Dillon 550 with powder messy?

[Grub Master]

I keep having a couple of specks or so of loose powder that make their way onto the primer cup. This leads to the primer having a small dent when set. I thought that I was jerking the machine but that's not the case. I keep a can of air close by and am having to constantly blow the powder away. This happens with Pistol Powder as well as 231. Anybody have a cure?
Thanks

 

[Uniquedot]

http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Powder-Measure-1-Each/

http://www.hornady.com/store/Case-Activated-Powder-Drop-1-Each/

 

[dhfenno]

I have loaded a bunch of 231 and never had a problem on either of my 550s.

Get 2 so you don't have to switch from small to large primers : )

I did have trouble once with 2400 leaking a little with every round when I was trying to use the small powder bar to measure over 10 grains or so. What powder bar are you using and how much are you trying to drop per round?

 

[45ACPUSER]

I would suggest that you clean you PM. I would then do a polish job on internals.
I would make sure that you do not have a static problem......

 

[EddieNFL]

Usually more common loading rifle, but if you lower the ram too quickly a few granules can miss the case.

 

[Grub Master]

It is a brand new PM and I am loading 9mm. I did notice that there is some powder sticking to the inside of the case. Could that be static? If I have static, how do I get rid of it?

 

[amlevin]

I had a similar problem with my Dillon Powder Measure using AA2230 on my 650. When pulling the handle I was getting the sensation of something hitting the back of my hand. Turned out that the screws that "WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE" to secure the tube to the base of the Powder measure were missing. Never shipped or installed by Dillon. I secured the tube with some screws I had in my junk box and the powder leakage went away. Only occured with the fine powder AA2230. HS-6, Power Pistol, Vihtavouri 3N37, and H-335 didn't do this, only the AA2230.

 

[Sport45]

I get the dents too, but it's not from spilled powder. Usually it's bits of ground walnut or primer residue that comes out of the flash hole/primer pocket during decapping.

 

[Grub Master]

Static

"I get the dents too, but it's not from spilled powder. Usually it's bits of ground walnut or primer residue that comes out of the flash hole/primer pocket during decapping."

That might be what it is? I think the powder that I am seeing on the disk is from static. I will ground the press and see if that works.

 

[mc223]

Grounding is a good idea. For the static in on and around the measure, wipe down with a dryer sheet.

 

[northark147]

It also happens when something goofs up, the dratted primer feed decides not too, and you don't catch it first. Powder appearing places it shouldn't is normally what alerts me when I'm having a primer feed problem.

 

[Sky King]

I have a similar problem with 231, only it's on my 650 when loading 9mm, 40 S&W or 45acp, not a problem with longer cases such as 38 Spec. or .357 Mag. using Universal, 231 or 2400
It seem that when the cases advance to the next station it does so with a jerking motion and that shakes the powder out of the shorter cases. I've tried hold my finger over the case at the powder check station on the way to the seating station, but I see the powder comes out of the cases from the Primer/Powder station to the powder check station. Haven't figured out a way to smooth the advance.

 

[arizona98tj]

Haven't figured out a way to smooth the advance.

Don't hold your finger over the cases.....just let it drag on the plate as it indexes to the next position. Not letting it "pop" into position keeps things clean. I'm doing this with one finger as a couple of others are getting read to drop bullet into the case mouth after it comes to rest.

 

[rfwobbly]

I did notice that there is some powder sticking to the inside of the case. Could that be static?

Most likely oil or case lube.

 

[Grub Master]

I used the dryer sheet and wiped the plastic powder tube and all other parts of the powder measurer and problem solved. I also started trying to be a little smoother when operating it.

 

[medalguy]

Dillon makes different thickness powder measure bars from what I understand. If you have fine-grained powder leaking around the bar, contact Dillon and they will send you (at no charge of course) a slightly thicker bar. You can put a piece of masking tape on top of your bar and see if that stops the powder leaks. If so, you have an undersized bar.