Dillon 550 experts - help please

[General Disarray]

I'm just starting out with my 550, and I'm having an issue with inconsistent measurement from my powder dump. I've been trying to get it set up for a couple hours and I'm frustrated, so I stopped. I've got everything going (except station 4 since noone seems to crimp rifles), but the powder station doesn't stay consistent. I have gotten my measurements to exactly where I want them, load a few, and then recheck to find out that it's like 3 grains over for some reason. Then when I do another it's right on. Does this send up a red flag as to what might cause this for anyone? I can't figure it out. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[armabill]

Are you giving it enough time for the powder to drop through?

When I change a powder setting, I don't weigh the first throw since it's already in the charge bar. I check the second.

 

[Sheldon]

Powder measures in general have a hard time with stick type powders and I'm going to guess that's what you're using?? The shorter stick type powders do better and ball types do the best as far as consistancy goes.

 

[General Disarray]

Yes Sheldon, it is a 'stick type' powder. It's Hogdon's Benchmark.

 

[average_shooter]

I'm going to go another way;

What scale are you using? Are you positive the problem is with the powder measure?

I have an electronic scale that drifts quite a bit. The same charge will read differently the longer I let the scale sit. So I have to re-zero it before each measure.

 

[hmp32]

With both the Lee and Dillon Power measure, I had to completely take apart clean and re-assemble them before they worked right. I used common rubbing alcohol to clean them. My theory is that the alcohol removes any thing that might cause static build up. But it is only a theory, I just know it worked for me in the the Pacific Northwest.

 

[sublimaze41]

Ball powders meter best, but you can get consistent measurements with flake or extruded. Before this happens you MUST be sure of the weight you are throwing. You said yourself that the scales drift, fix that before sweating out the Dillon.

Still can't figure it out? Call Dillon, as the book says don't suffer in silence. They have great customer service!

I am slowly starting to switch to ball powders as I use the others up. I love Varget but it meters like crap. I really like the way Accurate Arms powder meters. I get these powders to meter to 0.1 grain consistently with my 550b.

 

[donttellthewife]

Here is what you do.

You'll want to polish the powder funnel internal and external and the mouth of the powder drop were the powder funnel comes in contact. Any place were the powder will make contact to the measure, then lube with grafite. This will cut back "bridgeing" of the powder

Lube all moveing parts of the powder measure with grafite

Use the old fashion return spring or two, this will make the powder bar slap back the same way every time and settle the powder the same every time.

Keep the powder hopper over 1/2 full at all times

Use a anti staic spray or a dryer sheet to get rid of static charges on the powder measure

Make sure everything is adjusted correctly. Full extension of the powder bar every cycle is vital.

DON"T load lubed cases, the lube gets on the powder funnel causeing problems. I do 500 at a time useing the inturupted method, first time through the press the lubed cases get decapped, full length sized, and trimmed to length ( power trimmer), then cleaned in dry corn cob media. Then back on the press for loading useing a universal decapper just to make sure there is no media stuck in the flash hole at station 1.

I have not polished the powder bar but it could help as well. Do lube it with the grafite

 

[Snapping Twig]

For stick powders when loading rifle I set the powder measure low by 1/2 a grain or so and use a powder trickle to top off each load on my scale.

I use the fat powder bar, I figure you are too, so weigh each powder load when loading rifle. That's the way it's supposed to work. Rifle is a different world than pistol.

You can get away with progressive mass production measuring every 20th round with pistol once you've dialed in the powder bar, but you MUST weigh each powder charge individually with rifle.

FWIW, sometimes it takes a few throws to get the powder bar to settle down, but they will never be capable of the consistency you need with stick powder for rifle. That's why I set them under and trickle on the scale.

 

[General Disarray]

Hello my name is General Disarray, and I'm an idiot. Symptoms include not reading directions. I had the powder measure set up kind of backwards. Too long to explain, but it's loading the Benchmark very consistent. Thanks for all the help; I actually learned a bunch of new things here tonight. I'm just starting with the rifles after years of reloading pistols on the smaller Dillon Square Deal B.

So I have to weigh every single powder load for each cartridge? I can't even get the powder to pour back into the .223 cartridge. I guess I need a little funnel? What a jip.

This is pretty hard actually. I can't get the bullets to sit atop the cartridge without falling off in station 3. Pistols have that bell put on them, but I guess these rifle dies don't do that to them? I don't even know what station 4 is supposed to be doing if not for crimping. And I now know what the fuss about 'crimped primers' is about. I have to separate them, cuz they screw up the flow. FFWWEEW, what a hard new part-time job I just acquired. Thanks for the help though.

 

[loadedround]

Several months ago I had a similar problem with inconsistent powder weights while loading 308's. It was driving me crazy to I finally called Dillon("Don't suffer in silence"); the Dillon Rep ran me over my procedures and it was determined that the spring on the powder measure slide was weak(it was the original spring, 20 yrs old). A new set of springs were sent to me N/C and that cured my problem. Being a retired chemist, I would like to mention one other thing to check, and that's your electronic balance. Some of these can be a POS. I suggest you get(or have) a check weight. Check your balance at least 25 times with the same weight and again 25 times with the tare set. Finally allow the weight to sit on the pan a minute at a time for 3 or 4 minutes. Do this with and w/o the tare. If it's a balance problem it will be very evident this way. Good luck.

 

[armabill]

I switched to ball powder. I had trouble with the stick powder bridging and sticking.

Much better now.

 

[jjohnson]

Dillon Hotline

Guys (ladies?) Dillon's guide (um, is this part of the not reading instructions problem) clearly tells you to call their hotline if you're getting into trouble with their products.

I've done it a number of times - not because their products are at all bad - they're really very good - and I've had problems from "operator error" on my end as well as things just wearing out 'cause I load a lot.

Their number is 1-800-762-3845. Their technical hotline folks are very good and very helpful. They also have some info on their website www.dillonprecision.com if you get a chance to read it. Honest, they're worth a phone call and even in their 550 maual they tell you not to suffer in silence.:banghead: