5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

[Mag 300]

I have ordered my first "gasser" rifle 5.56 and use a Dillon 550 press for all other loading . normally only buy Redding dies.
What dies work well comp, bushing or not etc?
Thanks
Bill

 

[ksthomas]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Redding F/L, Type S Bushing or otherwise is always a good choice, as are Forster. Small Base dies are always worth considering for a gas gun, but just make sure that whatever you wind up with, it's a F/L type.

I do use the comp seating dies, again, Redding or Forster, with the Forsters costing about half as much. No difference in performance or accuracy between these two, so it's user preference and price alone on the pick. Whichever you choose, add a case gage such as the L.E. Wilson chamber type, or the RCBS Precision Mic. Only way to properly set your dies for the correct shoulder bump, and worth their weight in gold when loading autoloaders.

 

[Mag 300]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Thanks Kevin , will also get a case Gage
Bill

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Kevin what are you talking about with the case Gage?

 

[RADcustom]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Get these.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content...Three_Die_Sets_

 

[SND]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

yep, get the Dillon three die set. Two techs at Dillon told me they dont bother with the carbide sizing die. I went with anyway and the set does work great. I use Redding also for my bolt gun just FYI ....

Scott

 

[ksthomas]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Ky Patriot,

A case gage is a tool that helps establish or measure case dimensions, such as headspace. They're an absolute necessity to correctly set up dies and ensure that you're not bumping shoulders back too far, while still making sure that the rounds will chamber properly. Wilson and Dillon both offer drop-in chamber type gages. That is, drop the loaded round or case into the die, and there's a series of measurments that can be taken from that point; headspace, case length, etc.. Very easy, and will save a lot of trouble down the road. The RCBS Precision Mic is a two-piece gage that has a vernier scale on the top piece, allowing you to get an actual measurment on each case, and see just what's going on when you're setting dies up. Bump gages, such as those offered by Hornady and Sinclair will also do this, allowing the handloader to get a measurment off the datum line, and adjust accordingly. All good tools, and I can't recommend them highly enough. Frankly, I wish more reloaders would use them. They'd avoid a lot of headaches.

 

[Joey Dean]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

I will see your 10 goats and raise you a camel.

I use the Dillon dies for 223 and 308 and I set them up with the case gauges. I also do trim checks with the case gauges. They are handy.

 

[rg1911]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

In my 650, I use a Redding bushing style full-length sizing die and a Forster micrometer seating die. May be slight overkill.

Richard

 

[ZiaHunter]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Load both 223 and 308 on my 550B using Dillon carbide dies and they work very well. For seating use Redding competition dies which makes adjusting seating depth a snap. Case gauges are very useful in checking your sized cases and the RCBS Precision Mic is an excellent tool for properly adjusting dies for gas guns. Uniquetek offers some very useful upgrades to the 550 & 650 and you may want to check them out.

 

[DT1]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Do you guys run the lubed cases all the way through the loading process on your 550'sand 650's?

I've always loaded "semi- progressive" on my Dillons. I FL size, tumble again to get all the lube off and trim. Then run the processed brass back through the press to load.

 

[Grand]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

Anyowe use a RCBS Competition seating die with a Dillon?

 

[1lnbrdg]

Re: 5.56 with Dillon 550 what dies?

You can't use the RCBS competition seating die with the Dillon. You have to have the extended shell holder for RCBS's competition seaters which only fit in a single stage press.