RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Discussion about rifles in 300 AAC BLACKOUT (7.62x35mm), hosted by the creator of the cartridge.

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robrob
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RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

Dillon states the RL550B auto casefeeder is only for pistol calibers. They want you to move up the the more complex and expensive XL650 to use an auto casefeeder on rifle calibers. Caliber conversions for the XL650 are much more expensive and difficult to swap out so the ability to reload rifle calibers on the RL550B with a casefeeder is a win-win. The big drawback of installing the auto casefeeder on the RL550B press is it makes it very difficult to load cases individually which means all rifle calibers become a real pain to reload.I was able to use an unmodified 32 H&R Mag Casefeed Adapter to auto feed 300 Blackout brass on my RL550B.

I used the 32 H&R Mag Station 1 Locator (feed ramp) but filed down the upper inside edge to lower the case so it would slide better along the ramp (see photo below). Both 300BLK and .223 brass feed smoothly with this modified ramp.

I used the XL650 Small Rifle Casefeed Plate with the "drop hole tab" extended about 3/4 inch (see photo below). If you have a large pistol casefeed plate on hand you can put 2 spacer washers on the bottom and use it to feed 300BLK and .223 brass. The spacer washer is normally used for tall pistol cases and adding a second washer really speeds up the brass feed rate for 300BLK. You can even feed .223 brass using the Large Pistol Casefeed Plate and 2 washers.

This method can be used for other rifle calibers. .223 uses the .32 H&R Mag conversion also but the Casefeed Adapter must be modified by milling a slot for the taller cartridge.

9mm Modified Casefeed Adapter for .223 and Unmodified 32 H&R Mag Adapter for 300 AAC Blackout
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32 H&R Mag Feed Ramp (Station 1 Locator) Filed for Smoother .223 & 300BLK Feeding
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It works like a champ. I shot a short video showing the RL550B in action with 300BLK.

Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwqGUPLG ... ature=plcp

I used the standard setup for loading 300BLK on the RL550B: .223 shell plate and locator pins and the 7.62x39 powder funnel.
Last edited by robrob on Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:22 pm, edited 7 times in total.
robrob
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Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

It's very easy to change out the casefeeder caliber conversions. You simply slide the lower feed tube up an inch, pull out the Casefeed Adapter, pull out the Station 1 Locator (feed ramp) then swap in the new parts. 300BLK, .308 Win and .223 are my high volume rife cartridges, everything else I can load using a turret press.
robrob
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Location: West Virginia

Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

I did this testing before I found out the XL650 rifle casefeed plates fit in the RL550B casefeeder so purchasing the $38 XL650 Small Rifle Casefeed Plate will feed 300BLK and .223. You can also auto feed 300BLK using the RL550B Large or Small Pistol Casefeed Plates with 2 washers. You can feed .223 using the Large Pistol Casefeed Plate with 2 washers.

I tested the RL550B casefeeder casefeed plates with 300 Blackout and .223 brass and this is what I found:

14 Pieces of 300BLK Brass

Small Pistol Casefeed Plate with No Washer = 0 (brass fell out of plate holes)
Small Pistol with 1 Spacer Washer = 10 cases fed in 1 minute 30 seconds
Small Pistol with 2 Spacer Washers = 13 cases in 1:30 (bought extra washer at Lowes)

Large Pistol with No Washer = 0 case in 1:30
Large Pistol with 1 Washer = 6 cases in 36 seconds then no more for over 1 minute
Large Pistol with 2 Washers = 12 cases in 28 seconds then last 2 would not feed

Video of Large Pistol Casefeed Plate with 2 Washers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3DCzN44 ... e=youtu.be

47 Pieces of .223 Brass

Small Pistol Casefeed Plate didn't do well with .223

Large Pistol with No Washer = 0 cases(brass fell out of plate holes)
Large Pistol with 1 Washer = 19 cases in 3 minutes
Large Pistol with 2 Washers = 38 cases in 3 minutes

Video of .223 Brass with Large Pistol Casefeed Plate with 2 Washers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwaGmvtv ... e=youtu.be

The Large Pistol Casefeed Plate with two spacer washers attached to the bottom of the plate works pretty well for 300BLK and .223, at least with small batches of brass.

