Dillon 550 and Unique powder...mess!

[BigDog(RE)]

When I load using Unique, I find that it tends to spit out loose flakes all over the bench. It happens with both my 45ACP and 44Mag die sets, and does not happen with other powders. I'm guessing its because it is a flake powder and does not flow as well as say Bullseye or 2400. Is there a way around this? I have tried tapping the handle on the downstroke and it helps a little bit, but I still have to stop after a 100 rounds to clean up the little bits of powder everywhere...

 

[shooting time]

I have the same problem with my dillon i think if you go slower it don't happen as much. i usually blow it out with some low air pressure.

 

[Master Blaster]

It s because of how the slider works, it leaks a tiny bit of any flake type powder.

The loads are very accurate weight wise though, in my experience of 8 years of using my 550 across 5 calibers, with my one and only Dillon powder measure.

Its really not a concern, but you can call dillon and they may send you another powder bar thats a closer fit to the measure, or not, worth a try though.

 

[LexDiamonds]

Loving my Lock-N-Load....




Seriously thou.. I use a lot of Unique as well but have begun to fully transition over to Power Pistol as it meters better and generally gives better results.

 

[BobCat]

Unless you are allergic to "cheap" equipment that works well, you will find that a Lee powder measure - the one with the sliding disk - goes on a Dillon 450 or 550 press and works as well as or better than the Dillon measure. It costs about $20.

I have three old 450 presses set up for .45 ACP, 9 mm Parabellum, and .357 mag - and load Unique or Green Dot (both similar flake powders) with the red Lee measure on all of them. It does not bind, change "adjustment" or leak.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Andrew

 

[loadedround]

I have two Dillon 550's, and five Dillon powder measures mounted in tool heads and have never had a problem with Unique powder or any other pistol powder that I have used in the fifteen years or so that I have been had Dillon equipment. Have you called Dillon and talked to them about your problem? "Don't suffer in silence."

 

[BigDog(RE)]

Thanks for all the replies. I called Dillon, and the tech recommended that I try wiping down the powder funnel and/or the dies with a dryer sheet to eliminate the static. He also recommended doing the same thing to the powder holder. He said that should help somewhat, but there was always going to be the stray flake or two when you use this type of powder.

I would switch to VV or something else, but the stores around here only seem to carry Alliant powders, and I don't want to pay Hazmat fees to ship some here.

I will report back and let you know if the dryer sheet idea worked or not...

**edited to change power pistol to VV**

 

[xring44]

I have a simular problem with my 650, but I've discovered that the problem lies with the cases, if they are new, never fired, they have a tendency to have a slight burr in the mouth of the case, if you have more than normal resistance on the up stroke, it will "jar" the powder lifting it as the shell plate is being rotated, spilling a few flakes on the shell holder. Also note that only one flake in the shell holder will sometimes be enough to keep the case from seating completely in station # 1.

 

[DILLONHELP]

Where is the powder coming from? Is it leaking onto the top of the toolhead, or onto the shellplate? Are you using the small or large powder bar? How old is your measure?
In general, Unique should not leak from out of the measure. It could be held to the funnel by lube or static, or if the case is quite full it could come out when the shellplate is indexed.

 

[Magnum PI]

I have the same issue with my 650....

BUT it's happening ONLY when I reload 44 mag, and coincidentally, I use Unique for 44 Mag.

My leakage happens every 5 or so rounds, on the up stroke as the powder bar is retracting AND the case mouth has left the end of the powder funnel on it's way to station 3. I'd say about 1-2 grains leak out. After 50 rounds I have a mess to clean up, so something is definitely wrong. None of this has occured in any of my other calibers.

I suspect it's the powder funnel and some roughness on the inside of it. OR powder is somehow leaking through as the powder bar is moving back to it's original position after charging the round. I ordered another 44 powder funnel and plan to polish the inside of the current one when I can borrow someone's dremel.

I do not lube cases so there's a considerable effort on the stroke during re-sizing. BUT, I've been careful not to jerk the handle. Even when slow controlled motions....the same result happens. and it's the MOST frustrating thing ever!...second to the primer disk jamming...

MPI

 

[Johnny Guest]

Interesting problem

Just brainstorming here, BigDog(RE) - - - Perhaps there'll be something that will assist you.

