Loading for the .45 S&W (Schofield) in Dillon 650

[buckspen]

I intend to start loading .45 S&W (Schofield) brass for shooting in my PC 2000 Schofield revolver. I have been using a Dillon 650 press for about 15 years so I have a lot of experience with it.
My question is this: If you use a 650, do you use the standard caliber conversion kit that is made for the .45 Colt (Dillon part #21118)? If not, what substitutions have you made to enhance your reloader's function?

A little background: When I first started using my Dillon 650, I got several different types of malfuctions that I thought should not be happening. I started doing some measurements and found that I could increase the reliability of my machine by substituting some parts of the conversion kit.

For instance, the station 1 locators that came with a couple of my conversion kits allowed the cases to tip over during the transfer from the case feed tube to the shell plate. I measured some cartridge cases and found that if I used a station 1 locator for a case with a smaller head diameter, these problems were eliminated.

For the .45 Colt conversion kit, Dillon lists the following parts:
shell plate = C (12986)
locator pins = #4 (14047)
station 1 locator = C (12817)
powder funnel = E (13782)
case feed arm bushing = yellow (13619)
case feed body bushing = large (13639)
case feed adapter = yellow (13442)
If you have made substitutions for increased reliability, what parts have you replaced and what did you replace them with?

Thanks,
Buckspen

 

[dillonhelp]

The 45 Colt conversion kit works just fine for 45 S&W as is. No parts substitutions should be necessary.

 

[Beans]

I have loaded over 10,000 .45 Schofield loads, using starline brass, on my 650, using the ,45 Colt setup.
I am using them in my Navy Arms Schofield.

With a 200 Gr bullet they also function through my Marlin 1894, without any mods, without a hitch

 

[kraigwy]

I don't know about the 45 Schofield, or the Dillon 650, but I do load 44 Russian on the old Dillon RL 1000 (forerunner of the 1050). At the time I couldnt find any any 44 Russian dies, so I chucked in a 44 spl seating die into a lathe, cutting it down so I could seat and crimp the shorter 44 russian. Then set up the dies in my RL1000 just like I would 44s, only adjusting for the shorter case and lighter powder charges.

Don't know why one couldnt do the same thing for the Schofield.

 

[buckspen]

Dillon 650

As I see it, the issue with .45 Colt vs. .45 S&W (Schofield) is that the rim diameter on the .45 Colt is significantly smaller than that of the .45 S&W. (It's about 0.010 inch smaller.) RCBS lists different shell holders for each of these cartridges.
Based on "Beans" comments, this may not be a real issue. However, I have run into problems with this type situation before with the 650 reloading machine.
For instance, I use non-standard station 1 locators for loading .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, 9mm and .38 Super in my 650. These are actually Dillon parts that are specified for cartridges with smaller rim diameters. I find that these undersized station 1 locators reduce the number of "flopped over" cases during the reloading process. Maybe it's just me, but that's the way I do it and it works for me.
- - Buckspen