I had a near miss last week, first one ever in 30 years of reloading. I was at the range shooting my .45acp and about 20 minutes into it I opened a new box of ammo that I had reloaded. About the 4th shot in the shell fired but with such a low recoil it didn't work the slide. I dropped the mag. and raked the slide and the empty came out. With the slide held back I looked down the barrel and no obstruction was seen. I thought what the heck was that? I loaded the mag back in and the next shot was also the same result. Well that did it, I put the .45 away and headed home. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what had happened. I broke down the remaining 200 rounds or so that I did in that batch and about 20% had little or no powder in them. I am running a Lee 1000 and have been for years and this is the first time anything like this happened. I took the powder measure apart and everything was ok. So the next day I loaded up the hopper with 231 and proceeded to load. When the case came around to be crimped I was so paranoid that I looked into each case to make sure the powder was the correct height. Well about the 20th round a case was missing the powder. I cleaned all the stations out and took the powder hopper off and dumped it into a empty can. I worked the hopper several times and everything was ok. As I was putting the powder back into the hopper something caught my eye and I dumped the powder back out into the can again. I slowly poured the powder back into the hopper and sure enough a used primer was in there. How the heck it got into the can of 231 I will never know. So the primer would partially block the powder flow on and off. Well now I am paranoid and I don't trust the machine anymore because I can not physically see the powder level unless I stop and get up and careen my head around to see every round. So hence my question, does somebody make a low powder die that you set up to alarm when there is to much powder or not enough? I know this reloader only has 3 positions so either I would need to upgrade to the Load Master or switch to something else. Any suggestions?
Does someone make a low powder alarm?
- Thread starter hunter64
- Start date
I used to use a Lee 1000 & sold it when I got a Dillon.
I never really had a problem with no powder ( unless ) the powder hopper ran dry but I had a problem with leaking powder.
Anyway, that is another issue. You have a very good concern. But since your problem seems to have been caused by an object blocking the powder flow chances are that will never happen again.
I think that if you check the powder & measure before you reload a batch that after a you get good reloads again, you may stop worrying.
You could switch to another powder that is not as bulky as Win 231 that will fill up the case more so that you hopefully can see it. But Win 231 flows well through the powder measure.
I don't know of any device that will let you know that each case has powder. I thought of trying to set up a mirror and a light so I could see each case. Never did it though.
You would think that a device to check the powder in a case would be a big seller. Perhaps someone else has a solution.
I never really had a problem with no powder ( unless ) the powder hopper ran dry but I had a problem with leaking powder.
Anyway, that is another issue. You have a very good concern. But since your problem seems to have been caused by an object blocking the powder flow chances are that will never happen again.
I think that if you check the powder & measure before you reload a batch that after a you get good reloads again, you may stop worrying.
You could switch to another powder that is not as bulky as Win 231 that will fill up the case more so that you hopefully can see it. But Win 231 flows well through the powder measure.
I don't know of any device that will let you know that each case has powder. I thought of trying to set up a mirror and a light so I could see each case. Never did it though.
You would think that a device to check the powder in a case would be a big seller. Perhaps someone else has a solution.
I think the primer was a red herring.
I have four Lee presses set up. I have had problems without powder in cases as well. It will not always come back after dropping a charge. I always watch the powder disk to make sure it comes back.
I have wanted to put a sensor on it and an alarm to indicate when it screwed up but I have not got around to it.
I have four Lee presses set up. I have had problems without powder in cases as well. It will not always come back after dropping a charge. I always watch the powder disk to make sure it comes back.
I have wanted to put a sensor on it and an alarm to indicate when it screwed up but I have not got around to it.
acrash
Thanks for the info that is what I was looking for a Lock-out die.
The loadmaster has enough stations that this is feasible plus the powder in near the front and you could visually see if it is the correct height.
I would like to get a Dillon but the price of each caliber conversion is the same as a used Lee 1000 which is hard to justify for the small amount of reloading that I do. I have two 1000's so I could probably sell them on flee bay and make enough to buy a Loadmaster. Progressive loading for rifle in my case is way overkill so I would just set it up for pistol stuff.
Thanks for the info that is what I was looking for a Lock-out die. The loadmaster has enough stations that this is feasible plus the powder in near the front and you could visually see if it is the correct height.
I would like to get a Dillon but the price of each caliber conversion is the same as a used Lee 1000 which is hard to justify for the small amount of reloading that I do. I have two 1000's so I could probably sell them on flee bay and make enough to buy a Loadmaster. Progressive loading for rifle in my case is way overkill so I would just set it up for pistol stuff.
Have a read here: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127691&highlight=dillon+hornady+loadmaster
Goes over the three major offerings, Loadmaster, LNL AP, and 650.
acrash Funny I just got done reading that about three minutes ago, great writeup. For now until my "boat" comes in I think I will stick with the 1000 only I will manually operate the powder measure before starting to use it to make sure it is working correctly. I will get a good sized tupperware tray about 9x12 and dump a small amount of powder into it. Then when I can visually see that there is nothing in the powder it goes into the hopper. I have the chain version so I can't see getting a double charge and the above method will take care of a missed case.
