Some help with a Dillon Powder Measure Please

[Jakkar]

I really need some help making this powder measure reliable. I am measuring each pull on a Dillon Eliminator balance scale that I have calibrated. My problem is getting the same amount of powder to drop each time. If it was slight variances I would be okay but I have measured 2 full grains difference between two concurrent pulls. I have tried Winchester 296, Hodgdon HS-6 and Alliant Blue Dot and I cannot get anything to measure properly.

Is there anything in particular that I should be looking at?

 

[Master Blaster]

what is the charge weight and which powder bar are you using in the measure??

 

[Jakkar]

I am using the small bar and I am currently trying to load 13.6 Grns of Winchester 296

 

[Ditchtiger]

when you pull the handle down let it hit the stop at the end of it's swing and the powder will settle in the slide a little more consistantly.

 

[Jakkar]

Yeah, I have tried several different pull techniques. When I try to keep the pulls very consistent I still get large variances.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Is the powder hopper at least half full ?

 

[donttellthewife]

I have posted this info before so some of this may not apply to you. I just copied and paste, getting lazy I guess.
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Here is what you do.

You'll want to polish the powder funnel internal and external and the mouth of the powder drop were the powder funnel comes in contact. Any place were the powder will make contact to the measure, then lube with grafite. This will cut back "bridgeing" of the powder or any sticking to the. I used a Dremel tool with a narrow pointed cloth polishing attachment and chrome polish

Lube all moveing parts of the powder measure with dry grafite.

Use the old fashion return spring or two, this will make the powder bar slap back the same way every time and settle the powder the same every time.

Keep the powder hopper over 1/2 full at all times

Use a anti staic spray or a dryer sheet to get rid of static charges on the powder measure

Make sure everything is adjusted correctly. Full extension of the powder bar every cycle is vital.
Adjust the safety return bar so that there is some tension on the spring when the handle is all the way down.

DON"T load lubed cases, the lube gets on the powder funnel causeing problems. I do 500 at a time useing the inturupted method, first time through the press the lubed cases get decapped, full length sized, and trimmed to length ( power trimmer), then cleaned in dry corn cob media. Then back on the press for loading useing a universal decapper just to make sure there is no media stuck in the flash hole at station 1.

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This has worked for 4895 extruded powder to meter very well
WIN 296 should give you no problem at all

 

[hotwheelz]

Have you tried using the large charge bar? I have heard that it will help when throwing loads over 10gr or so. Or atleast make them more consistant. Just an idea.

 

[Outlaws]

I am not familiar with those powders, but the Dillons hate extruded. But ya, 2 grains is still extreme.

 

[Jakkar]

It turned out to be simple newbie user error. I load for .45 and .357 and I purchased separate toolheads and powder measure for each. I had recently changed for .357 but I did not properly set up the powder fail-safe bar wing nut so the powder bar was not making its full trip as the fail-safe was not pulling it all the way back. All fixed now and I won't forget that in the future.

Thanks.

 

[SASS#23149]

Glad ya figured it out, 2 full grains was too much to be expected from a Dillon meassure.Kinda had me worried there.