highxj

Wow Hogrider, yes lots of info, thanks. I've been gone a while, have a lot of catching up to do ..

Here is the Alpha Dropper... it's beautiful. Black nitride maybe...?

The DAA I have is .3554" and .3595" avg. The Photo Escape is .3533" and .3583".

I'll add another..I also have this one, but haven't tried it. It's unique in that is is tapered rather than stepped like the others. Supposedly NO sticking. https://shootingsportsinnovations.com/alpha-dropper-powder-funnel/

I did the same, cut a chunk out. I later rigged up the Inline Fabrication QD plate mounting system, which if I'd have done in the first place, I wouldn't have had to butcher my bench as it places the press forward a bit.

Great! Just don't make the same mistake I did and start drilling holes in your bench before you check the clearance with the lower ram linkage at full stroke.... it swings back under quite a bit.

It's a superior piece... you'll love it. Much better than the DAA one.

You made reference earlier to a Uniquetek expander you had tried. The 'normal' Uniquetek expander is basically identical to the DAA one minus the plating. Photo Escape makes the Uniquetek expanders.

I'll check into it. I examined mine pretty closely and don't THINK that's my issue but I'll look it over again. When I lift up the drop tube manually to empty it, the bullets sail into my hand.

I'm still curious if you were using this powder funnel rather than the regular custom one. This one goes much deeper into the case. https://www.photoescapeinc.com/products/9htc-ptu.html The standard one looks exactly like the DAA one in profile. My DAA expander started flaking off the plating within a few hundred rounds, so keep an eye on that.

Height, mounted directly to bench, is 35 inches. Front of press frame, when mounted to front edge of bench, to rear of case feeder about 12 inches. It's about 3 inches shorter overall than the LnL which I also have.

Appreciate the input guys...

Correct

Works up and down smoothly by hand until bullets are introduced into it. I did a loading session with it and it worked flawlessly even though it's not returning down all the way, so I'm not going to worry about it right now. I also tested Hornady 55 SP flat base and they did not exhibit this problem, only the BT bullets.

Setting up my recently purchased RL1100. Having a hell of a time with Hornady 55 FMJBT, collator working perfectly but the bullet drop will not return to down position after releasing a bullet. No trouble dropping doubles or anything like that, the dropper only comes back down maybe .020-.030 when the case is withdrawn. It's not side loaded by the feed tube or any other physical problem, dropper under no tension etc. It actually seems to 'work' okay, just not returning to full down position. Pushing down with my fingers as I cycle a case through it has no effect, it stops solid, like the ball bearings are grabbing the next boattail or something. I spoke to DAA, they suggested I try the upper set of holes and groove, no improvement. Also have the DAA spring assist to pull the dropper back down, but it locks solid after it releases a bullet then drops down .020-.030". Adjusting the body up or down has no effect. Any ideas?? Thanks..Dan

Unfortunately they are not resettable..

+1 You aren't loading 500+ yd. rifle ammo. Don't worry about the lands in a pistol. My main reason for loading 'close to the lands' with the XTP's is the ogive of the bullet requires them to be seated so deeply. With the XTP, I'm into the lands at 1.082". Nearly the same with the MG JHP's, they are at 1.086". I was just making sure they were short enough. I'll definitely try more jump. But my new Shadow 75 SDP is shooting circles around this Shadow Target with the same loads and the chambers are within .002" of each other. Heck, my P-01 shoots tighter. Lots more testing to do to confirm these results and try new stuff, but I'm a bit disappointed at this point. Thanks for the help amigos

Dwfan, have you ever seen dramatic changes in group sizes from minor seating depth adjustments? I'll play with it a little...trying to find a nice load to shoot some indoor bullseye this winter. Lol huskerlrrp, !

I have some 231 and some WSF (I use this with my 135 cast load) I could try. Pistol seems fine...crown is good and barrel fit is good. Sights and everything else tight..

I've had this pistol for a couple years, done some plinking and messing around but never any real accuracy testing until recently. I decided to see just how well this baby would group at 25 yards from the bench, and put together some loads with my standard plinking/range powder, TightGroup, and some XTP 124's and MG 124 JHP's. So far, I've run 3.8 and 4.0 grains with both bullets seated just shy of the lands, and I have to say it's been a train wreck. Both of these bullets have good reputations for accuracy from what I've read, but I seldom get 5 shot groups under 3" with any load and many are approaching 5". I have many other CZ's as well as 1911's etc that I can easily punch sub 3" groups and often well under 2", and this includes short carry guns. Just today I tested a brand new CZ P07 40 that would easily do under 3" at 25 yards with it's mediocre trigger and crude sights.....and this same day shot a bunch of 5" spreads with the Shadow Target. WTH? My question. Has anybody gotten significantly improved results with a change of powder only? My experience with rifles has been that a well built rifle will shoot a bullet it likes pretty well with several powders, and bullets it doesn't like are a waste of time, no matter the other variables. I have quite a few pistol powders I could try, just trying to get a feel for what I might expect with a simple powder change. I don't have real high hopes but fingers are crossed.....thanks.

Does it have an aftermarket trigger bar or trigger with stop? Reason I ask is I have an XD45 Tac with the PRP trigger under the seat of my Jeep. Weather started getting colder and when I checked it the other day, it would barely release the striker. I'm going to have to remove a little more material from the overtravel pad on the trigger to ensure it will always fire under all conditions...

It shouldn't be too hard to anchor the cage with a couple of strategically placed set screws, although I haven't eyeballed it. My Shadow 75 has a rather loose sear cage too....

Huh. When I miss a 380 case during the sort and it gets into my case feeder, I always catch it in one of two ways. First, it will size *really* easy due to it's smaller diameter, if I feel one of those it's either a sized 9 that got thrown back into the feeder, or a 380. Second, if it somehow gets past that I'll notice it during bullet seating as it won't have enough bell on it and the bullet won't sit on the case like the rest.

Sexay!!

Here's mine so far..........the wife also has a Shadow Target and a P-01, not pictured.