Floating Die 550/650 Toolheads

By Whidden Gunworks

What does the floating die toolhead do?
This toolhead has lock rings that allow the sizer and seater dies to float. This floating action allows the dies to center themselves exactly over each cartridge for the best possible alignment and more concentric ammunition.

What is concentricity and what does it matter?
Concentricity refers to how straight the bullet is on top of the loaded round. A bullet that is straight will enter the rifling in the barrel that way. Bullets that enter the rifling slightly crooked do not shoot with their highest accuracy.

Why is the floating die toolhead better?
The Dillon presses are great machines made to high quality standards. However, how do we know that each threaded station in the toolhead is in perfect alignment with the shellplate? How do we know that the stations on the shellplate are equally spaced? The toolheads are also a slightly loose fit in the top of the press. All of these areas compound for possible misalignments and lead to ammunition that isn’t quite as concentric as it could be.

What is different about the new CNC Machined Toolhead?
These toolheads are made to the highest standards. Anyone who has upgraded their reloading equipment to these progressive machines shouldn’t be held back by the inferior cast toolheads used by the manufacturers. The toolhead is the final link between your dies and your press so it only makes sense that quality is extremely important. With over $100.00 of dies, powder measure, and other accessories mounted in your toolhead, don’t you want to know it’s the best available!

What are the possible different setups available?
• For those who want to continue to load at high volume, they can get the floating die toolhead and put it in place with their existing system. The result will be higher quality ammunition.

• A highpower shooter who is using their progressive loader only for short range ammo now might consider buying a floating die toolhead to dedicate to long range ammo exclusively. This will allow high volume and highest precision on the same press.

Will this system really load ammo good enough for 1000 yard shooting?
"Absolutely. I have been loading all of my competitive ammo, for practice and matches, on a 650 with a floating die toolhead since 2003. The ammo that I will be taking to the World Palma Team Championships and World Long Range Individual Championships will be loaded on this machine. You have my personal guarantee that this will load the best ammo your dies can produce. If you’re not 100% satisfied, send it back for a full refund."
— John Whidden

What is the UniqueTek Toolhead Clamp Kit™ and how will it help?
These toolheads come with the UniqueTek Toolhead Clamp Kit™ parts pre-installed. The "clamped" toolheads mount with Grade 8 alloy screws (provided with the toolhead) instead of the original locator pins. With the toolhead clamped, you will achieve reduced cartridge OAL variation. The floating dies will also work more effectively without the added, and unpredictable, movement of the toolhead during each press cycle. You can read more details about the benefits of clamped toolheads on the product page for the UniqueTek Toolhead Clamp Kit™.


Prices:
— 550 Toolhead with 2 Die Lock Rings and Clamp Kit parts pre-installed = $63.95
— 650 Toolhead with 2 Die Lock Rings and Clamp Kit parts pre-installed = $69.95


Note: If you prefer a Floating Die Toolhead without the Toolhead Clamp Kit installed, they are available directly from our good friends at Whidden Gunworks



Toolhead Clamp Kit is a trademark of UniqueTek, Inc.