Squib, double charge and the 550B?

[JJP161]

I was reading a few a threads on here and another forum in reference to the 550B. A few posters made references to a 1-2% squib ratio which seems really high and unacceptable to me. Now thus far I have only loaded on a Lee Classic Turet press but I have about 12,000 rounds on there and I've only had 2 squibs, both on my very first batch ever and was just my error. So with that said is it a common occurrence to have squibs or a double charge on a 550B? Thank you

[ronnie gore]

I doubt it. I don't have a 550b but I do have 4 dillion square deal presses and the powder measure is pretty much the same. I have been using some of them for over 20 years and never had a squib or a double charge, those are caused by operator error.

[John R]

If your paying attention to what your doing, there should be no problems at all.

[old&slow]

Squib & Double Charge ??

I've been reloading on a Dillon 550 since 1988.. Purchased a second 550 last year. Just so I didn't have to change from large to small primers and to have a back up.
Don't know how many tens of thousands of rounds I've reloaded.
Never had a Squib ( no powder ) or a double charge..

I have had a couple small pistol primers flip on me which caused a ' flash/ no bang ' ( powder charge didn't go off ) squib. But I had been lazy and threw the rounds in a box rather than putting the rounds in a cartridge box and doing a final visual check on primers..

I also have one of those green single stage things on the reloading bench that I sometimes use and was there before I started drinking the Blue Koolaid..

[George_in_SD]

Blasphemy-operator errors are never equipment errors. You can place a light and/or mirror and see the powder in every case. You can focus on the task at hand with no TV, Cell phone or other distractions in the reloading room.

Its just as easy to miss a case or double charge a case on a loading block with 50 cases if you are not paying attention.

[JBnTx]

I'll bet that 100% of double charged cases or squib loads are the result of operator error,
and NOT the fault of the 550b.

[jepp2]

A few posters made references to a 1-2% squib ratio which seems really high and unacceptable to me.

I own 2 Dillon RL550's. I got the first one in the 80's. Never had a squib and never had a double charge. I do "read" about the steps people take when taking a break from reloading to avoid double charging a case (failing to advance the shell plate when they start again). I just always run out what is in the press before I stop. This could explain the double charge but not the squib.

I do polish the aluminum cast cone interior, but this is to improve the accuracy of the powder drop, not to avoid a squib. It allows me to disperse difficult to measure powders very accurately. I run my Dillon powder measures the OLD way with springs, not the fail safe mechanism. I only load for handguns and it works very well for me.

Only operator error can explain no powder or double charges. The 550 runs pretty much flawlessly but they aren't idiot proof.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought my 450 in 1984 and upgraded it to 550b several years ago. Have I made some squib rounds? Yes. it was due to paying attention to too many things at once. Now I have a procedure when I stop. I finish the 3 cases that are in the works, and stop on an empty shell plate. Never made a double charge. If someone can't figure out what they did wrong in the first batch, they should not be reloading. Also put the reloading in a place where kids can't play with it. They might be tempted to "help", and that could be a real problem. I didn't have that problem, My kids were use to getting drafted for projects and learned to show no interest in bullet casting, sizing or reloading. A neighbor's son would reload his trap ammo for him, he would have 4-5% squibs or no wad. My theory was "The second time was dad's fault!" Back in the mid 80's, I loaded a batch of 223 (20,000 rounds) without any squibs. That was with the old system that you manually fed the primer and manually fed the powder. You just develop a rhythm and slowly get faster. I keep spare primer tubes close at hand, and with the 550b, can load around 600 rounds an hour, WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. When you buy, spend the money and get the bullet tray. I really like the "Strong Mount", but any good mounting will work. I also recommend either of the roller handles. I put on a CD of instrumental music, to keep distractions covered, and the wife knows not to bother me until I'm done. If dinner is 2 1/2 hours away, I know to load 1200 rounds and clean up for dinner. Having detailed planned operations is how to ovoid problems. Ivan

[THEWELSHM]

Buy a Hornady LNL AP and avoid this issue

thewelshm

[loc n load]

I bought a 450 when they first came out....upgraded that one to a 550 and have two more 550's, a 650 and a square D.....I have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on these presses over the decades and never had any issues.....I too developed a system as Ivan points out.....I will not leave the press until the shell plate is empty...I will not be interrupted...I worry over powder charges a lot more when I am loading with a single stage press and a powder measure than I do with any of my progressives.

[JBnTx]

Originally Posted by THEWELSHM

Buy a Hornady LNL AP and avoid this issue

Somebody get a rope!

