RickRak2000
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Posts posted by RickRak2000
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Happy Birthday to all ................. especially to RickRak2000!
Thanks for reminding me I'll still need that left arm for other tasks in life!
After practicing hard for many years... I finally made 60. Now if I could only make GM, my life would be complete! ;-)
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any chance a person could send back an old collator and get a new one? or failing that, how much for a new one? the chamfering I did to mine isn't quite as radical, I guess I could just do that myself? a taller drop tube for 9mm would also be cool, just to get a bit more weight on top of the bullet being seated. every now and then I get a bullet falling out of the case when the shell plate indexes, although that could be as much to do with getting ahead of the feeder due to the collator plate.
The new dropper bodies are just a bit longer now (9-38 shown). That change and the higher output rate of the collator increases the average bullet column height in the dropper body, providing a bit more tamping pressure on the bottom bullet. Also, since typical 223 bullets are so much lighter, the 223 dropper is now 4 sections long to allow more bullet mass in the column and yield better tamping as well.
For additional tamping performance, some users report that a Lyman M-Die in the swage station on a 1050 will improve tamping somewhat. I've ordered a few and will check it out.
New style collator plates are backwardly compatible with earlier collators.
I guess it's probably best to just send any specific questions to the e-mail link on the website.
Rick
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pics of the updated parts would be great. I still have feed problems with 9mm 147gr JHPs in my KISS. they don't fall into the slots all that great, even though I've tapered the edges of the slots (and that did make a huge improvement), but I get upside down ones fairly regularly even after playing with the nose guide.
Here's a shot of the redesigned collator plates. They pick up bullets easier and provide increased output.
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Here's a good one for ya... (not yer daddys pocket pistol)
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"Changes in the structure of the company".........Doesn't sound like design change in the feeder, or am I missing something??
You read that right. RAK Systems, LLC is now the business entity producing the unit.
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I wouldn't get all excited about getting one right away
I wanted to order 2 and they are not shipping any right now.
You will get an email reply as follows:
"We are currently not shipping units due to impending changes in the
structure of the company.
I'm keeping a log of order requests (first come/first served format) and
I'll notify you as soon as we resume shipping units.
Thanks for you interest in the KISS Bulletfeeder TM"
Hopefully they will get things rolling again pretty soon.
Same thing I got
Good things come to those who wait...
I heard they were changing the design slightly... is there anyone who can confirm this? If so what?
The droppers are now modular, 9-38, 10-40, 45, 308 are 3 sections tall and the 223 is 4 sections tall. There are spiral debris ports cut into the upper dropper sections. A common adapter is used to connect the collator output tube spring to the droppers. The collator no longer uses the 5/8" bearing to dislodge partially inserted bullets from the collator plate. A spring loaded arm now does this. The flip ramp is adjustable for different length bullets. The nose guide is easier to adjust. It also has a debris port. For handgun calibers, the collator has an increased output rate due to collator plate design changes (also... no more agitator screws on the collator plates). The standard attachment method will now be a metal angled bracket / short tube combination. The tube stand will still be available for those who want one. Support will continue for all prior systems.
Shipping will likely resume next week. The website photos will be updated to reflect design changes.
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I wouldn't get all excited about getting one right away
I wanted to order 2 and they are not shipping any right now.
You will get an email reply as follows:
"We are currently not shipping units due to impending changes in the
structure of the company.
I'm keeping a log of order requests (first come/first served format) and
I'll notify you as soon as we resume shipping units.
Thanks for you interest in the KISS Bulletfeeder TM"
Hopefully they will get things rolling again pretty soon.
Same thing I got
Good things come to those who wait...
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I understand that KISS is not producing any machines now and that the company is being dissovled.
That's not exactly correct.
It's always best to get it from the horses mouth...right?
A quick e-mail to info@bulletfeeder.com will enlighten you.
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I installed a kiss bullet feeder, all seemed well loading 9mm with Tightgroup and with the bullet feeder I was rocking. Till I got a squib every 30 rounds or so. Too bad I loaded up ~2000 rounds I can’t trust. So I slowed down and watched every power charge go in and all seemed well for a few hundred rounds, but today I caught the machine in the act of leaving the case empty, or with only a few specs of powder, every few cases or so.
Any ideas what’s wrong and how to fix it.
I sent you a message. Please reply.
