the shellholder, adding a number on the calculator.
• I use wire nuts on the powder adjustment bolt head for something easy to grab onto. Sometimes a quick hit with a lighter or torch helps them to form fit.
• I mounted a very small flat piece of plastic to the spent primer bin. That keeps most of the primers in the bin.
]

That round counter is cool.

[theunrulychef]

For the counter, I just found an old junk calculator & soldered a lead to the "=" button & one to ground & ran wires over to the press. I rigged up a copper flap that stands up & the shell holder handle taps it, closing the circuit & advancing the calculator one. The contact / flap has to be electrically isolated from the press to work (the ground wire is attached to the press). To start the calculator, I press 1+ on the calculator, then every time the = goes, it advances.

[Fred762]

Man, I just tumble my 9mm and load them on the 650. You guys have too much time.

I do..finally have alot of time..all the days off and evenings I spent at work for 40+ years. I fool around alot w cases, various loads and so on..maybe a bit OCD, but like I said..I have time ;-)

[Don Quixote]

The sticky primer bar issue has been resolved. I took it apart, cleaned it all up with alcohol and reassembled it. Good as new.

I suspected I gunked it up because it got worse pretty quick after I added so,e oil.

I think maybe some powdered graphite next time.

[arjohnson]

Get a Lee factory crimp die for the 9mm, best 15.00 you will spend.

[Don Quixote]

Get a Lee factory crimp die for the 9mm, best 15.00 you will spend.

I have dies for 9mm and 38... both Lee. I like them so far, but I don't have a point of reference, I hear a tot of people like them. The set I bought for the 9 has a FCD.

[arjohnson]

I have dies for 9mm and 38... both Lee. I like them so far, but I don't have a point of reference, I hear a tot of people like them. The set I bought for the 9 has a FCD.

Then you are set, the factory crimp die works great. I use one for all my auto calibers I reload.

[Walleye Hunter]

I'm currently working on 9mm's on my 550, what kind of variation should I see in the OAL between rounds?

[bogey1]

I'm currently working on 9mm's on my 550, what kind of variation should I see in the OAL between rounds?

If I remember what mine were I'd say a few thousands or so.