Dillon Primer Pickup Tubes, learned something new

[DanK3Pos]

I switched from WLP to CCI Large Pistol primers last night and one of my primer pickup tubes kept jamming as I tried to load it with primers. I used the follower rod to knock them back into the flip tray and started over a couple of times, but it kept happening. This after no problems with WLP.

So, I took a look and noticed a blister just inside the mouth of the tip. I decided that might be the culprit and proceeded to carve it off with my knife. That was a mistake . . . now the primers just flow right back out of the plastic tip. That epoxy(?) blister was there for a reason.

Fortunately, I had a replacement tip, so I swapped out. Still had the same problem with jamming. I ran a Q-tip through the primer tube to clean out any debris. It came out clean and that didn't solve the jamming problem. Then I noticed there was quite an exposed lip on the aluminum tube, even though Dillon chamfers the ID. Finally, I placed the tip on the counter top and carefully shoved the rod further into the plastic tip (I didn't want to destroy another tip) and voilà, problem solved. Apparently there was enough of a jump from the plastic tip to tube that the CCI primers were getting caught. I don't know why the Winchester primers didn't have the same problem.

 

[rfwobbly]

Interesting. Thanks.

Any tips on physically replacing the plastic top ? They can be on those aluminum tubes fairly tight.

 

[DanK3Pos]

Interesting. Thanks.

Any tips on physically replacing the plastic top ? They can be on those aluminum tubes fairly tight.

I used a pair of pliers and gently twisted and pulled them off. Only pinch down on the plastic where it is supported by the metal tube. Mine was very tight.

 

[Catpop]

Just had that problem and it was with CCI primers
I removed tip, lightly polished inside of alu tube, replaced tip and no problems since.

 

[Catpop]

Another problem was with primer tube stop pin. I found it was sticking in its hole this not cutting off primer flow completely.
Dillon sent me a new one which was made of deldrin or some white synthetic. I was surprised the original one was metal. They also told me to bend the flat spring 45 degrees.
All is now well with the 550.

 

[mokin]

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind if I run into that. The only problems I ran into were remembering to replace the clip on the open end and having the plastic tip fall off while I was picking primers up. I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees last night....

 

[DanK3Pos]

Just had that problem and it was with CCI primers
I removed tip, lightly polished inside of alu tube, replaced tip and no problems since.

If I have further problems, I will try that, but I think this solved it for me.