Other Dillon Teathing Problems

[damon1272]

I have a Dillon 550 and and have difficulty in getting it to throw consistent poweder charges. I am loading for 22-250. I am using Winchester 748 powder and a large charging bar and the right powder funnel. I am trying to be as consistent and smooth in operating the press but I have gotten power changes in the .5 to .9 grn. range while other times it is right on the money. I am going to call Dillon on Monday but I am woundering if anyone had any suggestions.

[Kruzr]

Assuming the table your press is mounted on isn't moving, you can see if it's static electircity that is causing the powder to stick to the funnel at the bottom of the powder measure. Empty the powder measure and wipe the entire inside with one of those towels you throw in the clothes dryer to get rid of static.

[eaglemike]

In addition to the note above about static electricity, be sure that your powder slide is fully returning. I've seen a few presses where the slide didn't fully return. You might even want to dump all the powder and look down the tube at the powder slide, to see how far it comes back.

all the best,

Mike

[ar15barrels]

Solid bench is really important.
Bolt the bench to the wall if possible.

Before you start a loading session, run half a dozen (or more) charges through the measure.
The powder settles from vibration and the first few charges will run high.
Once you get the powder "flowing", it will be more consistent.
Don't run a tumbler or anything that vibrates on the bench where the press is mounted or the powder will settle even more.

[sammy]

I was having the same problems. I found the only way to keep it consistant was to fill 4 cases and toss the powder back and then at that point don't raise the platform without putting a charge into a casing. For example throw the powder 4 times then run 10 casings and weigh each one without skipping the powder station. You will find that they will all be consistant. If you operate the platform without a shell on the powder charge the slight movement of the powder bar (even though their is not a casing there it still moves a little) will pack a bit more powder in there. If I skip the powder charge station even once I will throw back the following 4 charges. I hope that made sense. Sammy

[damon1272]

Thanks for the help. I will take a look at the suggestions. The bench that it is mounted to is rock soild. Teh wierd thing was taht charges would increase. I think it must be the powder settling more from the banging of the shell plate when you get going.

[sammy]

Thanks for the help. I will take a look at the suggestions. The bench that it is mounted to is rock soild. Teh wierd thing was taht charges would increase. I think it must be the powder settling more from the banging of the shell plate when you get going.

That is exactly what mine does. With the motion of the handle and no casing the charge would go from a 5.1 of Unique to 5.6 if I skipped the powder station more than twice. I think it packs more powder every time you skip it. Not a very good design IMO.

[CAT_101]

I have a 550 and won,t use the powder bar for my 223 or 308 rounds. I hand mesure the powder for the shell thin put the shell back in the press at the seating die.

[CSACANNONEER]

I have a 550 and won,t use the powder bar for my 223 or 308 rounds. I hand mesure the powder for the shell thin put the shell back in the press at the seating die.

That's great for preccission ammo. Although, I've never had a problem loading .223, that shoots sub moa, on my 550. As far as .308 is concerned, hunting or other preccission loads are done on a single stage press but, bulk .308 for the belt fed is done with the 550.

[bohoki]

i got one of the cheapskate lee powder dispensers and in teh instructions it said to throw one full resivoir full of powder through it to cause a layer of carbon to form eliminating the static

and it is very consitstant

[jandmtv]

i got one of the cheapskate lee powder dispensers and in teh instructions it said to throw one full resivoir full of powder through it to cause a layer of carbon to form eliminating the static

and it is very consitstant

i too have the cheap lee powder dispenser, and it is more accurate than my dillon powder measure, out of 10 powder drops, my lee dispenser will be dead on 7 out of 10 times, the other 3 will only be + or - .1 grain

[mike100]

I only get variations on the 1st or 2nd drop with large flake powders like Unique. The finer powders are spot on after the first drop of the load.

[mike100]

BTW, I have never filled a powder measure all the way up. does the weight of the powder column have any initial effect when you start the firsts rounds of the batch?