Adjusting Dillon Bullet Seating Die

[GregInAtl]

I have a Dillon 38.spl die and Lee dies for 9mm and 45acp on my 550b press. Is there a way to adjust the seating depth of the Dillon seating die up or down without having to loosen the nut and turn the entire die in or out. The Lee dies have an adjusting knob so that you can adjust the seating depth in or out without loosening the die from the toolhead.

Edited June 27, 2012 by GregInAtl

[dillon]

On current Dillon handgun dies, you adjust the bullet seating depth by loosening the die lock ring and threading the entire die up or down as needed until the desired seating depth is achieved. Only one adjustment that way, not two.

[benos]

On current Dillon handgun dies, you adjust the bullet seating depth by loosening the die lock ring and threading the entire die up or down as needed until the desired seating depth is achieved. Only one adjustment that way, not two.

+1 on that. Another advantage of the Dillon seat die - since the seating plug is not threaded, it can be easily removed for cleaning. I remember, back in the day, before Dillon dies, especially when loading lead bullets in 38/357, having to clamp the die body in a vice and put a pair of vice-grips on the seat plut to crank it out.

be

[Sarge]

I have a Dillon 38.spl die and Lee dies for 9mm and 45acp on my 550b press. Is there a way to adjust the seating depth of the Dillon seating die up or down without having to loosen the nut and turn the entire die in or out. The Lee dies have an adjusting knob so that you can adjust the seating depth in or out without loosening the die from the toolhead.

Exactly why I went with a redding Pro series seater die from Midwayusa for around $28. Adjusting something a thousandth of an inch with course threads on it was annoying as all get out. While I can almost buy the merits of the Dillon die as far as cleaning, the convenience of a knurled knob on a very fine thread stem made things sooo much easier. I only load jacketed so the occasional Qtip inside the die keeps it plenty clean.