Powder Bar Question

[laxd211]

I have a Dillon RL550, and usually reload .45 and .308. Until now, I have reloaded .308 by individually measuring the powder in each load. Now, I am going to speed up the process. I came across a magnum powder bar for a powder tower (I use the tower for .45).

Would it be justified to by the $16 large powder bar, or will the magnum bar be just fine? Loading in the 40 gr. range of powder.

Thanks in advance

 

[Steve Koski]

laxd,

You just need the large powder bar. It should have been included with your press. Not the magnum.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/23594/catid/1/RL_550B

•Powder measure with standard large and small powder bars (small installed), Small bar throws from 2.1 to 15 grains of powder Large bar throws up to 55 to 60 grains of powder.

Koski

 

[laxd211]

Koski,

I would be using that, but I inherited the press and I do not have all of the equipment.

 

[Steve Koski]

You could certainly try the magnum powder bar. I suspect you'll get consistent charges. Pop it in and throw 25 charges and see if they are consistent enough for your needs. The disadvantage is that it will probably be more "touchy" to adjust.

Koski

 

[rfwobbly]

All you can do is fit the magnum bar, run a couple of "dumps" through it to get it settled in, then weigh 25 dumps in a row and see if they are consistent.

 

[northark147]

.308 uses the large. I don't have a magnum one so I have no way to test and see if it can be turned down far enough. Too bad you don't live closer to somewhere I travel frequently, I have a few spare since I'm set up with a measure for every caliber. Truth be told If I were you I would just bite the bullet and buy another powder measure. It is much easier and faster to change the tool head than it is to mess with the powder measure to convert it. At one time I was tightwad and stubborn and swapped around one powder measure, I found a deal on another and intended to still be Mr Tightwad and use one for rifle and one for pistol. After seeing how nice having 2 mounted on my most loaded calibers was, I put in an order for 4 more from dillon.

 

[dmazur]

Dillon is showing the current price for #20063 Large Powder Bar as $19.95, but this sounds like the part you are missing.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/catid/44/pid/25368/?viewImg=0

As Dillon presses last forever, I'd get the correct part.

Send them an email. They might even send you one free of charge as a warranty replacement.

 

[PlusP]

I found most 308 win loads are in the 35 to 48 grain range it looks like it would be best to use the large bar

This is from page 15 of the 550b manual
About Powder Bars:
Dillon Precision manufactures four types of powder
bars.
1. Extra Small – use for dropping less than 3 grains of
powder
2. Small – use for dropping 3 to 20 grains of powder
3. Large – use for dropping 20 to approximately 45 to
50 grains of powder
4. Magnum – use for dropping 50 or more grains of
powder



http://www.dillonhelp.com/manuals/english/Dillon-RL550B-Manual-May-2007.pdf

 

[laxd211]

Thanks for the input guys.

Now I have to decide between getting just a different bar or a whole new tower..hmmm

In other news, just switched from RCBS dies to Dillon for .308 dies. My Lord, they were not kidding when they said no squeak.

 

[Steve Koski]

If it were me (cheap) I'd just get a powder bar. It's much less expensive, and I'll get to retire a year earlier.

 

[MtnCreek]

In other news, just switched from RCBS dies to Dillon for .308 dies. My Lord, they were not kidding when they said no squeak.

Did you get the carbide? It does make things much smoother!

OK: You bought a $140 dillon die set and can't bring yourself to fork out $20 on the correct charge bar???

 

[laxd211]

MtnCreek,

I didn't even get the carbide- I got the normal die set, and I cannot even imagine what the carbide dies are like. The carbide expander ball though is what I think makes the big difference.

 

[rfwobbly]

In reloading you get exactly what you pay for. You can certainly spend less, but you are NOT getting the same product.