Should I sell my Dillon 550B ??

[Wobbly]

Question for you Dillon reloading press owners....

I'm considering selling my 550 and upgrading to a 650. When I started out I was reloading several calibers each session, but these days I tend to load one single caliber in higher volumes. I would consider a Lock-N-Load AP, but I got too much Dillon stuff after a decade of ownership.

Besides the press, it would also mean 7 new tool heads and 4 caliber conversion kits, so it's a fairly involved and expensive upgrade. It would probably mean selling some pieces on eBay, which is a PIA.

There would be new things to learn concerning the 650's operation, and probably new drawbacks... Like "oops I can't do that on this press".

Has anyone out there actually survived this swap-over ? What are the weak points of the 650 ? What additional accessories are required to make it run smoothly ?

 

[1SOW]

Didn't "Clint007" go through the same upgrade?

[Smitty79]

I keep thinking of doing this.   I load about 300 rounds a week on a tricked out 550.  I have 3 calibers.  I always come back to asking myself if it's worth the cost and hassle for a few minutes a week.

I ordered a new Shadow instead.

[DeltaGray]

 Wobbly, I have no good answer to your question but had a question when I saw the subject line (before I read the msg).  You must have a collection,  My 550BL loads as least four pistol calibers--didn't get a conversion plate/kit for .45 Auto Rim or other pistol calibers.  My RCBS press still works for rifle and other.
Maybe you could use a protege (written without accent marks) re-loader human helper to work shift work when you pulling triggers and not pulling the Dillon handle.  I have no 650 answers for you.  Lock-N-Load AP sounds like a Hornady thing.  I threw away a Hornady shotgun press (into the trash) when a customer support guy that that parts were not available for a particular press (not my former 366 that still worked but I sold it).  Steve Hornady will not miss me for presses.  Don't sell me your 550 for what the 650 setup will cost.  Anyway, I hope that it does not cost me to pick on you.  I am called "cheap" regarding spending money but I took economic classes in college (not my major) but then maybe you have money to burn or else you want to load faster.  Whats sa matter for you?  Want to spend more time shooting and less time re-loading?  I chimed when I saw the subject line but I said that words ago (but I had fun).

[Grendel]

Wobbly, I have no good answer to your question but had a question when I saw the subject line (before I read the msg).  You must have a collection,  My 550BL loads as least four pistol calibers--didn't get a conversion plate/kit for .45 Auto Rim or other pistol calibers.  My RCBS press still works for rifle and other.
Maybe you could use a protege (written without accent marks) re-loader human helper to work shift work when you pulling triggers and not pulling the Dillon handle.  I have no 650 answers for you.  Lock-N-Load AP sounds like a Hornady thing.  I threw away a Hornady shotgun press (into the trash) when a customer support guy that that parts were not available for a particular press (not my former 366 that still worked but I sold it).  Steve Hornady will not miss me for presses.  Don't sell me your 550 for what the 650 setup will cost.  Anyway, I hope that it does not cost me to pick on you.  I am called "cheap" regarding spending money but I took economic classes in college (not my major) but then maybe you have money to burn or else you want to load faster.  Whats sa matter for you?  Want to spend more time shooting and less time re-loading?  I chimed when I saw the subject line but I said that words ago (but I had fun).

Wait, what?

[coolcw1987]

Yes, to me. $50. Im thinking about starting reloading, how long did you have the 550?

[Wobbly]

Yes, to me. $50. I'm thinking about starting reloading, how long did you have the 550?

I've owned this press since the turn of the century !! So over 15 years.

It would need to sell for over $500, but it would come with several options and accessories. So many that the buyer would almost need to be local. I hate packing really heavy stuff like this for shipment.

[Wobbly]

Maybe you could use a protege (written without accent marks) re-loader human helper to work shift work when you pulling triggers and not pulling the Dillon handle. 

Thanks. I have fond memories of my 2 boys assisting. It really went very fast with one son each on bullet and case insertion. But Dang!, both my auto-feeders grew up and got married !!

I threw away a Hornady shotgun press (into the trash) when a customer support guy that that parts were not available for a particular press (not my former 366 that still worked but I sold it).  Steve Hornady will not miss me for presses. 

Hornady has not endeared itself to shotgun reloaders by discontinuing the production of Pacific press parts. People love them, but do (literally) have to throw them in the trash when they break a part.

[Wobbly]

So 650 users....
Do you really need that bearing upgrade beneath the shell plate ?? Is that just for some people who don't know how to adjust the mounting bolt tension, or it for people with case feeders ??

I understand the function, but I don't understand the driver.

[jameslovesjammie]

IDescribe should be around shortly.  If there are any shortcomings to the press, he will fill you in.

As far as getting rid of your 550, is it a necessity to fund the new press, and do you have room for 2 presses?  The reason I ask is that when I bought my Lee Classic Cast Turret, I was going to get rid of my single stage because I didn't think I was going to need it.  When I bought my LNL-AP, I was going to get rid of my turret press because I didn't think I was going to need it, either.  Now, I STILL have 3 presses in my basement and I use all of them for different things.

[nicky]

I personally don't see the differance in the speed of the 2 presses unless you plan on getting the case feeder or the bullet feeder.

Or as James said keep the 550 & use them for different calibers.

[DeltaGray]

One of my thoughts was to not sell the Dillon 550B too soon.  There are some hints in the replies to your question. I hope that Dillon staff can answer any technical questions (contrast/compare model differences) before Dillon gets trashed (on any forum). Customers can call the phone number for technical questions.  You will probably get some good comments  from our forum members.

[2bfree]

Only reason I can see to order the 650 is you can go ahead and order the 2017 calendar at the same time and not have to pay extra shipping. 

[DeltaGray]

2bfree, I should be quiet but my state (not my mental state) gave me a 2017 calendar for free.  The 2017 calendar's first provided month is October 2016 (but includes all of 2017).  That calendar allowed me to pencil in potential workshops, classes, travel and therapy where the latter means range visits. I should go back to November, 2016, and mark November 8th as the day when my ordered (extra) P-09 magazines were delivered.  Oh, my Dillon 550 is currently set up with 9mm.

[Augie.Cooper]

In short, if you are not running out of ammo you are g2g. I wouldn't switch reloading setup unless I was absolutely needing to up my ammo supply.

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