TDA

Check the accuracy too. Smaller is not better!

You'll be fine without the tool kit and tool holder. The SDB uses standard imperial size hex keys and wrenches. I have two SDB's and load regularly for the past year and haven't needed a spare parts kit, yet...

If they cycle in the pistol, who cares what the case gauge shows?

A half turn seems like a huge adjustment. You might want to pull a bullet and see if it leaves a crimp ring around it.

I've loaded thousands so far on my 650 and have had no problems at all. No duds either. I'm using large and small in .38 Spec, 9mm, .40, and .45 and shooting multiple pistols and revolvers.

Mixed brass and 147's may be the issue. Some case walls appear to get heavier toward the base and some are pretty much the same thickness toward the base. And then there are the "stepped" cases from Freedom... Since 147's seat deeper they may not seat properly in the thicker cases. Just a guess! I didn't read back through all of this, so if you haven't already, try a batch of brass with the same head stamp. Edit: I've only loaded a hundred 147's so I'm not up to speed on seating issues with them. I load 115's and 124's and haven't had any issues there.

I believe that consistency in the operation of the press is the key. Run it at a cadence with smooth movements and firm positive pressure at the end of each stroke.

Is your thumb just sticking out into space? Have you tried gripping the pistol with it?

That's pretty much it. Don't focus on anything or any point on the wall, just focus on the sight alignment while dry firing.

You need to start over and re-size the case after you pull a bullet. You need to learn how to set up the machine as that is part of reloading. Dillon gets it close, but there is no way that they could know what projectile you are loading, so they can't adjust seating and crimp dies perfectly. You need to make some minor adjustments after you get the machine.

2.4-2.5 Red Dot with a Hornady 148gr HBWC from my S&W Model 15. Way softer than Bullseye at the same velocity.

You might check and see how much money in powder you would save by shooting the 147's vs the 124's.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if you had used it successfully in the past, so I now know you know how to set it up and how it is supposed to work.

I don't mean to insult your intelligence, but it sounds like an adjustment issue, or the rod is bound against the tool head due to the powder check being twisted a bit to one side or the other. Have you used the powder check successfully with other calibers, or is this the first time you have tried to use it?

Can you make the buzzer sound by depressing the switch with your finger? Is the switch not contacting the rod?

I found that throwing the Lee seating dies as far as you can, and then replacing it with a Dillon seating die immediately solves the problem...

Well, something was definitely wrong!

Does that mean no jacketed bullets either?

Are you using a RN or SWC seating die? If RN, try the SWC. I shoot conical nose flat point .40 bullets and they seat much straighter using the SWC die than they do with the RN die.

It de-primes on 1 and the primer does not fall off of the de-priming pin and gets pulled back partially into the case. Then it moves to the priming station where the old primer is seated by the new primer pushing against it. Bottom line is you end up with a cartridge with a spent primer in it, which is why it doesn't go bang. You'll learn to tell when this happens by the feel of the handle on the press...

For a one size fits all, it would be Red Dot for me. I've used it in .38 Spec., 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. Published data shows .40 S&W at 980 fps with a 180 gr bullet.

550 and 650 are two completely different priming systems.

Remove the shell plate and clean it and the platform. Then make sure your shell plate is rotating freely and snapping into the detente. I had the same problem and found that the detente ball was not snapping into the shell plate leaving the case misaligned with the primer punch. Haven't had a problem since and I load lots of LP S&B in .45. Edit: Also make sure the nut securing the magazine tube is snug.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2670460203/double-alpha-mr-bulletfeeder-dillon-powder-funnel Edit: Oops! I see it's not in stock...