How to adjust Dillon powder/expander die

[BHFG]

I am trying to set my 550 up for the first time. The instructions say to adjust the die so that the bell is 'just enough to allow the bullet to sit on the case mouth" and to not shave any brass off when seating. But for a newbie, how much is that? Is there a good adjustment to start with?

Right now I tightened the die down until it just touched the shellplate and then backed it out one full turn. But it looks like a lot of a bell.

Any suggestions of where to start? BTW, I am starting with .45 ACP.

Tnx

 

[wally]

Start with the powder drop die out as far as can be, yet still get a full stroke of the powder charge bar slider. Then start turning it in about half a turn testing each time if the bullet will fit in the bell of the resized case. For lead bullets give it an extra quarter turn, for jacketed, as soon as the bullet base sits inside the bell you're done.

It's not critical, as long as the bell is enough to let the bullet fit for seating, but too much bell and you'll be cracking cases after only a few loadings.

--wally.

 

[davelee99]

Some advice I got from Dillon

Here's from information from Dillon I got on another forum -

"Be sure you are flaring case mouths at least .010" larger than the sized, unflared case, and that you start with the measure at least 2/3 full. Throw 10-15 charges and dump them back before you begin weighing, to settle the powder under the baffle."

 

[highlander 5]

The advice above is correct for Dillon expander dies with 1 exception,if your using a bevel base bullet the amount of belling can be reduced slightly.