willfully armed Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I got this press new about 30 days ago. In 20+ hours, Ive only managed to run about 3k 5.56. The setup from the factory was abysmal. Ive had to re adjust each station, as well as re adjust shellplate tension. Ive had to disassemble and reinstall the primer feed. I had to remove the ratchet, as the tension screw that dillon told me to adjust did absolutely nothing to improve the situation. The rubber stop on the primer conveyance has already torn and come off. The powder measure refused to drop consistently. On that phone call, they suggested I attach a fish tank air pump to shake the powder out of the charge bar and down the funnel, or tap the charge bar every cycle. Now, I feel there is absolutely too much side to side movement. If I hold the handle to the left when cycling, it seems to tighten everything up. Between the suggestions of aquarium accessories, and it taking 3-6 days between response from customer service... I'm absolutely exhausted. My 650 on its worse day runs circles around this thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Why1504 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 (edited) Before I load any powder drop I wipe it down with denatured alcohol. Allow it to dry, then take a dryer sheet and wipe all the surfaces. Edited December 15, 2013 by Why1504 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 Dryer sheet was the first thing to happen. But I will not wipe them with anything but a shop towel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcracco Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 What powder are you running? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Why1504 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 (edited) Take the powder measure off, look at the powder die. Did you wipe it down too? You may need to clean and wipe it with the drier sheet. I had this exact same problem when I began loading 223. The powder die was all clogged up. I would check it all again. The powder drop is easy to pull off. You have to push the powder die up thru the powder drop mount once you pull the drop off. With the cleaning with the alcohol I should have specified the metal parts only. I pull the powder drop completely apart. Did you disassemble the drop, pull the powder bar and wipe all the metal parts with the dryer sheet? I run that sheet in every nook and crany where powder can contact it. Edited December 15, 2013 by Why1504 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD1 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Side to side movement. ..... Check Allen screw in left side of Crank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 Imr 4198. I will check that Allen acrew shortly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillon Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Unfortunately, a full-size extruded powder like IMR 4198 is not the best choice for a smallbore cartridge. It will logjam in the powder funnel, giving very irregular powder charges. A steady vibration will improve this. Otherwise, I strongly recommend switching to a ball/spherical powder for 223 use. I suggest phoning us for assistance when you can be in front of the machine. Mondays are our highest volume day, so phone waits average 15-20 minutes. Late in the day (after 5PM MST) is best. We are open until 6Pm MST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noylj Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 1) There is always a lemon. 2) Every powder measure should have all metal parts degreased and a hopper of graphitized powder should be run through it before loading ever begins. Even powdered graphite may be used. 3) Do you have the proper charge bar installed? Not too big and not too small. 4) Did you get frustrated and mis-treat the press? The priming system sounds like you forced things at least once. Either the press works very smoothly or something is out of adjustment and forcing anything will only make things worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Good powders for 223 & 308 in a Dillon Powder Measure: Winchester 748, Hodgen H-335 & Benchmark, Accurate 2230, 2520, and 2015, which is a "stick (extruded) powder," but the sticks are very small so it rarely will bridge in the Powder Measure. Also, Alliant RL15 and Ramshot TAC and Exterminator. Good powders for 223 & 308 in a Dillon Powder Measure: Winchester 748, Hodgen H-335 & Benchmark, Accurate 2230, 2520, and 2015, which is a "stick (extruded) powder," but the sticks are very small so it rarely will bridge in the Powder Measure. Also, Alliant RL15 and Ramshot TAC and Exterminator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 18, 2013 Author Share Posted December 18, 2013 Hodgdon 335, BLC2, and benchmark would be an obvious first choice to the 4198, but try to find 100 pounds of them... I was able to find that much in the 4198. One of the issues is the charge bar. The adjustment screw is so loose, I had to put a dab of blue loctite on it to keep it consistent. This has eliminated the variance in charges. I now get a +- 0.1gr, which I find acceptable for plinking ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 28,000 ROUND OF AMMO. PLINKING AMMO. Scuse my french, but HOLY SHIT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SD1 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 100 lbs of powder.......Your locked in then. Clean powder measure out with