What's this blue Kool-Aid doing in my cup??

[Phlier]

Enjoy your new press! As I say often you get what you pay for and your paying for a lot of speed.

Thanks, Thomas. It's going to be a totally different paradigm for me. I used to sit at my Rockchucker for hours, going over each shell and making sure each one was absolutely perfect. I'd even hand trickle each powder charge! I'm hoping that I'll be able to setup the 1050 to give OCD perfection to every cartridge.

As far as the shell plate "Bounce" is concerned, I understand the issue and had some powder spill out when I first got my press. Having said that, I never bothered with changing anything. I just got in the habit of holding my finger over the top of the case as it travels between my powder check station and bullet seating station. It completely fixes the problem for me.

I also don't believe that the plate ever flexes enough to require any kind of modification as long as it is tightened properly and the set screw underneath the carrier is cinched up to keep it from moving. I don't believe aging makes them flex more either.

I think it far more likely that inconsistent primer depths are a result of simply not cycling the handle completely. I had this issue when I got my first progressive press. I would kind of get in my flow and would occasionally short stroke the press.

I'm sure you already know this, but just in case.. On the 1050, the primer is seated on the down stroke. Apparently, several issues can come into play to cause primers to be seated to various depths. Everything from press age and wear level, lubrication, shell plate tension, and the position of the Sun and Venus can cause primers to be seated to varying depths. The hold down die I listed can help eliminate most of those potential gotchas, keeping the shell plate in exactly the same place every time the primer is seated. And it's a cheap little piece of insurance, so what the heck.

Have you seen the aftermarket primer pocket swaging attachments for the 650, by chance? Are you shooting any calibers with the potential for crimped primer pockets, and if so... how are you doing your swaging right now? I'm currently using an RCBS die that goes on the Rockchucker, and have been very unhappy with it.

 

[Schwing]

Ya, sorry about that. Somewhere along the line I forgot you were getting the 1050 instead of the 650.

As far as swaging primer pockets, with the exception of an odd one here or there, the only caliber this regularly is an issue on for me is .223.

The only thing I have ever done to remove crimps is hit them really lightly with a countersink chucked in my drill press. I know a lot of people don't think that is sufficient but I have not run across any yet where it has been an issue. It doesn't take much, just a quick tap against the countersink. You actually have to press pretty hard to go too deep.

I don't have any experience with any of the swaging stuff for the 650. I am glad to hear about the RCBS though since that was one of the options I was thinking about down the road.

 

[Phlier]

Well, that was quick. Order placed yesterday. Shipping notification received this afternoon. Scheduled for delivery next Tuesday.

Years ago, I had a very small (2 gallon) shop vac. Wonder if they still make them... gonna check, 'cause it'll be perfect for hooking up to the RT-1500 case trimmer.

 

[Phlier]

Dillon owners: Get your M back!

I love M-die type stepped expanders. Bullets go on top of the brass with a "click", and are 100% straight and true every time they're seated.

Unfortunately, the Dillon powder-through-expander die doesn't use a stepped approach. Fortunately, there's a solution here.

As you can see on that page, that powder-through-expander utilizes the M die type of step. As of now, they're only available in 9mm, 40 S&W and .45 ACP.

There's two ways of getting that die: 1. order the die separately 2. It comes free with a Mr. Bullet Feeder.

I'm not exactly sure which way I'll be using to get one yet, but get one I will.

This is one area where Dillon needs to get caught up with the times.

 

[Phlier]

The 1050 arrived last Tuesday. It sat in a box for a few days, taunting me while I nurse this darn back after having spine surgery one week prior.

I finally couldn't stand it; two days ago, I put the thing together. It came pre-configured for loading .223, but I wanted to start off with 9mm.

My son and I had the usual difficulties getting it converted to 9mm and fine tuned, but over the course of two days, we managed to get it completely dialed in. We've loaded 1.5k 9mm rounds with it now. I bought 4k of the RMR 115gr FMJ's and that's the only bullet we've loaded so far. Unfortunately, I'm out of 9mm brass! Every 9mm case we have is loaded now.

The 1050 is a sweet press, for sure, but it does have a learning curve (as you can imagine.) Dillon's instructions aren't the best in the world, and honestly, their DVD was a waste of money. This video, here, is the best resource on the 'net for a 1050 owner, reguardless of experience level. In ten minutes, he does more to educate a 1050 user in disassembly, lubrication, and re-assembly than Dillon does in any of their manuals.

We're going to convert it over to .223 brass processing tomorrow.

Pics to come later.