How to integrate an RCBS single stage with the Dillon 550?

[LittleLebowski]

Specifically, this RCBS "special" kit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T9YKUFI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ratio07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00T9YKUFI&linkId=be22b3205e68463888404432d742882a). I bought it and then a very generous gentleman gifted me a fairly pimped out Dillon 550 and some other other things appeared in the mail (along with the usual letter bombs and hate mail but seriously, we have an awesome community here!). I have never reloaded before and I'm just now getting spare time to get it all together.

I've been watching videos and have the Dillon about 95% assembled. I want to reload for 9mm, .223, .300blk, 22-250 (later down the road), and .308 (later down the road, not a priority). I have dies for all but .308 and 22-250.

I have enough toolheads to dedicate one per for 9mm, .223, and .300blk. I have powder, brass, bullets, and primers for those as well. I do not have a good tumbler (just a crappy small rock tumbler) but I do have a nice, heated ultrasonic cleaner. I also have a digital caliper. I have WFT trimmers for .223 and .300blk. All I need now (as far as I know) is some plastic boxes for my soon to be loaded ammo...I think.

I have not opened my RCBS kit yet. How should I integrate it with the Dillon 550? I assume my first step is to deprime and then throw the brass in the ultrasonic, correct? Should I just start out with 9mm or just learn the hard way on a rifle cartridge and do .300blk? I am leaning towards .300blk simply because I can shoot suppressed on my property and I haven't gotten a pistol suppressor yet.

#Dillon550 (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=Dillon550)

#RCBS (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=RCBS)

#SingleStage (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=SingleStage)

[SecondsCount]

I use my single stage press all the time and I have 4 progressive presses. I had a Lee Challenger, then moved up to the RCBS Rockchucker I got at a swap meet and used for a long time, and now I have a Forster Coax.

Reloading for 300BLK would only be a little more difficult than loading for the 9mm, and would save you a ton of money over factory loads. Berry's is making a plated 220 grain (https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/300-aac-blkout-308-220gr-sp) bullet now.

The Rockchucker is great if you want to make small batches. It is also good for sizing/depriming your brass before running through the 550. Before I got my 1050, I would tumble then lube and size/deprime 223 on the single stage, measure case length and trim if necessary then wash in hot soapy water to get rid of the lube, let dry overnight and then run it through the 550 for priming, powder, and bullet seating.

I have been making subsonic 223 loads with 3.0 grains of Clays with a 55 FMJ. It isn't super accurate (a little over an inch at 54 yards on a calm day) but is fun and cheap at $0.11 each. It won't run an AR but I shoot it in my 16.5" Remington Tactical so Mrs. SC and I get to practice with the rifle and not disturb the neighbors.

Also, Dillon sells complete caliber conversion kits for the 550B but you don't always need to buy the complete conversion. You can purchase the kit for 223 and then get the powder funnel for the 300BLK and that will cover the both calibers. Same with the 308 and 22-250 conversion.

[CCT125US]

I find a single stage is great for load development as you can make minor adjustments easily. They can then be duplicated on the 550. If you wet clean, (ultrasonic, stainless) it is a good idea to deprime first as it lessons the possibility of dampness in the primer pocket. I use stainless and dehydrate, so that adds a step, but have never had an issue.

[SLG]

I would either 1. use the single stage with a Lee Universal decapping die, or 2. use it with a rifle specific sizing depriming die when appropriate, and a Universal every other time.

1. would allow you to decap before cleaning, which I am a big fan of.

2. would allow you to do 1., plus trim your rifle brass as needed, before running it through the 550.

[JM Campbell]

I would either 1. use the single stage with a Lee Universal decapping die, or 2. use it with a rifle specific sizing depriming die when appropriate, and a Universal every other time.

1. would allow you to decap before cleaning, which I am a big fan of.

2. would allow you to do 1., plus trim your rifle brass as needed, before running it through the 550.
This is exactly what I do.

