The Progressive Mind Set

Don'tkillbill

Don'tkillbill

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I bet you were expecting something else. Changing from a turret press to progressive required a transition. I bought a Dillon 550 almost 2 weeks ago and lets say the first 50 rounds were a lot rougher than the last fifty. The biggest update I needed was my own mindset. I needed a firm ware update. You just need to pay close attention to everything that's going on. Loading is different and after a few batches I have a great system and the finished ammo just rolls off the press. In fact my reloading room is cleaner because I have more time and I even have time to roll some shotgun shells.


Check out the video.


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[/url]Snapshot 1 (3-26-2016 10-39 PM) by Don'tkillbill, on Flickr[/img]
 
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The biggest thing you really watch for is the stage after the powder drop, I have a small reading light that shinesnin the brass at that point to make sure there is powder, or a double charge. The rest isn't as important to watch.

been using my Hornady Progrssive for 30 years, and over 300k rounds..
 
Thanks for the welcome guys. I bought a desk lamp that shines down into the cases so I can better see the powder drops. I think I will get into wet tumbling with SS pins because with shiny brass its really easy to see the drops and the brass looks so damn nice when its done.
 
I've found on my 550B that when I miss a case in one stage for whatever reason and have to skip it in the charging stage, the whole motion of pressing the other stages and not dropping a charge on the blank spot will slightly compress the next charge in the charge bar. The next round that actually get's the charge is typically .5 gr heavier than the previous one. This happens EVERY TIME I miss a charge.

With 45ACP the .5gr heavier load is significant. I tried to put a vibrator on the press to get the powder to settle in more consistently but it didn't work. I now know I get very accurate charges with Titegroup unless I miss a charge for whatever reason. Then the next one to go in for a charge is immediately dumped back in the hopper and recharged to get the correct powder flow.

Have any of you other Dillon users noticed this?

The progressive mindset is indeed a different one. I love slowly cranking out Match ammo with my single press as well.
 
MuthaFunk said:
I've found on my 550B that when I miss a case in one stage for whatever reason and have to skip it in the charging stage, the whole motion of pressing the other stages and not dropping a charge on the blank spot will slightly compress the next charge in the charge bar. The next round that actually get's the charge is typically .5 gr heavier than the previous one. This happens EVERY TIME I miss a charge.

With 45ACP the .5gr heavier load is significant. I tried to put a vibrator on the press to get the powder to settle in more consistently but it didn't work. I now know I get very accurate charges with Titegroup unless I miss a charge for whatever reason. Then the next one to go in for a charge is immediately dumped back in the hopper and recharged to get the correct powder flow.

Have any of you other Dillon users noticed this?

The progressive mindset is indeed a different one. I love slowly cranking out Match ammo with my single press as well.
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I will have to check this out. Thanks for sharing the information.
 
Thanks for the video. Your timing is perfect. I currently have an RCBS Turret Press, but I picked up a Dillon 550B on the weekend, so I will be doing exactly the same transition that you just did.

I think the single biggest "take away" from your video is the cliche of "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast."
 
Before you go with the roller handle spend some time playing with your seating height. Work at getting the lever arc to work best with your arm so you don't have to reach down or up in a way that causes you to have to sit up or lean over or where you feel like you're over extending your arm in either direction. When you get your seating height and press height just right you may find that you don't feel like you need a roller handle. Plus you won't find your arm getting tired as soon if at all like it does if you're not running the lever within the "sweet spot" of your arm motion.

For myself being 6' 1" tall I find that I'm in my happy zone for working the lever with the top of my shoulder dead level with the powder bar of the measure. I just tested this by laying a stick on my shoulder and extended across to the press. Try it and see how that works for you and adjust from there. But unless you're much shorter or taller than I am it should be pretty close.

I love the idea of looking into the case to check for powder. But with the lever set where it's super comfy for longer sessions the cases are not far below eye level. So it's impossible to look into them. Particularly with the .38Spl and .357Mag cases. My plan is to try to remember to pick up a dental inspection mirror and mount it along with a small light so I can peek into the cases as they go past. But that implies that I've ever remembered why I need such a mirror when I run across them. But one day.....

It IS a great idea though to have a way to check the powder level. That I totally agree with and I kick myself every time I realize I've forgotten yet again.
 
About powder checking, there has got to be a cheap mini camera out there so that one can display a lit up case on a screen. Seems over the top, but would offer the best in terms of ergonomics.

You know, the kind that ATF use before they kick down the door.....
 
JAK1981 said:
About powder checking, there has got to be a cheap mini camera out there so that one can display a lit up case on a screen. Seems over the top, but would offer the best in terms of ergonomics.

You know, the kind that ATF use before they kick down the door.....
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That would be cool. I might try BCRider's idea of the dental mirror. Seem I've heard that somewhere else and if two experienced people like the idea I'll try.

Hoag that very line hit the editor's floor due an untimely sump pump start up that caused cursing that would have changed my G rating :)
 
I use a larger version of a dental mirror from Princess Auto, it works great and with the most cases you can see the powder charge at the powder station, with others I turn the mirror a bit and check at the seating station. I also put a cheap LED light on, also from Princess Auto, I think it was $4 and it works great.

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JAK1981 said:
About powder checking, there has got to be a cheap mini camera out there so that one can display a lit up case on a screen. Seems over the top, but would offer the best in terms of ergonomics.

You know, the kind that ATF use before they kick down the door.....
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Search 5.5mm or 7mm android or USB borescope. They go for around $20.00 on Amazon.ca
 
I'm using an IKEA Jansjo table light. The small head is about the size of that one you bodged onto your press and delivers a lovely area light inside the frame. But regardless of how it's done lighting up in the frame helps a lot.

And mirror or borescope you'll still want SOME light down inside the cases.
 
those mini-borescopes have led lights on the head.

RE; diopters thread in CGN milsurp forum (K 34 barrel....)has a good product review of these things. I think they would be the cats a$$ for those that don't have a powder checker stage on their press.
 
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