faraim
Member
I need to find a smooth metering powder to use for light to mid range .38 special loads out of my Dillon 550. I've used Bullseye, Unique, 231, Titegroup, and AA2 with my single stage. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Best powder for Dillon
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Dan Cash
Member
Bullseye Bullseye
jubela#4
Member
I have used Bullseye, Unique, 2400, Win 296, Hogdon 110 in my Dillon Square Deal B for years and have never had a metering problem. I believe you will do fine with your 550 and the powders you listed.
About 3 gr of Clays, depending on bullet weight.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Bullseye is my "go to" in my SDB.
I've had Dillon presses for 8 years. Odd, that some have problems with flake powders and others don't. Mine do not like Unique and at times the charges vary widely. For this reason I try to stay away from anything that is made of flakes.
I've had excellent luck with 2400 and Power Pistol. I'll probably try Universal next.
I've had excellent luck with 2400 and Power Pistol. I'll probably try Universal next.
Wee Hooker
Member
Ancient1
Member
I use Bullseye in my 650 for the loads you suggested. Have used a lot of the VV powders. No problems with Unique also
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Out of the 3 Square Deal presses and the XL650 I have run a ton of powder without many problems. Bullseye, Titegroup (YUK, just don't like that powder), AA#2 through AA#9, AA2700, WST, HP-38/W231, Unique (not too much of it though), SR4756 & SR7625, Clays, VV340, Herco, Longshot, Lil' Gun, 2400, H110/W296, WC820 and a few more I can't seem to remember right now, have all metered sufficiently through them.
They love the small flakes of Bullseye, SR4756, SR7625 and all of the ball powders. I use them almost exclusively now with good success.
FWIW
p.s. BL-C(2) as well.
They love the small flakes of Bullseye, SR4756, SR7625 and all of the ball powders. I use them almost exclusively now with good success.
FWIW
p.s. BL-C(2) as well.
Last edited:
cmort666
Member
I use both Bullseye and Unique in my 550 for .38 Special. I use Bullseye for wadcutter loads and Unique for service level practice loads.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
I also have used AA#5 with great success.
Wheelgunner840
Member
You already have the answers, but I just felt like typing, even if it's a repeat.
All the AA powders, and W-231. I have probably loaded more rounds with W-231 than all other powders combined. Tens of thousands of .38s and .45ACPs! Most of those were loaded on the Dillon SD-B. W-231 seems to be working just as well with the two XL-650s. (Same powder measure).
WG840
All the AA powders, and W-231. I have probably loaded more rounds with W-231 than all other powders combined. Tens of thousands of .38s and .45ACPs! Most of those were loaded on the Dillon SD-B. W-231 seems to be working just as well with the two XL-650s. (Same powder measure).
WG840
dillonhelp
Member
Unique might vary by up to +/- .2 grain, the others will all be within +/- .1 grain. BTW, +/- .1 grain is the level of accuracy in a powder scale, whether digital or beam.
TSQUARED
Member
As a general rule the ball powders will meter better than flake powders. That being said I have obtained outstanding uniformity with Bullseye, Power Pistol, WST, WSF, W-231, VV N-310, VV N-320 as well as the flake powders such as American Select, Clays and Trail Boss. The HS-700Z all meters well but stay away from HS-800X as it meters very poorly.
I use W231 almost exclusively now in my XL650. I've used many flake powders and a few extruded, and other ball powders.
I must say that I've had a little bit of difficulty with the really fine-grained ball powders. It could be the number of cycles I have on my powder measure, but the tiny granules of the super-fine ball powders (H-110 and AA#9 in particular) actually migrate under the powder bar and cause binding.
Really irregular or large flake powders often caused sticking of my powder bar. Loaded 1500 rounds with VV N318 (a flake powder made by laying out a sheet of powder and cutting it with a die into tiny parallelograms) and it was a nightmare... I highly recommend avoiding diamond, trapezoid, and parallelogram-shaped powders!! I've not tried it, but Trail Boss probably wouldn't meter worth a darn via my other experiences.
W231 has larger-shaped granules that don't get worked under the powder bar and runs extremely smoothly through my Dillons...
I must say that I've had a little bit of difficulty with the really fine-grained ball powders. It could be the number of cycles I have on my powder measure, but the tiny granules of the super-fine ball powders (H-110 and AA#9 in particular) actually migrate under the powder bar and cause binding.
Really irregular or large flake powders often caused sticking of my powder bar. Loaded 1500 rounds with VV N318 (a flake powder made by laying out a sheet of powder and cutting it with a die into tiny parallelograms) and it was a nightmare... I highly recommend avoiding diamond, trapezoid, and parallelogram-shaped powders!! I've not tried it, but Trail Boss probably wouldn't meter worth a darn via my other experiences.
W231 has larger-shaped granules that don't get worked under the powder bar and runs extremely smoothly through my Dillons...
Thought I'd pass along that I bought a Dillon Eliminator Digital Scale. I was curious as to the actual weight of the 50 gram calibration weight supplied.
I have access to some ridiculously accurate lab gear and took the test weight in for countercheck.
After 24 hour stabilization it weighed 49.9923 grams at STP.
Not bad. Not bad at all...
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