Handloading help!

Status
Not open for further replies.

wombat13

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
1,849
I've loaded for a number of years, but not high volume and only for a few chamberings, so maybe an advanced beginner. My loading equipment was boxed up for a couple of years and I just got it set up again. Now I'm having two problems I've never had before. I could use some advice:

1. My press is a Dillon RL550. I dropped the primers into the feeding tube and when I cycled the press they all fell out. I pulled the inner tube with the plastic end that is supposed to hold the primers and I dropped one in and it fell through. Does that part periodically need to be replaced?

ETA: Primer feeding problem is solved. The pin that holds the primers in the tube is spring-loaded by a thin metal tab that is screwed to the feed tube. The screw was loose and the metal tab was swung to the side and not returning the pin to its proper location.

2. I have a Redding No.1 oil-damped balance. It always maintained calibration. I checked it again and it was reading 0.2 grains light, so I adjusted the nuts on the end of balance. Now it "sticks." Usually it swings up and down slowing as the oil damps the motion until it stops on the reading. The swinging has always been very smooth, but now it stops somewhat abruptly and I noticed that if I push the charge tray down (so the indicator end goes up) it some times sticks at 0.5 grains. What is going on here? Did I somehow ruin my balance by simply adjusting the calibration nuts?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Last edited:
1. Sounds like you are using the large primer tube to load small primers. Use the correct size.

2. Clean the pivot points with rubbing alcohol and q-tip. Clean both the beam points and the points in the scale body. Make sure everything is able to freely move and not rubbing.
 
I’ve never loaded anything requiring small primers. The tube is for large rifle. I was using Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers because that’s what the Hodgdon website indicated for their load data. Previous loads used Remington Large Rifle. Must need a new part.
 
Cleaned pivots with rubbing alcohol and a qtip. Cleaned both the pivots on the beam and the “cradle” the pivots rest on. Still sticking
 
I can see that the beam is not rubbing anywhere it shouldn’t. The only points of contact are the pivots. Must be a problem with the pivots or cradle.
 
I got tired of that issue with my scales so I bought a Digital one. I have the MTM 750 grain scale I got it from Academy sports. It has worked pretty well.
 
I will check the damping paddle more closely. It is not obviously bent. I cleaned out the old oil and replaced it, but I will do so again and make sure there is nothing on walls of the oil reservoir that could be catching the paddle.
 
I've loaded for a number of years, but not high volume and only for a few chamberings, so maybe an advance beginner. My loading equipment was boxed up for a couple of years and I just got it set up again. Now I'm having two problems I've never had before. I could use some advice:



1. My press is a Dillon RL550. I dropped the primers into the feeding tube and when I cycled the press they all fell out. I pulled the inner tube with the plastic end that is supposed to hold the primers and I dropped one in and it fell through. Does that part periodically need to be replaced?

2. I have a Redding balance. It always maintained calibration. I checked it again and it was reading 0.2 grains light, so I adjusted the nuts on the end of balance. Now it "sticks." Usually it swings up and down slowing as the oil damps the motion until it stops on the reading. The swinging has always been very smooth, but now it stops somewhat abruptly and I noticed that if I push the charge tray down (so the indicator end goes up) it some times sticks at 0.5 grains. What is going on here? Did I somehow ruin my balance by simply adjusting the calibration nuts?

Thanks in advance for any help.

The primer pick up tube is different than the primer sleeve that inserts into the primer “pipe”.
That sleeve rests on a small pin that stops the column of primers from falling thru. The pin is spring loaded and moved back by the primer cup allowing a single primer to drop into the cup. Check that the primer sleeve is resting on the pin and that the “lips” of the sleeve aren’t broken. On my 550 too much pressure on the cap nut holding the sleeve in the tube will cause problems.
 
I had this issue when I first got my 550C. End result was my primer tube was not seated all the way. There's a small slot that the primer tube clicks into. I had to spin it a few times to find. No way to see it down the tube. Once I got it clicked end problem was solved.
 
The primer pick up tube is different than the primer sleeve that inserts into the primer “pipe”.
That sleeve rests on a small pin that stops the column of primers from falling thru. The pin is spring loaded and moved back by the primer cup allowing a single primer to drop into the cup. Check that the primer sleeve is resting on the pin and that the “lips” of the sleeve aren’t broken. On my 550 too much pressure on the cap nut holding the sleeve in the tube will cause problems.
Thanks for the advice. I discovered the problem with the primer feeding last night. The spring is just a metal tab screwed to the tube. The screw had come loose and the tab was swung to the side.
 
I had this issue when I first got my 550C. End result was my primer tube was not seated all the way. There's a small slot that the primer tube clicks into. I had to spin it a few times to find. No way to see it down the tube. Once I got it clicked end problem was solved.
Thanks, I'll check that as well.
 
Thanks for the advice. I discovered the problem with the primer feeding last night. The spring is just a metal tab screwed to the tube. The screw had come loose and the tab was swung to the side.
Yep that will do it. I have used my 550 since 82. The priming system has always been the Achilles heel of this system.
 
My 30+ year old 550 has been reliable with the exception of the primer feed system as mentioned above.

More than once I've started at page one of the set up and use manual to verify functionality, clean and lube the thing! After storage it might be a good idea!! Always runs much smoother after "maintenance"!

Your manual has a parts list that gives the orientation and names of the parts too! Helps when discussing parts!

Dillon will mail a replacement if your manual is AWOL!

Smiles,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top