To Dillon or Not to Dillon 2

[jmorris]

Get the powder check die.

They can check more than the powder charge, if you set them just right.

 

[peeplwtchr]

They can check more than the powder charge, if you set them just right.

Do you know in grains, what the acceptible drop variation is for the device? For example, if I want to drop 5.4 gr., and the drop is 5.2, will the alarm sound?

 

[EricBu]

Do you know in grains, what the acceptible drop variation is for the device? For example, if I want to drop 5.4 gr., and the drop is 5.2, will the alarm sound?

Every powder is slightly different, but it won't likely alarm on a .2 variation. It's meant more to alert on an empty case or a double charge, not the accuracy of the charge itself. With some powders, it will pop on a 1 grain difference, but usually you've got to be a couple grains off. Like in the video, it will pop on a malformed case, or a odd shaped case, if it changes the internal volume enough, but it's not something I'd count on or rely on. I will add that I won't load on my progressives without one. All my toolheads have a powder check on them. It's one more check in addition too, not instead of, a visual check. Safety checks also fall under the "2 is 1, and 1 is none" philosophy.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Every powder is slightly different, but it won't likely alarm on a .2 variation. It's meant more to alert on an empty case or a double charge, not the accuracy of the charge itself. With some powders, it will pop on a 1 grain difference, but usually you've got to be a couple grains off. Like in the video, it will pop on a malformed case, or a odd shaped case, if it changes the internal volume enough, but it's not something I'd count on or rely on. I will add that I won't load on my progressives without one. All my toolheads have a powder check on them. It's one more check in addition too, not instead of, a visual check. Safety checks also fall under the "2 is 1, and 1 is none" philosophy.

Thanks for the info.. I use Unique powder because the max. load fills the case, and a min. load is still visible in the case. So either way I would know anyway.
Just trying to get a handle on whether I need one.

 

[lordpaxman]

All my toolheads have a powder check on them.

I’m all for either a powder check or lock out die and agree that eyes on powder before a bullet seat is critical. I took the approach of a powder die body on each tool head and move the powder check around.

 

[jmorris]

Do you know in grains, what the acceptible drop variation is for the device? For example, if I want to drop 5.4 gr., and the drop is 5.2, will the alarm sound?

That is dependent on a number of things. Powder density being one, arbor diameter and case internal diameter are also factors. I have had a habit for decades to use components that are the most forgiving, so my results are often “best case scenario” from selection. That setup and powder always drops inside the tenth as far as resolution goes. I suppose I could water weigh a couple cases, stepped/normal and see what kind of internal volume difference they have but I load lots more 147’s in 9mm than other stuff and the stepped cases, stop the machine I use for the majority of my 9mm. So they are culled and recycled.

 

[peeplwtchr]

So it took me about 10 hours to assemble it and adjust, and all I can say is WOW! 20% of cases still aren't centered, and hit the decapping die, I'll figure that out later. I loaded 80 test rounds in about 10 min. going very slow. The shellplate whips a bit, and flips a few flakes of powder out of cases, but just another adjustment to figure out.

This is quite a piece of machinery. 500-800 rounds per hour (Dillon specs) is easily doable once it's dialed in. I don't mind the long setup/adjustment time, it helps me understand the way it works. Great purchase, would easily spend the money again. Thanks everybody!

Time to sell my Lee Turret now.

P.S. - I used a $500 Covid relief check to pay for part of it. Thanks Brandon!

 

[peeplwtchr]

They can check more than the powder charge, if you set them just right.

Ordered, thanks. Thanks for the video, all the other ones I saw sucked.

 

[jmorris]

P.S. - I used a $500 Covid relief check to pay for part of it. Thanks Brandon!

You should be thanking those of us here that didn’t get any of our money back from the .gov. Without us they wouldn’t have any money to give away. Except for deficit spending, that just causes inflation so everything costs more.

In much the same way raising taxes on businesses turns out, they just raise the price of their product to cover the increase, shifting the tax burden back on us. Politicians like to stalk about taxing them more because most people, unfortunately, don’t understand that.

I do think they will get to a $15 minimum wage (promise kept) but by then that’s what it will take to gas up your lawn mower…if it’s one you have to push…

20% of cases still aren't centered, and hit the decapping die

When you say “centered” do you mean not pushed all the way into the shell plate? If so this is the stuff you need to know in that area.



Note that part #19 has a slot in it that #22 screw passes through so #20 can slide back and forth before you snug them together with the Allen wrench.



In short, if you don’t have any gap between the pin and slider after you seat the primer in #2 (does no good to set it with #2 empty) your case may not be pushed completely into the shell plate.

 

[peeplwtchr]

[QUOTE="jmorris, post: 12246207, member:

When you say “centered” do you mean not pushed all the way into the shell plate? If so this is the stuff you need to know in that

View attachment 1067221[/QUOTE]

Thank you for showing me where in the manual it says this. I haven't had time yet to get through the 73 page manual.

Anyway, before you replied I called Dillon, and they said to crank the Cam Pin up. Using the logic in the manual, I learned it actually needed to go down. Problemsolved, 100% case/die alignment. YOU ROCK.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I finally got all the addons and adjustments made, and even when I go slow and do every visual check I can do, this thing is fast!

I shot approx 1500 9mm per month with my turret press, looks like that may be going up.

Thanks everybody.