Dillon powder dispenser accuracy?

[lrrifleman]

Greetings!

The last Dillon press that I purchased was back in the late 1990s. Currently, I'm contemplating getting a press dedicated for large primer ammo. My 550B is committed for small primer ammo, and is throwing relatively consistent pistol charges.

I'm just trying to identify how much flexibility I would have beyond loading 45 ACP. My dilemma is, if I go with a 550C, how consistent can I expect the dispenser to be throwing around a 42.0 grain charge of extruded or ball powder for an F class rifle? Usually, I load my rifle ammo on a single stage press.

While I was initially looking for a Square Deal B, I'm finding that I can get a brand new 550C for less.

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bruce381]

make sure the powder measure can throw the charge u want. I think there is a XL magnum powder bar but make sure its in the range u want otherwise should be on par with other measures.

 

[rockquarry]

With the exception of the old Belding & Mull measure, large coarse grain extruded powders (4831s, 4350s, etc.) likely will not go through any powder measure with consistency. Smaller grained extruded powders like the 4895s do much better through measures, but still fall behind ball powders for consistency.

Whie those are general but true comments, individual measures and operator experience in using them can have some bearing on all this. Whether it will be enough to matter is a judgement the user would have to make.

It's been proven many times by benchrest shooters that very slight inconsistencies in thrown charges have no detrimental affect on accuracy. This was a pretty common topic in PRECISION SHOOTING magazine when it was in publication. Yet, exact charges make some shooters more confident with regard to their ammo.

Best to experiment with whatever measure and powder you choose. If I was going to load only a few cartridges, say a hundred, with a coarse grain powder, I'd weigh the charges.

 

[Green Frog]

I have to ask, "Why are you contemplating loading F class ammo with a progressive?" As for the Dillon powder measures, we found them to be very accurate until they weren't. They would get fouled with some of the dusty powders and start dropping wildly varying charges. I'm a slow learner so it cost me a couple of barrels.
Froggie

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have to ask, "Why are you contemplating loading F class ammo with a progressive?" As for the Dillon powder measures, we found them to be very accurate until they weren't. They would get fouled with some of the dusty powders and start dropping wildly varying charges. I'm a slow learner so it cost me a couple of barrels.
Froggie

Care to elaborate on your barrel problems?

 

[growr]

Will deliver greater accuracy and consistency than most of us can hold!!

Randy

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have 6 Dillon Powder Measurers. The most accurate one is the push bar drop on the solid frame 450 press.

I found the ball powders all drop very well. There are some newer versions of the extruded powders. 4831 SC (Short Cut) through a case mouth activated powder measurer gets me 1" to 1 1/8" groups at 500 yards in my 6x284. Thats around .2 MOA (I'm twisted too slow for F-Class type bullets!)

For flake powders I use a Lyman #55 and bang the "Hammer" on the upstroke and again on the downstroke. The only handgun cartridges I load with Unique are all very small! (32 S&W, 32 ACP, and 38 S&W)

For long extruded powders like Varget, I use a scoop or powder drop set low and weigh each load.

Ivan

 

[smoothshooter]

Greetings!

The last Dillon press that I purchased was back in the late 1990s. Currently, I'm contemplating getting a press dedicated for large primer ammo. My 550B is committed for small primer ammo, and is throwing relatively consistent pistol charges.

I'm just trying to identify how much flexibility I would have beyond loading 45 ACP. My dilemma is, if I go with a 550C, how consistent can I expect the dispenser to be throwing around a 42.0 grain charge of extruded or ball powder for an F class rifle? Usually, I load my rifle ammo on a single stage press.

While I was initially looking for a Square Deal B, I'm finding that I can get a brand new 550C for less.

As always, thanks in advance for your help!

What is an F class rifle?
I’ll bet almost nobody reading this here has a clue.

 

[rockquarry]

What is an F class rifle?
I’ll bet almost nobody reading this here has a clue.

The kind with the funky-looking exaggerated pistol grip?

 

[socal s&w]

As stated, ball powders tend to flow like water, flake not too bad, log....not so great.
I always had trouble with Unique too.
To make things run smoother and more accurately, I polished the interior of the powder 'funnel' on my 4 SDB's. I also polished the sliding powder bar and use a small bar for .38 specials, 9mm. .45 and .40mm reloads.
A wheel instead of the stock bolt for adjusting the charge bar works much better and can be marked by putting tape around the outer edge. Of course, I ALWAYS double check the charge before an loading takes place.
All in all, I think that the Dillon hopper and charge bars work extremely well for my needs anyway.

