How to Empty the Powder Measure on a Dillon 550

[mikemyers]

Thanks; it's a non issue. Great.

Something else I should ask - with most powder measures, when you're finished for the day, you're supposed to pour the unused powder back into the original container. How does one do that on the Dillon? Is there some quick way to remove the powder dispenser, without having to un-do all the linkage?

 

[Ccctennis]

No quick way. I leave powder in mine for a couple of days. Especially since I sometimes reload multiple days in a row. You will have to remove powder hopper and dump powder out.

 

[Toprudder]

To empty the dispenser, just take the fail-safe linkage off (just takes a few seconds) then slide the toolhead out.

 

[cfullgraf]

To empty the dispenser, just take the fail-safe linkage off (just takes a few seconds) then slide the toolhead out.

Yep, there should be a hair pin clip that holds the top of the rod to the bell cranks on the powder measure. Lots of slop in the rod that will it allowed to be removed and later reinstalled.

On my SDB's, I unscrew the button head screw on the lock that holds the powder measure to the powder die but sliding out the tool head works as well.

 

[MRH]

Guess I've been doing it wrong all these years. I pull off the rod, then remove the whole assembly from the powder die, and then dump the powder. Then reverse the process.

Is there a better way for me?

Mike

 

[iShoot17]

I unlink the fail safe rod, pull the pins, pull out the tool head, then dump it back in the container is came from after every loading session. I then run the powder bar a few times to make sure all the powder is out.

 

[Otto]

I use a match...it never takes more than one.

 

[mikemyers]

We almost had to remove the entire assembly after we installed it, as it didn't seem to be working. The rest of the Dillon worked as it was supposed to, as we followed the assembly instructions, but the powder mechanism didn't do anything, no matter how many times we raised and lowered the handle, or what position anything was in. As my relative was fiddling with the handle, I put my finger against the bottom of the die, and felt something moving up and down as he moved the handle. Then I had an idea... what if we tried this with a shell in place? Voila, it worked perfectly! I'm pretty sure it's obvious to all of you, but it would be nice if Dillon had said that in the manual, or the assembly video.



Thanks for all the great suggestions up above! Not only can we now use it as a single stage press for learning, we can also do a "batch" of 50 rounds. I think Dillon should make that a selling point for the 550, as it allows one to gradually get into progressive loading.


Regarding powder left in the dispenser, I assume a day or two of having it there is fine, but not much longer than that? If it were me, I'd follow my book, and pour it back into the original container at the end of every day, even if I was going to use it the next day. Also, does the Dillon have a "powder baffle" as an accessory? If that's in place I assume it needs to be removed in order to pour out all the powder?

 

[Hondo 60]

If left for more than just a couple of hours the plexiglass will get stained.

Mine is so black that only the top inch or so is still see-through.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I unlink the fail safe rod, pull the pins, pull out the tool head, then dump it back in the container is came from after every loading session. I then run the powder bar a few times to make sure all the powder is out.

^ I do exactly this. Unless I'm going to make more, in the near future. Then I just cover the whole press with a trash bag (dust avoidance)...and put a rubber band around the powder cylinder, in case the powder is hygroscopic.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

If left for more than just a couple of hours the plexiglass will get stained.

Mine is so black that only the top inch or so is still see-through.

Some powders do this, much more than others. Extruded powders seem to do this much less.

 

[BCRider]

The rod on mine has a "Z" bend so it can't slip out easily. But I made up a fast disconnect for the lower end which allows me to remove the toolhead pretty easily.

Like some here I tend to load a 100 here and there through the day when reloading and do other things between packs of primers. So I tend to leave the powder in the measure for 3 or 4 days during this sort of session. But I'm the only one in the house. Otherwise I would do things a bit differently.

 

[Sport45]

I put the powder jug on a chair. Then I'll place a powder funnel over the top of the measure and hold it down with one finger over the opening. With the other hand I pick up the workbench and tip it until the funnel is over the powder jug opening. Then I can just move my finger out of the way and the powder flows effortlessly back into the jug. It's best to clear most of the loose stuff off the bench before doing this.

Seriously, I pop the rod loose at the bottom and pull the pins like others have mentioned.

 

[cfullgraf]

Also, does the Dillon have a "powder baffle" as an accessory? If that's in place I assume it needs to be removed in order to pour out all the powder?

The Dillon powder resevoir has a small baffle molded into at the bottom. It covers the metering cavity.

I do not think they offer a sheet metal baffle similar to those offered by Redding, RCBS, et al but if you want one, it is easy to make.

There is a web page with dimensions for different diameters hoppers. The metal can be obtained from an empty aluminum drink can.

Or, if you have access to a CAD program, the baffles are basically an ellipse that are bent in the middle to make it a hat section. The cad program can provid a template for cutting the baffle. The major axis of the ellipse should be about 1.4 times the length of the minor axis which would allow you to bend the baffle at about 90 degrees. Note, the minor axis is the inside diameter of the powder measure hopper.

When dumping powder from the powder measure, depending on the fit of the baffle will depend on whether I remove it. The baffle in my Redding powder measure is held in place pretty well by the tension of the baffle so I do not remove it. I pour out as much powder as I can through the holes in the baffle and then cycle the powder measure to the remaining out the discharge of the powder measure.

My Uniflow has a loose fitting baffle which will slide out with the powder as I am dumping it. So, I pour carefully into a funnel. The funnel catches the baffle and directs the powder back into the powder jug. I still cycle the powder measure after the bulk of the powder has been removed to get the last of it out of the discharge chute.

The Redding baffle is bent so that it presses against the side of the hopper and allows for placement anywhere in the hopper. The loose fitting Uniflow measure just sits in the bottom of the hopper. I could reduce some of the angle of the hat section of the Uniflow baffle and would then grip the sides of the hopper.

As a side note, the holes in the baffle that allow powder to pass to the metering section should be placed so that they are not directly over the metering cavity.

As Hondo 60 said, the hopper can discolor fairly quickly even if you dump the powder at the end of each reloading session. Leaving the powder in the powder measure for an extended time, and overnight is an extended time, just accelerates the process.

Some folks take clear plastic sheet protectors and cut the to fit inside the hopper. This provides a disposable liner that can be changed when it discolors. It is more trouble than it is worth in my opinion but I have some other reloading idiosyncrasies so who am I to judge on the merit of the sheet protector liner.

 

[Toprudder]

With the Dillon measure, I've had really great luck with the hard-to-measure powders by using an aquarium pump rubber-banded to the hopper. The vibrations help settle the powder consistently into the measuring bar. Not needed for many powders, but for something like 700x it typically reduces the variations to < +/- 0.05gn.

 

[Toprudder]

Have not tried one of these, but looks interesting:

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1347

 

[Bamashooter]

This company also offers a powder baffle for the Dillons if you are interested, I haven't ever seen the need for one on my Dillons, but they are available.