Black Powder on a Progressive press.

[Short Knife Johnson]

I tried to search it out. I hope this hasn't been covered yet.

Does anyone here have experience loading black powder on a progressive press? I have a Dillon 550 that I load. .44 WCF and .45 Colt are my primary concern.

Dillon Precision does not recommend black powder in their measures. Looking for ideas to modify toolheads, and build fixtures to accommodate most anything.

My rifle stuff I do on singe stage, but I refuse to go back to loading pistol calibres on a single stage again. You just need too many of them to have a good time.

I just finished a trial run where I would charge the case with powder away from the press. That worked OK, but potential for disaster/wreckage is too high for my taste.

 

[Longwalker]

Black powder is just too explosive to handle in a progressive. I would recommend Pyrodex, 777, or clearshot for that application.

 

[41 Colt]

I thought about it but bought a small Lee Breech lock for my BP loading. The design of the breech lock bushings make it go fairly fast, dies just snap in and out when I change them.

 

[aftermidnight]

NO NO NO !! Black powder and the powder measure is where the danger lies. You can get a static charge build up in the plastic hopper. The RCBS measure warning is actually molded into the lid.

 

[TRG-42]

You need to use a proper powder drop made for black powder such as the Hornady or RCBS

https://ww .hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=b4cea3d3e8bed76248855fe1abbacc81&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=5be9b295190cfbc496fcae71dc9afb15

https:/ shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/MainServlet?storeId=webconnect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=5282&route=BLACK+POWDER

Put this on the Dillon powder measure adapter Part # 20029

You will have to manually charge. IF you want to spend some more $$ then use the "Case Activiated Powder Die" . This die uses the shell casing to push up on a lever to drop the powder. No case...no powder. Very cool

Hornady / RCBS units are identical and will work with each others powder measure

 

[Short Knife Johnson]

I didn't mean disaster/wreckage as in making a big hole where my loading bench used to be. That meaning squashing cases in the expander die, having them fall out the press and skate across the floor and get dented, or neglecting to charge a case with powder. I had to pull the brass pin out of station 2 to make my test run work.

I've used black powder for about 14 years now, so I know about the hazard of static electricity. I can still open my own ketchup bottles. Started loading catridges last year (and studied it four years prior to starting), so I have all the tools, and am having amazing results.

The Hornady link wouldn't work BTW, but thanks. I was hoping someone was tackling the same idea, and had some pointers. But I think what I will do is make a 24" drop tube, and thread the bottom 7/8x14 so it fits in the toolhead. Just dump each charge from my Lyman #55 BP measure, then trickle each charge, and carry on. This might take some doing.

 

[acrashb]

The Hornady link wouldn't work BTW, but thanks.

Try this: http://tinyurl.com/y9br64q

 

[Pudelpointer]

But I think what I will do is make a 24" drop tube, and thread the bottom 7/8x14 so it fits in the toolhead. Just dump each charge from my Lyman #55 BP measure, then trickle each charge, and carry on. This might take some doing.

Just ground the living hell out of your press! Lots of copper wire from your press to a good ground. You may even want to ground your self if you will be dumping powder into the tube.