Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Off and running (ok...more like crawling) with my new Dillon XL650 Setup

(1/5) > >>

OnTheFly:
Spent the last seven days cleaning out the basement so I can set up my man cave/reloading room.  I had already received all the press components except for the dies which were on backorder.  The dies finally arrived yesterday, just in time for me to finish my cleaning and set up the reloader. 

So I read the Dillon manual and watched some helpful videos online.  Two ruined cases (WAY too much flare) and four rounds which I get to use my new bullet puller on (bullet seated too deep), and four beautiful little 9mm rounds with 124gr round nose FMJ bullets...Yippie!

So a question to you experienced reloaders with a progressive Dillon press.  I noticed that as the shell plate auto-indexed and snapped into the next station, the powder would be flung out of the case making a right good mess.  I don't like mess, so I went online again to see fi this was a common problem and found this video...



Has anyone tried this, or have a reason NOT to try it?

Lastly, I'm considering an automatic bullet feeder and a Dillon powder check.  The powder check would take up my remaining free station on the head, so a bullet feeder would require the use of a bullet seat/crimp die set.  Anyone have experience with such a die?

Thanks,
Fly

jonm:
Imo, a powder check is useless. You can achieve the same result by glancing in the case.

tobydog:
Did the spring trim on my 550. Much better. Gotta agree with jonm about the powder check. Haven't tried a bullet feeder.

OnTheFly:

--- Quote from: jonm on July 26, 2013, 06:45:51 AM ---Imo, a powder check is useless. You can achieve the same result by glancing in the case.

--- End quote ---

I think "useless" may be a strong word unless you are stating that the system doesn't work or it attempts to fix a problem that doesn't exist. Otherwise, "redundant", "unnecessary", "overkill" might be more accurate.

If the powder check system works as intended, then why not have a back up? Your eyes may be the best powder check you have, but your eyes are attached to your brain which can easily be distracted. Especially if you are producing rounds at the rate of an auto indexing press with a bullet and case feeder.

Fly

unfy:

--- Quote from: OnTheFly on July 26, 2013, 01:34:12 PM ---I think "useless" may be a strong word unless you are stating that the system doesn't work or it attempts to fix a problem that doesn't exist. Otherwise, "redundant", "unnecessary", "overkill" might be more accurate.

If the powder check system works as intended, then why not have a back up? Your eyes may be the best powder check you have, but your eyes are attached to your brain which can easily be distracted. Especially if you are producing rounds at the rate of an auto indexing press with a bullet and case feeder.

Fly



--- End quote ---


Glancing in the case is good.

Using a powder check die is good.

Doing both is good.

My first thousand or two rounds were loaded without a powder check die.  I was quite happy to add it to my LNL AP (granted, having spare die station to do so).  I personally like the double confirmation... especially if lighting goes weird or an angle just right, etc.

It's not like a single stage where you can dump 100 charges, then eyeball all of them.  It's one at a time assembly stuff... an extra check aint too bad.  An extra check to avoid a banana'd barrel is a good thing IMHO.

So I'd disagree with jonm's assertion the PC is useless :P

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page