As background, I've used Dillon powder measures on a 550B since about 1990, and I currently own five of them, including one i got with a used Square Deal B. I "made do" with only one measure for a couple of years, though, switching it between toolheads. I have used these measures to load Unique powder in .38 Spl, .38 S&W, .380 ACP, 9x19mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, .44 SPL and MAG, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt. I've no idea how many thousands of .45 ACP I've loaded on the 550B, and I guess they've all been with the single, original, powder measure

One problem I experienced had to do with my own "technique" (or lack thereof. ) Using my oldest powder measures, the lids became fairly loose. When I loaded using dirty cases, the powder funnel would sometimes stick in the cases slightly, and it required a lot of force to pull it out. When I jerked it abruptly, the lid would sometimes jar upward slightly. This, combined with an almost-full powder tube and a not-too-solidly-mounted press, would frequently allow the lid to lift and a bit of powder to escape, making a bit of a mess. The problem was aggravated when I was in a hurry, reaching for maximum production speed.

This had little or nothing to do with the design of the powder measure. Cures:
1. Replaced the plywood board on which the press was mounted with a piece of half-inch steel plate.
2. Made it a point to clean my cases, which vastly reduced the binding effect.
3. When using my measures on which the lid didn't fit snugly, I simply put a strip of tape across the lid. Masking, duct, package sealing, cloth surgical adhesive - - Whatever.
4. Smooth operation of the press without a lot of jerking of the handle.

Oh, yes - - Sometimes a primer pocket is not snug enough to hold the primer, and it goes away unnoticed. An unprimed case will indeed spread a bit o' powder around beneath the shell plate. Again, a matter of unsuitable (plumb wore out) cases and not the fault of the measure.

I've used other powder measures over the years - - two RCBS Uniflow, Bonanza, Lyman, Lee, and probably a couple I don't recall. The combination of the Dillon progressive, Unique powder, and quality bullets have enabled me to load truly match grade ammo for years now.

Full disclosure: For the past three years or so, I've been using mostly Win 231 powder for .45 ACP. The majority of these loads have been fired in submachine gun matches. My open bolt Thompson just can't utilize the greater accuracy Unique provides, and I save money with 231.

Best,
Johnny

 

[LAH]

Welcome to the board DILLONHELP. Enjoy...........Creeker

 

[mrmeval]

If static is the problem..

I've seen black powder reloading tools and BP dislikes static and complains loudly about it. Does Dillon have a powder system for BP that would work with Unique and is metal with a grounding strap?

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Hornady has a black-powder compatible, brass, aluminum & cast iron (?) powder measure that is also compatible with their case-activated linkage system. Both will drop right into a Dillon press. Their brand new linkage also can expand the case mouth at the same time.

Andy

 

[hmp32]

I use Hodgen Universal for my .45 / 9mm loads in a Dillon. This powder is flakey and was not consistantly being dropped by the Dillon Powder measure.

I took the measure completely apart and cleaned everything with isoproply alcohol. That solved the powder measure problems.

The other problem I have seen, and haven't really solved, is if I go too fast with .45acp, powder will "bounce out" of the .45 case. The Hodgens universal at the gr I load fills the case about 1/3.

Anyway, this things may not address your problem or they may...

 

[BigDog(RE)]

Thanks again for all the replies

In my case, I don't think the powder is leaking. What happens is that when I lower the shellplate there seem to be a couple of flakes that drop down late, like they are sticking to the funnel for a little bit. I think cleaning the powder funnel with alcohol and using ht e dryer strips should solve it. I am going to try it tonight. I will report back.

 

[taliv]

on my 1050, i have had the powder problem on various cases (pistol and rifle) with various powders. I haven't had an issue with static for whatever reason, but I did solve the others, which were a combination of 3 things:

1. not enough case lube, causes jerky motion which tosses powder on to shellplate
2. too much case lube, collects in powder die which will cause it to drop powder on the plate. run a pipe cleaner up there and if it comes out dirty, use less lube
3. like johnny said, you really need a STABLE bench to mount your press on.

btw, if you go to the forums on brian enos's site, you will find some real dillon gurus who (in my experience) have been even more helpful than the dillon support line.

 

[HSMITH]

BigDog, the only time I have had powder drop late like you are having is when static builds up or with a dirty powder die. The dryer sheet helps a lot, and clean the heck out of the powder funnel.

 

[BigDog(RE)]

Fixed the problem!

Took the powder measure and die apart and cleaned them with rubbing alcohol and then used a dryer sheet on them. I also adjusted the tightness of the bell crank screw so that the powder bar moves more freely. That seems to have solved the probel. I just loaded 40 rounds without a stray flake!

Thanks again for all the tips and help.

 

[LAH]

Got her done...........Creeker