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Can I use my hornady dies in a Dillon 550 or 750? Also reading on Dillon dies, which die expands?

Yeah, Most all oif the standard work on Dillon presses. I've never used a Dillon die and don't even own one. Most of my dies are either RCBS or Forster with a few Hornady's and one Lyman. All work.

Expander function when appropriate is incorporated in the powder drop station. Cartridge-specific powder funnels are included with each conversion kit.

Example: my 550 is currently set up for .38 Spl. Station one has a RCBS carbide sizer/decapper. Station 2 is for the Dillon powder funnel/die/powder measure. Station 3 has a RCBS bullet seat die. Using a Redding taper crimp die on station 4.

Ok so my hornady dies sets, i just wont use my expander die use the powder die? Trying to decide if i want a 550 or 750 press

I have a 650 and its easy to use my normal pace is around 500 rds per hour , I wouldn’t want to go any slower!

i faced the same question as you and after the advice from the fire i decided to cry once and went 750 and glad i did

I have owned both presses. Sold the 750 because it was too easy for me to make mistakes on it that went unnoticed. The 550 is easier for me to slow down on and make sure everything is going well. To me it’s more important to make quality ammo versus quantity. I can still make plenty of ammo on the 550.

That makes zero sense. The machine doesn't have "senior moments", it doesn't make "unnoticed" mistakes.
The 550, on the other hand, can do double charges, missed primers, etc. because you are more involved.

That's correct. Dillion has a specific powder funnel that does the expanding process while dispensing the powder charge.


If you're doing a lot of one type of ammo, the 650 or 750 with a case feeder is the way to go. If you're doing a lot of smaller runs of several different types of ammo and chamberings, the 550 is faster/easier to change over and the caliber conversions are cheaper.

I used to have a 650, with caliber conversions for 9mm, .223, and .45ACP. It loaded ammo like a champ, but I grew tired of the change-overs. I now I run a pair of 550s, instead. I leave one 550 set up for small primers and the other one for large primers. Change-overs are quick and easy with extra tool heads.

I have had the 650 (which was replaced with the 750) and now have the 550.
You can mess up with either one ( or at least I can) As stated above the 550 is easier to correct your mess up with than the 650/750 but you can still correct your error with them as well. I found that if i look at your rounds as you are starting up and once you have come all the way down, I don't mess up near as much as when I go "brain dead" and just work the handle.
For me, I tend to load about a primer tubes worth and take a short break and do it again. If I try to pump things out in a marathon fashion, I make more mistakes.

Same here - one 550 for large primers; one for small primers, and tool heads with dies and powder measure installed for every caliber I choose to load on the 550s.

Same here.

This ^ ^

I've witnessed 3 shooters severely damage 1911 45s, and themselves some, and heard of three others. All these were caused by a double charge. One common thing to all 6 cases was the ammo was loaded on a 550. These would likely have been avoided with a press that auto advanced. I know millions of rounds have been loaded on 550s without incident. I also know I would not want a progressive press that didn't auto advance. I've owned a 650, a 1050, and currently load all my handgun ammo on Square Deals. I do have a 550 that I got in a trade about 15 years ago. I've never set it up.

Dennis.