Dillon powder check vs lockout die

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32_d3gr33s

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I have a lee powder check die on my rcbs pro 2000. It works great, but only if I look at it every time. I don't have any issues with that, but would prefer something fool proof. Right now I have a switch rigged up above the die, so that when the rod is pushed up by the powder, it activates a light mounted to the press.

I'm interested in taking it 1 step further though, to the point where it would almost be impossible to have a squib load. So I've been toying with the idea of either a rcbs lockout die, or the dillon powder check/alarm. The lockout die is plug and play, but the dillon I would have to drill a hole in my die plate for the rod to pass through.

Anyone have experience on one or the other or both? Care to share your thoughts. Looking for pros and cons of both. 75% of my loading is 9mm or 45acp. Thanks
 
I have the Dillon powder check on my 650. It will give you an alarm at approx. +/- .2g of Varget in a .223 case. Good enough for guarding against squibs & double charges (although impossible with Varget in a .223), but not good enough for precision bench rest or target shooting.

It seems to be more accurate with larger mouthed rifle cases and .45ACP.
 
Tom488 drilled a hole in his Pro2k for a Dillon buzzer. Here's his picture.
IMG_0528.gif

Notice the hole he drilled isn't in the die plate, but in the casting.....that way he can just leave the Dillon checker in the stationary station.

That of course requires that you prime, charge, and expand pistol cases in #2. The best way IMO, anyway, using RCBS's new Powder-thru-expanders in their powder dies.

That in turn would encourage you to buy additional powder dies (with lower case-activated linkage parts) to mount to each of your pistol die plates.:D

Lock-out dies work well too......or you can do what I did and buy the parts to make this:

IMG_1620.gif :cool:

I spent a $100 counting the LED lighting. Here's the write-up and video......http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=745876&highlight=video+powder+check

The Dillon is $30 less but it won't work on a Dillon 550. The RCBS Lockout die is $50 cheaper, but it won't work for rifle bottle neck cases. The video checker works for everything.....with an "in your face" screen that's hard not to look at.
 
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I've thought about doing the live feed setup as I have everything needed to do it. I think is just prefer a simpler setup at this point though. The lockout dies don't work on bottleneck rifle correct? Are there certain calibers that the dillon won't work with? Like I said I reload mostly 9mm and 45 acp. I also load 38/357, 223, and will be doing 380 and .40 shortly.
 
After I had too many sqibs while using the RCBS lockout die, I ditched it, added a light and just glance into every case. This is with 9mm.

As far as I'm concerned the only completely reliable method is to use your eyes. It's also the cheapest.
 
32_d3gr33s said:
I've thought about doing the live feed setup as I have everything needed to do it. I think is just prefer a simpler setup at this point though. The lockout dies don't work on bottleneck rifle correct? Are there certain calibers that the dillon won't work with? Like I said I reload mostly 9mm and 45 acp. I also load 38/357, 223, and will be doing 380 and .40 shortly.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's where I was. Then I decided that the video was the simplest of all except using your eyeballs......and with the Pro2k you need mirrors to do that well, and yes I tried that route for a time too. The project only took an hour once the parts arrive viva Amazon.

Nice thing about the camera/monitor is that it works equally well for all your calibers without having to adjust anything.....no other method does that except unassisted eyeballs as GJSchulze does. But with the Pro2K filling powder on the way to the back of the press that's not so easy as on some other presses. The $100 was well worth it to me....with the screen in my face, I'm not as likely to miss anything.

If you watched my poor excuse for a video, you should have noticed several pistol calibers as well as 308 and 223 on the same rotating shell plate. The only adjustment is what you do to change calibers on the press....ah, including of course changing to the right shell plate.:rolleyes:
 
I use lockout die unless I load rifle, then I use the Dillon contraption.
 
Yikes!! How many is "too" many?
Click to expand...

