Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
About a year ago I started loading on a Dillon 550B. I loaded 45 ACP and 10mm until just recently. I switched over to the small primer bar because it was time to get into 38 Special. It's funny how wee those primers look compared to LPPs.
Anyway I've hit a bit of a snag. I typically load up 50-100 primers in the pickup tube, drop them in, and away I go. Well I had an issue where the primer cup was catching on the shell plate, and as a result, when it popped in line it would flip the primer on it's side, and I actually primed two cases sideways. That scared me a bit, and I'm glad I apply gentle steady force when loading and don't go too fast. I fixed that issue by pushing the ram fully forward so the primer cup was fully engaged with the shell plate, and then tightened the nut that is used to adjust the movement distance on the primer bar and cup. Problem solved.
Now what is happening is that the last two primers in the tube will not drop into the seating cup. So I torqued my head around into a difficult space and looked. What is happening is the primer feed tube tip is not retaining the last two primers. They are somehow dropping lower than they should onto the plastic retention peg than they are supposed to, so when the primer cup enters the primer feed system, the edge of the cup is hitting the primer, and stopping short. I am able to get them out if I stick the tip of a knife in and lift the primer up as the cup enters the feed system, but that is tremendously irritating, and I'm not a fan of putting a pointy steel item into the primer feed system, while pulling the handle. If something slips, I could end up hitting the primer with the knife tip. However unlikely, I'm not comfortable with how it's running.
So none of this seems to me to be a "just try a different primer feed tube" sort of solution, but maybe it's just the tip that needs replacing. What baffles me is why only the last two primers do this. I would think the weight of a fully loaded primer feed tube would cause this simply due to weight. I tried not using the low primer indicator rod also, thinking it was somehow putting pressure on the stacked primers and causing an issue.
The only other thing I can think to try is to grease the primer retention peg, as the directions suggest is needed for regular lubing. But I just did that like 4 months ago, and have only loaded like 1000 rounds since then.
Does anyone have any other suggestions I'm missing? This is frustrating after the relatively easy operation I had with the large primer bar. It makes me want to buy a second 550 just so I don't have to mess with changing primer feed systems.
Let me know if I need to clarify what is happening, and thank you for any and all suggestions.
Anyway I've hit a bit of a snag. I typically load up 50-100 primers in the pickup tube, drop them in, and away I go. Well I had an issue where the primer cup was catching on the shell plate, and as a result, when it popped in line it would flip the primer on it's side, and I actually primed two cases sideways. That scared me a bit, and I'm glad I apply gentle steady force when loading and don't go too fast. I fixed that issue by pushing the ram fully forward so the primer cup was fully engaged with the shell plate, and then tightened the nut that is used to adjust the movement distance on the primer bar and cup. Problem solved.
Now what is happening is that the last two primers in the tube will not drop into the seating cup. So I torqued my head around into a difficult space and looked. What is happening is the primer feed tube tip is not retaining the last two primers. They are somehow dropping lower than they should onto the plastic retention peg than they are supposed to, so when the primer cup enters the primer feed system, the edge of the cup is hitting the primer, and stopping short. I am able to get them out if I stick the tip of a knife in and lift the primer up as the cup enters the feed system, but that is tremendously irritating, and I'm not a fan of putting a pointy steel item into the primer feed system, while pulling the handle. If something slips, I could end up hitting the primer with the knife tip. However unlikely, I'm not comfortable with how it's running.
So none of this seems to me to be a "just try a different primer feed tube" sort of solution, but maybe it's just the tip that needs replacing. What baffles me is why only the last two primers do this. I would think the weight of a fully loaded primer feed tube would cause this simply due to weight. I tried not using the low primer indicator rod also, thinking it was somehow putting pressure on the stacked primers and causing an issue.
The only other thing I can think to try is to grease the primer retention peg, as the directions suggest is needed for regular lubing. But I just did that like 4 months ago, and have only loaded like 1000 rounds since then.
Does anyone have any other suggestions I'm missing? This is frustrating after the relatively easy operation I had with the large primer bar. It makes me want to buy a second 550 just so I don't have to mess with changing primer feed systems.
Let me know if I need to clarify what is happening, and thank you for any and all suggestions.