I will load 308 soon on the RCBS.

FYI for 300blk:
18gr IMR 4227 with Speer 125gr TNT bullets and Wolf 556 prumers make a pretty accurate cartidge.

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[SLG]

I should say, since I'm a little ocd about certain things, I prefer to universal decap my rifle brass, then clean it, then resize it. Extra step, but it makes me happy. After all, clean brass is much more important than a clean gun :-)

Also, this would allow you to just buy the one Universal die, run all your brass through it, clean the brass, then start in the 550 with resizing, as intended...if you don't need to trim at that point. Brass prep is a pain...

[JAD]

I don't know if you have any bolt guns, but if so I found that neck sizing reduced groups by 40% in .223. That would be something that works a lot better on the RCBS.

[Sal Picante]

For the 9mm, honestly, there isn't much that you'd do with the RCBS.
If you were shooting .40, then you might consider push-through-sizing with an RCBS GRX or a "Gizmo" die, but if it is 9, just load it on the 550.

For the rifle stuff, I dunno... For decent practice AR ammo, 2 toolheads on the 550 (de-prime size, trim) and (fill, seat, crimp) will get you a fair number of rounds in a hurry...

Maybe consider the single stage for specialty 223, .308, 22-250 precision loads.

[LittleLebowski]

I would either 1. use the single stage with a Lee Universal decapping die, or 2. use it with a rifle specific sizing depriming die when appropriate, and a Universal every other time.

1. would allow you to decap before cleaning, which I am a big fan of.

2. would allow you to do 1., plus trim your rifle brass as needed, before running it through the 550.

It's (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SF2ZXU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ratio07-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B002SF2ZXU&linkId=86caeb416dfb0d8057850eb8b59d8978) arriving today. A whopping $15 :)

[LittleLebowski]

OK, I still haven't mounted the RCBS yet.

That being said, I finally got everything all configured on the 550, tested my powder throws ten times, checked case gauge, and checked my COAL, and nervously touched off my first ever reload in my back forest (safe, legal, have a hill as a backstop). 9mm once fired, CCI small pistol, 4.2gr of Titegroup, 1.15 COAL with a light crimp.

There is no way this would have been possible without some extreme generosity on the part of a few forum members. I am deeply, deeply thankful to you and you know whom you are. I hope to someday pass on your generosity to another shooter. I was just reminded that I need to tumble after reloading in order to remove the case lube, I plumb forgot about that but otherwise I'm set for reloading! I do have a little rock tumbler, I might just use that with whatever media I buy for now.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h251/baxshep/Guns/40B66266-30CE-4046-845D-3375975D7A73_zpsjcliy8b0.jpg (http://s66.photobucket.com/user/baxshep/media/Guns/40B66266-30CE-4046-845D-3375975D7A73_zpsjcliy8b0.jpg.html)

[JAD]

Why are you using case lube?

[JM Campbell]

Are you using carbide dies? No lube if so.

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[olstyn]

I was just reminded that I need to tumble after reloading in order to remove the case lube, I plumb forgot about that but otherwise I'm set for reloading!

That depends on which type of lube you're using and how anal you feel like being. In my non-professional opinion, if you're using the Hornady One Shot lube, there's no need to tumble after loading, and I like that stuff even for 9mm, because it seems to make the press run smoother, even with carbide dies.

[LittleLebowski]

Why are you using case lube?

Ummm...I was told to by a guy I trust and I'm easily led :D


Are you using carbide dies? No lube if so.

Dillon dies.

[JAD]

Ummm...I was told to by a guy I trust and I'm easily led.
What does it say about me that I trust a guy you trust more than I trust myself?

I'll note this: I've always dry tumbled with polish or mineral spirits, and that probably acts like a minimal case lube; and I do use a little one shot on brand new brass.

[JM Campbell]

With carbide dies it is not necessary to use lube, Dillon has carbide and standard, you very well may have the standard dies and light lube would be a good idea.

