What are your prefered die lock rings on a Dillon 550?

[ArchAngelCD]

Like the others, I like the Hornady Sure-Loc or similar die nuts. Set them, lock them, forget them, no loosening and no thread stripping possible.

 

[glc24]

Hornady, of course!

 

[cfullgraf]

If I am using a tool head or bushing, I prefer the Dillon jam nuts. Smaller wrench than any other and the dies stays put.

I prefer the single split set collar style if I am threading the dies in and out or using them with the co-ax press.

After that the Hex nuts with a brass setscrew.

I use them all though, generally chunk the O-ring from the Lee nuts in a drawer and flip them upside down, when I use them, they are at the bottom of my list though.

I do pretty much the same as jmorris.

I do like the Dillon lock rings for use with tool heads or bushings as they are smaller than virtually all other lock rings.

For split rings, I do prefer the Hornady rings but I have some other brands in service.

I got no use for the Lee o-ring lock rings these days.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I edited the title to specify on a Dillon 550. I looked at the tool head yesterday, and I'm not convinced they will fit very well. However, once the resizing/decaping die and powder throw/belling dies are set, there isn't really a need to alter them.

The seating and crimping dies may need adjustment though, based on the load. So perhaps there is enough room to use two of the Hornady split rings. I just find that when I am using apposing forces on the Dillon ring and the Dillon dies, that when I measure the OAL, it has drifted 1 or 2 thousandths verses when I was adjusting. I realize that isn't really enough to make too much of a difference on a low pressure round, but being a perfectionist, I would like to eliminate that drift when locking down.

I dunno, maybe I just need to lift more weights and eat more Wheaties so I hold the die more steady when tightening. To be fair, the Dillon rings I have on my 45 ACP toolhead haven't budged.

 

[Whiterook808]

The 550 tool head is tight when fully populated, so I use Dillon rings/nuts exclusively on my 550b. I believe your new Dillon dies will come with those. For single stage loading on my Rockchucker, I have been slowing converting over to Hornady die rings.

 

[Laphroaig]

I edited the title to specify on a Dillon 550. I looked at the tool head yesterday, and I'm not convinced they will fit very well. However, once the resizing/decaping die and powder throw/belling dies are set, there isn't really a need to alter them.

That's what I was going to say. The need for a rings with a set screw are for single stages and the like where you are taking them in and out and need a constant reference. Set screws would need to be loosened and reset when adjusted on your toolhead when adjusting the die anyway, so they have no advantage over the Dillon rings. That being said, I use whatever is on my non-Dillon dies.

RCBS locking rings have the Allen head screw which tightens against die threads. These are never tight enough and come close, eventually the Allen head rounds due to being brass as its soft.

That has happened to several of mine with the brass screws.

 

[Tilos]

um Dillon rings
TWO on each die, locked together...
works for me

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The 550 tool head is tight when fully populated, so I use Dillon rings/nuts exclusively on my 550b. I believe your new Dillon dies will come with those. For single stage loading on my Rockchucker, I have been slowing converting over to Hornady die rings.

I just realized I never responded to this. You are absolutely right, and I don't exactly know where my mind was at. My 10mm dies do have Dillon rings on them. That explains why they weren't in the quick change setup!