Thanks to Trophyhunter for the tip. He recommended polish the funnel part of my powder measure on my Dillon 550. This is supposed to make more consistent metering.

I have 8 lbs of promo which is the same as Red Dot with out the red flakes. I am loading a box (500) of 158 SWC for general shooting.

The charge is 4.0 grains. I took 10 cases in a row measuring the weight of each one. Lowest 3.8, highest 4.1.

I then took the measure apart and sanded the inside with 320 grit by hand. I cleaned it up making sure all abrasive was gone.

I did not change the adjustment and tried 10 more cases in a row. all were no less than 4.0 and no more than 4.1 That is + or - .05 grains.

I loaded a box of 50 pulling every 7th or so case out and weighing the charge. Results were the same as above.

I was having issues with high ES using Unique and hot loads that made me uncomfortable. This is probably the answer.

Trophyhunter, you are my hero for the day.

David the Happy Reloader

Good to know that worked for you! I'm sure a lot happier with mine after doing it and I've decided to add a couple more conversions complete with measures and stands for loading rifle as I no longer feel the need to throw and weigh each charge.

Add Dan's Skylight kit from Precision and that 550 turns into one serious tool for making precise loads.

For anyone considering polishing their measure funnel, all I used was a dremel on low speed with the conical shaped felt polish attachment and some green metal polishing compound.

you can also purchase an adapter so you can use a drum style powder measure on your press

Guys, this sound really interesting. After a couple of years of being stored away, my 550 measure has not been as consistent as before. Can you tell me exactly what to polish? I have a dremel tool but no polish. Thanks.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I installed a HORNADY powder measure (Pistol Rotary Drum and Micrometer equipped) on my DILLON 550.

OH MY!!!!!!

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

There's two screws that secure the acrylic hopper to the top of the aluminum funnel and drop tube that supply the powder down to the sliding powder measure bar, just take that off to get access to it.

All your going to do is polish the inside of that tapered funnel and throat of the drop tube, you'll see just how rough it is before and after in a real hurry.

Also, Dillon has revised the older style spring system that returned the charge bar back to it's starting point by eliminating the spring and adding in a safety linkage that returns it mechanically using the rod that the ram plate activates. If you have the older set up give them a call they will get you the updated parts, that added motion from the new linkage really gets that charge bar to settle the powder in more consistently when it resets the cycle.

Polsihing the internals cetainly does help. I went a little less aggressive & used 400g. Also adjust the return bar so it pulls the slide forward completely. My Dillons will throw RD or Unique qithin 1/10gr accuracy, good enough.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

On the New style Dillon Powder Measures with the SAFETY LINKAGE.

Push the handle FORWARD as to PRIME a case, AND HOLD IT THERE.

Now look at the SPRING TENSION ADJUSTMENT at the bottom of the rod,

WHEN the tension is SET CORRECTLY, the SPRING WILL BE 1/2 THE WAY COMPRESSED.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

That is a perfect description of the right setting when the handle is pushed forward and held there. I need to work on my camera skills, it might help those with older equipment to see it.

I just chronographed 10 shots out of my BG38

It worked, ES 57 SD 18.

They were MUCH higher.

Thanks Again.
Going to load some more!
David

I have several Dillon powder measures. I run all of mine the old way with springs, even the new ones that are set up with the linkage. I get excellent results with the difficult to measure powders. Never more variation than +/- 0.1 grains.

But to get there I polish the cones to a mirror finish. I break all sharp edges and use Mothers Mag wheel polish as the last step. I also throw at least 10 charges after any adjustment and try to keep the powder height fairly consistent. Even motion on each cycle of the press also helps.

I only load handgun rounds on my Dillon presses and while the linkage is necessary for rifle it isn't required for handgun. Use the correct bar for the powder quantity you are measuring.

I use the UniqueTek micrometers on both my large and small bars for my XL650 and have no problems. Then again, I don't use flake powders...

UniqueTek micrometers are a very convenient piece of equipment and I have them on all my measures. However your lack of problems is most likely due to your powder choice rather than the adjustment of the metering bar as being able to adjust the powder charge conveniently has little to do with variation on drop to drop accuracy.