Powder check die for Dillon 550?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Powder check die for Dillon 550?

Posted: 3/27/2009 8:31:34 PM EDT

What powder check die works well with the 550? The only one I've found that might work is the RCBS. The Dillons says it's only made for the 650 and 1050. Don't want to get into weighing loaded rounds.

ETA: I'm only interested in this for rifle cartridges (namely .223) which are hard to see into to verify powder charge. I do not crimp so I've got an unused station. I just want to add another measure of safety to my reloading.

Thanks,
DOC

Posted: 3/27/2009 8:58:28 PM EDT

[#1]

With only 4 stations on the toolhead of the 550 press you will end up combining the seating and crimping into the same station if you choose to use some type of powder check die. The Dillon powder checker can be modified to work on the 550. There have been threads in the past showing how. Most just mount a light of some type to allow you to see into the powder loaded case at station3 to visually check each case for powder.

Posted: 3/27/2009 9:05:26 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
What powder check die works well with the 550? The only one I've found that might work is the RCBS. The Dillons says it's only made for the 650 and 1050. Don't want to get into weighing loaded rounds.

Thanks,
DOC

I'd suggest that millions of rounds have been safely loaded on 550Bs without the need for their powder check die.

If you're concerned about dropped charges, just charge them individually and/or verify that each one is charged, if you go the progressive way. Personally, I've never had a charge NOT drop using my 550b.

Chris

Posted: 3/28/2009 9:16:00 AM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
With only 4 stations on the toolhead of the 550 press you will end up combining the seating and crimping into the same station if you choose to use some type of powder check die. The Dillon powder checker can be modified to work on the 550. There have been threads in the past showing how. Most just mount a light of some type to allow you to see into the powder loaded case at station3 to visually check each case for powder.

+1

Posted: 3/28/2009 9:24:41 AM EDT

[#4]

im assuming you would have to put the powder check die in station 3, which would then put the bullet seating die in 4. and that would make it very hard/weird to reach around and place the bullet

Posted: 3/28/2009 9:39:49 AM EDT

[#5]

I had my 550B for 70K+ rounds and never missed a charge in it. When I sold it and got my 650, I also got the powder checks and use them all the time. Truth is, now that I have one and use it every time, I'm wondering if they are really needed.

Posted: 3/28/2009 11:23:12 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
im assuming you would have to put the powder check die in station 3, which would then put the bullet seating die in 4. and that would make it very hard/weird to reach around and place the bullet

Wow, good point. That hadn't occurred to me.

That would be too cumbersome to be worthwhile.

Thanks,
DOC

Posted: 3/28/2009 1:18:03 PM EDT

[#7]

Mount a small, power white LED to the underside of the tool holder. Then use a mirror to observe the powder level.

Posted: 3/28/2009 5:13:38 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What powder check die works well with the 550? The only one I've found that might work is the RCBS. The Dillons says it's only made for the 650 and 1050. Don't want to get into weighing loaded rounds.

Thanks,
DOC

I'd suggest that millions of rounds have been safely loaded on 550Bs without the need for their powder check die.

If you're concerned about dropped charges, just charge them individually and/or verify that each one is charged, if you go the progressive way. Personally, I've never had a charge NOT drop using my 550b.

Chris

+1, use a ball powder that measures well, and you are GTG on a 550.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Powder check die for Dillon 550?

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