Sounds like a flake got up into somewhere it shouldn't have been. Did disassembling / cleaning help?
Powder check die....pretty slick,anyone use one?
- Thread starter Ks5shooter
- Start date
refuse2bafool
Member
That's interesting. I would have thought a more dense powder would have allowed for more of an over/under charge than a bulkier powder. On the low end mine pretty much needs a "no charge" to lock out. There are probably a few other variables, including aspect ratio of the case. Tall thin cases would have more of a delta in charge height between max and min than shorter stubbier ones, it seems to me.
What was the caliber you were reloading? I was reloading .45acp, so it's a pretty short, fat case.
Either way that's pretty good. Even if you were at maximum charge I would be surprised if a single round at 15% over would blow up your gun. And I would expect at 15% under the bullet would still make it out of the barrel. Nice to have that level of comfort.
ReloaderNoob
Member
It's been awhile, but I think I used a 44 mag case for both measurements rather than try specific cases for the individual charges. I didn't think the case size would matter since I was just measuring charge.
refuse2bafool
Member
It's a matter of aspect ratio. If I double the volume of the charge I double the height in either case. But the delta will be larger for a smaller diameter case.
For instance if have have diameter of 0.5 in. and charge that takes up 1 cubic inch volume in a case and double it, it will go from 5.1 inches in in height to 10.2 inches.
If I used a case with a diameter of 0.3 in. it will go from 14 inches high to 28 inches. Since the lock out die measures vertical increase and has a fixed distance to travel to trigger it, it will actuate at a lower percent of overcharge.
At least that's the way I figure it.
And I realize these numbers are not realistic unless you are loading for 20mm and up. Wouldn't that be a kick
gwpercle
Member
I don't trust powder charges to some little gizmo ... I trust the two eyes God gave me .
My reloading involves a Single Stage press and is done so I can watch the powder going into the individual case , that's check #1 .
After every case is charged and set in a loading block ... my eyeballs perform check #2 .
Next comes bullet seating , every case is eyeballed for powder level before the bullet is pressed into the case , check #3 .
Doing it this way I have charged every case once and only once ... not twice , nor not any ...
My eyeballs have never lied to me and the cost ... God supplied them with my head , no charge !
Gary
My reloading involves a Single Stage press and is done so I can watch the powder going into the individual case , that's check #1 .
After every case is charged and set in a loading block ... my eyeballs perform check #2 .
Next comes bullet seating , every case is eyeballed for powder level before the bullet is pressed into the case , check #3 .
Doing it this way I have charged every case once and only once ... not twice , nor not any ...
My eyeballs have never lied to me and the cost ... God supplied them with my head , no charge !
Gary
lordpaxman
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,442
Disassembled and cleaned twice. The mechanism is very simple so it was a mystery. There were no burrs, sharp edges, everything looked fine and RCBS couldn’t find anything either, or at least that they told me.
As do I, however on a progressive one can zone out for a few and having a device back you up isn’t a bad thing. CBLFs are capable of mistakes.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I use the Hornady lock out die that works like the RCBS lock out die. I tried the Powder cop but I know I wasn't watching it every time so I went with something that watched it for me.
It ties into my control panel so when it hits a low or a high it locks the press and sounds an alarm. It will trip in .3-.4 gr difference with certain powders in 9mm . A little higher with others.
I don't care what brand you buy, unless your loading single stage, I feel they are a good investment. I won't load 9mm without one.
I do run two passes on mine so I can use the powder check die. I think Hornady made these obsolete when they quit selling the control panel for the AP presses about 3 years ago.
I think that was a bad decision on their part, they should have dropped the price for their customer base so they could more easily afford one, but that's for another thread.
Point is, no matter who makes the lockout die, I'm a big fan.
I like the way DAA made the plunger reversable so it will work on .223.
It ties into my control panel so when it hits a low or a high it locks the press and sounds an alarm. It will trip in .3-.4 gr difference with certain powders in 9mm . A little higher with others.
I don't care what brand you buy, unless your loading single stage, I feel they are a good investment. I won't load 9mm without one.
I do run two passes on mine so I can use the powder check die. I think Hornady made these obsolete when they quit selling the control panel for the AP presses about 3 years ago.
I think that was a bad decision on their part, they should have dropped the price for their customer base so they could more easily afford one, but that's for another thread.
Point is, no matter who makes the lockout die, I'm a big fan.
I like the way DAA made the plunger reversable so it will work on .223.
mcb
Member
I have both the primer alarm and powder check die on my Dillon 650 XL. Love it and it had saved me alot of potentially bad cartridge. Combine that with a good chamber check after loading and my QC process has resulted in extremely reliable batches of ammo.
