Dillon 550B Primer Problems

[dwpmusic]

For all you 550B owners out there I have a question. Is there any way to completely avoid primer problems on the 550B besides just hand priming? Just got my 550 changed over from .45ACP to .38/.357 yesterday which, or course, necessitated changing from a large primer to a small primer. Everything went perfectly except the dreaded primer slide. It's either one thing or another. Either the primer slide doesn't go back far enough to let a primer fall into the cup or some way the darn things get disoriented in the magazine tube and won't drop at all. So, by the way, another question. With 100 primers loaded in the magazine is where any way to get them out without taking the magazine off which results in new primers all over your work bench, the floor and who know where else? Kind of a real p***er for someone that's comparatively new at handloading. Third question, how does 3.2gr Win231 behind a 158gr Berry's round nose sound? Am I starting too low? Thanks for letting me rant?

 

[TSQUARED]

When changing primer slides one has to be careful to insure that the primer slide is correctly positioned. I push the arm forward and insure proper alignment withinthe shell plate before tightening the screws.
I also place some powdered graphite on the steel plate upon which the slide moves. Knock wood, no problems since I have adopted this routine.
I had a similar experience sevarl years ago and the primers emptied on the bench - a pain in the neck to pick them all up.
In 38 Special I have used Trail Boss for all my loads since it is virtually impossible to double charge. In my limited experience the plated bullets provide ca 10+% lower velocity when compared to alead bullet of the same weight.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Have you called Dilon? They have always been very helpful with customer problems.

 

[OKFC05]

necessitated changing from a large primer to a small primer. Everything went perfectly except the dreaded primer slide

If you have one Dillon complete primer assembly all set up and adjusted to feed small primers, and another similarly set up for large primers, you never have to make the dreaded slide adjustments again..............just change the whole assembly and start loading.

how does 3.2gr Win231 behind a 158gr Berry's round nose sound?

Too light; suggest 4.0

 

[JDBoardman]

Boy, do I feel your pain. I just spent about two hours screwing around with my 550B primer feed because the tip lip cracked. Yes, I had a spare "dispenser orifice"; it just wouldn't go all the way onto the aluminum tube. Polished and sanded, finally got it to work and now everything is running again - but it is very frustrating. Just wait until you are halfway through a run, and the little plastic tip on the primer tube craps out just after you load a whole deck of primers, or one goes down the tube crossways and clogs the whole mechanism. Yes, the Dillon 'automatic' primer feed system is automatically a pain in the rear - as is just about every other primer feed system I have ever used. If you get a good, reliable solution to making the blasted thing work, please share.

I even have problems with my RCBS hand primer, so that's no perfect solution either. I guess you just have to hold your mouth right and murmur the proper incantations to the lesser gods to have it run without hiccups.

 

[dwpmusic]

Thanks for the replies guys. If I don't get it worked out I'll call Dillon. Looking at it, it looks OK. The primer cup is right under the magazine on the down stroke. Two 550s does indeed sound good however.

 

[dwpmusic]

Boy, do I feel your pain. I just spent about two hours screwing around with my 550B primer feed because the tip lip cracked. Yes, I had a spare "dispenser orifice"; it just wouldn't go all the way onto the aluminum tube. Polished and sanded, finally got it to work and now everything is running again - but it is very frustrating. Just wait until you are halfway through a run, and the little plastic tip on the primer tube craps out just after you load a whole deck of primers, or one goes down the tube crossways and clogs the whole mechanism. Yes, the Dillon 'automatic' primer feed system is automatically a pain in the rear - as is just about every other primer feed system I have ever used. If you get a good, reliable solution to making the blasted thing work, please share.




I even have problems with my RCBS hand primer, so that's no perfect solution either. I guess you just have to hold your mouth right and murmur the proper incantations to the lesser gods to have it run without hiccups.

Woah, I changed the tip on my magazine. I just wonder if I didn't get it on properly? Will know more soon. I just got the .38spl dies installed yesterday. Have not shot the first round that I've loaded. I didn't want to load a couple of hundred and not be satisfied with the way they shot. Wanted to check the ones I did load on the chrony before I went wild loading a bunch. Admittedly, I'm starting low (3.2gr Win231) but I like to start low and see what it does. So, until I get to the range and shoot the few rounds I've loaded (probably Tuesday) I'm at a standstill. I love the 550 but the primer problem is a real headache. Will report back to ya.

 

[growr]

Do you know anyone that is an experienced reloader using a Dillon in your area? Helps greatly to have a mentor....if not call Dillon and quit suffering in silence!