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Just bought a new-to-me used RL-1050, and am *badly* addicted to the KISS feeder I'm currently using on a 650.
I set up my KISS knowing that the position of the bullet feeder is stationary relative to the toolhead.... but now, with the 1050 toolhead moving up and down (instead of the shell-plate), I'm wondering if there are any issues I need to be aware of?
Is it just a matter of making sure the KISS 'spring-thing' that funnels bullets down into the dropper is long enough to account for the movement? Or are there other adjustments (or mounting considerations) I need to take into account?
Thanks in advance!
Bruce
Bruce,
The important thing to remember is that the output tube spring should be oriented in such a way that there is always a downward slope for the bullets to fall along. That way you will avoid forming a "trap"...which will probably result in a jam and a blown fuse. The photo shows the RL 1050 setup I use. The press is mounted directly to the bench, as is the KISS stand. The top of the 4" support stand tube is 24 inches from the top of the bench, and the output tube spring has been cut to 8 1/2" free length. As you can see, with the tool head UP, there is still a downward slope to the tube spring... and with the toll head down, the spring is not overly stretched. I've loaded a bazillion rounds in this configuration and it works well. Also, when you insert (twist clockwise) the spring into the dropper body or the delrin output tube, you can affect how the spring tube will be positioned to some degree. Hope this was helpful.
Rick
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Never seen yet, but I've talked a lot about it with Eric Grauffel (who 's selling it on his website ...).
It seems "the ultimate" bullet feeder but it's very much expensive: the reason why is because you have almost to replace ALL the upper-part of the 1050 with the new stuff .....
Eric says that there's a huge difference between the GSI and the KISS bullet feeder (and the price says too ....).
Go to both the GSI site and KISS site and read the testimonials. That should help you decide.
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The Achilles heal of the Kiss collator is that it does not work for cast bullets very well. The wax/grove seems to be the problem. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?...l=bullet+feeder has some photos of the first bullet feeder I built a few years ago. It had a device that would cull inverted bullets before they could enter the feeder. It worked perfect but took much longer to build and cost quite a bit more to produce.
The KISS collator works fine with cast bullets that are moly coated versus cast bullets w/wax in the grooves. Soft sticky wax is the issue...not the grooves in the bullet. My guess would be that anybody reloading wax lubed bullets needs to be in a fairly cool environment so that the wax stays as hard as possible... less wax build up to clean out of collators and droppers. I think wax buildup would be a problem for just about any one of these gadgets. Maybe a light coat of silicone or teflon in the collators would help with the wax issue. Who knows?
I'd "stick" (pun intended) with jacketed or moly coated. My 2 cents worth.
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I had a KISS, but sold it off for a GSI. The GSI looks better built, (the KISS looks like its made from leftovers from bathroom construction) and it doesn't have the irritating habit my KISS had for dropping a bullet upside down from time to time.
The downside of GSI is primarily cost, and I chose the KISS on this. However, after the KISS manufacturer went back on a deal , stopped returning my calls and refused to sell me a conversion kit in the US, shiped to a US address (I live in europe, but was in Vegas for SHOT and wanted to take one home with me), claiming I had to deal with the European distributor (at double prize) even if he had confirmed earlier that this would be no problem, I sold it and got a GSI instead.
/D
Regarding your occasional upside down bullet with the KISS Bulletfeeder...it sounds as though the nose piece in your collator was in need of some minor adjustment. I've collated 100K+ and have had it happen to me only 4 times. I believe it was caused by some debris or tumbling media in the nose piece.
Construction wise, the PVC and Delrin components are very rugged and hardly show any wear. Personally, I don't care what something looks like as long as it works like it's supposed to. (You should see my gun. UGLY as hell, but it's a tack driver). I'm surprised that you were unable to obtain a conversion kit though.
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A 1050 is cool.
A 1050 with a KISS Bulletfeeder is WAY COOL.
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Move to Arizona.
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A little gyroflex trivia for you...
Back in Chicago in the early 70's, I received a "DynaBee" gyroscopic excerciser as a gift. The sales motto on the package was something like "Spins like a Dynamo...Hums like a Bee....DynaBee". (I guess it was the gyroflex's grandaddy.)
There was no string or cord used to start it. You had to get it spinning by whizzing your other hand across the ball as fast as you could a few times and then twisting your wrist to precess the gyro ball and slowly build up RPM.
