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Posted: 7/21/2010 2:43:54 PM EST
This - http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/catid/3/pid/23634/Powder_Measure_Adapter







Who has one / uses one? In Upgrading to an RL550B, I have three Lee Perfect Powder Measures and a RCBS Little Dandy left on the bench.



Can I use them with this and RL450 powder dies (as Dillon says)?



There is no info on Dillon's sight and their forum is horrible.
Link Posted: 7/21/2010 3:18:03 PM EST
[#1]

Friend of mine tried that for Garand IMR stick powder loads.
It seemed slow to me.

I think you're better off polishing up the dillon measure.


like this...

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=154783

Link Posted: 7/21/2010 3:30:50 PM EST
[#2]
The purpose is to have multiple tool heads set up with the other powder measures I already have (in adition to my Dillon's powder measure) so I don't have to go through all the set up with the one Dillon powder measure.



Link Posted: 7/21/2010 3:42:52 PM EST
[#3]
Quoted:
The purpose is to have multiple tool heads set up with the other powder measures I already have (in adition to my Dillon's powder measure) so I don't have to go through all the set up with the one Dillon powder measure.



the beauty of the DILLON design is that you set up your dies, including POWDER MEASURE die, and leave them setup.



You can buy extra powder measure bars. and keep them labeled and setup pwith your favorite loads.



Link Posted: 7/21/2010 4:21:22 PM EST
[#4]
Exactly.  Unfortunately the Dillon brand powder measures are $70+ each and I own 4 other non-Dillon powder measures already.  Hence my question about the Dillon powder measure adapter.



To buy 4 more Dillon powder measures for the 4 additional tool heads I have set up (.38 Super, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 Colt) when I want to change from .45 ACP would mean another $280+.



So, does anyone here have experience using Dillon's powder measure adapter with an RL450 powder die on an RL 550B (as Dillon says you can)

for additional powder measures for additional tool head / caliber set-ups in addition to the stock Dillon powder measures on the RL 550B?

Link Posted: 7/21/2010 4:22:55 PM EST
[#5]
You need two dies to use a rotary chamber powder measure on a Dillon;

1. The 450 adapter die

2. The powder die

I have a Redding BR-30 I use for rifle rounds. I started out with a stripped 550-B, called the AT-500. I built it they way I wanted it straight for rifle rounds from the beginning. I resize on a single stage then trim on my Giraud. I prime on a RCBS bench mounted priming tool. The AT-500 has a Sinclair International expander mandrel in station #1, Redding BR-30 powder measure at station #2, a Redding or Forster benchrest seater in station #3 depending on caliber and in station #4 I use a Lee's Factory Crimp Die if I crimp at all.

You have to be very careful and visually insure that you charged each case when using a manual powder measure. It will not charge the case with powder as a function of working the handle, I wish you could. It is easy to lose concentration and not look for the powder in each case. If I'm not sure, I'll pull the suspect round and weigh it to make sure it got it's powder.

I like Reddings BR-30 much better than Dillon's powder measure (who wouldn't) but it is not perfection yet. Sometimes I feel like the Wizard of Oz pulling all the handles, tweaking everything and double checking my work.
Link Posted: 7/21/2010 5:41:59 PM EST
[#6]
JMHO
$70 is worth it to have the damn thing work correctly and automatically

with the setup photo you posted, you will have to pause, actuate the (green) powder measure,  and then start up again.

that would totally screw up my muscle memory




you can setup tool heads for all you favorite calibers.
It's only 2 allen screws to swap out the Dillon powder measure to another powder measure die

It only takes another minute to swap out a powder measure bar, tagged with your load.

this way you could use 1 powder measure for several calibers, and still have your favorite load saved.

powder die $11.59
http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/search/keywords/DP20064

powder bar $18.85
http://www.brianenos.com/store/dillon.bench.html






Link Posted: 7/21/2010 6:52:08 PM EST
[#7]
Quoted:
Quoted:
The purpose is to have multiple tool heads set up with the other powder measures I already have (in adition to my Dillon's powder measure) so I don't have to go through all the set up with the one Dillon powder measure.



the beauty of the DILLON design is that you set up your dies, including POWDER MEASURE die, and leave them setup.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l227/twoalpha/IMGP8777.jpg


You can buy extra powder measure bars. and keep them labeled and setup pwith your favorite loads.

http://www.sugarfreebob.com/PHOTOS/DILLON%20MAGNUM%20RIFLE%20POWDER%20BAR.jpg



You must work for dillon - I see no beauty of spending $75+ on each tool head/powder measure

The OP
They do make an micro adjust that is supposed to be pretty good.
Dillon Micro Meter Powder Bar Kit

I also see no reason you can use a Lee powder through expander die with your perfect powder measure - I have run those with the lee disk powder measure - it has the spring return so its not a manual operation.




