Question for Dillon 650 users

[psriley]

I've been pretty fat dumb and happy for the last few weeks cranking out 45 ACP with zero problems on a Dillon 650 XL. I recently converted it over to load some .223 Rem, and I'm having a couple of issues.

First one is with the case feeder. I got the small rifle case feed plate, but about half my cases drop into the tube upside down. The troubleshooting guide in the manual references a couple of other parts (baffle and adapter) that are apparently needed as well. Is this true, and are they orderable separately? I couldn't find the referenced parts on the Dillon site.

Second issue is priming the cases. Probably about a third of the primers get squashed, go in crooked, don't go in all the way, etc. I'm using once-fired brass from AE factory rounds I shot, not military brass. Is there some other prep I need to do the primer pockets of relatively new commercial brass, or could it be something finicky with the primer system that I need to adjust (although, there's not much to adjust)? I'm using Winchester small rifle primers. I didn't do any additional prep to the primer pockets of the 45 ACP cases, and I had far fewer problems.

Even with these couple of foibles I managed to crank out a few dozen .223 rounds that I'll try out tomorrow, but I'm finding rifle ammo reloading is a way different animal from pistol.

Any insight appreciated.

[REDHORSE]

It's been ages since I swapped from .45 ACP to .223 I pretty much just use the 650 for 9mm, .40, & .223 .45 ACP has been regulated to the single stage press, as I don't shoot it as often as the other calibers.

Make sure the small rifle plate is close to the floor of the case feeder. Make sure there is nothing (debris, washer) that is not allowing for the plate to fully seat down.

Cases are falling down tube upside down jamming in the top tube, etc.
1. Using the wrong casefeed plate for that caliber.
2. Casefeed baffle (13688) not in place (see conversion chart for which cal. require use of the casefeed baffle)
3. Casefeed is too full.
4. The machine is not secured to a sturdy enough bench.

.45 ACP Caliber Conversion Chart - Pistol
Locator Button = #1
Funnel = E
Casefeed Adaptor = RED
Arm Bushing = RED
Body Bushing = Med
Casefeed Disc = Large Pistol
Primer System = Large

.223/ 5.56 Caliber Conversion Chart - Rifle
Locator Button = #3
Funnel = A
Casefeed Adaptor = WHITE
Arm Bushing = GREEN
Body Bushing = Small
Casefeed Disc = Small Rifle
Primer System = Small

Well in your Dillon 650 .223 caliber conversion kit, you should have also received a couple pieces for the case feeder (body bushing, case feed arm bushing, etc..). http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg48.htm

Check out part #8 "Adapter Funnel" http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg67.htm

Case feed insert slide cam swap (pistol vs rifle): http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg50.htm

As for your priming issues. We'll assume you swapped out the large priming system for the small rifle priming system (right? )

Just make sure the primer pockets weren't military crimp. Doesn't sound like they were.

I'd just make sure the shell plate is properly installed and that your using the right shell locator pins.

[anyracoon]

Might give Dillon a call. They can tell you what is wrong or at least point you in the right direction.

[psriley]

It's been ages since I swapped from .45 ACP to .223 I pretty much just use the 650 for 9mm, .40, & .223 .45 ACP has been regulated to the single stage press, as I don't shoot it as often as the other calibers.

Make sure the small rifle plate is close to the floor of the case feeder. Make sure there is nothing (debris, washer) that is not allowing for the plate to fully seat down.



Well in your Dillon 650 .223 caliber conversion kit, you should have also received a couple pieces for the case feeder (body bushing, case feed arm bushing, etc..). http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg48.htm

Check out part #8 "Adapter Funnel" http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg67.htm

Case feed insert slide cam swap (pistol vs rifle): http://www.dillonhelp.com/xl650english2/pg50.htm

As for your priming issues. We'll assume you swapped out the large priming system for the small rifle priming system (right? )

Just make sure the primer pockets weren't military crimp. Doesn't sound like they were.

I'd just make sure the shell plate is properly installed and that your using the right shell locator pins.

Thanks for the links. Looks like I'm just missing the casefeeder adapter funnel. I guess it should've been in the cal conversion kit. Yep, I've got the priming system changed over, but I missed a couple of tweaks that need to be made.

Thanks

[grywlfbg]

On the priming side, I've had problems w/ the primer plate not rotating all the way to the next primer so it could cause me to get sideways primers. To fix it I loosened the 2 screws holding the primer assembly and that fixed it. Guess I don't know my own strength

[REDHORSE]

Thanks for the links. Looks like I'm just missing the casefeeder adapter funnel. I guess it should've been in the cal conversion kit. Yep, I've got the priming system changed over, but I missed a couple of tweaks that need to be made.

Thanks

I loaded up 500 rounds of .223, I didn't use a funnel up top and it worked fine. I'm not sure if there is supposed to be one or not.

Calling Dillon should give you the right answer.

[psriley]

Well, I called Dillon, and they were stumped on the casefeeder issue. So I did some more troubleshooting on my own and figured it out. I hadn't pressed the case feeder plate down far enough onto the spindle assembly. I had just set it on there thinking it would just settle on its own. It settled a few more mm when I pressed on it, and tadaaa problem solved. No additional parts necessary

The primer issue is still an issue, but I'll post the solution once I get it resolved.

[Bolt2Bounce]

One problem with the priming system is if dirt/ crud gets into the area of the primer plate it can drag and stick, the primer plate moves past the point of center when it goes up to the top of the stroke, then the spring pushes it back to center and ball detent keep it there, If crud causes it to stick it can not quite be centered and will flip a primer sideways crushing it. I get that problem after I've been loading about 1k rds of rifle ammo because powder or dirt /crud get built up in the priming system. Military pull down brass and ammo with bullet sealant in the neck is really bad for this, Also if you didn't change your primer plate to the small prime plate from the large plate that will also cause primers to go in sideways because of the extra room in the large prime plate will allow the small primes to go off center. I hope this helps ya out. B2B