My 550 B has loaded many thousands of rounds with numerous changes from small primer to large and back with almost no troubles at all. If you have any broken parts, Dillon will send them to you No Charge.
Again, CALL DILLON!!

Randy

 

[Engineer1911]

Ok folks, I think on small point got missed in these posts. The primer arm (for seating primers) and the primer tube (for holding the primers) have to me the SAME size -- there is one each for small primers and one each for large primers. A small primer arm and a large primer tube is cause for hours of trouble. This is experience talking, not knowledge that comes from reading the instructions.

I strongly endorse the idea of two Dillon 550 presses. Buy one new to get all the manuals and then buy a second used one so you run one with large primers and one with small primers. Now if some one comes up with a way to get all the old primers to fall into the cup instead of sweeping the floor, I'll be a happy reloader.

 

[Beerjman]

Ok folks, I think on small point got missed in these posts. The primer arm (for seating primers) and the primer tube (for holding the primers) have to me the SAME size -- there is one each for small primers and one each for large primers. A small primer arm and a large primer tube is cause for hours of trouble. This is experience talking, not knowledge that comes from reading the instructions.

I strongly endorse the idea of two Dillon 550 presses. Buy one new to get all the manuals and then buy a second used one so you run one with large primers and one with small primers. Now if some one comes up with a way to get all the old primers to fall into the cup instead of sweeping the floor, I'll be a happy reloader.

I had my 550 for a few decades . Every time I changed from one size primer to the other I wished that I had two 550's .
Now I do ! ! ! ! ! ! ! It's THE way to go . Should have done it years ago .
Do not hesitate to call Dillon . You can not get better service .

 

[dwpmusic]

Two 550s if sounding better all the time. Going to put a call into Dillon if I can't get it worked out soon.

 

[dentkimterry]

New Dillon RL550b's come set up for large primers so if you're getting one don't switch your other one back!

 

[dwpmusic]

Hey guys, I think my primer problem solved itself. At least I think it has. I loaded a dozen primers in the magazine tube by hand just a little bit ago. Deprimed and primed a dozen pieces of brass without a hitch. Performed perfectly. I've yet to work up the nerve to load a 100 primers since I'm still finding some of the first 100 on the floor. Anyway, I think it had to be something I was doing. If it continues to function correctly I just might consider another 550 for large primer calibers. Thanks for everyone's concern. Now if I could just get some concrete advice on how many grains of Win231 to put behind my Berry's 158grRN. Some are saying that 3.2gr is too light.

 

[gwalchmai]

One of the best tips I was given is to wipe down the primer slide bearing surface with a damp alcohol cloth every 100 rounds. Makes a lot of difference for me.

 

[dwpmusic]

Might be my imagination but it seems as if the primer seating punch meets with a little resistance when you operate the handle without a primer in the cup. Don't seem to notice it when you're actually seating a primer. Probably just my imagination. Is this a spot that needs any kind of lube? I'm sure all this is covered somewhere in the manual.

 

[blujax01]

... Now if I could just get some concrete advice on how many grains of Win231 to put behind my Berry's 158grRN. Some are saying that 3.2gr is too light.

It's less than I would run. According to my manuals 4.1 is a safe and comfy starting point. You can run up to 4.9 velocity-wise but that's getting close to top end for that bullet.

 

[dwpmusic]

Hmmmm, makes me wonder if the rounds I've loaded with 3.2gr will even exit the barrel. That wouldn't be funny.

 

[blujax01]

Only one way to find out...

Seriously, they may be okay. Your load is low end for lead.

Just be aware of possible squibs.

Where did you get your numbers?

 

[dwpmusic]

Got the low end numbers from the Hornady manual, I think. Only thing I had to reference was a 158grLRN. Looking more like I shouldn't even try to shoot the 3.2gr. What do you think?

 

[dmar]

Can't help you with your primer feed issue, as I've got a Hornady LnL machine (4+years of trouble-free primer system for me).

However, your 3.2 gr. of W231 sounds real low to me. I load 4.2 gr. Of W231 with 158gr. lead, and that is on the low side. If memory serves me correctly, starting loads for jacketed 158s is around 4.0 gr., check to verify. I believe those plated bullets should have more powder than the 3.2 gr. you are using... Stuck, plated bullets can be a real PIA, ask me how I know...!

I'm curious, where did you get your data on the 3.2 gr. load? Check a couple of manuals, and go by those numbers. You probably know this, but its worth repeating, under-charged rounds can be dangerous, just like over-charged. I stay away from going too low, or too high.

Good luck with everything.