[joe44va]

My 550RL runs great.
I've had a squib however. I traced the problem to an "other brand" sizing die that didn't always pop the primer all the way out. Then I reseated the spent primer and didn't pick it up until after the first squib at the range (yeah, I know, I should have). There was another in that box, my first with the blue press. Buying a Dillon die set fixed that as well as knowing what that feels like now. Never had a double charge.

[rh73]

Originally Posted by THEWELSHM

Buy a Hornady LNL AP and avoid this issue

thewelshm

It's very easy to double charge on the LNL. Drop the ram just a little and the powder measure resets. Any powder measure that uses springs to reset will do this.

Lee and Dillon have failsafe systems on their progressive presses.

Even the 550, the ram has to be dropped almost completely before resetting the powder measure.

Running out of powder and not being aware of it is operator error.

In the end all double charges and squibs are operator error.

[JJP161]

Thanks everyone for the great replies, when I first read those posts I couldn't believe that was acceptable and seemed like no big deal to the poster. I really enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting and I always visually check the case before placing the bullet as I don't ever want a squib or a double charge. I figure the first time I destroy a gun or injure myself or worse than the reloading will no longer be fun. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything here before I drank the blue Koolaid.

[THEWELSHM]

Originally Posted by rh73

It's very easy to double charge on the LNL. Drop the ram just a little and the powder measure resets. Any powder measure that uses springs to reset will do this.

Lee and Dillon have failsafe systems on their progressive presses.

Even the 550, the ram has to be dropped almost completely before resetting the powder measure.

Running out of powder and not being aware of it is operator error.

In the end all double charges and squibs are operator error.

I concur, even the Blue is not without issues right?

thewelshm

[fredj338]

Having run a 550 for more than 25yrs, maybe 200k rds, you have to just not be paying attention to make a mistake. Auto index or manual, once you become a handle puller, mistakes will happen. I have never had a double, maybe one squib, maybe.
Visually verify the powder charge, place the bullet on the case BEFORE you advance the shell holder, it is virtually impossible to squib or double. I do the same thing with my 650, just pay attention. If you are fine with the LCT, the 550 won't be too diff.
Where issues on any progressive occur is when you have a stoppage of any kind. I Clear the shell holder & start over.

[Jellybean]

Originally Posted by rh73

...In the end all double charges and squibs are operator error.

I learned this lesson on a Lee Pro 1000. Anyone that thinks any machine they are using is totally infallible is a fool.

[MTKTM]

In the '90s I shot a lot of IPSC, and did some IDPA for a few years after that, and loaded tons of 40 S&W and 45ACP on a Dillon 550B, tens of thousands of rounds. I never had a squib nor a double. Not once. I agree with running the last rounds out of the machine prior to taking a break. As with all handloading tasks, it's important to be focused. And definitely leave the beer drinking for after you are finished!

[FloridaFlier]

With more than 10 years on the Dillon 550B, I've had several errors. All mine, no exceptions. Put the telephone, the TV, and your beer in another room, and the 550B's performance gets better. Once you are 'in the groove' everything is going perfect, until the phone rings, your wife calls you for supper, or whatever.

Errors will happen. Your job is to put in place procedures to catch them when you are interrupted, or decide to double check a powder load, or whatever.

[Squarebutt]

I've used a 550 since the mid-80's and never had a squib or a double charge. As others have said, paying close attention and clearing all shells out of the shellplate is the key to success. Mike Dillon wouldn't be a multi-millionaire with his own air force if his machines had a 1% error rate.

[bwxmas]

I mentioned this i another thread.
I have reloaded rifles all my life. Pistols are fairly new to me, but this what I do.
I weigh cases, and put them into piles that are less than 2 grains apart.
At the most I will let them be a couple of grains less than whatever powder charge I am using, that way whether you have an over or under, it will show up on the scale, easily.
I load as many rounds as I want.
I Then go back, and run completed round on the scale. If it more than 3 grains off, I set them to the side.
If I am loading 7grains, than I look for 6-7 grains off to know something is wrong.

I can run a couple hundred rounds back through the scale in 5-10 minutes. Not much time to make sure you keep all fingers.
Its what I do, and have not had a problem yet.

[buckshotshorty]

That's the beauty of the auto index. With the 550, no auto index + a lapse in attention can be catastrophic.

[Doubless]

I am probably the only individual on this entire site that uses the RCBS Piggyback II, but I really like it. It auto-indexes, and all that has to be verified is that there is a primer in the seating position and that powder drops. The powder drop is verified by looking at a clear spacer that sits between the top of the press and the Uniflo powder measure.

I, too, empty the shell plate before I stop, and usually try to coordinate that with using all the primers in the feed tube. That way the press is completely empty with the exception of the Uniflo, which comes off with release of a single set screw, and the extra powder goes back into the jug it came out of...