Mike

 

[Eddietruett]

As stated, ball powders tend to flow like water, flake not too bad, log....not so great.
I always had trouble with Unique too.
To make things run smoother and more accurately, I polished the interior of the powder 'funnel' on my 4 SDB's. I also polished the sliding powder bar and use a small bar for .38 specials, 9mm. .45 and .40mm reloads.
A wheel instead of the stock bolt for adjusting the charge bar works much better and can be marked by putting tape around the outer edge. Of course, I ALWAYS double check the charge before an loading takes place.
All in all, I think that the Dillon hopper and charge bars work extremely well for my needs anyway.

Mike

Unique has always given me problems on my 650. I only load 9mm and 38 spl on my Dillon and just about every other powder has worked great. I just finished a run of 8K+ 9mm with CFE pistol and never had to touch the adjustment knob. I have found about every 2k rounds if I pull the measure apart for a quick cleaning I don’t have any problems. I have 10 primer tubes and every other time I fill them I do a quick cleaning. Only takes about 15 minutes and I never lose my adjustment. I’m positive it would go much farther, but it’s worth the time to me to have smooth loading.

 

[Green Frog]

Care to elaborate on your barrel problems?

Bulged barrels on a 45 ACP revolver and semi auto. Apparently they had a weak (or no) charge, leaving a bullet in the bore followed by by a “good” load. I shot the revolver barrel, and the semi auto was bulged by a shooter to whom I was trying to sell a Para Ord double stacker. Now if a round sounds significantly different at all, I stop and inspect. I’m not totally unconscious!
Froggie

 

[Green Frog]

What is an F class rifle?
I’ll bet almost nobody reading this here has a clue.

F class is the most demanding type of rifle shooting. Very long distances for score or perhaps group size. Think of it as a sort of extra long range bench rest. Again, this demands great precision which I don’t expect from a Dillon or any progressive.
Froggie

 

[BE Mike]

That extra hole on the Dillon 650 is a great feature. I use it for a powder check die. It gives me a lot of peace of mind. I only load pistol ammo on my progressive presses. Dillon powder measures have always given me good powder throws with Bullseye and HP 38/ W 231, as well as, Accurate #2 and #5. I can't advise you on stick rifle powders.

 

[rosewood]

I actually use the Dillon powder drop for mostly rifle cartridges and anything over about 12 grains. I use a Lee Autodisk on my 550B for pistol charges. It is easier to setup and easier to repeat and is dang near dead accurate on small charges.

Sorry, I didn't really answer your question. I have seen inconsistencies with stick powder hanging up in the powder funnels. Haven't taken the time to polish them to rectify the problem. Seems more of a problem when humidity is really low.

Rosewood

 

[MLS2GO]

If you want to know about F Class reloading go to F-Class John on Youtube. You won't be disappointed.

 

[H Richard]

I have loaded all my match Pistol loads on a Dillon 550B loader for years, but Rifle loads are loaded individually and every case "Trickle" finished for exact load. It has paid off with 1/4" groups at 100 yds for any caliber I have loaded. .222, 22-250, 308, 30-06.

 

[WR Moore]

What is an F class rifle?
I’ll bet almost nobody reading this here has a clue.

The F class matches I shot were for score. Basically, it's long range target shooting. Mostly-in the matches I shot- at 600 and 1000 yards from prone. Used the same targets as NRA across the course.

At that time there were two classes. Tactical (.223 & .308) and open. I expect there are some kind of weight limits etc. The rifles are basically prone guns, the open class uses fore end stands and may use something similar in the rear. Tactical class specifies a bipod up front, no stand in the rear, but a bag is allowed.

ETA: if you want "demanding", look at the following that don't allow artificial support: Palma Match, 15 rounds each at 800, 900 and 1000 yards; Leech Cup, 20 rounds/1000 yards, iron sights; or any of the other NRA 1000 yard matches.

 

[Kp321]

I see no reason a progressive press won’t deliver accurate loads with proper powder handling. I adapted my RCBS Uniflow measure to my 550 for ball powders. For stick powders, use a powder funnel adapter from a BL 550 to pour your trickled charges in.

 

[dillonhelp]

With a ball/spherical type powder, charges should vary no more than +/- .1 grain at 42 grains. Typically, you need a scale more accurate than .1 grain to actually find a variation. Short grain extruded powders will vary +/- .1 grain, and larger granule extruded powders can vary up to +/- .2 to .3 grain, since you are cutting through individual granules of powder.
Some users zip tie an aquarium pump or similar device to vibrate the measure for use with extruded powders. This compacts the powder, reducing the variation. Not needed with ball powders.