rhett45acp

It's my understanding that the spring is supposed to be compressed more. I remember seeing a video (I think from Dillon) where it shows/says you should be able to place a business card between the spring coils. At rest it as about two turns after spring starts compressing. I think the big thing is you do not want it coil binding on full up stroke. To the OP, BTW - For me Titegroup is one of the better metering powders I use it in 40 and ditto on 231 (in 45acp). So that is why I went immediately to equipment setup issue. Then you get into press voodoo. Is your powder clumping and how much humidity in the air? Dryer Sheets rubbed inside the measure to reduce. static buildup. Polishing the internals of the PM. Look here on Enos, there are bunch of threads. I also use the Uniquetek baffle in all of my measures. Even on single stage presses. I Find no difference when hopper is over 1/3 full. I think the baffles start to shine when you are running down to the end of available powder. Very good for running out the heal to use up all of a particular powder before changing.

I use 4.3 grs of TG with a 180. 10 Shot SD is less than 10. I have experienced this on both 550 and 650. First thing to check. If you are using the newer style powder dispenser, Check your Powder bar return/safety rod. Make sure the blue thumb nut is compressing the spring just a bit when at full up stroke. Else the bar will not return correctly and consistent.

I like SS right now, I like the challenge and the amount of magazines that get strewn on a stage. Was thinking about switching back to Limited for a little while. Then I picked up a G34, then another one. Then a light bulb went on. If I stick to SS/L10 and Production the only big change is between striker trigger and SA trigger. Stage breakdown more or less is the same. I tend to shoot much more accurate with the all steel SA guns than plastic, so this does come into my mind on stage breakdown if a lot of steel is involved.

I see locally G35 Gen4 factory rebuilt by Glock going for ~500. You will get two Gen4 mags. To me this is a better option then a conversion. You stated you are shooting a G35 in production, but did you mean a G34 and wanting to get a G35???

Something in me counts shots. I conscientiously don't think I do. To prove it, just watch me shoot limited instead of SS minor. I will throw more half loaded mags on the ground the first couple of stages. I really think our subconscious does a lot more than we "think". Another reverse example is one of my best shooting buddies is left handed. He has a G34 with the mag release reversed for left hand. I can shoot his gun and I just look at it, remind myself of the mag release and it really does not stop me. It's as if the mind records - this is what you have to do - now do it. So I have no definitive answers to your question. I can definitively say after walk through and breaking a stage down, I am not counting shots. Something just tells me, enough, you need more rounds.

Even USPSA doesn't use hit factor for 3-Gun any more. It's time plus (either total or points per stage) so there's really no feedback like hit factor for a quick mental check! :-) I agree for 3 gun - but that's 3 gun and I really don't think HF is going anywhere anytime soon in the USPSA pistol world. But even in 3 gun. Some ACK/NACK audible between shooter and RO should be done as a courtesy.

I know it does not fix directly the question, but as a scoring RO I always call out the hit factor to at completion of run. As a shooter I always ask for the hit factor at completion of run. This should give the Shooter/RO some feedback immediately something is not right. Then I have to trust the sync and the upstream activities happen correctly.

Loaded - most of the time. Most of the time I am using a double based pistol powder. (Tightgroup) For single based powders, which are hygroscopic, I do empty the powder and put away in a cool dry place. (IMR 4895)

I have tried them and picked up 15K They run fine in several of my striker fired Glocks and FNS. Both of my twin SS 1911 9mm does not like them, but they are sprung pretty light. However, my buddy has an STI 1911 9mm with a very light setup and they run 100%. He shot my loads through his gun. If I want to use them in my 1911 9mm I would change to a slightly extended firing pin. BUT, I plan just to use them in my Production guns and practice. Can't beat them for $20. BTW - I bought more Saturday and they were marked 24.99, but I asked one of the clerks to check the price and they were indeed 19.99. (Cabela's Fort Mill SC). NOTE: I think they are harder than my precious Winchesters. After all the box does say; "for Rifle, Pistol or Revolver Cartridges".

I have a Pact IV and it's a love hate relationship. It is very very important the cables and control box stay away from the muzzle blast as much as possible. If you set the control box conveniently to the right of your shooting platform, like I like, the results will be less than satisfactory. I find I have to put my control box underneath the bench or way to the right or left. I bet the muzzled blast from the Hornady loads are just enough to make the difference.

I am a big fan of the S&A low profile on a 1911. They are solid and really do not stand out. I use both Dawson 10 round and SA 9 Round 9mm mags with no issue seating. Whatever, watch your overall gun weight. Both of my SA 1911's 9mm with S&A magwells are 42.8 ounces with stock magazine.

