For the economically disadvantaged 550 guy

Every seven minutes in America, a reloader has to settle for a Dillon 550 instead of a RL1050 with bullet feeder and a computerized auto drive system. But just because you're in a bad tax bracket doesn't mean you have to suffer with an OEM 550.

Some time ago I got a UniqueTek spent primer chute, and it does everything the original Dillon does, plus it collects spent primers.

This week I stumbled across a YouTube video for a longer roller bearing primer track. UniqueTek makes a longer track, but this guy added a roller bearing so there's no play. I have no connection to this guy. It's just a cool idea for smoother primer feeding.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dillon-550B-...0AAOSwv0tVQX3I

#Dillon550

I have the primer chute and hose, also the long primer bar track, I think I can get along without the roller bearing.

I also have a 1050 but the thought of changing calibers on it intimidates me, so I still load non-.45 on the 550.

I got wind of this product a while ago and had forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder.

I'm going to order it and give it a try. My press could use some improvement in the primer bar area.

What the heck, I just ordered one. I love the 550, but the primer feeder sticking once it gets dirty from deprimed primers is the one weak point to it.

I have this for my #PoorFag 550, works well.

Wow! I ordered on Saturday morning and it has arrived at my home in today's mail.

I'm gonna install it and get it a try later after I get home from Boy Scouts.

Just thought I would chime in and say that I would consider this product to be almost an essential addition to the 550. I've had a 550 for about 10 years, and the factory primer setup always hangs up once it gets dirty. I've been using this aftermarket setup for about a year and I never have had problems since.

Thanks for the info about improvements on the 550. I really never had the issues some have seen with their 550 priming system. Are you using CCI primers?

As well as a 550, I have a 1050. I purchased the 1050 almost 25 years after the 550 but I wish I had done it earlier. The primer pocket swager on the 1050 makes loading 223 a breeze. Next is an electric Dillon trimmer.

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Originally Posted by SecondsCount

Thanks for the info about improvements on the 550. I really never had the issues some have seen with their 550 priming system. Are you using CCI primers?

As well as a 550, I have a 1050. I purchased the 1050 almost 25 years after the 550 but I wish I had done it earlier. The primer pocket swager on the 1050 makes loading 223 a breeze. Next is an electric Dillon trimmer.

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I use all kinds of primers, including CCI. I think there are two primary issues with the 550 priming system:
1) It sh**s where it eats. That is to say, that when you deprime usually the spend primer and anvil will fall into the metal cup, but sometimes they can fly off somewhere else or burned priming compound can fall onto the priming track. That debris gets on the priming system track and the grime builds up.
2) The stock priming system uses too short of a track. When the primer bar travels to the rear to pick up a fresh primer, the track does not fully support the bar any longer. So, the return spring tends to pull the bar down a tad which causes abnormal wear on the end of the track. Over time, I have noticed that my stock track has significant wear from this.
3) The stock track is not corrosion resistant or very hard. Since burned priming compound falls on the track, any corrosive compounds can be a problem. I have noticed that over time the stock tracks to show some signs of corrosion and pitting. Even modern primers marketed as(non-corrosive) still have compounds such as potassium perchlorate or compounds that can cause galvanic corrosion on the carbon steel priming track.

Dunno if it works for the 650 but it does get really irritating cleaning jettisoned primers off my floor after reloading sessions. The designs are sturdy but they could use little tweaks here and there.

I'm bumping this back to life as I have no friggin' idea how I missed this before.

I couldn't even guess how many hundreds of thousands of rounds my '88 vintage 550 has produced and this issue has always been a PIA. Dillon has graciously replaced all manner of primer parts over the years and I've simply developed a routine of disassembly and cleaning of the primer system every 500 rounds.

I just ordered the JW Systems plate off of Amazon (affiliate link above folks ^).

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Systems-Di...gateway&sr=8-1

Thanks for initially posting this @Hambo

I’m tempted to order one of these. My dad won’t even deprime on his 550 anymore. He runs them all through a single stage, then cleans the brass, then loads everything on then 550.

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Originally Posted by GreggW

I’m tempted to order one of these. My dad won’t even deprime on his 550 anymore. He runs them all through a single stage, then cleans the brass, then loads everything on then 550.

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I've just received my ship notification email. So hopefully I'll get to try it out within the week.

The JW Systems roller bearing and extended primer slide plate was the best thing I have done to my 550. I have not had a hangup with the priming system since I added it to the press. ~$30 well spent, for sure.

I have not felt the need to replace the spent primer cup on mine, but I did replace the factory wire clip on the "catcher"(I forget the real name for this part), and added a small magnet as a weight to help keep it open at the proper time. I lose a few spent primers, but not many. I put a strip of duct tape over the sharp edge of the cup, against the frame, to reduce the number of primers that bounce off the edge/top of the cup.

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Originally Posted by GreggW

I’m tempted to order one of these. My dad won’t even deprime on his 550 anymore. He runs them all through a single stage, then cleans the brass, then loads everything on then 550.

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I bought a $28 Lee single stage just for depriming so I could do that in a "dirty" location not my loading room, and before cleaning. CDO is a mofo.

I recently got this part and can vouch for it's effectiveness. Made everything much smoother.

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Originally Posted by Jamie

I've just received my ship notification email. So hopefully I'll get to try it out within the week.

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Wow. That was fast and easy.
I received the plate on the 28th, set it up yesterday afternoon and ran a quick 100 rounds through my old 550. Sweet! :)
Very smooth and works as advertised.
Thanks again P-F!

I'm so poor I do all my loading with a single stage

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Originally Posted by 03RN

I'm so poor I do all my loading with a single stage

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A shooting buddy of mine, who is not poor anymore, persists in using a single stage press. On our practice scenarios I tend to fire multiple 9mm rounds while he will slowly fire a singe 45 round. I always joke that he has a single stage, I have more than one Dillon :)

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Originally Posted by 03RN

I'm so poor I do all my loading with a single stage

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Whew, I was feeling bad about my Square Deal B until you posted...

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Originally Posted by 03RN

I'm so poor I do all my loading with a single stage

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We are all poor my friend...this shooting stuff is costly! :)
And there's nothing wrong with a single stage press. I still load everything but 9mm (and I load several calibers) on my 32 year old Lee single stage press... it just won't wear out!