my first run with my dillon 550

[roval]

used my progressive for the 1st time a couple of days ago. .

1st time: set it up for 45 acp and had been able to get a pound of bullseye from a coworker. I wanted to run through some rounds and figured 5 grains of bullseye was a tried and true load for 230 grains round nose so should be ok without testing
aha... so this is what ball powder meters like.(says the guy who's only worked with unique). the weights were consistent. I loaded 100 preprimed brass(decapped a live primer accidentally- forgot I had it set up for decapping). I worked slow but still having a completed round pop out after each crank was great. then did 100 rounds of pre decapped cases . flipped the first primer and inserted it backward which I caught and corrected before moving the cases . no problems using my redding dies for 45 acp.

2nd time: took a long time setting up the 9 mm via a quick change kit and changed out the primer arm. used my unique load for 147 grain. still meters ok but does have a .1 grain variation . above and below but was more consistent than me using my manual powder measure. my stroke was more erratic as I sometimes jammed the case mouth on the sizing die as it was slightly off center(in spite of tightening all the lock rings with cases inside the dies in all 4 stations). did 200 rounds in 1 hour 15 minutes in spite of just learning how to work it. For me that's fast.

off press:

weighed my cartidges as I was worried about having double charged or uncharged - 45 acp with federal(my preprimed cases were about 2-3 grain spread with most within 2 grains)
45 acp with Winchester brass which I primed on the machine most were within 3 grains but I had a extreme spread of about 5 grains.(but only 2-3 grains from where I guesstimated the median was). worrisome so I weighed 50 rounds of wwb 45 acp. the factory ammo ranged from 319- 327 grains but most were around 322-324. maybe it's the brass?

total impression I love it but I guess I'll still get the Dillon dies so I can use my other dies to test different loads. I didn't want to touch the dies after taking the time to set it up. especially for 9 mm a more radiused die mouth would be important.

 

[sexybeast]

A few observations: 5gr of bullseye behind a 230gr bullet in 45acp is a rather warm load. Do you really want to load close to max your first time.
Second:

weighed my cartidges as I was worried about having double charged or uncharged - 45 acp with federal(my preprimed cases were about 2-3 grain spread with most within 2 grains)

Did you weigh the bullets themselves before you set them in the case? You will find that a 230gr bullet or more any other pistol bullet will have some spread to them by +/- 2gr.
If you are concerned with your powder dispenser, here is a method I use to check it. Say you wish to drop 4.0gr, do it five times and measure all the drops together. They should add up to 20.0gr. This will give you piece of mind and confidence in your powder drop. If its way off you know you have an issue to fix.

 

[Rule3]

5.0 or rather 4.8 gr of BE is the standard GI load (lead or FMJ)for many, many years. It is the load I use on a regular basis.

 

[roval]

from what I've read also that's a fairly common 230 grain load.
while loading I intermittently weighed the charges and they were consistent. I was stopping every so often to make sure the bullets were still fitting in the gage , fiddling with the wire that moves the primer arm so I wasn't in a rhythm. the powder measure moved with a snap to open once the lever was depressed(and with the same force) and always reset with the same motion when doing the primer seating motion so my concern was either double charge or uncharged not so much as in between drop. I was careful but I interrupted myself several times. making me second guess myself after a nights sleep.

 

[roval]

now I'm second guessing myself again. I'll pull the heaviest cartridges and the lightest and see if can still weigh the powder that I could collect from the bullet puller. will try it tomorrow.

 

[mdm]

Weighing the completed round isn't really going to do a lot for you. You can end up with a pretty meaningless number by the time you take into account all the +/- variables; weight of the brass, powder, and bullet.

Take your time, check the case for powder, pay attention to detail, have fun.

You can second guess yourself to the point you will never send a bullet downrange.

 

[sauer1911]

The bullet puller has been my friend with my xl650. Not because of the machine, but just being new to reloading.

If you call dillon they will walk you thru any problems with your loader. I was having trouble with the tight tolerances of 9mm as opposed to .45acp.

They had me tweaking a few things and it was ALOT better. enjoy your machine and new found scrounging ability to find brass at the range.

be safe.

 

[Bud0505]

used my progressive for the 1st time a couple of days ago. .

1st time: set it up for 45 acp and had been able to get a pound of bullseye from a coworker. I wanted to run through some rounds and figured 5 grains of bullseye was a tried and true load for 230 grains round nose so should be ok without testing
aha... so this is what ball powder meters like.(says the guy who's only worked with unique). the weights were consistent. I loaded 100 preprimed brass(decapped a live primer accidentally- forgot I had it set up for decapping). I worked slow but still having a completed round pop out after each crank was great. then did 100 rounds of pre decapped cases . flipped the first primer and inserted it backward which I caught and corrected before moving the cases . no problems using my redding dies for 45 acp.

