The new setup (It's all coming up Milhouse)
- Thread starter Onagoth
- Start date
Enjoy!
All I know, once I adjusted everything on my Dillion 650, I was able to pump 1rd every 3-4s. The thing that takes the most time is the dang scales I have. I'm using one cheap digital and one cheap balance to make sure the weight is correct. Both scales suck.
I need to upgrade my scale. Getting my cousin in the US to look for cheap used lab grade scale and he says their accurate down to 0.0001 gram. So about 0.0015 grain. LOL! Not that I need anything close to that accuracy, it is just the norm for the equipment he's looking at. I don't think i'll have to worry too much if calibration is off on those scales.
All I know, once I adjusted everything on my Dillion 650, I was able to pump 1rd every 3-4s. The thing that takes the most time is the dang scales I have. I'm using one cheap digital and one cheap balance to make sure the weight is correct. Both scales suck.
I need to upgrade my scale. Getting my cousin in the US to look for cheap used lab grade scale and he says their accurate down to 0.0001 gram. So about 0.0015 grain. LOL! Not that I need anything close to that accuracy, it is just the norm for the equipment he's looking at. I don't think i'll have to worry too much if calibration is off on those scales.
So far no complaints....I did have a minor issue with the primer shuttle getting jammed up, but that seems to have cleared itself up. Setup wasn't that difficult.
Initially, I hat it mounted like a tank, with 7/16" bolts, but the plate used for the case feeder would accommodate that, so I went down to 3/8", still ridiculously sturdy though
Initially, I hat it mounted like a tank, with 7/16" bolts, but the plate used for the case feeder would accommodate that, so I went down to 3/8", still ridiculously sturdy though
With my old Lee, I only weighed every 30th round or so.....once I develop some trust that the metering is pretty consistent with this Hornady, it will be the same thing.
For me though with handgun loads, small variations in powder don't worry me that much, just the double charge or squibs I look out for.
My digital scale swings wildy. It appears to be accurate for only 10 seconds. Wildly, meaning +/- 0.4 grain. My RCBS scale is good until I ever so slightly let the scale bottom out (goes 'ping'); it goes out of calibration by 0.2 grain. I need to wiggle the pivot point to zero it back in again. It's a big hassle.
My Sig P226 seems to like 4.0 W231 with cast bullets and cycles 100% with that charge. But I see some signs of primer flattening. No where close to pan cakes. I should work up a few to 4.1 and 4.2 to see what happens. But that's when I fear my scales.
Once set, I think the Dillon powder charge is pretty accurate and I weigh around every 50th round just to see, but it's hard to tell how accurate it is b/c my scales are crap! It takes me around 15mins to confirm if the powder charge is set correctly. Therefore, get a head ache every time I want to change the powder charge. LOL
- Location
- Peace River, Alberta
Nice setup
I just loaded 600 rounds of 223 on my blue press.
Have fun!
Greg
I just loaded 600 rounds of 223 on my blue press.
Have fun!
Greg
Interesting, I load 4.5 gr of W231, 124 gr AIM copper metal jacket, haven't seen any signs of over pressure. Different gun though, a glock 17
it probably still won't be that much 'fun' but at least I will free up some time for other things, Interesting, I load 4.5 gr of W231, 124 gr AIM copper metal jacket, haven't seen any signs of over pressure. Different gun though, a glock 17
Yeah it is interesting because I load 4.5gr of W231 with Frontier 124gr plated FP and shows no signs of over pressure too. The Lee micro grove 9mm TC cast bullet needs to be seated really deep. Likely the reason why I see over pressure signs.
Onagoth, how is the case feed setup working for you? I didn't get that option and I'm having a hard time justifing spending that kind of cash. Unless of course it is the best thing that ever happened to reloading
I love it, but its not without its tinkering. The timing cam is tricky to get right....and I find you have to be very consistent with the speed in which you twist the turret.
Too fast = jam, too slow = jam. The timing is dependent on how its setup I think. When I get into a rhythm its all good though.
The other thing I found was that the cases being dropped were falling too far, and sometimes falling off the press onto the ground. A quick little adjustment to the actuating bar changed that though.
Actually, you know what else I might be doing wrong with this setup too, is that I may be overpushing when priming the cases. To me, it just doesn't feel fully seated unless I use one hand to grab the bench, and the other to operate the ram.
Am I overdoing it? After an hour or so my arms actually hurt a little
Am I overdoing it? After an hour or so my arms actually hurt a little
