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What would you guys here recommend for a reloading press? I've been looking at a Dillon 550B as I have both rifles and pistols to reload for. Opinions?

Thanks in advance!

Blitz

Depends on what you are loading for, volume or precision. I use a single stage(RCBS) works fine for my applications. If I want to load volume, then it would be a Dillion, and I will just use my brothers.

Dillon products are excellent. I also have a 550 and it is great for large amounts, however if working working up a load it is time consuming to change power charge and bullet seating depth. That said I use a RCBS Rockerchucker for load developement and small lots of hunting ammo. The 550 has a long stroke for loading pistol ammo, but it works fine. An added expense is shellplates are needed for each different case head size.

Hey Blitz ... how's it up in the NW corner of the state ? ....

For some folks , reloading is the prelude to the main event .... For others , it is the main event ..... and for the last remaining group ( like myself ) , I enjoy both - a lot .

The Dillon is a lifetime press . Over the last 18 years , I've replaced a couple of $5 springs . However , my 550B is used exclusively for pistol cartridges only .


When it come to bottle neck rifle cartridges , I'd rather do each step one at a time = single stage or turret press set up .

I have a RCBS Rock Chucker II single stage press , that produces less than .002 slop , when a dial indicator is placed on the ram ( ram is all the way up / handle all the way down ) .. very tight and accurate .


When I'm in a nostalgic mood , I prefer to use the following :

(1) Vintage Lyman Tru-Line Jr press ....these are great presses when neck sizing is performed . They use the Ideal 310 " Tong Tool " dies ...









(2) Or I'll take out my Lyman Ideal 310 " Tong Tool " ... yep , I really enjoy the " under 30 " crowd at my Rod and Gun club asking me " what the hell is that thing " ....



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(3) Or I'll use my Savage 730 " Straight 8 " ..... Rock solid and well made :


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Ditto what 300Savagehunter said. The Dillon 550 is a great machine and their tech support people are top notch. Even if they don't list a change over kit for what you are loading they can figure out what will work. Before they listed a kit for .50 Beowulf I contacted them by e-mail about using a shellplate for a 7.63x39 and asked what else I'd need. Had the answer in about 10 minutes. That shellplate plus a large powder funnel and I was good to go. (I'm assuming that they list the .50 Beo. kit now but I have not looked).

Redding T-7 and never look back.

(3) Or I'll use my Savage 730 " Straight 8 " ..... Rock solid and well made :

I'd like to have one to put next to my Savage shotshell press.

I use Single Stages, aftyer I broke a Rockchucker resizing some brass, I found and old Herter's Single Stage that works great, so I use a Rockchucker and a Herter's now. Sent my Lyman and Lee presses on their way, The Lyman is in Indiana, and the Lee is up in Northern Canada. Les

Funny ... I'd like the shotgun reloader next to my 730

Back in the early 1960s, I bought a new Texan Turret Press... but I've never used it as a progressive turret press.

It has 7 "stations" on the turret-head and I use them to keep two die-sets for center-fire rifles (currently .300 Savage & 7x57) and one 3-die pistol die-set (.44 magnum) ready to be used at all times.

Since the .300 Savage & 7x57 use the same shell-holder, it's a simple matter to turn the turret to the appropriate caliber set of dies and start reloading.

The .44 magnum takes a different shell-holder, but once that is changed, I'm ready to reload the .44 pistol rounds since all the dies for all three calibers are already set up to the proper height and locked down.

I have die-sets for about a dozen calibers, but these three die-sets are the calibers I use most.

However, since I load mostly "accuracy" and hunting loads... and rarely load any great volume (usually never more than 50 rounds and often just 20 or 30 rounds) of any particular caliber, I don't really need a high-volume loading press like any of the Dillon Presses.

From everything I've heard... for good, high-volume reloading, I understand that the Dillon line of reloading presses are excellent values.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

I'll trade my shotshell press for your rifle press... or maybe you can trade your rifle press for my... or maybe... somehow this just isn't working.

Thanks for all the info guys. I have dies, bullets and brass for my HP22, nothing for my 300EG yet, and target shoot at an indoor range with a Kimber CDPII (45 ACP). With the new administration coming in, I want to be ready to keep myself in ammo.

Just in case...

Since I bought a house in Sept. I'm no longer in NW CT. Kinda SW now...

Blitz

I didn't think Conn. was big enough to have a NW or a SW.

My bad...

I'd think it was kinda like being in the SW corner of your living room.

Hey , hey now ... we're larger than Delaware , Rhode Island , and ..... and that's it .

The S.W. part of the Connecticut is " supposably " the most expensive part of the USA to live ( cost of living ).

Me , I live in the poorest part of the state ( N.E. corner ). We're called the " quiet corner " and I wouldn't have it any other way

Hope to meet you someday Blitz ..... You , hihobruce77 , Savage_99 and myself should get together and have a $8 buffalo burger at Cabela's someday .

LOL