Depending on the lube a quick wipe down is all that is needed.

If your going to toss the finished cartidges in a tumbler/vibrator try to use a light colored media that has low dust. I had useed walnut media that was red and it colored everything and had a build up in my pistols if I did not wipe down the finished cartidges. I switched to corn cob media that is finer and not as dusty.

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[Mitch]

Even with carbide dies, reloading is a lot more pleasant with case lube. I use hornady one shot on pistol cases (even with carbide dies) and don't tumble it off.


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[JV_]

I use Dillon case lube with Dillon carbide dies because it makes for smoother operation.

On a 1050, it primes on the down stroke. Having a less than perfectly smooth decapping/sizing operation masks potential priming problems.

I don't find that a "quick wipe-down" does much on the Dillon case lube, it's much easier to remove by throwing it back in the vibratory cleaner for 10 minutes.

[Luke]

If you are wet tumbling there is such a thing as "too clean". I guess it doesn't matter if you lube though.

[LittleLebowski]

What does it say about me that I trust a guy you trust more than I trust myself?


JV is pretty damn trustworthy. I like having smart people of integrity like him around, saves me the trouble of "thinking" :D

[JM Campbell]

If your going to decap on the RCBS I've found the case ejector, primer tube and lights very good investments. Also the table mount.

I run the primer tube through desk into a aluminum disposable cooking pan (think turkey pan with clear plastic top) to catch the primers. The pan is located inside the drawer to the right of the press.

If you zoom in on the pic you should see all of the attachments minus the light kit which I have not reinstalled after the move.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160620/442b9cf5a525dbe58e1fbec9d42ce825.jpg

I'll get you better pics tonight if you would like.

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[JM Campbell]

I guess a link would be good.

http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/rcbs

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[JM Campbell]

For the Dillon 550b the ultramount and light kit are awesome.

http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/dillon

I've been looking at his bin blockers to expand holding capacity of all my bins without cartidges shooting across my bench from almost being full.

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[mmc45414]

nervously touched off my first ever reload

Things will never be quite exactly the same now... :)

[SLG]

For the Dillon 550b the ultramount and light kit are awesome.

http://inlinefabrication.com/collections/dillon

I've been looking at his bin blockers to expand holding capacity of all my bins without cartidges shooting across my bench from almost being full.

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I like them alot. Work well.

[LittleLebowski]

Oddly enough, I fired 60 of my reloads today without blowing my hands off. JV got a celebratory text, SLG said "how did you get this number," and Tom Jones told me to put the cork back on the fork.


https://youtu.be/9eJ0iGZ7Ms8

[rojocorsa]

Tagged to follow thread.

I've had 80% of the shit I need to reload for the last three years and still haven't used it. Planning on reloading 9/45 mainly.

[SecondsCount]

Congrats!

I remember my first reloading experience. It was the early 90's and I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. This was super cool until I bought a box of ammo- $10 for 20 rounds. Then I made a shopping list of the book ABC's of Reloading, a Lee Anniversary kit, dies, a card of primers and a pound of Unique, and some bullets. The guy at the gun shop that knew how to reload let me talk his ear off to make sure I was doing everything right. Made 5 rounds, pointed the gun downrange and ducked when I pulled the trigger. The gun stayed in one piece and I have loaded over 100K rounds since then.

Sometimes I almost enjoy reloading more than shooting, especially when it comes to precision rifle loads.

[SLG]

Sometimes I almost enjoy reloading more than shooting, especially when it comes to precision rifle loads.

Have you thought about seeing someone for that? Sounds pretty serious to me...

[SecondsCount]

Have you thought about seeing someone for that? Sounds pretty serious to me...

Hahaha! The fun part truly is when you shoot them and realize all that hard work paid off.

[JM Campbell]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160702/9af4f54f82526109c2ce96787c45cd62.jpg

Loading up some 308 150gr sst for load development.

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