Dillon Powder Drop Woes

[AdamVIP]

So I got a 550 for a great price and have been using it for 45 ACP. My problem is that the powder drop sticks big time. After 3 or 4 rounds it literally gets so stuck in the case it tries to lift the bench. The additional downside is that the jarring that happens when it finally frees cause the case in station 1 to move and thus not line up for priming. There is no way to make this setup productive when I have to fight it along with resetting the station 1 case every half upstroke.

I know one answer is to call Dillon, which I plan to do at lunch today, but I also know from surfing that this seems pretty common with the E powder drop and that the drop has actually been redesigned several times over the years. Dillons response to others was to lube every so often but that is not a productive answer. I'm hoping that when I talk with a rep I find out mine is simply out of spec.

In the mean time I have actually found an older style drop with the taper on ebay and ordered it up today but Id really like to see if anyone with the newest rolled style is successfully using it.

Also for additional info I have tried it on multiple case types from armscor, winchester, federal, and others. They all stick.

[CSACANNONEER]

Sounds like your powder funnel is too low.

[AdamVIP]

It doesnt catch ion the flare part. The newest funnel starts with a rolled edge to a straight cylidar that goes into the case before the case edge hits the taper that flares the case. Its the cylidar section that goes into the round that sticks. I can actuyally adjust to to not flare the case and it still sticks

[stranded1980]

I had something similar. First I sanded the funnel with 600 grit sand paper and then used Flitz metal polish to get it nice and slick.

However, it ended up it was actually sticking on Lee Factory Crimp. Long story, but it was adjusted down too much.

In case you haven't done so already, send only one case through the progressive to confirm that it's at the funnel it's getting stuck.

[Revoman]

^^^ This.

I had one die set that did that same thing. Used some of the Scotch-Brite light grey pad, then car polish with a cotton pad Dremel bit and it's been g2g ever since. Shiny rules!

[Lead Waster]

Are you wet or dry tumbling? The slightly dusty film from walnut dry tumbling can act as a dry-lube to help the dies from sticking.

Is your sizer maybe an undersized die?

[sammy]

I had this problem using new Starline brass. A spray of One Shot lube make things run smoothly.

[samcam13]

Had the same thing on 458 SOCOM and 45 ACP powder funnels. took them to the lathe and polished with 400 grit paper until they were a snug fit in the case up to the flare (they were crazy tight before). then followed that with 1000 grit and then some mothers polish. nothing stick to them anymore, the factory dillon finish is pretty good but not great, and just a touch big I think. The dillon rep told me they will work better on once fired cases, but how do you get them to once fired unless you load a crapton of them new