Dillon 550 for .30-06?

[jaysouth]

I have two dillon 550s. One set up for large primers and one for large.

I am going to start loading .30-06. should I buy a dedicated C type press, or will a toolhead with appropriate dies for one of the Dillons?

The rifle cartridges will be shot in a bolt action so no full length resizing is necessary.

 

[X-Rap]

I load 223 and 308 in mine without a problem, those I shoot in high volume. If I had a 30-06 semi auto I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[dogrunner]

I use mine for virtually every caliber I load for. I DO tend to single stage extruded powder rifle rounds (only to avoid the possibility of bridging). I use IMR 4350 in the '06, using Dillons dies, for bolt and autoloading rifles with utterly no problems. I advocate those dies to anyone I talk reloading to as I truly believe they are the best I've ever used.....

Really, there's no need to pick up another press, that 550 can easily do it all, tho I'd admit that I have an antique CH, and Lee's Classic bolted to my bench for the odd ball project.

 

[DesertFox]

Loaded hundreds of 30-06 on mine...

 

[dmazur]

Nothing wrong with the 550 for .30-06.

I haven't tried dozens of different powders, but I found Varget meters well if I keep the case mouths dry.

I used either powdered graphite or wiped residual lube out with a Q-tip and got no more powder bridging, even with the rather small case mouth of the .243.

Also, instead of using a dry lube, I use RCBS case lube and "break out" resizing and trimming before proceeding to load progressively at Station 2. This provides an opportunity to wipe off excess lube.

There are many ways to use a 550 to reload bottleneck cartridges.

 

[northark147]

It loads 7.62x54R just fine... I haven't had any issues with any sort of powder out of mine, but then again I tend to keep it pretty clean and dry.

 

[243winxb]

The rifle cartridges will be shot in a bolt action so no full length resizing is necessary.

Soon or later you will have to FL size. When you do, its best to have a tool to measure how much the shoulder is being pushed back on sizing or set up the die so you have a crush fit on chambering. A defective shell plate caused case seperations for me. Then i started measuring.