Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
As you all know I decided to add a powder check to my 550b. I had the toolplate milled where needed and assembled the unit. I must say that trying to get it in and aligned properly was a royal PITA with the small toolhead of the 550. Its not coming out soon, that's for sure.
One problem that I ran into was an interference between part of the check die and a lower part of the powder measure. It is a clamp that holds the top (functional) part of the check die in place. With my powder measure in its proper position for full movement with a .223, I found that it interfered with that clamp on the check die. No biggie, nothing that a dremel can't fix. I took the corner off the clamp and it was finished.
Me being the brainiac that I am, I lost my instructions, so I had to get the die set up without Dillon's help (ok, I coulda called them, but I'm a man, dammit.) Got it roughed in pretty quick. I found that the die is pretty darn persnickety and will reject (buzz) on a case with just a little too much or too little powder. I didn't take the time to find out how little, but my Mark I eyeball tells me its a gnat's hair difference. Maybe .3 grains. Knowing that my Dillon holds closer than that anyway, it is most likely a volumetric difference than a weight difference. Either way, this will be an added blessing for my 600 yard loads! (I have shot some killer scores at 600 using the Dillon and I am definitely going to continue).
The ergonomics are not what they were. I'm now seating with my right hand on the right side of the press. Feels weird, but after a hundred or so I had it down. Just gotta reach around the handle every time.
One problem that I ran into was an interference between part of the check die and a lower part of the powder measure. It is a clamp that holds the top (functional) part of the check die in place. With my powder measure in its proper position for full movement with a .223, I found that it interfered with that clamp on the check die. No biggie, nothing that a dremel can't fix. I took the corner off the clamp and it was finished.
Me being the brainiac that I am, I lost my instructions, so I had to get the die set up without Dillon's help (ok, I coulda called them, but I'm a man, dammit.) Got it roughed in pretty quick. I found that the die is pretty darn persnickety and will reject (buzz) on a case with just a little too much or too little powder. I didn't take the time to find out how little, but my Mark I eyeball tells me its a gnat's hair difference. Maybe .3 grains. Knowing that my Dillon holds closer than that anyway, it is most likely a volumetric difference than a weight difference. Either way, this will be an added blessing for my 600 yard loads! (I have shot some killer scores at 600 using the Dillon and I am definitely going to continue).
The ergonomics are not what they were. I'm now seating with my right hand on the right side of the press. Feels weird, but after a hundred or so I had it down. Just gotta reach around the handle every time.
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