I received my RL 550B Dillon progressive press via FedEx Home Delivery. It took several hours to assemble it and get everything setup. Besides the self induced frustration of setup (Watch the video before putting the press together!) it went together well.
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The press looks well built, is sturdy, and very blue. Don’t mistake the pictures as it is really that color blue. No matter how great you think you are at assembling things… This machine will kill your ego. Before you even tighten your first nut you have to watch the 1985 Dillon Precision VHS Tape. I don’t know if it really was made in 1985, but it really had a VHS tape. The printed instructions might be older and even worse than the video. It actually took a combination of the video, black & white photo instructions, and an engineering degree to get it assembled. The machine is fantastic after you get it assembled. The DP people need to get together with the IKEA folks for a set of assembly instructions. Or, just maybe I have grown used to hole A goes into hole A, B to B, C to C, etc.
After watching the tape, engineering for dummies, and physics 101 the press is together is pumping out some serious rounds. I loaded almost 200 rounds in about 2.5 hours. Now I just wish I couldn’t shoot 200 rounds and hour. Tomorrow I might make a little trip back to the FOP range to test fire a few of the rounds to test my reloading skills.
After I clean up my new Dillon RL 550B work station I will try and take a few pictures to share.
Today I order a Dillon Precision 550. For those that don’t know – the Dillon 550 is a progressive reloading press. Dillon has been the premier manufacturer of progressive ammo reloading presses for years. Several of our members reload and I have not. When I set out I knew that I would need everything to get started. So where does a novice reloader turn? That was easy part!