Dillon 550 toolhead (Whidden Gunworks) ?

[jetmd]

I need to purchase an additional toolhead for my 550B to load a new caliber for my bolt gun.
My question is for those that have used the Whidden Gunworks CNC machined tool head and
the Floating Die Toolhead.
Is the CNC toolhead adaquate? Should I step up and purchase/use the floating head? This
will be used for 1 caliber, 1 bullet + powder combination, therefore once it is setup it will be
dedicated for that ammo/rifle combo.
Your review and advise in regards to these toolheads are welcomed and appreciated!
Respectfully,
Chet

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Depends on what dies you're running in my experience. I have the floating and non floating tool heads. I precision load on my 550 with incredible results. I can get the COAL to within the same thousandth every time thanks to that toolhead. That being said.... I have the Redding Competition Type S dies and they have that "floating" bullet seater in them. It was driving me insane because I couldn't get the COAL consistent when using the floating toolhead. it was +/- .005 every time. I then switched out that tool head for the non floating version and boom perfect length every time. Floating toolhead+floating bullet seater (in the die)=to much stuff moving and not consistent results.

That being said I have used the floating toolhead with say the standard Dillon dies with awesome results. I think I answered your question. If you have anymore PM me, this is something I know a lot about.

 

[jetmd]

I am using a Forster Ultra-seater and a Redding FL die.
Yes you did answer my question.
I was hoping someone had used both and could give me a comparision.
Given your results I might just give the CNC T-H a try.

Thanks for the informative reply!

 

[koodbe]

I too use the Whidden tool head with 2 positions floating. Forster Ultra-seater in non float along with a comparator, neck only and f/l dies in floating positions. Decap done on seperate single station. Works out great for me !

 

[ZiaHunter]

I have both the Whidden floating and non-floating tool head on my 550B. Dillon 223 dies with a Redding Competition seater is set up on the non-floating head and Dillon 308 dies with a Redding Competition seater on the floating head. They both produce good quality ammo for my gas guns. The only knock I have is that the runout is greater than I would prefer. I have isolated this to the expander being drawn through the neck and still working on trying to correct this. Makes of brass with thicker necks are more problematic. I need to use the expander because some of the necks are dinged during extraction. I have Redding Type S dies for my single stage press and may try that instead of the Dillon sizing die.

 

[1lnbrdg]

I have both the Whidden floating and non-floating tool head on my 550B. Dillon 223 dies with a Redding Competition seater is set up on the non-floating head and Dillon 308 dies with a Redding Competition seater on the floating head. They both produce good quality ammo for my gas guns. The only knock I have is that the runout is greater than I would prefer. I have isolated this to the expander being drawn through the neck and still working on trying to correct this. Makes of brass with thicker necks are more problematic. I need to use the expander because some of the necks are dinged during extraction. I have Redding Type S dies for my single stage press and may try that instead of the Dillon sizing die.

Quit using the pull-thur expander and get a Lyman "M" die and expand on a seperate step. I haven't tried the bushing dies for neck-sizing only but that would probably do it too. I did hone out my dies so that they weren't sizing them down too much.

 

[Manitou]

Depends on what dies you're running in my experience. I have the floating and non floating tool heads. I precision load on my 550 with incredible results. I can get the COAL to within the same thousandth every time thanks to that toolhead. That being said.... I have the Redding Competition Type S dies and they have that "floating" bullet seater in them. It was driving me insane because I couldn't get the COAL consistent when using the floating toolhead. it was +/- .005 every time. I then switched out that tool head for the non floating version and boom perfect length every time. Floating toolhead+floating bullet seater (in the die)=to much stuff moving and not consistent results.

This mirrors my results as well. Whidden makes a fantastic product, and I really like the version with the clamp from Uniquetek.

 

[former naval person]

My Lyman M die, when used as described, increased my run-out consistently...with as much as .01" being measured. I use a Lee collet neck sized to size the neck and decap. I full length size in a body die. The combination keeps my run out within .0015.

 

[jetmd]

Thanks for the input, I purchased one today and will give it a try.

 

[280nosler]

No doubt that Whidden makes a great product, but I prefer for accuracy to reload on wither my single stage of my T-7 press due in part to overall length and bullet crimping. I use my 550 and 650 mainly for pistol, lever gun, and 223 AR shooting. For my 243 and 308 I always seem to end up at my bench on the single stage using my BR-30.

 

[EWP]

I just loaded a batch of 223 ammo on my 550B with a Whidden billet tool head with a Redding Comp seating die(floating with an o-ring between the lock ring and tool head) and the OAL measured at the ogive with a comparator was exactly the same on every round(less than +/-.0005" anyway), my single stage press doesn't do any better than that.

Max run-out was .002" at the ogive with Hornady 55gr FMJ bullets in range pick-up LC brass.

The Redding Cop seating die has an alignment sleeve but it doesn't float like a previous poster said, the sleeve aligns the case and bullet before seating but can still have some misalignment if the die and shell holder isn't perfectly straight. The sleeve in the die is an exact fit so it doesn't allow it to float, for this reason it is beneficial to have the seating die floating in the tool head.

EWP

 

[ZiaHunter]

EWP:

What sizing dies are you using and are you using and expander? I have sized cases without the expander and neck runout is usually less than .001 As I mentioned above, the expander is increasing neck runout as it is drawn through the neck. Part of the issue is variances in neck wall thickness in the cases as well as not lubricating the inside of the necks. The problem with lubricating the inside of the necks is that the powder will stick to the neck walls. Curious to hear your setup on how you are achieving such low runout tolerances.

 

[ZiaHunter]

EWP:

What sizing dies are you using and are you using and expander? I have sized cases without the expander and neck runout is usually less than .001 As I mentioned above, the expander is increasing neck runout as it is drawn through the neck. Part of the issue is variances in neck wall thickness in the cases as well as not lubricating the inside of the necks. The problem with lubricating the inside of the necks is that the powder will stick to the neck walls. Curious to hear your setup on how you are achieving such low runout tolerances.

 

[archad]

Anyone know if the Redding competition die in .300 Win Mag will work the Dillon 550? I run a RCBS in the 550 now and I just ordered the Whidden non floating tool head thanks.

 

[DocB]

archad,

Yes, it will.

HTH,
DocB