Help. Dillon 550b is not belling the case in station 2

[PWGUNNY]

I had my press setup for .38, converted the plate and dies over to 9mm. When I place the brass in station 2, I am getting the powder, but the case is not belling. I have tried screwing the die up and down in the toolhead but no bell. What am I missing here?

 

[Big Wes]

sounds like your not screwing the die down enough 9mm is a lot shorter than 38 spl

 

[whughett]

The only way to adjust belling with the Dillon I know of is screwing the die down, just as Big/Wes said. As an aside if your shooting FMJ, coated or plated bullets a pronounced bell is not needed or even desirable.

 

[PWGUNNY]

I screwed the die all the way down. It must be something else. I've always had the press setup for 9mm. and then I recently added the .38. I've had the press set for the slightest bell. I will go back to the press and review.

 

[PWGUNNY]

This may result in a "Homer Simpson" moment. I now realize I did not loosen small hex screw in the shaft of the press. This may have resulted in my shell plate height being adjusted. I may have to readjust the height of the shell plate by screwing the entire shell plate in a clockwise direction? Not sure, I'll look for a setup video.

 

[frankmako]

did you put the 9 mm powder funnel in and took out the 38/357 powder funnel.

 

[Typetwelve]

did you put the 9 mm powder funnel in and took out the 38/357 powder funnel.

Bingo...the internal powder drop/flare funnel is not the same on 9mm as it is on 38. When you buy a Dillon cal conversion kit, it comes with the shell plate, powder funnel, and locator buttons...you need to use all 3 for it to work properly.

This is why I just went ahead and bought a quick swap kit for my 550, one for 38 and one for 9mm so I don't have to screw with it each time, which would really suck.

 

[jmorris]

For 38 spl you need the “D” powder funnel, the “F” funnel you use for 9mm is too long.



If you have the D installed and the die screwed all the way down you will ruin 38 special brass with too much bell, because it’s also the funnel you use for 38 colt.

The shell plate on the 550 won’t have any bearing on the depth a case goes into the die as the case doesn’t sit on the shell plate rather on the top of the ram platform. Unlike all the other Dillon’s.



Page 16 of your manual lists what parts you need installed, if you don’t have it, click here.

https://dilloncdn.com/manuals/dillon-rl550c-manual-english.pdf

 

[PWGUNNY]

did you put the 9 mm powder funnel in and took out the 38/357 powder funnel.

When I was converting, I switched the powder funnels. I did have this thought, and probably the cause. I went back to the bench and pulled out my .38 powder funnel and could not find the caliber, but just a number. I had to go to work, so I will see if I mixed up the powder funnels when I get home.

 

[PWGUNNY]

I am also thinking of getting the additional powder reservoir so I can do the quick swap and not have to deal with this part of the swap.

 

[spawndn72]

The quick change kits are expensive but they make changing calibers so easy. I have four of them and could really use 2-3 more.

 

[jmorris]

I went back to the bench and pulled out my .38 powder funnel and could not find the caliber, but just a number.

Should be a letter.

I am also thinking of getting the additional powder reservoir so I can do the quick swap and not have to deal with this part of the swap.

You can save some money if you just have tool heads and powder bars ready to go and swap the measure.



Make sure your bushing is still in your measure (pencil pointing to it) as they can act erratic if it’s missing. If it’s not there, check in the last powder container you returned powder to, a bent section of coat hanger will fish it out.

The case on top is an example of how far the funnels can flare, if bottomed out, so much they can no longer enter a die.

 

[PWGUNNY]

Well first thing I did when I got home was check the powder funnels. Sure enough the .38 was in the press and the 9mm funnel was in the .38 conversion case. I checked the Dillon site with the letters and confirmed what I already knew. They were mixed up on the bench because I did pull the powder funnel out when I was swapping over. Now I can go try my new loads at the range tomorrow.
Thanks for all the help fellas.

 

[rfwobbly]

► Leave the Powder Funnel inside the Powder Die within the tool head for each caliber. There's absolutely no reason to ever remove it. Your tool heads can survive just fine on the bench top with the complete tool head ready to go. Tool head stands might help, but aren't required.

I am also thinking of getting the additional powder reservoir so I can do the quick swap and not have to deal with this part of the swap.

I keep only 2 Dillon powder measures, one with the Large Powder Bar, and another with the Small Powder Bar. A lot of guys do it, but a powder measure per tool head seems excessive to me. There are a lot of other accessories far, far more useful than loading up my inventory with multiple $100 powder measures.

► The key to using a single powder measure on multiple tool heads is this accessory Right Here .
.

 

[PWGUNNY]

► Leave the Powder Funnel inside the Powder Die within the tool head for each caliber. There's absolutely no reason to ever remove it. Your tool heads can survive just fine on the bench top with the complete tool head ready to go. Tool head stands might help, but aren't required.

View attachment 896471



I keep only 2 Dillon powder measures, one with the Large Powder Bar, and another with the Small Powder Bar. A lot of guys do it, but a powder measure per tool head seems excessive to me. There are a lot of other accessories far, far more useful than loading up my inventory with multiple $100 powder measures.

► The key to using a single powder measure on multiple tool heads is this accessory Right Here .
.

Very nice piece of ingenuity on that powder quick disconnect. I'm sure you have been loading a lot longer than I have, but my pistol dies come in a set of 3. I have a tool head stand for my extra set of dies, but only one powder dispenser. The powder die sits in the powder reservoir, so when changing calibers, I must remove the .38 powder funnel and replace it with the 9mm funnel. If I do decide to upgrade, I would likely buy an additional powder measure and have a complete tool head to swap with just 2 pins.
I tested my new bullet recipes at the range today. All good for the moment, and I am looking forward to loading about 300 rounds tonight.

 

[rfwobbly]

I have a tool head stand for my extra set of dies, but only one powder dispenser.

And I only have one Powder Measure for all my pistol work, as was previously described.

The powder die sits in the powder reservoir, so when changing calibers, I must remove the .38 powder funnel and replace it with the 9mm funnel. If I do decide to upgrade, I would likely buy an additional powder measure and have a complete tool head to swap with just 2 pins.
I tested my new bullet recipes at the range today.

Correct me if I'm wrong, friend... but what I hear you saying is that the Powder Funnel has to be manually swapped because you only have one Powder Die, and your single PM is attached to that. I hope that's wrong, because otherwise you are considering buying more $100 Powder measures due to a lack of $10 Powder Dies.

That simply does not compute.