Reloading .45ACP on a Dillon 650XL? Do I really need a powder check?

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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I am looking at equipping my dad's Dillon XL650 to reload .45ACP and was wondering if you guys could tell me if you think having the powder check system (the thing that beeps if there's too great a charge in the casing) is necessary.

Even though the machine is capable of reloading a very large number of rounds very quickly, I will probably only reload 200 if that every few weeks, so I am not whipping through reloading thousands of rounds per sitting. If that makes any difference.

How many of you would say that it is a must have for someone like me who would only be using average-to-light loads? Is it worth the extra $70?

Thanks
 
I dunno 'bout you, but I'm in the midst of purchasing a 650 (I'm a newbie reloader) and I'm definitely getting the powder check. $70 is a very small price to pay to ensure (or at least decrease the chance of) your favorite 1911 blowing up in your hands. :eek::eek:
 
Progressive loaders are pretty hard to back up and accidently double charge a case.

I think a better investment would be the low powder sensor for the powder hopper.

Sound and feel are important parts of progressive loading. Every system on the press has it's own signature, including the operator. When you are reloading, turn the radio off and keep the kids out of the room. Get into a rhythem. Avoid distractions.

Once you get comfortable, when something out of the ordinary happens, it will stick out like a sore thumb. When a new sound appears or an old sound fails to appear, something is wrong. When there is more or less resistance on the operating handle, there is a problem.

Set up your bench with decent light, and point a flexible lamp at the bullet seating station. Keep your eyes on the case as you are seating the bullet.
 
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You don,t absolutely have to have one.
I load 45acp on my 650 and have a powder check on it,but
I load standing and can see into each case.
I verify each load visually.
I have a powder check for 38sp. and 9mm also.
I don,t have one for my 40S&W and am not planning on getting one.
I can check visually and am always aware of every step as I'm reloading.
I'm not trying to set any land-speed record for reloading.
 
+2 on the powder check.
I can see if I'm low on powder in the hopper, its right in front of me. If it gets down to 1/4 full, I refill it.
I can't see if I'm low on powder in the case. It just nice to have that extra insurance. Some powders meter better than others, some get hung up in the hopper base from bridging, like 700x.
my 2 cents
 
I load standing and can see into each case.
I verify each load visually.
Click to expand...

I load 40sw on mine and dont have the powder check, but I do the visual thing as well, Iam in the midst of getting the gear together to start loading 45 as well.
 
no real need for a powder check or a low powder on the hopper. a must is the primer alarm through. when i am reloading on my 650 i sit to the right of it so i can watch and visually check to make sure the powder is in the case. when i go through my 100 primers, i load another 100, check the powder hopper, check the brass hoper and check the bullet hopper. i then set my next 100 primers to shake into the tube and load another 100.Item
 
I have one on my 9,40 and 45. because I'm HUMAN and yes i've caught a mistake here and there. $70 bucks is extremely cheap piece of mind. I 'm proud to say that I no longer go to the range with a dowell rod wondering if there was that 1 sec momentary lapse that I didn't look inside the case, the human brain cannot really multi task it can only process 1 thing at a time better safe than sorry.

My 2 cents.
 
Walter Hornby said:
no real need for a powder check or a low powder on the hopper. a must is the primer alarm through. when i am reloading on my 650 i sit to the right of it so i can watch and visually check to make sure the powder is in the case. when i go through my 100 primers, i load another 100, check the powder hopper, check the brass hoper and check the bullet hopper. i then set my next 100 primers to shake into the tube and load another 100.Item
Click to expand...

Very true - a low primer alarm is many times more useful than a low powder alarm. Don't you have EYES? ;)

Powder check - meh, never needed one yet. Then again, I have a 550, so I'm SOL anyway. :D
 
I have a 550 but if I had a 650 I'd definatly have one. $70 is pretty cheap piece of mind in the overall cost of the setup. As for low powder that's right in front of my face so it's pretty hard to miss.
 
I have a RCBS lockout die, and it works great. You just adjust it for the different powder amounts as it is not caliber specific. Stops the press dead in mid stroke if low/high powder amount.
 
Load .40 and .38 super on my 650. Still dont have a powder check.

I put a small flashlight stuffed into the middle of the toolhead. This shines a light into the case. Before seating a bullet, I check the case to make sure there is powder in there. With the .38 super, no problem as the powder is almost to the brim.

With .40 , I load to minor and I could still see if there is powder or not. You will know the correct level once you load enough times.

Been loading on the 650 for at least 5 years and never had a cartridge problem . I dont go fast when reloading.

Have wondered is the powder check will make me load faster as I dont have to visually check the powder level.

Anybody tried the two methods and see if you can go fast and rely on the powder check to be 100% reliable ?
 
I didn't trust my lockout die at first. I would still visually inspect every case and weigh every 10th or so for a while, just to make sure. That got old fast, and now I trust it completely. I've only loaded about 2000 or so, but they have all been flawless so far.
 
Nighthawk I can attest that the powder check DOES make you load faster and I have NEVER had a powder problem in any of my loads. I know were mostly guys in these forums and have a hard time admitting we make mistakes but it's a simple fact everyone loses focus once in awhile, I just don't want that to be on my powder stroke.

Jeff
 
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