Anyway...little by little, the cheap bearing structure they used would wear out...and eventually make it impossible to start.
Maybe these newer versions have better bearings.
That's my 2 cents worth.
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Was your powder return rod hooked up? I forgot to do that when I first got my KISS installed and made 3 squibs in 200 rounds. After noticing and fixing that, it's had no trouble since.
Yes the powder return rod was hooked up. I guess I'll just have to slow down. Any thoughts on a powder check system with the KISS installed?
On a 650, you can use a powder check along with the KISS system. But since there are only 5 stations on the toolhead, you will have to use a combination seating+crimping die in the last station. The bullet dropper will go into the station where your current seating die was located, and the powder check in the station just following the power drop. I believe that RCBS makes a decent seating/crimping die.
Personally, I look into each case just before the bullet is placed in position. Works for me.
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I have never understood the need for powder check die. If you are loading you should visually be paying attention to the machine and checking the powder level. Ihave never had the powder check for just that reason. If you insall the kiss bullet feeder are you are still able to see in the case before the bullet is set? If you are then you are still no worse off. I am not condeming the powder check totally, but it seems that it is solution for a problem that shouldnt exist.
The powder check can still be used with the KISS bulletfeeder...but since the bulletfeeder must take up one hole, the solution is to use a combination seating/crimping die in one hole vs separate seating and crimping dies.
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Has Dillon released a caliber conversion so I can load .223 on my 550 with casefeeder? If not are they planning to? If so anyone have experience with it?
I don't believe that long cases like the .223 will operate with the new 550 case feeder system as shipped from Dillon. There is not quite enough room "height-wise"to operate reliably with their cam profile. They probably want the case feeder to be as dependable as possible, so my guess is that they're limiting it to handgun calibers so there won't be a clearance problem.
I've heard that some people have tried cutting their own cam profile and seem to have it working fairly well. Maybe someone who has tried that will reply.
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Wouldn't be able to used any Bullet feeder.....not even on the 1050.....at least with the Redding competition seater because you need a crimp die...on the 1050 you have spare station but they are before the powder drop.
HUH? There is the powder check station after the powder drop and before the seating station.
His question was to use a Kiss bullet feeder on a 650, WITH a powder check......just not enough space
the same for the 1050 no space for it all after the powder drop...If you want to use the powder check on the 650 or the 1050, you must install the KISS unit in the station where the seating die is currently located. Since that leaves you with only one more station, the solution is to install a combination seating&crimping die in place of the existing crimping die.
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So am I reading this right, You have to buy a different KISS for each caliber?
Why not ask the source? email questions to info@bulletfeeder.com or roger@bulletfeeder.com
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Has anyone tried one of the KISS loaders with an RL 1050?
Check out the testimonial link on www.bulletfeeder.com.
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I see there are two automatic bullet feeders being marketed for the Dillon RL 1050; one by K.I.S.S., and one by GSI. Seems to be quite a few demos of the K.I.S.S. system, but little on the GSI system. Price not being an object; which one is the best? Any recomendations? Do both systems do away with the powder check station?
Thanks
Regarding the KISS system, If you wish to keep the powder check, your option would be to install the KISS bullet dropper in the seating position and then use a combination seating-crimping die in the last position. Personally, I just look down into each case prior to the bullet being dropped, so I don't use the powder check. I have no info on the GSI unit.
You can read some new owner testimonials at www.bulletfeeder.com
There's a nice video of the system on Saul Kirsch's website too... www.doublealpha.biz
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need to switch bullets all the time in the same caliber (it's a little awkward to empty out),
Shred...
If you have a short (1 inch or so) piece of plastic tube that is approx 5/8 inch in diameter and has a hole large enough for your bullet caliber, you can simply push it upwards into the dropper which will activate the mechanism and release the whole stack of bullets at once. If you do it right, they will all fall out into your hand. Be sure to shut off the collator or more bullets will be sent to the dropper.
If you can't find any tubing locally, e-mail on the bulletfeeder website and I'll send a piece to you.
Rick / bulletfeeder.com
the same for the 1050 no space for it all after the powder drop...
Anybody else got a hole in their heart?
in Miscellaneous Topics That Do Not Fit in Any Other Forum
Posted
I've heard that a significant number of Migrane sufferers have been shown to have a PFO...and when it's repaired, their headaches are minimized. Something to do with the less oxygenated blood going back up into the brain.