IMHO, the SDB does just a good of a job with 40 as any other press. if you are not preprocessing your 40s through an X-Die, you are only borrowing time for trouble. I know all about Lee and EGW cut dies, but preprocessing is the way to do the job. I only have to handle the brass once and since using the X-Die I have also stopped case gauging 40s. I have loaded tons of 40s on the SDB with no issues. My original SDB was setup for 9mm and 38 special. I have all the major calibers now for the SDB to run small batches of whatever my secondary intrest. The 650 is setup for whatever I am shooting primarly. For the OP, if I had moderate reloading experice and was to start all over. I probally would jump to the 650 right out the gate (with a good SS press by its side). You don't reload with a 650, you spend your time feeding it. I can't image what a 1050 would be like.

I have the a 650 and SDB. I have had 2 SDB and a 550. For years I used two SDB setup in the manner the OP wants. One for small and one for large. This worked very well until I ventured into progressive loading for .223. I now have the 650 setup for calibers in mass (40 and 9). The SDB is currently setup for .45 ACP. I have several other SS presses for offline processing and other uses. I do not see a change to the setup anytime soon. As for as the quality of rounds from the SDB. The SDB has never let me down. You set it and forget it.

A6 is great if you can overlook some of the shenanigans. I have shot in both A8 and A6 a good bit. IMHO, There are little differences in the ways things are done between the two. Some places I kind of get the "this is how things are done round here boy" vibe. But, besides there are a ton of places to shoot in A6.

OK, I'll bite. How does a large primer windup on the small primer punch when the correct SPP tube is installed. (Yes, assuming the small tube is installed). Sounds like incorrect machine setup. The machine will be set up and using large primers, he's referring to when a .45 case with a small primer pocket gets mixed in with all of his large primer brass. Like anyone else that sorts brass by hand, you know one is going to get through. Good point. Still. I don't see how one primer going off in any Dillon sets the primer tube off. Not trying to be a smart ass but wanting to learn. I have multiple blue machines including SDB and 650. I have even thought about testing this issue in a controlled environment. I have heard so many times about this boom, but it's always third party he said she said. I would love to have a first person actual experience. 380s Steel cases and small primer 45s have a special place in the big warm dungeon reserved.

Rilfe is moot for the question - SDB does not do rifle. 550 is super flexible, IMHO more than any of the Dillon Progressives.

Just a matter of economics and space on your reloading bench. If you have the room and the money, The Best Approach is always to leave multi machines dedicated to a single caliber (set up the SDB in .45 and have either more SDB's or 650's set up in each caliber). Since few people have that much room or money, it comes down to how much you enjoy changing calibers, and how often (Based on how many rounds of each caliber you reload). Since it's 40 years since you've reloaded, I'd set up the SDB (you can always sell it later), and start reloading. If rifle is 5% of your reloading, you have many options including a single stage press to reload whatever rifle caliber(s) you have. Get going with the SDB and see where it all goes - you really haven't provided enough numbers to be too helpful in deciding whether you want to spend another $1000 to reload rifle. Good luck with it - have fun - don't forget to buy the chrono ... This is spot on.

OK, I'll bite. How does a large primer windup on the small primer punch when the correct SPP tube is installed. (Yes, assuming the small tube is installed). Sounds like incorrect machine setup.

I use a J21 for practice with 3/8". This tool is your friend. I have them in my range buckets. In a few seconds you can restore a stick to being void of all staples.

Ventilation, Ventilation and more Ventilation is the biggest challenge. Since you are looking at a max of 10 yards and fairly limited side to side. I would just build a big bullet trap as suggested above, but an angled design will eat away your distance. There are "flat" traps on the market that will help. check actiontarget.com for ideas.

I really like shooting 9mm 1911. You have to improve your ratio of As to everything else - period. Shooting minor pushes you towards accuracy, but you still must maintain your speed. So its a balance game. You just cant accept a large number of Cs or take all day to shoot a stage. When I first started,I was running around 128-29 PF and the gun sort of loped along. I have since pushed the PF to 135 with 124 jacketed. You want to keep the slide moving and recoiling the same and quickly. Loping along is fun and lazy, but it is not fast. With 10 round mags you can pretty much follow a production mindset on stage breakdown. Some matches the 10/8 difference is no biggie, others 8 round major is going to eat you. Two SA 1911 NM and a STI Trogan. Dawson 10 round mags and SA 9 round mags with Dawson base plates. Guns run perfect.

I have the WFT in .223 and .308. Combined with a $40 B&D cordelss drill and it works like a champ. Make sure you watch the videos on how to use. The little 1/4 twist with the wrist is the key. RT

That's a nice little sleeper you've got there...looks express right up until you leave three to five shells hanging in the air with that slick action. The refinish is well done. Thanks for the compliment. I really like orphans. Some of my favorite guns and suprisendly better shooters were orphans.

I inherited a surplus police 870 Wingmaster with an 18” cylinder bore barrel. It look like warmed hell. I ordered a Boyd’s stock set, new Remington 28” barrel with Rem-Choke system (2 3/4 or 3” marked barrel - reciever only 2 3/4). I did a little trigger work. Fresh coat of Alumina Hyde. This is now my favorite field pump gun.

Titos, Crown Royal and other accessories. Kind of use the CR for my "active" setup.