dillon reloading dies?

[Dueling1911s]

so i've been researching the dillon progressive presses. looking at their pistol carbide dies it comes with only a size/deprime die, seater die, and a crimping die

why isnt there a mouth flaring die or is it incorporated into the caliber conversion plate or something?

 

[MtnCreek]

Flaring is performed in the powder charging station. The cal spec flare is included in the cal conv.

 

[mahansm]

Caliber conversion kit is the powder funnel (which does the flaring of the case mouth), shellplate, and locator buttons. For easier conversion, you should also get an additional powder die and toolhead; this will allow you to leave all the dies properly set up when removed from the machine.

Please note that some calibers require an oversize powder die (.500 S&W and others).

 

[rfwobbly]

Info above from both is correct and complete.

However, some additional thoughts....

► You need not use only Dillon dies if you are looking at the 550, 650 or 1050 press. These presses will accept any standard die set with 7/8-14 external threads. So you can save a lot of money buying Lee, Hornady, Lyman or Redding dies.

Due to the Dillon system of through-the-die powder and flaring, you'll still need to buy the Dillon powder die and powder funnel. So you may actually end up with an extra case expander die from the off-brand die set, but that's OK.

I buy the Dillon brand dies on anything I'm going to run a lot of, but on calibers that are loaded infrequently, I buy Hornady.

► There are lots of second calibers that share the same shell holder, but not the same powder funnel. On those calibers you need not buy the complete "Caliber Conversion" kit. Say you are set up for 9x19 Luger and you want to load 40 S&W. The shell holder is the same. You only need to buy the 40 powder funnel (along with the second tool head and powder die as suggested by mahansm).

 

[Dueling1911s]

right now i have all rcbs dies.

how do you tell what shell plate takes multiple calibers? on the caliber conversion individual parts page they dont list the calibers with the plates.

from the sounds of it if the shell plate matches i can just buy a tool head, powder funnel, and a powder die instead of getting the whole conversion kit and a tool head

 

[dmazur]

You can look in the back of the manual (for the correct press) and there is a table which lists shell plates, buttons, etc. by number for each caliber.

If the number is the same, it is interchangeable. (For example, .45ACP, .30-06 Sprg and .243 Win all use shell plate #1.)

Here is a link to the manual for the 550B as an example. I believe the shell plates for the various Dillon presses are not interchangeable between models.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/docs/dillon_rl_550b_manual_may_2007.pdf

 

[Hondo 60]

dmazur is correct
A shellplate that fits on a 550 will only work on a 550.
(They'll also work on a 450, but those aren't made any more.)

Page 16 of the RL 550b manual (see dmazur's post above)has all the conversion kit part numbers

 

[Cop Bob]

Dillon is my preference for dies, if they make them in the caliber that you are going for.. There are so many nice features in Dillon dies.. The ability to dismantle the die in the tool head for cleaning without having to change setting in big on the list.. Also the mouth of Dillon dies are radiused to where damage to brass is minimal if it does not index just perfect, or the shell plate is a little loose to where the case may wobble a bit and accidentally catch the neck. They just feed better...

I used Redding Competition Dies in my Dillon with some of my Rifle Calibers. Works just fine.. You are going to LOVE your Dillon once you get familiar with it... I own several of them, there is no other progressive press for me, over the years I have owned them all...

 

[rfwobbly]

right now i have all rcbs dies.

They'll work just fine, you simply won't be using the RCBS expander.

From the sounds of it if the shell plate matches i can just buy a tool head, powder funnel, and a powder die instead of getting the whole conversion kit and a tool head

Bingo !! It sounds weird at first, but then you realize all the money they saved you if you shoot a combination like 9x19 Luger, 40 S&W, 9x18 Mak, 38 Super, 380 Auto and 9x21. Gosh you may want to go get a gun in 9x23 Win just because you already own the shell plate!

Eventually, it may also be handy to buy a second powder measure (used) so that you can have one set up for rifle and one for pistol. But that could be 15 months down the road.

 

[amlevin]

Eventually, it may also be handy to buy a second powder measure (used) so that you can have one set up for rifle and one for pistol. But that could be 15 months down the road.

Rather than buy the whole powder measure, just buy the slide. Once set it can be swapped out in a matter of a minute or so. Only downside is that it requires emptying the powder so you can make the change. Does save a lot of money though.