I ordered an XL650 Small Rifle Casefeed Plate from BrianEnos.com to use in the RL550B casefeeder with .223. If I'm happy with the results I'll get the large rifle plate for .308.
Last edited by robrob on Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:43 pm, edited 2 times in total.
robrob
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Posts: 302
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Location: West Virginia

Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

Here's a 45 ACP Casefeed Adapter modified to fit 308 Winchester. The tall .308 case is a tight fit under the decapping pin so I raised my pin as much as possible while still reliably pushing out the primer. Sometimes the 308 case will still hit the pin and when it does I nudge the case into place with the eraser end of a pencil--this beats trying to place each case by hand (going around the auto case feeder). The 45 ACP Station 1 Locator (feed ramp) works perfectly with the .308 brass.
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Last edited by robrob on Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Garrett
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Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by Garrett »

robrob wrote:I tested the RL550B casefeeder casefeed plates with 300 Blackout and .223 brass and this is what I got:

14 Pieces of 300BLK Brass

Small Pistol Casefeed Plate with No Washer = 0 (brass fell out of plate holes)
Small Pistol with 1 Spacer Washer = 10 cases fed in 1 minute 30 seconds
Small Pistol with 2 Spacer Washers = 13 cases in 1:30 (bought extra washer at Lowes)

Large Pistol with No Washer = 0 case in 1:30
Large Pistol with 1 Washer = 6 cases in 36 seconds then no more for over 1 minute
Large Pistol with 2 Washers = 12 cases in 28 seconds then last 2 would not feed
You know, the small rifle casefeeder plate doesn't cost all that much, and it works just great with 300BLK. Almost like it was designed for... small rifle cases. :mrgreen:

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Last edited by Garrett on Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
robrob
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Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

I just found out yesterday the XL650 rifle plates work with the RL550B auto casefeeder (I read somewhere that they didn't fit). I do have a small rifle plate on the way.
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Garrett
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Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by Garrett »

robrob wrote:I just found out yesterday the XL650 rifle plates work with the RL550B auto casefeeder (I read somewhere that they didn't fit). I do have a small rifle plate on the way.
I was under the impression the case feeders are all the same. Just the mounting system is different. I could be wrong though. I don't really have any experience with the 550.
robrob
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Posts: 302
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Location: West Virginia

Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

Brian Enos said on his forum that the XL650 plates do fit the RL550B so I ordered an XL650 Small Rifle Casefeed Plate to use with 300BLK and .223.
robrob
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Posts: 302
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:53 am
Location: West Virginia

Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

From the RL550B Casefeed Manual:
550 CASEFEED WILL NOT WORK ON RIFLE CALIBERS, INCLUDING 30 CARBINE & 22 HORNET
550 CASEFEED STATION 1 LOCATORS ARE NOT THE SAME AS 650 STATION 1 LOCATORS
I misread these two lines in the casefeed manual to mean the rifle casefeed plates wouldn't fit in the RL550B casefeeder but as others have pointed out the upper half of the casefeeder is the same unit for the XL650 and RL550B. The RL550B casefeed bin can drop any rifle cartridge you want using the XL650 small or large rifle casefeed plates. Since the XL650 feed ramps (station 1 locators) don't fit the RL550B you have to use/convert RL550B pistol case feed adapters and feed ramps to feed rifle brass.
robrob
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Posts: 302
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:53 am
Location: West Virginia

Re: RL550B Auto Casefeeder & 300BLK

Post by robrob »

Good news, the 32 H&R Mag Casefeed Adapter works without modification with 300BLK brass. The feed ramp that comes with it works best if the upper edge of the feed rail is filed to a bevel. The 32 H&R Mag caliber conversion works much better for 300BLK and .223 than the 9mm conversion I originally used.

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