Link Posted: 7/21/2010 7:18:38 PM EST
[#8]
Quoted:


You must work for dillon - I see no beauty of spending $75+ on each tool head/powder measure





No, I do not work for DILLON.

I've been handloading since 1982 when I was in high school.

I shoot IPSC and 3-gun, so I go through more ammo in a year, than most  guys shoot in there lifetime.

Over the years, I've learned what works and what's a waste of time.
DILLON is the way to go.

buy once cry once

the older I get, the more money, and less time I have. time is money.

Also, if you read my reply, I explained how a guy can
spend:

powder die $11.59
and
powder bar $18.85

and re-use the same $70 powder measure.








Link Posted: 7/21/2010 7:21:15 PM EST
[#9]
I have the manually activated powder measure on my 550. The one Dillon made before there automated one, it slows things down way to much. stick with what the press was designed for, the automated one.


Scott
Link Posted: 7/21/2010 9:06:59 PM EST
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
The purpose is to have multiple tool heads set up with the other powder measures I already have (in adition to my Dillon's powder measure) so I don't have to go through all the set up with the one Dillon powder measure.



the beauty of the DILLON design is that you set up your dies, including POWDER MEASURE die, and leave them setup.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l227/twoalpha/IMGP8777.jpg


You can buy extra powder measure bars. and keep them labeled and setup pwith your favorite loads.

http://www.sugarfreebob.com/PHOTOS/DILLON%20MAGNUM%20RIFLE%20POWDER%20BAR.jpg



You must work for dillon - I see no beauty of spending $75+ on each tool head/powder measure

The OP
They do make an micro adjust that is supposed to be pretty good.
Dillon Micro Meter Powder Bar Kit

I also see no reason you can use a Lee powder through expander die with your perfect powder measure - I have run those with the lee disk powder measure - it has the spring return so its not a manual operation.






Lee powder dies WILL work on a DIllon press- some just think its sacrilege. Just use your Lee measures and powder drop dies as you would with a Lee press. You may have to install the lock ring on the BOTTOM of the die though- Lee powder drop dies sit kinda low in a Dillon toolhead.
Link Posted: 7/22/2010 2:19:40 AM EST
[#11]
Quoted:
You need two dies to use a rotary chamber powder measure on a Dillon;

1. The 450 adapter die

2. The powder die

I have a Redding BR-30 I use for rifle rounds. I started out with a stripped 550-B, called the AT-500. I built it they way I wanted it straight for rifle rounds from the beginning. I resize on a single stage then trim on my Giraud. I prime on a RCBS bench mounted priming tool. The AT-500 has a Sinclair International expander mandrel in station #1, Redding BR-30 powder measure at station #2, a Redding or Forster benchrest seater in station #3 depending on caliber and in station #4 I use a Lee's Factory Crimp Die if I crimp at all.

You have to be very careful and visually insure that you charged each case when using a manual powder measure. It will not charge the case with powder as a function of working the handle, I wish you could. It is easy to lose concentration and not look for the powder in each case. If I'm not sure, I'll pull the suspect round and weigh it to make sure it got it's powder.

I like Reddings BR-30 much better than Dillon's powder measure (who wouldn't) but it is not perfection yet. Sometimes I feel like the Wizard of Oz pulling all the handles, tweaking everything and double checking my work.


Sir, FWIW it's amazing how much our techniques are alike.  I use a Redding 3BR at station two of my Dillon 550 when reloading .223 Rem. and 260 Rem.  The powders that I use for those cartridges, VV N540, and H4350 simply will not meter satisfactorily from my Dillon powder measures, regardless my having polished the Dillon measure much as is shown in the tacked threads at the top of this forum page.  I determined that much as Dillon says in their Blue Press, their powder measures are not intended for "long grain extruded powders" so the powders that I choose like IMR4895, IMR4060, and others are best metered from my Redding powder measure.  You do have to be observant when charging cases this way, especially with cartridges with small neck diameters such as .223 Rem. the inside throat of the Dillon powder funnel has to be polished and possibly reamed to ensure the individual grains of powder do not bridge around the funnel hole and block the flow of powder.  I've considered mounting a powder check die at station three of my Dillon 550, but it appears trying to seat bullets on station four would be too ackward.

I do use my Dillon powder measures for other cartridges, mostly pistol.  They work quite well with H110, Unique, WW231, AA7 etc.  FWIW as a long standing Dillon user going back to my first RL 450 the Dillon powder measure has been somewhat of an evolution all by itself.  That's one of the reasons I bought an XL650, I can use that press to load other cartridges without disturbing my 550 which is already set up for reloading match rifle cartridges.  JMHO, 7zero1.

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