Cornerpocket

Thanks much to both of you. I'll check it when I get home.

I've got a Dillon 550b and I reload 9 mm and 38 spcl. As I'm reloading the shellplate bolt is frequently tightening down enough to prevent me from rotating the index sprocket. I can start out rotating the sprocket without any problems and the shellplate bolt then tightens down for no apparent reason. If I loosen in by just a quarter turn or so, it frees it up and it's fine for a while but then it will tighten up again. There is also very little consistency to it. I can reload 20 or 25 rounds with no problem and then it will tighten up. Other times I can reload only 3 or 4 rounds and it does it again. I have checked the index sprocket and it doesn't have any bent arms that are catching on the ejector wire so the problem seems to be completely in the shellplate bolt itself although the index sprocket does ride on top of the ejector wire, which I'm not sure is correct. Even when I loosen shellplate bolt enough so that it actually seems too loose, it still tightens back up. It seems to have a mind of it's own. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

While I haven't done cowboy loads, I have loaded .38 spcl. A couple of you have remarked about various powders filling the case. I actually like the idea of a powder with enough volume that if you get into a double load situation, the case will overflow. Pretty good warning sign to back off and start over. The Power Pistol I've been using will overflow a 9mm case on a double load but not on a .38 spcl. It's not a bad reason to switch brands for .38.

Much appreciated. I'll see about Bullseye also.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give TrailBoss a try.

I recently got a Uberti 1873 Cattleman. I am thinking about getting involved in cowboy action shooting and was wondering about loads. I understand that the typical cowboy action shooting load is light. I'll be reloading 125 gr. 38 spcl. with Power Pistol (which is what I have on hand). Any suggestions as to appropriate load? Also, if there is another powder that is especially appropriate either for cowboy action shooting or revolver reloads in general, I'd be glad to hear about it. I have no complaints about Power Pistol and have been using it for some time for reloads used in my S & W 686 but I noticed on Alliant's website that Power Pistol is geared toward semi-autos. If there is a better revolver alternative I'd look at it. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the input. I think I'll go ahead and go for the new springs and extractor and have it checked for anything else that may be worn.

Thanks for the insight. I use a gauge, not the barrel. I'll drop some rounds into the barrel just as a double check and go ahead have the extractor checked. Given the number of rounds already through the gun, would it be a good idea to get anything else replaced at the same time that may be worn just as a general maintenance issue?

Case is still completely in the chamber. Next round coming out of the mag noses up against it. Never have replaced any parts. Can't honestly say that I carefully inspected any cases. Just cleared the jam and kept shooting.

I'm not sure if this is the correct sub-fourm for this as it could be a reloading issue or a gun issue. Anyway, I have a stock Gen 3 G19 that I have put between 20 and 25 thousand rounds through without a a single jam of any sort, save the very first magazine, for which I have long since forgiven her and which is a true testament to Glock. I started reloading several weeks ago and have fired between 800 and a thousand reloads in the gun and have now experienced three failures to eject on reloads. The failures to eject have come up once every two to three hundred rounds. I am loading Montana Gold 115 grain, FMJ and using 6.4 grains of Power Pistol with Winchester primers with mixed range brass, mostly Federal. I case check every round. Can't say if the gun would do the same thing on factory ammo as I haven't shot it for a while. Is it more likely that I have some problem with the reloads or would the more likely culprit be that after pushing 25 thousand rounds through the gun it is due some kind of tune-up (new springs, etc.)? Thanks for any thoughts.

Thanks again. I'll check out Drillspot.

Thanks for the replies. I'll try together up and running this weekend.

Hello all. I ordered my first press, a Dillon 550b, from Brian a few months ago and, due to some unforeseen circumstances, have only now been able to see about actually getting it set up. I had a couple of quick questions: 1. The manual states that the press should be installed about a foot from the end of the bench. Is there any recommendation as to how far from the front edge of the bench the press should be installed? I was guesstimating I would set it back from the front edge an inch or two but didn't know if there was any need or advantage to putting it flush with the front edge or even further back than an inch or two or whether it matters at all. I'm using the strong mount on a bench that is about 41 inches high if that matters. 2. I got some ground corncob as tumbling media at Feeder's Supply. It seems to be ground pretty coarsely with a lot of pieces being about the size of a grain of rice or even bigger. I have since seen a picture of ground corncob formulated by one of the reloading suppliers that appears to be ground a good deal finer. Does it matter or do you expect the Feeder's Supply stuff will do? Thanks for any info or insight. This is the first of what may be many questions. Also, gotta give a shout-out to Brian for filling my Dillon order so quickly and attentively.

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate the input from all. And I'm sleeping better.

I pondered this about two in the morning when I couldn't sleep the other night. It is widely accepted that, all things being equal, a longer sight radius on a pistol enhances accuracy. While this may not be a function of the mechanics of the gun, it seems to be generally accepted that most folks will be more accurate with a longer barrel. On a Smith and Wesson 686, for example, you will probably have greater accuracy with a six-inch barrel than with a three inch barrel. I accept this and do not argue the point. My question is, why? A couple of factors would seem to make greater accuracy with a longer sight radius counter-intuitive. First, the rear sight is at a constant distance from the shooter's eye. In my 686 example, the only difference is that the front sight is 3 inches further away from the shooter's eye on the six-inch model vs. the three-inch model. The shooter should perceive the front sight as narrower given its further distance from his eye. With the rear sight still perceived as the same relative size, it seems that, from the shooter's perspective, he should have the perception of more daylight on either side of the sight which is six inches away and have greater difficulty getting the "smaller" front sight centered in what he perceives as a now relatively "wider" rear notch. Second, recoil starts as soon as the powder in the cartridge ignites. The gun is recoiling while the round is still in the barrel. A round fired from a six-inch barrel will be contained in the rising barrel longer than its counterpart in a three-inch barrel. If recoil is pushing the barrel up and that effect is occurring the whole time the round is in the barrel, it seems to me that the round fired from a six-inch barrel should be expected to land higher than one from the three-inch barrel since the rising barrel is carrying it upward during recoil longer before it exits the barrel. Again, I am not arguing the point of greater accuracy with a longer barrel. This is, however, an example of where insomnia can leave you. I would appreciate your thoughts.