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9/28/2013 11:51:28 AM EDT
I was reloading pretty heavily about 15 years ago and then I would do it here and there.  I recently dusted off the press again and tried to reload .45

Well I'm having a weird issue, all of a sudden it started loading 7 grains of powder instead of my usual 5.  And then it will drop less than a grain for a while then jump back up the 7.

It's been so long I don't even remember how to adjust it, but the more concerning part to me is the variance ?

Any help

I think it's a 550
9/28/2013 12:30:22 PM EDT
[#1]
I can't get it to drop powder and its flaring the shells like crazy

Wtf
9/28/2013 12:54:58 PM EDT
[#2]
Send it back to Dillon and have them go over it for you.
9/28/2013 1:07:08 PM EDT
[#3]
Since it's been a while, I would take the dies all out, the powder dispenser out, shell plate, etc.  Get your manual out, clean everything, and totally re-setup the press.  

I know sometimes just switching over from pistol to rifle, I will run into little issues, and it's almost always something I am forgetting (like not putting in the large primer feeder, for example).  The total re-setup clears up most of my problems. It's kind of like Rebooting your computer to fix an issue.
9/28/2013 1:09:47 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:
Send it back to Dillon and have them go over it for you.
View Quote


That sounds like over-kill to me.

Read the die adjustment sections of the Dillon manual.  Adjust your powder die upwards if excessively belling the case mouths.

Read the maintenance section too.  Likely you need to lube a few things.
9/28/2013 1:31:57 PM EDT
[#5]
Ok after stripping the powder assembly I figured out the powder in the dropper had gotten clumped up probably from sitting and the oils.

It's working now.  It still needs a cleaning and lube

What do you guys use for cleaning and lube?
9/28/2013 2:35:02 PM EDT
[#6]
Never lube powder measure or die, this will clog things up.
9/28/2013 3:04:45 PM EDT
[#7]
Every New Years Day I do this to my Dillons.



It's a link to another forum. If that's improper please delete my post.  




9/28/2013 6:50:13 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Quoted:
Ok after stripping the powder assembly I figured out the powder in the dropper had gotten clumped up probably from sitting and the oils.

It's working now.  It still needs a cleaning and lube

What do you guys use for cleaning and lube?
View Quote


It sounds like you're using powder that has been sitting in the hopper of your measure. More than likely that powder has degraded and is potentially unsafe to use.
9/28/2013 6:55:37 PM EDT
[#9]

Quote History
Quoted:


Every New Years Day I do this to my Dillons.


View Quote

It's a link to another forum. If that's improper please delete my post.  




Links to friendly sites, like the above, are always GTG. dryflash3

 
9/28/2013 7:00:28 PM EDT
[#10]
If you still have your owners manual, give it a read.



Can't find it? Download from Dillon's site.




Never leave powder in a PM when you are through reloading.




That's what turns the clear plastic dark, and doesn't do the powder any good either.




Then there is the safety reason. Easy to forget what powder it is and dump it into the wrong bottle.




Sermon over.
9/28/2013 10:08:34 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote History
Quoted:
Ok after stripping the powder assembly I figured out the powder in the dropper had gotten clumped up probably from sitting and the oils.

It's working now.  It still needs a cleaning and lube

What do you guys use for cleaning and lube?
View Quote



I often clean out the primer assembly.  It's just two screws and an easily removed spring.  Wipe and brush it all until clean.  Put a light coat of Dillon's Snake Oil or even mineral oil under the sliding primer carrier.  I use a similar light-bodied oil under the rotating shell plate.

I use 30 weight oil or any fairly heavy oil on the ram and a drop or two on the pivots in the linkage..
9/29/2013 2:14:26 AM EDT
[#12]


You can clean the metal parts of the powder die with alcohol or acetone then rub them down with a dryer sheet when dry.
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