Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

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txags12
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Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2015 11:32 pm

Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by txags12 »

Finally going from a single stage to the Dillon xl750.

What’s your setup/process using a progressive for 300 blackout

From doing a little research it looks like most have a tool head set up for processing the a tool head for actual loading.

Help me get a good set up going!

Thanks!
MeGrunt
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by MeGrunt »

You are correct. A tool head for processing and a tool head for loading.

That being said...I do all my processing off the press. I'm retired and have lots of time. Right now I'm in the process of making 1500 pieces of 300 brass.

1. I sorted the brass to get the bad ones out.
2. I chopped their necks off.
3. I ran them all through a sizing decapping die.
4. I'm currently swaging all the primer pockets.
5. Next I'll trim to length with my WFT II.
6. Clean the brass.
7. Load it.

I've found that once the brass is trimmed I don't have to trim it again. I'm trimming to 1.358.

Knowing that it just didn't seem necessary to purchase a RT-1500, trim die, and short tool head.

In my experience 300 Blackout doesn't require the processing that a lot of bottleneck cartridges do. One trim pass and you're done.

Be aware you shouldn't swage on a 650/750. There's an aftermarket swager sold, but it will void the warranty on the press. Be assured that Dillon know's what breaks when you use that part.
Smurky
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by Smurky »

If you do choose to trim with a Dillon 1500 the Whidden 300blk trim tool head is preferable at least works better on my 550c. The tool head has room to use the lock ring (nut) on the bottom and not interfere, as a result it’s a lot easier to get the lock ring tight so when the trimmer is started it doesn’t loosen the size/trim die.

I also use the Whidden tool heads, there is a standard and a floating head, die can float longitudinally and in theory runout is minimized. Not convinced that’s necessary but it is an option.
20X11
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by 20X11 »

I have my 750 setup with 2 tool heads for 300blk.
Processing toolhead;

1. RCBS Lube Die 1 (decaps as well)
2. Swage-it 750 Primer pocket swage
3. RCBS Full-length size
4. empty
5. Lyman full length size

Brass is now ready to trim with RCBS 3-way cutter, and I SS pin tumble afterward.

Loading toolhead;

1. empty
2. Prime/powder
3. Powder check
4. Lyman Seat Die
5. Lee Factory crimp
Sincerd
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by Sincerd »

I use the hornady lock n load so only some of this will apply.

5 station press, brass ran through twice. Order of operations:

Franklin arsenal rotery tumbler 2 hours

1. Decap and FL size 223 with rcbs matchmaster die
2. Empty
3. Rt1500 with shaved down hornady LNL bushing and DILLON 223 to 300 trim die.
4. Empty
5. Lyman M Die

FART 2 hours

1. Universal decap OR lyman M die
2. Powder Drop
3. Mr bulletfeeder
4. Rcbs matchmaster seater die
5. Lee factory crimp

The RT1500 required some locktite and some modification of the bushing as well as a shim set from hornady. Well worth it through. I don't think this setup could be any faster without automation or including a swager.
flamatrix99
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Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by flamatrix99 »

I am loading on a 550b with RCBS Small Base 300 AAC Blackout Dies #22407. I bought prepped brass but it turns out it needs to be swagged. I have my setup as follows:

On a single stage Lee press:
Lube, size and decap
Put them in the tumbler to get the lube off.

Swage the primer pockets in a Dillon 600 Super Swage

On my 550:
Station 1: Press in the primer, No die installed
Station 2: Powder drop
Station 3 Empty but I manually install the bullet on the case
Station 4: Bullet seater die that also taper crimps.

So far I have only made 100 rounds and they seem to work fine. Using 10.9 g of A1680 with a Hornady 208 g BTHP loaded to 2.225.
I shoot them through a PSA 10.5" upper with a SilencerCo Omega 300 can.

My question is why do some of you guys run your rounds through a Lee Factory Crimp Die? Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated. I am relatively new to loading 300 BO but not to handgun reloading or 223 reading.
Last edited by flamatrix99 on Mon Apr 27, 2020 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
golfindia
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by golfindia »

Factory crip die isn't dependent on case length and it's more consistent. Taper crimping at the same time as seating is difficult to get right.
Smurky
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by Smurky »

Golfindia said it better but I use the Lee FCD because it has a colletthat IMO is superior to a taper crimp because it tensions the entire area of the neck it contacts. I don’t want a lot of crimp mainly just enough to hold the bullet and remove the expansion for the lead bullet. When I use a boat tail jacketed bullet I don’t expand the neck just chamfer and debur and I don’t crimp. I only crimp when I expand the neck.

I decap in a Forster CoAx single stage press using a Sinclair decapping die. Dillon would work but the Forster comes from the factory with a spent primer catcher. Follow up by wet tumbling with steel pins, dry in a dehydrator.

Size, charge and seat in a 550c

I use 1 part lanolin to 9 parts 90+ alcohol for lube. put a few handfuls of brass in a gallon ziplock 2 or 3 sprays and then hand roll them around in the bag then put them in a bin and let the alcohol flash off.

As stated above I use the Whidden 300blk trim tool head with unique tech clamps
Position 1 nothing
Position 2 nothing
Position 3 I use a Dillon size/trim die with 1500 trimmer
Position 4 nothing

Dry tumble in walnut media for about an hour to get the lube off.

I use a standard Whidden tool head with clamp
Position 1 Lee universal expander with NOE internals for lead bullet
Position 2 powder measure
Position 3 Whidden seating die
Position 4 Lee FCD

May look cumbersome but it goes pretty quickly. I usually decap after shooting sessions and cull brass at that time.
upsdood
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Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by upsdood »

20X11 wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2020 2:06 pm I have my 750 setup with 2 tool heads for 300blk.
Processing toolhead;

1. RCBS Lube Die 1 (decaps as well)
2. Swage-it 750 Primer pocket swage
3. RCBS Full-length size
4. empty
5. Lyman full length size

Brass is now ready to trim with RCBS 3-way cutter, and I SS pin tumble afterward.

Loading toolhead;

1. empty
2. Prime/powder
3. Powder check
4. Lyman Seat Die
5. Lee Factory crimp
Hi, new loader here with a dillon 750 as well-you resize twice during the prep/processing stage?
20X11
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Location: Aurora, CO

Re: Dillon 550/650/750 owners help me out

Post by 20X11 »

Yes, I do. Second sizer takes care "springback" as well as providing shellplate stabilization. I get a lot of consistency with this setup.
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