Anyone else done this?

[Grandpa Shooter]

I know I have read where some reloaders have reamed out the hole on their Lee disc to get the right throw, but has anyone reamed out the charge bar for their Dillon powder measure?

I was trying to get up to 47 grains of H414 to try in a .308 load and could only get about 46.5 with it. I looked on Dillon's website and found where they had a belted magnum setup but don't want to spend $25+S&H for something I would not use otherwise.

I figured out which Lee discs to double up to get half the throw I need, so I could get it by cycling twice, but it frustrated me I couldn't do it with my Dillon. While poking around in my reloading drawers I came across a second Dillon large rifle charge bar, so being me, I reamed it out to where it will throw 48g +/-.2 so I could get what I wanted.

Question is, how many other people have done it, and how far up can I go in grains of throw without cutting through into the cavity to the left of the chamber I am reaming?

 

[Uncle Chan]

I've beveled the edges of my lee pro powder measure to get a proper consistent throw, but have never touched my Dillon. It is setup just perfect and I don't want to mess with perfection.

 

[Mt Shooter]

I have taken a file to a lee disk or two in my day.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

What is so sacred about Dillon? The reloading tools I use are just that--tools. If I can make them perform better with a modification or two, why not do it?

I will most likely open it up some more to get a higher throw of powder. I also ordered another set of Lee disks so that I can play with them while keeping an original set, or if I want to get a good throw by using the same volume twice.

Being creative while reloading is the key to success and enjoyment for me.

 

[ants]

Like Granpa said, it's a tool to use to your best benefit. Set it up to work for you, then let the tool do the work.

I've also been 'sleeving' the Lee disks to make a cavity smaller. I also do that to the micro-adjustable so it drops the powder perfectly centered upon the drop tube. Perhaps you cannot envision the improvement it makes to a micro-adjustable until you try it, especially on very small charges.

 

[strat81]

I've beveled the edges of my lee pro powder measure to get a proper consistent throw.

I've never heard of this. Anyone else do it? Should I just take my RCBS chamfering tool and give it a try? Most of my powders throw pretty consistently... if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

It's not a question of being broke. If I want a chisel to perform better I may change the angle of the bevel. If I want a smaller more controlable chainsaw I may change the bar and use a shorter chain. If I want more traction on my jeep I get more aggressive tires, more clearance--I lift it. Sure my Lee with the double disk can do the job, or close to it. And my Dillon comes close when loading pistol, but falls short with some powders when loading rifle in 308 and 30.06.

I have yet to find a tool that couldn't be modified to suit me better. I have even ground hammers to get a flat face on the striking surface and filed the claw to get a better edge for pulling boards loose.

Why improve it? So it suits my needs, not just the generic needs it was built and marketed for!

 

[SpamHandler]

I have turned several powder charge inserts for a MEC loader from aluminum rod. They turned out better than the originals, and much cheaper too!

 

[moooose102]

hey grandpa, GO FOR IT! there is nothing sacred about dillon, or anything other tool for that matter. i agree with you 100%, if it needs fixing, fix it. i cant tell you how many special tools i have made in my day. i used to be a mechanic, and when i took a torch or a grinder to a brand new snap on wrench, to modify it for a particular job, the other guys would just cringe. but when i was finished making it, they all asked to borrow it, and sometimes, asked me to make them one!

 

[evan price]

I am the king of making what I need work for what I am doing.

They call me "Sanford" at work (as in Sanford & Son) because I am in the habit of picking up junk and stashing it in nooks and crannies.

Funny thing is no matter what is needed to fix a machine I always have it.

I've got brand new wrenches I bought to turn down, heat and bend, grind to half thickness, thin out the box end, make my own offsets, etc. to fit particular things. There's nothing sacred about a tool- it's metal, shape it to fit your needs. It's not like there's no more of them being made and you can't just buy another one if you need the original configuration.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Hey that's my name!

You can use it if'n yu want to.

I have worked as a mechanic, owned a vending company, did home inspections for custom home builders, renovated houses and sold them, and now have my own "handy-man" business.

I save everything from a job I did simply because I know one of the next couple is going to need what I would have thrown away. People say I am the king of reverse engineering. Figuring out how something was built, (or screwed up) and then finding a way to make it work inspite of how it was originally designed or put together.

It's amazing to most folks how I can build something out of spare parts I know are in my front storage shed, or in my work trailer. Comes from growing up poor and living with depression era parents I guess.

Fix 'em guys and gals. Make 'em work for you!

 

[Uncle Chan]

grandpa,

I didn't say anything was sacred about Dillon. I said it is working perfectly, so I'm not going to mess with it. Why would I "fix" something that isn't broke?

My Lee Autodisk Pro, on-the-other-hand, well, that could use some tinkering with.

u.c.