Dillon Precision AT 500 Instruction Manual

illon
recision
Products, Inc.
AT  500
Instruction Manual
Version 3.3 

2
Table of Contents
Subject Page #
AT 500 Parts List 2
AT 500 Machine Schematic 3
Minimum Equipment to Begin Reloading 4
Reloading Safety 4
Parts List 4
Mounting the AT 500 to Your Bench 5
Configuring the AT 500 5
Changing Shellplate Position 5
Caliber Conversion Chart 6
Changing Primer Size 7
The Toolhead 7
Setting Up to Load Rifle Ammunition 8
Setting Up to Load Pistol Ammunition 11
The Reloading Process 13
AT 500 Upgrades and Accessories 15
Dillon Precision Products, Inc.
8009 E. Dillon’s Way...

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1661213996 13757 (Small)
13967 (Large)
13825 (Small)
13824 (Large)
14280
assembly
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13881
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13997
Locator
Buttons
14008 16617
16629 13996
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13738
See box above
for more detail.
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Assembly 13775
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AT 500 Schematic
3 

Suggested Minimum Equipment 
to Begin Reloading 
(Figure 1)
1) Powder scale
2) Dies
3) Loading manual
4) Case lubricant (for bottlenecked cases)
5) Safety glasses
6) Primer flip tray*
7) Dial calipers*
(*Not absolutely essential, but pretty handy.)
Figure 1– Minimum equipment needed to begin reloading.
Reloading Safety
At this point you’re anxious to finish your assembly
and start cranking out rounds. But for your own safety,
stop now and read the following:
Reloading small arms ammunition involves the...

5
•  BE PATIENT: Our loading equipment is conservatively
rated and you should have no trouble achieving the pub-
lished rates with a smooth, steady hand. If something
doesn’t seem right, stop, look and listen. If the problem or
the solution isn’t obvious, call us. The reloading bench is
no place to get into a hurry.
We have done everything we know how to make your
machine as safe as possible. We cannot, however, guaran-
tee your complete safety. To minimize your risk, use com-
mon sense when reloading...

6
Changing Shellplate Position
Your AT 500 is shipped with the “universal” shellplate
installed. The “universal” shellplate has four shellholder
slots: #1, #2, #3 and #5. This allows you to reload a wide
variety of calibers.
All AT 500 reloaders are shipped with the #1 slot visi-
ble. If the caliber you wish to load requires one of the
other slots on the shellplate (see the caliber conversion
chart on page 3 to be sure), you may change this by first
loosening the brass-tipped set screw (Figure 5) at the...

7
Changing Primer Size
Your AT 500 has been shipped to you with the large
primer bar installed and correctly adjusted to feed large
primers. If the caliber you have selected requires small
primers, you must change to the small primer cup and
pin. Do this by loosening the set screw and removing the
large primer cup and pin from the primer bar. Install the
small primer cup and pin. (Figure 7) Do not tighten the
set screw yet. 
Figure 7 – To change the primer cup and pin, loosen this set
screw. See arrow....

8
Figure 11 – Toolhead/die station orientation.
SETTING UP THE AT 500 TO LOAD
RIFLE AMMUNITION
We are using the .30-06 cartridge as an example in this
section. The AT 500 machine comes to you with the
shellplate (with the #1 slot ready for use) and large primer
bar installed.
Station #1 – Install the sizing/decapping die here.
Figure 12 – Installing the sizing/decapping die in Station #1.
Move the handle down (which will raise the platform)
and thread the sizing/decapping die completely into the
toolhead...

9
Figure 15 –Installing rifle powder funnel into the powder die.
Slide the funnel into the powder die and tighten the set
screw, assuring yourself that it has entered the groove in
the funnel. (Figure 16)
Figure 16 – The groove in the rifle powder funnel.
With the resized case in Station #2, move the handle
down and thread the powder die into the toolhead until
the funnel comes in contact with the case. Tighten the die
lock ring. Advance the case to Station #3. 
Station #3 – Install the bullet seating...

10
Station #4 – Install the taper crimp die (if you’re
using a separate taper crimp die) here.
Figure 19 – Installing a taper crimp die in Station #4.
Move the handle down. Thread the taper crimp die into
the toolhead until it comes in contact with the cartridge. In
1/4 turn increments, thread the taper crimp die clockwise
while you move the handle up and down, until a crimp
appears on the mouth of the case. An average crimp
should be approximately .002 smaller than the case diame-
ter. (Figure 20)...