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Posted: 4/2/2013 10:35:37 PM EDT
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I have loaded about 1200 rounds of 223 on my 550 since I received my caliper conversion kit from Dillon. I had about 800 pre-primed cases so I didn't use the priming system on the Dillon until recently. But immediately I noticed issued with seating primers. I had to hold the shell plate to align the primer over the case for it to be seated. Every other stage aligned correctly with my dies. I never had trouble with loading 800 40sw rounds. Granted all of my 223 casings are military so inserting primers can be difficult. I used a Lyman all in one tool to ream the primer pockets and it does a okay job. I bought a swaging tool and it seems to make seating primers (1k Federal SP, another 1200 of Fiocchi ). The Fiocchis seat a little easier but that could be because I have only used them on brass that has been swaged.
I took both shell plates and my press to a friend who has several years experience with Dillon products and he compared the two. After about half an hour of inspection he showed me that one of the stations on the 223 shell plate was not in line with the other 3 stations. The picture below shows this. The shell plate is adjusted correctly, the plate rotates and "clicks" into each of the 4 stations. http://i.imgur.com/vpg9KWS.jpg I called Dillon yesterday morning and was told that it was probably my "paper clip thing" on station 1 that holds the case until the plate is rotated. I messed with it for a while but wasn't convinced it was the issue. Since I work nights and sleep during the day it makes it hard to call Dillon. My mentor in reloading said he would call Dillon for me and explain the problem. Other than that my 550 has worked like a dream. I don't blame Dillon for the issue. I can only imagine how hard they are working to fulfill orders. Maybe this shell plate shifted in the CNC machine or a tool wasn't aligned correctly, who knows. I have plenty of ammo to plink with until it can be replaced. |
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If its NOT a defective shell plate, ask Dillon for an alignment tool with instructions .The Dillon Alignment Tool is in the form of a pin. You place the powder die in station one and drop the pin in. With the shell plate off and the shell platform bolts loose. You take the ram up and down until if will slip in and out of the shell platform plate hole without moving the pin. Then you snug the bolts up and make sure you still have proper alignment. If you do then tighten them screws up and reinstall your shell plate and move your powder die back. You will, of course have to reset your decap/resize die. I do that by keeping a resized case on hand and putting it in station one, running the ram to the top and then screw the die down until it just touches the shell plate. By adjusting it with the case in the die and plate, you have proper alignment of the die when snugging it down. Also there is a test for press wear. Hold the lever parallel to the floor. Move left & right. Does base plate move with it? http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Dillon%20RL-450%20Manual/Dillon550strip00.jpg I asked Dillon about the alignment pin and explained my situation. The guy I spoke with said thats only for the primer cup. He told me it was the "paper clip thing". He told me to adjust it and it should be good to go. I don't have an alignment problem with the 40sw shell plate, it's only with the 223. |
From the pix posted it looks like its not installed correctly, looks off center. Maybe try to uninstall and reinstall it. Did it work perfectly before this on 223? I know when I switch from 45 to 223 and back, I have to fiddle and adjust. Once I am there it's good. 
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Quoted: If its NOT a defective shell plate, ask Dillon for an alignment tool with instructions .The Dillon Alignment Tool is in the form of a pin. You place the powder die in station one and drop the pin in. With the shell plate off and the shell platform bolts loose. You take the ram up and down until if will slip in and out of the shell platform plate hole without moving the pin. Then you snug the bolts up and make sure you still have proper alignment. If you do then tighten them screws up and reinstall your shell plate and move your powder die back. You will, of course have to reset your decap/resize die. I do that by keeping a resized case on hand and putting it in station one, running the ram to the top and then screw the die down until it just touches the shell plate. By adjusting it with the case in the die and plate, you have proper alignment of the die when snugging it down. Also there is a test for press wear. Hold the lever parallel to the floor. Move left & right. Does base plate move with it? http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Dillon%20RL-450%20Manual/Dillon550strip00.jpg That's the disassembly tool, the picture looks familiar http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=483 I have a picture of the alignment tool somewhere have to dig it up |
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From the pix posted it looks like its not installed correctly, looks off center. Maybe try to uninstall and reinstall it. Did it work perfectly before this on 223? I know when I switch from 45 to 223 and back, I have to fiddle and adjust. Once I am there it's good. I don't see how it can be when with each turn it clicks and locks into place. I can feel the index ball being compressed when I move it so the primer will seat into the station. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
If its NOT a defective shell plate, ask Dillon for an alignment tool with instructions .The Dillon Alignment Tool is in the form of a pin. You place the powder die in station one and drop the pin in. With the shell plate off and the shell platform bolts loose. You take the ram up and down until if will slip in and out of the shell platform plate hole without moving the pin. Then you snug the bolts up and make sure you still have proper alignment. If you do then tighten them screws up and reinstall your shell plate and move your powder die back. You will, of course have to reset your decap/resize die. I do that by keeping a resized case on hand and putting it in station one, running the ram to the top and then screw the die down until it just touches the shell plate. By adjusting it with the case in the die and plate, you have proper alignment of the die when snugging it down. Also there is a test for press wear. Hold the lever parallel to the floor. Move left & right. Does base plate move with it? http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Dillon%20RL-450%20Manual/Dillon550strip00.jpg That's the disassembly tool, the picture looks familiar http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=483 I have a picture of the alignment tool somewhere have to dig it up Oh, wrong tool? Yes, it sure looks like your photo. 
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Quoted: Quoted: That's the disassembly tool, the picture looks familiar http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=483 I have a picture of the alignment tool somewhere have to dig it up Oh, wrong tool? Yes, it sure looks like your photo. I wont bother digging up the photo, another one can be found here http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/338019_.html |
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The detent ball hole may be offset just a bit Where would it be offset at? The shell plate or the shell plate platform? Holding the two shell plates on top of one another with the detent holds lined up shows one of the stations on the 223 shell plate is off set from the rest. I thought maybe the detent holes were off at first but not after inspecting them. I mic'd them and thought maybe that was it but they weren't off by much. The 40sw shell plate was 0.250+/- 0.0005. The 223 was 0.248. |
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