alcohol. Get a Unique Tek Micro measure. Get the Metal Anti-static insert from there as Well. I have a cheap engraver that vibrates like hell Mounted to top of measure for stick powders. Pick up a reamer and open up powder funnel One size And slow down some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 I had a magic bullet(sex toy) attached to the powder charge bar, it made a huge difference. I dont think its possible to slow down much more than the geriatric pace Ive been running at. I will have to check out those unique tek items you mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) Now my swaging support rod has snapped after 8000 rounds. Oh, the headaches. Edited December 30, 2013 by willfully armed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Now my swaging support rod has snapped after 8000 rounds. Oh, the headaches. I destroyed one of those VERY early on, like 1000 rounds. The case mouth got smashed by my universal de-primer and when it went into the swage station the swage backup rod rode outside the case and snapped off. I bought a few extra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 Rjacobs, this is what I expect happened to me as well. At least I'm only the 21st person in the Dillon customer service queue.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Well IMO they wont send you one for free, or at least I never asked since it wasnt their fault that it broke. Just go on their website and order. Much less frustration. I think they are 8 bucks. I ordered 3 or 4 of them. Nothing I have broken on my machine has been the fault of Dillon. I simply go online and order the part and generally a few more for good measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 I inspect each case before it goes into the bucket to be processed. Therefore I am confident it was not a crushed mouth that went in and broke it. Ive found that for some reason unbeknownst to me, a case will not completely seat in the shell plate and come out all retarded, going crooked into the decapper. Warranty is warranty, and I expect to get one by warranty, as well as purchasing a backup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 My swage-backup die is dinging case mouths.. check there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) Ive found that for some reason unbeknownst to me, a case will not completely seat in the shell plate and come out all retarded, going crooked into the decapper. I have noticed this as well and have no clue why some times they dont get quite into the shell plate correctly. I have had a few as the shell plate advances come flying out of station 1 and across my shop. Had a few where the press wouldnt advance and I had to back it up JUST ever so slightly and then it would advance freely. No clue. Overall its MY fault for not noticing the de prime die has crushed the case and I tried to feed it into the swage station and broke the die. OF everything going on on the 1050, the de-prime station is the one place that I constantly watch as my machine is running. Once a case makes it past there with zero issues every other operation runs just fine(got almost 50k pieces on the machine so I THINK I have it figured out). The biggest issue I see now is primers getting pulled back into the pocket and then the press locks up on the swage station. I have taken to not running the locator button in station 1 so I can watch in the small gap to make sure the primer gets dropped. Edited December 30, 2013 by rjacobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willfully armed Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 You just need to set your devapping pin a little lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajadudes Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 The biggest issue I see now is primers getting pulled back into the pocket and then the press locks up on the swage station. I have taken to not running the locator button in station 1 so I can watch in the small gap to make sure the primer gets dropped. Putting an ever so slight beveled edge of about 60 degrees on the end of the decapping pin then highly polishing the end along with the 1st 1/4" or so with red jewelers rouge will keep that from ever happening again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) You just need to set your devapping pin a little lower. ive set it high, ive set it low, ive polished it, ive put a slight angle on it, etc... doesnt seem to matter. Im de-priming all LC crimped brass. I have a feeling what is going on is that some of the primers are crimped a little tighter than others and on these the tip of the pin is very slightly piercing the anvil in the primer and pulling it back up into the pocket. I would say it only happens maybe 3 or 4 times every 1000 so its not a HUGE issue, but its basically the only issue I do have with the press so I am not that concerned about it. Edited December 30, 2013 by rjacobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wsl Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Imr 4198. I loaded over 5000 rounds of .223 with 24.5grs of Varget without a hicup using this set-up. You probably have a RCBS or Hornady powder measure. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/107754379149384581743/albums/5359435836017016961/5359435847628322626?pid=5359435847628322626&oid=107754379149384581743 Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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