? for Dillon RL550 owners

[Edubya]

According to the local gun shop salesman; I can and should use a single station/die to "set and crimp" pistol ammunition simultaneously. That is counter to what the instructions on my Dillon RL 550B say (page 10 "Choose Your Dies").

They site two reasons: "First, in a combination seating and crimping die, we have two forces that are opposed to one another. That is, forcing the bullet into the case while trying to simultaneously crimp it in place. [...]."

"Second, with semi-auto cases (9mm & .45 ACP) you must use separate taper crimp die to get reliable ammunition and function from your semi-automatic pistol. This type of crimp is necessary to maintain the square shoulder effect where the brass edge of the case meets the bullet. It is on this tiny shoulder that the functioning of your semi-auto pistol depends. If this shoulder is rounded or roll crimped, the cartridge may enter too far into the chamber and jams will result. [...]."

My question for you is: Do you load with the combination seating and crimping die, or with the separate stations?

I load 9mm and .38 Special, primarily.

Thanks for your consideration, and thanks to all on this forum, I have learned much.

[fredj338]

Sorry, but your local guys does not do much handloading to make that statement. The best way to seat & crimp is in diff. steps, regardless of press used or caliber. I load for 10 diff. carts & all are seat/crimp separately, either taper for the 9mm or roll for the 38sp.

[Bearcreek]

I use separate dies on my 550b.. and I like it that way.. I found I was having an issue with my seating die and Dillion sent me a new one... easier troubleshooting in my case.

[WyoXD]

Definately better to seat and crimp with two steps. It gives much better control and consistancy. When I used to load with a Lee Pro 1000 I did seat/crimp 38 spl's with one die since the press didn't have enough stations. I never had any problems since this isn't as critical with revolver rounds. For 9 mm's on the Lee I crimped separately on my single stage press after running them through the Lee. Now that I have a 550, I seat and crimp separately for all pistol and revolver cartridges.

[sarnburg]

I load on a Dillon 550b for multiple calibers. I seat the bullet in station 3 and use station 4 for a Dillon taper crimp die or Lee Factory crimp die. I use the Lee FCD for loading 45 ACP. The loads are for a Para P14 I shoot in Limited 10, this gun has a tight chamber the FCD ensures no FTF. When I load for my XD I use the regular Dillon seat and crimp die.
I have found seating separately causes less distortion on the portion of the bullet seated in the case. I think this enhances accuracy especially with plated bullets.

[Hank Ellis]

I load on a Dillon 550b for multiple pistol and rifle calibers. Like all the above posts states, seating and crimping should be done as separate operations.

[Old School]

I would say that it would be best for you to listen to Dillon and not your local shop owner. There is a good reason for the 550 to load that way it does.

OS

[panther308]

I ask the same question before I started reloading (just started) and I was told by several people that you have more control doing it in a separate step and better consistency

[Liquid Rhino]

Is crimping always/mostly required for 45 ACP? (FMJ in particular).
I recently ordered the 3-set of hornady dies and wasn't sure if I needed anything else.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by Liquid Rhino

Is crimping always/mostly required for 45 ACP? (FMJ in particular).
I recently ordered the 3-set of hornady dies and wasn't sure if I needed anything else.

For the most consistant ammo, crimp everything, semiauto or revolver.