Re: need help choosing which press to buy
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Daniell108</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I will be loading 45ACP, 6.8SPC, 5.56NATO, 7.62NATO(LR and carbine) and 300 WIN MAG for LR. Right now I'm trying to decide if I should go with a Dillon 550 base model, a 650 base model or a CH444 H style press.(
found here) Not only do I want to be able to crank out loads for the semi auto carbines I have. I want to be able to use it for precision reloads for my bolt rifles, are there any other presses I should look at?
I don't want to buy 3 different presses or have to change out dies all the time. What I'm primarily looking for is an interchangeable "tool head" on the press that won't compromise the integrity on my long range loads. Any suggestions? </div></div>
I really have nothing but good things to say about the Dillon 550 when I used to reload high volume target handgun ammo in .38spcl, .357Mag, 9mm, .45ACP and volume target .308Win for my iron sight H&K91. But trying to load precision .308Win ammunition for my bolt gun was a problem and less consistent past 600 yards without some changes.
With handgun ammo being so cheap and living in California (sold off the H&K91) I'm only really reloading in .308Win for long range precision bolt guns. The Dillon 550 is a very good press and IMO the only progressive press to buy that can do it all pretty fast and pretty good pretty cheaply. The Dillon 550 is simple and easy to use and with extra tool heads it's a breeze to change over to different calibers. All this easy to change calibers costs money but once you have a toolhead setup you don't have to adjust anything to switch calibers. Just load the toolhead, swap shell plates, swap case retaining buttons and primer tube and head if necessary and start cranking out ammo in just a few minutes.
For precision bolt gun work you will need to address some issues the Dillon presses have that hurt long range precision. First is the excessive play found in the tool heads which Dillon claims is a centering "feature" designed into the press. Excessive play may be a feature but excessive play is not a good feature. The second issue is the lack of adequate precision in the weight of the loads thrown by the Dillon powder measure. These issues are not a problem for volume ammo as I had no problems using the standard Dillon powder measure for volume handgun and rifle ammo.
For precision bolt gun use you will want to make some changes to the press, buy a good scale and alter your workflow. But if you do I can promise you that the Dillon 550 is capable of producing loaded ammunition that is as good or better than anything you can buy or make on a conventional press and it only takes up the space used by a single stage press.
For precision .308Win ammo I use the Dillon 550 as a single stage press. This is to say I perform all operations in the usual way as if loading on a single stage press. This way I do not have to set the dies up as if there will always be a case in all stations. The reason is that any press that acts on the brass off the axis of the press ram will have bending forces that influence the repeatability of a forming operation on the brass.
It is possible to compensate for this by carefully setting up each die one at a time with all forming or seating stations loaded with brass and always having brass being processed in any forming or seating dies. This method is not as repeatable or accurate as single station die use which is why I use a single die station at a time. Additionally I prefer to scale my powder charges and to visually check my case in a loading block before seating a bullet.
Hope this helps you decide on a new press!
Here is my Dillon 550 setup for loading high precision .308Win ammunition. Clockwise from the right Redding Competition bushing die, Redding Instant Comparator (seriously AWESOME tool with minor modification) Redding Type S bushing full length die, Redding Competition bullet seater all mounted in a UniqueTEK modified clamping Whidden CnC floating toolhead.
The photo shows a UniqueTek Turbo Bearing but the Turbo Bearing has been replaced. See the photo below, using a stock 550 diecast indexer machined to accept a similar bearing setup as the Turbo the hitfactorshooting.com part is much tighter fitting and smoother in operation.
