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Buckshot Barry

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Everything posted by Buckshot Barry

  1. I use CCI300 LPP in my XL650. I have experienced zero problems with them and have about 4000 rounds of .45 LC through the machine.
  2. I would still be curious to answers to my questions on the Redding Seating Die But...... I asked a fellow cowboy for a couple of 200 gr RNFP bullets before we left the match yesterday. He had just bought some reloading components from a vendor. Got to looking at them side by side with the 250's that I load. Although the overall length is different, from the crimp groove to the top of the bullet seems very close to being the same. I don't think I will have to adjust my seating die when switching between bullet weights. Thanks for looking.
  3. I have an XL650 and would like to be able to switch between 45 LC 200 gr RNFP and 250 gr RNFP bullets. I currently use the Dillon 3 die set. How hard will it be to keep the Redding Competition Die clean of lead build up? Will I loose my "settings" by disassembling the Redding Die? The Dillon seating die has the seater plug that can be flipped for RN and RNFP bullets. How about the Redding? FWIW, I use a UniqueTek Micrometer on my powder bar and think it's great. Thanks
  4. Just a quick follow-up. When I reloaded on my XL650 2 weeks ago I had 3 cases out of 200 that just didn't feed in to the sizing die correctly. No error this time by failing to cycle the handle fully. I learned my lesson. So over the last 2 weeks I'm thinking "what's up?". Light bulb came on and I decided to do a re-alignment of the sizing die as outlined in the owners manual. Today I loaded 200 rounds error free. Just like the good old days. Guess that bent case that I hit 2 sessions ago knocked the die out of alignment. All is now well.
  5. Yes, I too cleaned the shell plate after the powder check die buzzer went off.
  6. Well it happened. I still can't believe it. After about 3,000 rounds on my XL650 I had my first hard stoppage. Pulled the handle and it stopped half way down. Raised the handle to find a deformed .45 LC case. Must have been stepped on at the range. Removed the case and pulled the handle again and a buzzer goes OFF. Of my 3 warning buzzers, only the primer low buzzer has ever went off. I always STOP when I hear a buzzer go off. I test my buzzers before a reloading session and pull the center staff from the check die when there isn't brass under it. I don't want to hear any buzzers un-necessarily. Due to the fact that the previous cycle was a half stroke, no powder was dropped in the case under the powder measure. OMG, I'm not shooting an auto that would have just had a failure to cycle in a match. I'm shooting a Marlin 94 lever action and Ruger Vaqueros with 6 grains of Unique under a 250 gr RNFP. We cowboys watch out for these things but you just never know, I could have cycled right through that bad round and had an obstruction in the barrel. The next round would have been catastrophic. Thank God for the Powder Check Die.
  7. FWIW, I reloaded for 18 years on a Lee Challenger press. Maybe 10 different calibers or so. It was SLOW, but I never had any issues. When I bought my XL650 I got it with all the bells & whistles (except Strong Mount). It was taking me 2 hours to load 150 rounds of 45 Colt on the Challenger to play cowboy. More of a chore than anything. The XL650 setup just fine. I am mechanically inclined. But let me tell you my first 50 rounds were a mess. I truly thought that I had wasted $1000. This all stemmed from not having a solid enough bench mount and the primers would have to "settle" down before inserting in the brass (getting the dies adjusted just right took some time too). My bench is unchanged, BUT my rhythm is different. I do that 1/2 second pause just before seating the primer. It's been well over 2,000 rounds since I have had ANY issues and that is usually a flipped primer. I use the taped 250 gr 45 LC slug taped on the end of the primer follower trick too(this could be a safety issue if the tube ever exploded, so BEWARE). That 2 hour chore now takes 20 minutes and that includes filling the hopers and cleanup after words. I love my XL650
  8. I use Dillon dies and think they are great. Easy to clean and adjust. With that being said, I need all 5 stations the 650 provides because I have the Dillon powder check die. I wouldn't reload on a progressive without a powder check die. Just my honest opinion. BB
  9. I'm a Cowboy Action Shooter and all I've ever loaded on my XL650 is lead bullets. The Dillon dies are great. No re-adjusting on the seater or crimp dies. I use a Bore Snake to clean them out about every 300 rounds.
  10. Great video. I had to download the DivX codec, but it was well worth the effort.
  11. Hello all, I've had my decked out XL650 for 8 months now reloading 45 LC for CAS. It took a few sessions for me to get the press all adjusted right and my reloading motions correct, but I now load close to 100% error free (NEVER had any powder drop issues). For months I've ran with less than 1 error in 150 rounds loaded. It has been a $1,050 well spent (I do have almost all options, including Uniquetek Micrometer). So what advantages would I see in a 1050 for reloading a straght wall pistol case in a single caliber? Thanks
  12. Just wanted to give my 2 thumbs up to the Micrometer Powder Bar Kit. It arrived yesterday. Instructions were very straight forward. I did spend way more time in the assembly before Loctiite area than needed. I wanted the "screwed all the way in" setting to be right on "0". The instructions say this is not necessary, but what the heck I took my time. As for the Loctite 609, WOW! That stuff cures really tight. I had my worries before actually using it, but this looks to be a trouble free long term setup with the Micrometer on my small powder bar. The spreadsheet went just fine. I'm running in the neighborhood of 6 grains of Unique in a 45 LC for SASS. Looking forward to tweaking the load down a bit, but not getting blow back in my Marlin 94. Thanks Lee and Uniquetek. This was money well spent.
  13. What Jimini said. I had the same problem. You just need to adjust a little bit more. I have no chirp at all now. FYI, my powder check rod was just the slightest bit bent. I could tell by rotating it in the powder check die and seeing the brass end not quite staying centered. Took just a slight bit of pressure on the right side with it laying on the bench to straighten it out. You might look at this too.
  14. I had the exact same problem with my XL650 bought 09/2006 thst is setup for .45 LC. The problem has almost entirely went away though. I've found that polishing cases, even if new helps. Letting the inserts build up a little bit of grime also seems to help, adding to the lubrication of the case "flow" path. Being consistent with the operation of the press may be the biggest improvement in case flow. I pause a half second just after hearing the loaded round hit the exit chute. This lets the fresh primer stop vibrating and settle down to insure it's in alignment with the case primer pocket and cases rarely fail to drop from the loading tube.
  15. I went the full monte on my XL650 and my Dillon dies are as follows 1- Sizing Die 2- Powder measure / case mouth flaring 3- Powder Check Die 4- Bullet Seating Die 5- Bullet Crimp Die I've seen a cowboy at the local matches that uses a 550 with no powder checking system. He has had 3 squibs in the last 2 months. There's no way I'm using a progressive press without some kind of powder check system. FWIW, I bought the aluminum handle, powder check, bullet tray (no strong mount, it's mounted on a cut 2x4), Dillon Dies, case feeder, maintenance kit, and powder measure check system. I kind of wish I had gotten the strong mount too. but it's working very well after I got the hang of it and all the adjustments made. I load 150 .45 LC rounds in 15 minutes now. It use to take me 1.5 hours on a Lee Challenger.
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