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Posted: 2/8/2010 11:33:28 AM EDT
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My friend and I are about to go in together and buy a Dillon 550B. We will start by reloading .308 and .40. I'm wondering if anyone recommends that I get another brand of dies besides Dillon? Should I spring for the Redding dies?
Thanks, I can't wait to get started learning! 
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| I don't have a Dillon press, but I do have dies from Dillon, and RCBS, and Hornady. I like them all. The Dillon dies have some features I have not seen in other dies (the stuck case remover built into the rifle dies, the pins for taking apart the pistol dies for cleaning w/o changing seating depth settings, etc..). You probably can't go wrong no matter what you decide, but from what I gather, you'd want Redding for really precise work that I would not be doing on a progressive press anyway (I've found that, at least with my progressive, there are variations in bullet seating depths and such that are attributed to other operations at other stations putting uneven stresses on the shellplate). |
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Either set of dies will work. I'll bet the cost is similar.
The only problem with Redding dies is sorting through the combinations offered; I guess that's not a bad thing. So, you want to find a standard two die set for .308 Win, one with a full length sizer die and a seater die. I would probably buy the Dillon dies for .40 S&W. |
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Quoted:
I don't have a Dillon press, but I do have dies from Dillon, and RCBS, and Hornady. I like them all. The Dillon dies have some features I have not seen in other dies (the stuck case remover built into the rifle dies, the pins for taking apart the pistol dies for cleaning w/o changing seating depth settings, etc..). You probably can't go wrong no matter what you decide, but from what I gather, you'd want Redding for really precise work that I would not be doing on a progressive press anyway (I've found that, at least with my progressive, there are variations in bullet seating depths and such that are attributed to other operations at other stations putting uneven stresses on the shellplate). Could I not use the progressive like a single stage press when I want to make up some super precise .308? I think I will go with Redding .308 dies and the Dillon .40 dies. Thanks for the input guys - can't wait to get started! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't have a Dillon press, but I do have dies from Dillon, and RCBS, and Hornady. I like them all. The Dillon dies have some features I have not seen in other dies (the stuck case remover built into the rifle dies, the pins for taking apart the pistol dies for cleaning w/o changing seating depth settings, etc..). You probably can't go wrong no matter what you decide, but from what I gather, you'd want Redding for really precise work that I would not be doing on a progressive press anyway (I've found that, at least with my progressive, there are variations in bullet seating depths and such that are attributed to other operations at other stations putting uneven stresses on the shellplate). Could I not use the progressive like a single stage press when I want to make up some super precise .308? I think I will go with Redding .308 dies and the Dillon .40 dies. Thanks for the input guys - can't wait to get started! You can use it in that manner, but the shellplate and toolhead will both flex somewhat. A progressive is not, and never will be, the equal of a quality single stage for precision ammo. |
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Thanks for the insight. I think for the time being, the progressive will serve me best. If I get to a point where it is not loading like I want, I will think about adding a single stage press. Besides, by then my wife will have forgotten how much I spent on the progressive.
ETA - which manual should I initially get from Dillon - the Lyman or Speer? |
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ETA - which manual should I initially get from Dillon - the Lyman or Speer? Get both plus the ABCs of Reloading. It is best to have a few different manuals as you will find out the data is different in all of them. I thought dillon did a good job with their video for setting up the 550b. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't have a Dillon press, but I do have dies from Dillon, and RCBS, and Hornady. I like them all. The Dillon dies have some features I have not seen in other dies (the stuck case remover built into the rifle dies, the pins for taking apart the pistol dies for cleaning w/o changing seating depth settings, etc..). You probably can't go wrong no matter what you decide, but from what I gather, you'd want Redding for really precise work that I would not be doing on a progressive press anyway (I've found that, at least with my progressive, there are variations in bullet seating depths and such that are attributed to other operations at other stations putting uneven stresses on the shellplate). Could I not use the progressive like a single stage press when I want to make up some super precise .308? I think I will go with Redding .308 dies and the Dillon .40 dies. Thanks for the input guys - can't wait to get started! You can use it in that manner, but the shellplate and toolhead will both flex somewhat. A progressive is not, and never will be, the equal of a quality single stage for precision ammo. Sir, WADR I would defy any one to prove the truth of your statement beyond a reasonable doubt. Given the scope of the question where the progressive press is used similar to a single stage press the amount of flex of the shell plate and tool head is so minute that one cannot measure a difference from cartridges loaded that way or on a single stage press either with conventional measuring tools or across a chronograph. I do use my Dillon RL550B to charge and seat the cases I prep and prime seperately on a single stage press. Were I to charge the cases and seat the bullets individually on the single stage press would make no material difference in the accuracy nor consistancy of the finished cartridges. I know of times when the entire stock of ammo used by some of our former US Palma teams was loaded on a Dillon RL550 press. I must respectfully disagree with your statement. JMHO, 7zero1. |
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