Funny I just got done reading that about three minutes ago, great writeup. For now until my "boat" comes in I think I will stick with the 1000 only I will manually operate the powder measure before starting to use it to make sure it is working correctly. I will get a good sized tupperware tray about 9x12 and dump a small amount of powder into it. Then when I can visually see that there is nothing in the powder it goes into the hopper. I have the chain version so I can't see getting a double charge and the above method will take care of a missed case.i have a cheap DIGITAL scale- stick to one BRAND of case( so they're all roughly the same weight) and establish BOTH a low "normal" weight and a high normal weight- throw each loaded round on the scale and check it- whatever falls outside of these has something wrong- no primer, low or now powder etc- the reason i say one BRAND of cases is there's as much as 10 grains weight difference between brands- being 9mm, your low and high are going to be about 5-6 grains max difference- i would put this occurance down to an anomoly and continue- i've had the 1000s ( i've got 3 of them) for years and believe me , the primer problems occur FAR more often than the low/no powder-since your problem was a foreign objuect in the powder, how about putting a screen over the hopper as you pour?
Well, I will start by telling you that I use a Dillon 650. I personally think that it is a good investment and the price difference is paid for quickly when you are reloading.
If you have a machine with enough stations a RCBS lock out die would help or a Dillon powder sensor die as I use. Worth the money even if you visually check every case.
Another thing to keep in mind about the Dillon is that you don't always need a full conversion kit. It depends on the calibres that you are loading. Some of the same parts might be used in both. Powder measures can be switched from one tool head for one calibre to the other tool head for a different calibre. But it is nice not having to change that or reseting your load, etc.
For me I don't want to spend time sorting pistol brass by brand and then checking every cartridge with a scale. This is way too time consuming and I would rather spend a few extra overtime hours at work to get a machine that can check it for me.
T-Star has a good idea to use a screen to filter out any crap as you are filling your powder measure. I've never had a problem but I think this would be a good addition to the reloading bench. Maybe I could even find one or make one that would fit inside the powder measure right at the top and just hang there... hmmm...
Fudd
If you have a machine with enough stations a RCBS lock out die would help or a Dillon powder sensor die as I use. Worth the money even if you visually check every case.
Another thing to keep in mind about the Dillon is that you don't always need a full conversion kit. It depends on the calibres that you are loading. Some of the same parts might be used in both. Powder measures can be switched from one tool head for one calibre to the other tool head for a different calibre. But it is nice not having to change that or reseting your load, etc.
For me I don't want to spend time sorting pistol brass by brand and then checking every cartridge with a scale. This is way too time consuming and I would rather spend a few extra overtime hours at work to get a machine that can check it for me.
T-Star has a good idea to use a screen to filter out any crap as you are filling your powder measure. I've never had a problem but I think this would be a good addition to the reloading bench. Maybe I could even find one or make one that would fit inside the powder measure right at the top and just hang there... hmmm...
Fudd
i've been doing a little more thinking as to HOW that primer got into your powder source and the only thing i can see is if you had your powder canister
OPEN and stored below your press on A SHELF OR SOMETHING- THE 1000 drops it's primers through two chutes in the base and a lot of us drill holes in the bench to accomodate those holes and stick a cup or something in there to hold them- once in a while a primer does bounce off the rim of the cup and lands somwhere else - if this is the case, the first thing to do is MOVE YOUR POWDER CANISTER- find some other place to store it- likewise with your brass- just use the shelf for reloading manuals or something else that has nothing to do with reloading- i've got an old microwave center that has a similar set-up and the powder and cases go in the CABINET part of it- way down below
OPEN and stored below your press on A SHELF OR SOMETHING- THE 1000 drops it's primers through two chutes in the base and a lot of us drill holes in the bench to accomodate those holes and stick a cup or something in there to hold them- once in a while a primer does bounce off the rim of the cup and lands somwhere else - if this is the case, the first thing to do is MOVE YOUR POWDER CANISTER- find some other place to store it- likewise with your brass- just use the shelf for reloading manuals or something else that has nothing to do with reloading- i've got an old microwave center that has a similar set-up and the powder and cases go in the CABINET part of it- way down below
I have had the same thing happen with one of my pro 1000's, I found that the powder disk was not always making it back , I just backed off the screw on the side and the hopper screw Just a wisker even 1/2 a wisker and it fixed the problem for me 
t-star: I have a little screw bottle that I have under the bench to capture the used primers. I have nothing under my bench but tools and I store all my powder/cases etc in a locked filing cabinet across the garage. It was a new can of 231 that I opened and poured straight into the hopper, put the cap back on and into the cabinet it went. The only thing that I could possibly see that happened is one of the kids found a used primer on the floor and put it in the hopper. They are all in there late teens and I can't see it other than one of there friends maybe but it is on the other end of the garage. It just doesn't make sense but the fact of the matter is that it did happen and I will take extra steps so that it will not happen again.