2nd time: took a long time setting up the 9 mm via a quick change kit and changed out the primer arm. used my unique load for 147 grain. still meters ok but does have a .1 grain variation . above and below but was more consistent than me using my manual powder measure. my stroke was more erratic as I sometimes jammed the case mouth on the sizing die as it was slightly off center(in spite of tightening all the lock rings with cases inside the dies in all 4 stations). did 200 rounds in 1 hour 15 minutes in spite of just learning how to work it. For me that's fast.

off press:

weighed my cartidges as I was worried about having double charged or uncharged - 45 acp with federal(my preprimed cases were about 2-3 grain spread with most within 2 grains)
45 acp with Winchester brass which I primed on the machine most were within 3 grains but I had a extreme spread of about 5 grains.(but only 2-3 grains from where I guesstimated the median was). worrisome so I weighed 50 rounds of wwb 45 acp. the factory ammo ranged from 319- 327 grains but most were around 322-324. maybe it's the brass?

total impression I love it but I guess I'll still get the Dillon dies so I can use my other dies to test different loads. I didn't want to touch the dies after taking the time to set it up. especially for 9 mm a more radiused die mouth would be important.

You may need to adjust the cartridge spring to ensure centering of the case.

 

[stavman11]

I used to weight my cartridges with .223 at first... More Paranoid than anything

what it did do is tell me they had powder in them.... I would Grab 3 loaded rounds and place them on my scale.... and assuming they fell within a specific range... I grabbed 3 more... if no powder in one it would be VERY Noticeable as in 24-25gr difference

Now with handloads... that would be a Bit Harder... now if they are all within 2-3gr and then 1 is 6gr off... well you know there is now Powder...

besides checking Powder, weighing the Rounds really dosent do anything as far as how precise the powder drop Was

take yer time, and your speed will increase alot.... When i got my 3rd Lee Pro system for 9mm.. It took me a bit ta just FEEL comfortable with all that was happening... case feed... Size and de-prime... prime..Powder drop... Bullet feed.. seating.. But once I got confident I can now bust out 100rds in about 15min......plus 5min to load case and Bullet feeders... and If I tried i could easily do 350-400 in an hr.... But i cant sit at ANY press for 1hr at a Time...LOL.... So I alternate between my 3 presses.... and i LOVE IT

Have fun


Stav

 

[Kp321]

+1 on adjusting the spring retainer on stage one. Also try tightening the central shell plate retainer bolt. It needs to be as tight as possible and still have smooth rotation of the shell plate. If it is too loose, it can allow the case to rock slightly and catch the edge of the die. The extra radius on the Dillon dies can help also. I have used Dillon presses since 1980 but recently bought Dillon dies. What a difference!

 

[Jim Watson]

I have not been able to adjust the little station 1 "paper clip" spring to hold a 9mm into the shellplate. I am just careful to push the case all the way into the notch in the shellplate. But I am also using Dillon dies with lots of radius to let the cases self-center.

 

[2bfree]

Congrats on the 550.
The only squib I have ever loaded was when I first started using mine, what I learned was. Got good lighting to watch every powder drop, every time you take a shell out to check something you run the risk of screwing up,trust your powder drop. I keep a shell with the old primer in it for every caliber and run 10 powder drops when you first start if they are good start loading ( don't forget to put the pin back in ) Interruptions are bad, finish what your doing first. If you make sure your settings are good to start, they will not change.
As others have said, make sure your shell plate is as tight as possible and still turn, especially with 9mm. The Dillon 9mm sizing die does work better than my lee in the Dillon.
I shoot 800 to 1000 rounds a month and I have grown to love my 550.
Good luck !

 

[sexybeast]

5.0 or rather 4.8 gr of BE is the standard GI load (lead or FMJ)for many, many years. It is the load I use on a regular basis.
__________________
Occam's Razor

Well I guess so. When I used Bullseye my load was 4.5gr behind a 200gr lswc. It just seems that 5.0gr behind a 230 was a bit hot for a heavy bullet.
I bet they make Major powder factor real easy in any weather.

 

[roval]

Interesting I pulled the lightest bullet from the Winchester batch weighed 320.5 grains versus the heaviest bullet of the batch 325.2 grains. swabbed out the bullet puller with the static sheet.
> bullets (ranier plated 230 grain ) 229.3 vs 229.5 (mixed up which came with each bullet
> powder charge was 4.9(lighter bullet - a smidgen left in the puller) 4.8 in heavier bullet( a bit more left in the puller as well as some in the table) .
++++ It was the brass one weighed 86.1 grains primed vs 90.8 grains.

I love this press.....

 

[roval]

will adjust the spring further although I thought I had it correct already. gave in and ordered the Dillon dies for 45 acp and 9 mm plus the metal flipper tray and the extra lock rings to use with my redding dies on my turret. it makes tightening and loosening easier and easier to mark with a sharpie .

 

[Jim Watson]

Get you some extra head plates and powder dies so you don't have to change dies.
But still keep an eye on them, the lock rings are not all that effective.