Five or Six. That was close to two years ago when I first started reloading. I have not had a single one since. Fortunately, since it was no powder with just the primer, it didn't get entirely leave the chamber, so in every case the next round didn't chamber. After my first one, I pulled the bullets on 100 rounds of the same batch. I didn't find a squib, but I did find a double:eek:

Lucky, really lucky I pulled those bullets.
 
First, my main issue with the RCBS lock out die is that it does not work with bottle neck cases.

Second, for me, virtually all my powder delivery problems happen during an upset in the process. If I have a jam or a miss fed primer or something, I pull all the cases around the powder measure.

Third, the powder cop die has become part of my scan. I am mostly worried about no powder. I have confidence in the powder measures that they will deliver powder every time and the powder check dies are not capable of catching small variations.

On my Dillon SDBs, I can look in every cases. GW Staar's video system is quite the sexy solution.
 
GJSchultz: Such an experience makes a believer out of us to pay close attention to details in the reloading process. It's nicer when such an experience doesn't hurt you or your gun! It's also good that you learned from the experience ..... unfortunately some don't and repeat questionable practices until they destroy a priced piece, or hurt themselves. (Knock on wood) As I approach "old", I'm even more concerned I'm going to space something off, or be less vigilant. This hobby isn't a safe place for those with old timers disease. I've told my wife to let me know when the edge starts getting dull. Then I'll have to find another hobby.:banghead:

cfullgraf: Sexy? yes....anything that works great for old-tired eyes is sexy I suppose.:) Hope it doesn't give any voyeurs any ideas.
 
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I use the RCBS lock out die and am happy with it. I don't use anything with rifle cartridges, I take my time and visually check the cases. Never had any squibs or double charges. I do look in the case as I put the bullet on. As long as you set the lock out die up right it will work. It is a little tricky to do, the instructions are crap. There are a couple youtube videos that show how to do it. But just because you have some sort of powder cop, lock out die, or the dillion die does not mean it is a fool proof system. You should still be paying attention.
 
well i went ahead and pulled the trigger on the dillon. I had a squib 2 times i recently went to the range. (1 in .45 the first time, 1 in 9mm the second) I visually check the powder in every case, but somehow they still got missed. (both were from batches when i had just started loading on my progressive.) Luckily it was easy to tell, because neither gun had cycled after the squib. I purchased a hornady powder cop die since then, but now i find myself watching the little white o-ring, and not so much looking at the powder. So we will give this a go, and see how it works.
 
First, my main issue with the RCBS lock out die is that it does not work with bottle neck cases.
Click to expand...

If a powder cop die will work, why won't the RCBS die work? They both have a "probe" that is about the same.

Second, for me, virtually all my powder delivery problems happen during an upset in the process.
Click to expand...

Yes! If there is one thing that I always try to make newbies understand, it is this. Shooting a gun and reloading are much like learning to drive a car with standard transmission. There are a lot of things that you have to do and until you learn how to perform them without thinking (i.e., muscle memory), you will make mistakes.

Such an experience makes a believer out of us to pay close attention to details in the reloading process. It's nicer when such an experience doesn't hurt you or your gun! It's also good that you learned from the experience ....
Click to expand...

There's nothing like the fear of a gun exploding in your face to improve your concentration while reloading. After my first or second squib, I didn't change anything, but after I had a few more I stopped and analyzed the my methods to understand why it was happening and what to do about it. I also spoke to a few people at my gun club about it. I suspect that almost all no-powder squibs are caused by an interruption of the process followed by a non-orderly method of correction resulting in no powder or possibly double charge. Then, not checking cases carefully afterward.

unfortunately some don't and repeat questionable practices until they destroy a priced piece, or hurt themselves.
Click to expand...

The same people that are devoted to the jackass movies and regularly contribute to the Darwin Awards.

I've been at competitions where I've listened to someone shooting and I hear: bang, bang, pop, bang, bang, bang, splat, bang.... No squibs, but you know something is wrong with their reloads.
 
Ultimatereloader.com has a really good video on the QUICK SET-UP and ADJUSTMENT of
the RCBS Lock-Out Die.

Saved lots of folks, lots of time with it.
 
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