[Jayhawker]

Hello:

Has anyone on the board ever turned down a powder funnel on a Dillon 550 B in order to realize a tighter fit for the bullet once its seated? The problem for me is with .45 Autorim using plated or jacketed bullets in my Models 25 and 625. I will get bullet pull under recoil and attribute part of this to the relatively thin Remington AR brass. Is this even feasible and if so how much would one remove? Since I'm guessing that we're talking of only .001"-.002" could it be done with emery paper?

Thank you for any suggestions.

Pete

[Cherokee]

You might try calling Dillon. They are usually very helpful. :D Since the powder funnel appears to be plated, it would take some work to use emery paper and probably would not be uniform. :confused:

[bogie]

Er... Can you back the funnel out of the press plate a little? Assuming it's tapered, a quarter turn might do the job.

How are you crimping?

[Jayhawker]

Hello:

Maybe I'm showing my ignorance here. Does the powder funnel only bell just the lip of the brass? I thought it expanded the case for about a 1/4 inch down inside. Set me straight here>

Pete

[Cherokee]

The shaft of the powder funnel that expands the case neck in not tapered, at least not the ones I have and have measured. The taper at the upper end of the shaft puts the bell on the case mouth. If neck tension is not sufficient, less case neck belling will not solve the problem. Crimp could also be a problem. I assume you are crimping the case mouth.

[Jayhawker]

Hello:

Thank you for your replies. I am indeed crimping the round. In fact, I have tried 3 or 4 different brands of crimp dies without success. At the current time, for the plated bullets, I use a RCBS .45 ACP roll crimp die (it was tough to find) and crimp enough to hold the bullet the best it can without cutting through the plating. For 230 Grain FMJ, I am using Redding 45 AR Profile Crimp Die. Bear in mind, I may be picking at straws. My accuracy is outstanding. I just know that the bullet pull is not supposed to be there and thought I'd fix it if I could.

Pete

[Master Blaster]

I ran into similar problems when going from lead(more belling) to jacketed bullets (less belling). Turn the powder die which controls the amount of belling counter clockwise, and reduce the amount of belling till the bullet will just barely stand on the casemouth (almost no discernable belling). Then seat and crimp as before. The problem should go away. It worked for me on jacketed bullets.

[Fatelvis]

I turned a powder funnel for my 550B to make it shorter (used a 30 carbine expander and shortened it, so I could load cast bullets in my 30-06/303 Brit, progressively) and found the chrome and surface hardening made it nessisary to go V-e-r-y slow while cutting on the lathe. Just thought that tidbit of knowledge might help.

[Cherokee]

Fatelvis: Thanks for the info on turning the powder die down. Did you use HS steel or carbide bit ? I'm going to have to do that to one of mine.

[Fatelvis]

A carbide bit. The funnel also bells the mouth slightly, PERFECT for loading cast bullets!!

[Sunray]

Whatever for? Once the bullet is seated there's no further need of a powder filler.
"...45 ACP roll crimp die...' No roll crimp on a .45. Taper crimp only. The case head spaces in the case mouth. If somebody told you this will work, they BS'd you.

[BEARMAN]

Even though you are loading .45 auto rim for a revolver you can still taper crimp, this will crunch the brass in tight against the whole bullet instead of around the neck only. TRY IT BEFORE MODIFYING ANYTHING, IT COULDN'T HURT. GOOD LUCK.

[sundog]

Like just about any other revolver cartridge, there is nothing wrong with a roll crimp on a 45 AR (Auto Rim). Headspace is not on the case mouth, but on the rim. If using moon clips with 45 ACP, its on the clip, which essentially is an artificial rim. So, if you are using 45 ACP and moon clips, you can still roll crimp. sundog

[Jim Watson]

Mike the "powder funnel" in its straight section between the rounded tip and the flare. It should be several thousandths smaller than bullet diameter. If it isn't, cut it down or get Dillon to replace it. If it is smaller than bullet diameter, consider the Lee "U" undersize sizing die, available direct or from EGW.

[Black Snowman]

Remington AR brass

This was a big flag for me. I've had nothing but problems with Remington straight-wall brass. Their bottleneck brass and .44 Mag brass seem to be OK, but certainly nothing to write home about. If you have a source for any other brand of brass I'd try that before changing anything in your hardware. I just don't trust the stuff anymore.