Dillon 550/650
- Thread starter gman
- Start date
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I bought a 450 in about '81 or so, upgraded it to auto primer and powder when Dillon came
out with them, around middle 80s, maybe '85 or '86, IIRC. Used that machine until around
the 2001 time frame or so, when I sold it and got a pair of 550s, easier to change calibers
with the toolheads. I have never used a 650 myself, but several friends have upgraded from
550s, and I have heard some issues with the primer feed system, which is, I believe, a disk
system, entirely different from the 450/550 linear system.
I rarely run more than an hour on a 550, and that usually gets me 400+ rounds. I find that
a nice, steady rate is about 15 min for 100 rds, plenty for my needs.
Bill
out with them, around middle 80s, maybe '85 or '86, IIRC. Used that machine until around
the 2001 time frame or so, when I sold it and got a pair of 550s, easier to change calibers
with the toolheads. I have never used a 650 myself, but several friends have upgraded from
550s, and I have heard some issues with the primer feed system, which is, I believe, a disk
system, entirely different from the 450/550 linear system.
I rarely run more than an hour on a 550, and that usually gets me 400+ rounds. I find that
a nice, steady rate is about 15 min for 100 rds, plenty for my needs.
Bill
Hawk
Well-Known Member
Having pre-filled primer tubes is the secret to maximizing production for any run over 100 rounds.
You need to have several tubes filled and ready to go before you start.
I get in a steady, comfortable pace and stopping to fill primer tubes interrupts the whole flow of production.
You need to have several tubes filled and ready to go before you start.
I get in a steady, comfortable pace and stopping to fill primer tubes interrupts the whole flow of production.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
I never prefill primer tubes, it is VERY dangerous to have one around without being inside a steel blast tube, IMO.
Do what you want, but a friend blastformed the brass inner tube to the steel shield, sending the 1/2" part that
USED TO project above the steel across the basment and embedded in a joist. Primers, out of their original
boxes, are the only really dangerous part of reloading. I do not take it lightly. I can dump a box and fill a
tube in about 1-2 minutes, not enough to bother my 400 rds per hour pace, and I kinda like the break.
I am uncertain if it was a different brand or if, the early 450 tubes were different. All 550 tubes and even later
450 tubes have the brass shorter than the steel with a cap. Either the older ones
were different, or it was another brand he blew up. In any case it was very impressive, drove
the metal follower pin through the floor above!
If you managed to set off one primer in a tube, they will all go, and that is very powerful.
Bill
Do what you want, but a friend blastformed the brass inner tube to the steel shield, sending the 1/2" part that
USED TO project above the steel across the basment and embedded in a joist. Primers, out of their original
boxes, are the only really dangerous part of reloading. I do not take it lightly. I can dump a box and fill a
tube in about 1-2 minutes, not enough to bother my 400 rds per hour pace, and I kinda like the break.
I am uncertain if it was a different brand or if, the early 450 tubes were different. All 550 tubes and even later
450 tubes have the brass shorter than the steel with a cap. Either the older ones
were different, or it was another brand he blew up. In any case it was very impressive, drove
the metal follower pin through the floor above!
If you managed to set off one primer in a tube, they will all go, and that is very powerful.
Bill
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Hawk
Well-Known Member
While I agree, primers can be dangerous, I've been using multiple primer tubes since the mid 80's without any type of mishap. The way the tubes are designed, it seems almost impossible for a primer to go off after they are in the tube and they are stacked in the tube the same way they are stacked in the Auto Primer Magazine.
The only thing I worry about is pressing them individually into the tube. That's the only time they have any pressure on them and that is less than pressing them into a primer pocket.
The only thing I worry about is pressing them individually into the tube. That's the only time they have any pressure on them and that is less than pressing them into a primer pocket.
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fiver
Well-Known Member
sounds like it.
my dad had a primer flip sideways in a pick-up tube and was working it out of the tube when it popped off.
sounded like a 22 went off in the garage.
I keep 10 tubes full of each size primer plus extra tubes for the RCBS bench mount priming tool.
they are simple to color code and label with brand type.
I use red/blue/green/yellow tags wrapped around each tube to identify the size [LP/SP/LR/SR] and just write the brand [win-fed-cci] on the tube with a fine point marker.
my dad had a primer flip sideways in a pick-up tube and was working it out of the tube when it popped off.
sounded like a 22 went off in the garage.
I keep 10 tubes full of each size primer plus extra tubes for the RCBS bench mount priming tool.
they are simple to color code and label with brand type.
I use red/blue/green/yellow tags wrapped around each tube to identify the size [LP/SP/LR/SR] and just write the brand [win-fed-cci] on the tube with a fine point marker.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Yes. But IMO, dropping something heavy on a tube of primes, uncontained could generate a lot of fairly
energetic shrapnel. This is why they are called accidents, something you never thought could happen.
Feel free to do what you want in your own basement, obviously, but not a chance I will ever do it. Saves exactly zero time,
just moves it around. I'll enjoy the two minute break, and feel safer.
Bill
energetic shrapnel. This is why they are called accidents, something you never thought could happen.
Feel free to do what you want in your own basement, obviously, but not a chance I will ever do it. Saves exactly zero time,
just moves it around. I'll enjoy the two minute break, and feel safer.
Bill