Replacing Dillon powder measure

[rbernie]

As have I - I am actually very fond of the Lee. Sadly, the AutoDisk (in double disk form) doesn’t seem to throw more than 30g of any stick powder, which is not enough capacity for most (non-intermediate) rifle chamberings.

 

[Tilos]

As have I - I am actually very fond of the Lee. Sadly, the AutoDisk (in double disk form) doesn’t seem to throw more than 30g of any stick powder, which is not enough capacity for most (non-intermediate) rifle chamberings.

Didn't know that...
Can you drill out the biggest cavity of one disc so that it holds more powder?
Put it on the bottom of the double disk stack, matched with varying top disc cavities, and it might throw enough powder for what you need.
just a thought,

 

[Dudedog]

"

Lee Autodisk for all of my pistol and intermediate rifle chambering tool heads;

Lee makes a double disk kit, if you take two double disk kits and buy some longer screws you can go 3 disks high, I suppose 4 might work as well but I have never tried it.
Just a thought, it might be worth a try if you like the disk measure.
Longer screws might just be all you need. (for the powder measure).

 

[Laphroaig]

I think that some extruded powder grains are just too big to work well in drum type measures. I've never used an auto disk, so can't comment. But is it much different than the Dillon?

Sometimes its just easier to weigh charges and dump them thru a funnel for the big stuff like IMR 4350 and 4831. I also have a Belding and Mull visible that I have set up for IMR4198 (long skinny grains) that works well. Its not adaptable to be mounted on a press though.

 

[Walkalong]

I bet one of our mechanical geniuses here could adapt it if they went to enough trouble.

The Quick Measure is similar, but without the "floating chamber" of the B&M measure. I bet the floating chamber on the B&M does a little better job than the baffles we all have in our RCBS/Redding/Hornady measures with the rotating drum.

 

[Rule3]

Absolutely, but it would seem that there are very few modern ball powders that have the temperature insensitivity of many modern stick powders.

Hodgdon extreme powders

https://www.hodgdon.com/benchmark/

There are plenty of ball powders that work just fine. Lots if not all factory ammo is ball powder

That said my old cheap plastic Lee Perfect Powder measure dispensed stick powders better than my RCBS Uniflow

So does the Lee Auto Drum. but I guess it is crass to put one on a Dillon.

 

[rbernie]

I’ve found that there are really at least two sizes of Extreme extrusions; H4895/Varget being noticeably smaller than H4350/H4831SC, for example. In tiny 22 powder die funnels, I can get the smaller H4895 and Varget kernels to drop without bridging but larger extrusions like H4350/H4381SC will bridge terribly. I don’t know any of the Hodgdon Extreme or IMR Enduron or Alliant temperature insensitive powders that are ball; as far as I can tell, they are all extrusions of different sizes.

Earlier this week, I mounted a Hornady measure on the 550. As a general observation, I think that it’s a much better piece of kit then the Dillon measure. Sadly, it’s still struggles with IMR 4166 into little 22 caliber funnels; better than the Dillon, but not 100%.

 

[25-5]

I have found the drop method for stick powders both too inaccurate and a pain generally.
I have a Dillon 450 with an upgraded powder measure, however, I only drop pistol.
I only deprime, size and seat on the Dillon for the five rifle calibers.. Bench prime, and auto powder measure each case.
As I seat a bullet, the next charge is ready. RCBS 1500 combo.

 

[rbernie]

By way of update:

1) The Hornady Lock-n-Load powder measure is a much nicer piece of kit than the Dillon powder measure. I like the fact that it will handle a much broader range of throws, as shipped, and it certainly does a better job with stick powders than the Dillon. It’s easier to use in all regards relative to the Dillon.

2) It would appear that my particular issues with bridging and poor accuracy with the Dillon are reserved predominately for the IMR ‘Enduron’ extruded powders. Hornady ‘Extreme’ powders have proven much easier to meter with the Dillon then the IMR, and in fact I’m keeping the Dillon on several tool heads because the powders that I use for those chamberings, such as H4831SC, worked well enough as it is.

 

[cfullgraf]

I quickly scanned the responses in this thread and apologize if I have duplicated and information.

Both the Hornady and RCBS case activated powder measure die will work on a Dillon RL550. I use them on my Dillon BL550 which is the "dumbed" down version of the RL550.

I like the Hornady case activated die better than the RCBS, it has some little features that I like, but either will work well. One is a license version of the other.

The Hornady L-N-L or the RCBS Uniflow powder measures will mate well with either case activated die system. But, for handgun cartridges, I use a modified Redding 10-X in a Hornady case activated die. The 10-X modification is primarily tapping out the discharge of the powder measure to accept the drop tube for the case activated die. I use my 10-X and Hornady case activated die set up on my Hornady L-N-L, RCBS Pro2000 and Dillon BL550 progressive presses.

I use the Redding 10-X with handgun cartridges, an RCBS Uniflow with small rifle cases. I do not use the Hornady L-N-L powder measure much these days as the other two powder measures work well with what I load. Every once in a while, the Hornady works better than the other two.

I have a Lyman 55 powder measure but have not figured a way to have it work with the case activated powder dies. It would be nice to try it out on a progressive press. maybe I'll figure it out someday.

Hope this helps.

 

[greyling22]

I sold my Dillon powder drop and bought 2 Lee auto drums for what I got for it. They drop up to 80 grains and are completely contained to the toolhead which makes caliber swaps a snap.

But also, I just avoid stick powders these days. Flake powders too if I can.

 

[Texas10mm]

Four more days till my new 650 arrives.