Primers jamming in primer magazine (Dillon 550)

[MoreIsLess]

I have a 550b and some of the large primers seem to be sticking in the primer magazine tube. A lot of times they get stuck right at the top but sometimes farther down. I thought maybe I just have bad batch of over-sized primers but I don't think so. I tried using a file to file away any burrs but they still seems to stick. Can I lube the inside of the tube or spray with silicone or will that contaminate the primers. Maybe I just need to order a new primer magazine from Dillon.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am dead in the water loading 45 acp until I get the primer magazine to quite jamming or get a new one.

 

[Otto]

Can I lube the inside of the tube or spray with silicone or will that contaminate the primers.

Not recommended.
I polish the inside of the tube with 3000 grit paper.

 

[biogenic]

Not recommended.
I polish the inside of the tube with 3000 grit paper.

Otto gave you sound advice. Polishing the tube it's fast and easy...

 

[Fatelvis]

Maybe a stupid question, but you are using the plastic follower rod, correct?

 

[MoreIsLess]

yes

 

[jmorris]

If you have one that is jamed, call Dillon and they will send you a new one for free. There are folks out there that can damage an anvil with a rubber mallet and others that can pick up an egg with the bucket on a track loader, I don't know where you fall into between the extreams but the chance of setting off a tube of primers goes up a lot when you go poking around on them and you'll have taken it out of the steel "blast shield" by then too.

 

[Snag]

Polishing the tube is a good idea. Might also try adding a bit of weight to the follower rod, a 45 Colt case fits over the end like it was made to be there.

 

[rehorne]

Any particular brand of primer? A friend of mine has a devil of a time with Winchester Large Pistol Primers. I use a 9/16 socket on top of the plastic rod for a little more weight to keep them running smoothly

 

[kelbro]

Federal primers don't play well with my Dillon tubes.

 

[helotaxi]

I haven't needed to polish them but I did run a small patch down the tubes to get any dirt out that might have gotten in there. I run a dry patch down them from time to time just to keep them clean and functioning well.

 

[MtnCreek]

I had the same problem w/ win lp primers and the tubes that came w/ my machine. I e-mailed dillon for advice and the sent out replacement. The original tubes shipped with a bunch of other stuff and the just packed them in a plastic bag. The replacements came in a cardboard tube and worked fine.

How are you'll polishing the tubes? Wrapping sandpaper around a cleaning rod?

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, have some older CCI, large pistol that don't play well with the pick up tubes, but run fine in the press. So I, just hand feed them into the press.

 

[coalman]

I run a patch down mine now and again. I get sticking too. Seems to solve it.

 

[Kp321]

I used a 450 for 30 years before I upgraded to a 550. The 450 had an aluminum follower rod with a heavy brass nut on top. After getting the 550, I made a primer follower from a brass rod with a knob on top for weight. Have never had a jam in the tube with that set up. BTW, I am not using the low primer alarm, the follower rod locks the primer slide when empty.

 

[MtnCreek]

Just a thought on the weighted rods: The primer system is designed pretty heavy and in the event of detonation, the top is the path of least resistance. Add enough weight to the rod that safety is gone.

 

[helotaxi]

You'd have to add a LOT of weight. Certainly more than a cartridge case presents.

 

[243winxb]

Dillon RL450 has aluminum tubes. I clean it with Hoppes #9, nylon brush. Patch dry. Then patch with 91% isopropyl alcohol, patch dry. Primer dust can build up & cause this, if you force a stuck primer in the feed.

[/URL][/IMG] or this

[/URL][/IMG] Click photo for larger view.

 

[medalguy]

+1 on the Winchester primers. I've had two different lots of Winnies that were constantly getting stuck in the aluminum tubes last year. I switched to a different lot of Winchester and they fed fine, then went back to the first lot and they stuck again. No problems with Wolf or Remington (yet) so it's not the tubes, it's the Winchester primers.

I agree with keeping the tubes clean no matter the brand of primers.

 

[RockCreek]

Winchester primers

I load about 3000 rounds a day with a Super Dillon 1050 and go threw allot of primers. We got a batch of Winchester Primers in and started having problems. After cleaning with a dry patch the Primers worked allot better. I would not use any lube at all in the primer tube. If you find that the tube has a dent in it or it is bent Dillon will replace it. Good luck.