Dillon 550b Question

[Littledragon777]

When loading on my 550b especially 9mm my powder drop tube bells the case mouth it seems to cause my case to stick in on the bell die. This sticking occurs when I try to move the handle forward to lower the belled case. I am providing a very small amount of belling to the case mouth just enough to get a bullet to barely sit in the case mouth. This problem makes for quite a bit of jerking and does not provide me with a fluid motion for optimum reloading speed. I am wondering if I need to be using a brush to better clean the inside of my cases after tumbling them. Any ideas would be appreciated.

LD

 

[revarc]

Try polishing the powder funnel bell with #000 steel wool and then cleaning it with alcohol. I had the same problem (with 45 acp), and that worked for me.

revarc

 

[FrankD45]

I had that same problem back when I worked full time and had no time for case polishing. Now that I have plenty of time on my hands I tumble all of my brass first. Seriously, perhaps there is too much residue in the case that is causing it to stick on the bell.

I hope that helps,

Frank

 

[socal s&w]

I know that this may seem very basic, and I'm not trying to state that you are in any way inept, but are you sure that you have the correct caliber die at that station? It's easy enough to make an error such as that.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I've had that problem on different presses and different dies, but always when using new Starline brass. That stuff is thick, and hangs on the expander. Things smooth out a lot after the first loading.

 

[Littledragon777]

I know that this may seem very basic, and I'm not trying to state that you are in any way inept, but are you sure that you have the correct caliber die at that station? It's easy enough to make an error such as that.

I have loaded thousands of 9mm on the 550b not to mention the same for 38 specials 40 S&W 45 ACP and 44 mag. The 9mm seems to give me the most trouble with the sticking. As for correct die size this was a brand new die set I bought from Dillon and I am sure it is correct. I think I will go with the polishing recommended with the steel wool and see if that helps. I will also start inspecting the inside mouths of my cases better to make sure that the 4-6 hour run time in the tumbler with crushed walnut is doing a good enough job. That for all your suggestions I appreciate them.


LD

 

[Wayne M]

The post about tumbling your brass is correct; it'll help a lot. The expander is already polished.

 

[gbrady]

550b

There is a powder drop with a 1/16 in. groove in the belling part that will take care of the hold on your cases , if you don't have a groove in yours , you can put one in with a file and a drill press, use the side of a 6 in, file and cut a shallow groove half way between the bottom and where it starts to bell . almost like the grooves in Barnes Bullets

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Try useing some liquid car wax in your tumbling media. Maybe that will help. Don

 

[Littledragon777]

There is a powder drop with a 1/16 in. groove in the belling part that will take care of the hold on your cases , if you don't have a groove in yours , you can put one in with a file and a drill press, use the side of a 6 in, file and cut a shallow groove half way between the bottom and where it starts to bell . almost like the grooves in Barnes Bullets

Is this powder drop you mention a Dillon product? If not do you know who manufacters it and where I might be able to purchase one at. Also I had never heard of adding dishwashing soap to my walnut media when I tumble but will give that a try also. I do have some polishing liquid for case polishing that I seldom use and will try adding that to my media also and see if that helps with the sticking problem. Thanks again!

 

[Amici]

Also I had never heard of adding dishwashing soap to my walnut media when I tumble but will give that a try also.

Neither have I, and I've been at it over a quarter century. I would advise AGAINST putting dishwashing soap in tumbling media, unless you want a sticky, worthless mess.

 

[gbrady]

Sorry I didn't get back to the post sooner. The drop we have is an old dillon that came with the Dillon 1000 press we bought second hand. I have since modified all my drops that go inside a case mouth with the 6 in file . I don't think dillon is doing it anymore. must be the added cost.

 

[Amici]

Two 550's; four powder measures.

The only time I've had a case stick is when using NEW Starline brass.

 

[gbrady]

We had 9mm , 44mag,45acp and 357mag stick with once fired brass

 

[Amici]

We had 9mm , 44mag,45acp and 357mag stick with once fired brass

Over-belling?

 

[H Richard]

You mention using walnut polishing media. Check and see if it has a lot of powder in it. Like a jewelers rouge . I remember many years ago using walnut shell media and it came with some kind of red powdery dust in it and it caused all kinds of problems. Switched to corncob media and no problems since, (unless I put too much liquid case shine in it, then it's a mess).

 

[cmort666]

When loading on my 550b especially 9mm my powder drop tube bells the case mouth it seems to cause my case to stick in on the bell die. This sticking occurs when I try to move the handle forward to lower the belled case. I am providing a very small amount of belling to the case mouth just enough to get a bullet to barely sit in the case mouth. This problem makes for quite a bit of jerking and does not provide me with a fluid motion for optimum reloading speed. I am wondering if I need to be using a brush to better clean the inside of my cases after tumbling them. Any ideas would be appreciated.

LD

Are these new, never fired cases? If so, that's not unusual. After they've been used once, that should go away.

You can always buy a can of mica from Midway or somebody to prevent this. Just stick the cases opening down in the mica and twirl them around. A can of mica should last you a VERY long time.

 

[Littledragon777]

Are these new, never fired cases? If so, that's not unusual. After they've been used once, that should go away.

You can always buy a can of mica from Midway or somebody to prevent this. Just stick the cases opening down in the mica and twirl them around. A can of mica should last you a VERY long time.

No the cases that I am reloading I have fired several times myself. As for the question about over belling I would say I probably don't bell enough as the bullet when seated by hand has a hard time staying straight in the case as I try to bell just enough to get the bullet seated. The walnut media I use is from Frankford and does not contain any rouge. I will check into the mica idea and see if that helps also. I have the sneeking suspision that the inside of the case is not getting clean enough in the 4-6 hours of runtime I give them in my Frankford tumbler although I would think that would be plenty I will increase my tumble time to 6-8 hours and see if that helps.

 

[Amici]

Your problem intrigues me. I tumble for 2-3 hours using "lizard litter;" i.e., crushed walnut hulls.

I don't have cases sticking in either of my Dillons, although my cases run to the frequently-reloaded side of the spectrum.

Perhaps you are reloading in a magnetic subspace anomaly...

 

[fredj338]

I believe it's because the 9mm case is actually tapered. I polished my powder thru expander down to 0.350"-0.351" & it runs fine.