Hammer1 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 . A conventional volume powder measure like a RCBS Uniflow, Lyman 55, Redding, or Harrelson Precision does not need to be mounted on a press or have any connection to a specific cartridge case in order to set the powder charge. Can a Dillon powder measure be set for a given powder charge without being mounted on a press ? That is, can the Dillon powder measure be set for a given charge, e.g., 5.0 grains of Unique, and then be mounted on the powder die with its funnel already preset on the Dillon machine ? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to take the powder measure off the Dillon press then set it to drop X amount of ABC powder and then reinstall it on the Dillon press? If I am correct... why? Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer1 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 . You are correct in what I want to do. Reset the powder measure without it being on the Dillon. With the auto-index machines like the 650 and 1050, I don't want to play with either emptying the machine or operating the rest of the machine while adjusting the powder measure. Non-issue with manually indexed machine like 550. Maybe you have a technique for adjusting the powder measure without operating the machine and running brass through it. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDA Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 . Maybe you have a technique for adjusting the powder measure without operating the machine and running brass through it. Yep, what I do is remove the fail safe rod, hold a large case under the funnel with one hand and operate the bellcrank/powder bar with the other hand for ten cycles to fine tune my load. Once set, I return the fail safe rod to its operating position. You could remove the powder measure and operate it manually, I do that when I empty it but for dialing in my load, I do the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 . Maybe you have a technique for adjusting the powder measure without operating the machine and running brass through it. Yep, what I do is remove the fail safe rod, hold a large case under the funnel with one hand and operate the bellcrank/powder bar with the other hand for ten cycles to fine tune my load. Once set, I return the fail safe rod to its operating position. You could remove the powder measure and operate it manually, I do that when I empty it but for dialing in my load, I do the above. +1 using this technique. Easy and quick. I run 2 batches of 10 drops then simply divide by 10. Better accuracy. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer1 Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 (edited) . Do you have a preference for which large case ? When throwing ten charges for averaging with my other powder measures, e.g., Redding or Harrelson, I use a 50 BMG case as I know there will unlikely to be a spill. But don't think a 50 BMG will fit under the powder measure of a 1050. . Edited January 31, 2014 by Hammer1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
757reloader Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 .50 ae case works great it can easily hold 25-30 grains of hp38. I do like they said above ill measure 1drop and then I measure 10 drops to get my average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 That is, can the Dillon powder measure be set for a given charge, e.g., 5.0 grains of Unique, and then be mounted on the powder die with its funnel already preset on the Dillon machine ? It can be. I have extra powder bars that I keep set for my different loads but when I do set one up I just remove the locator and slide the case into and out of the powder charge station when setting it. If you like setting the measure on a 550 but think the 650 and 1050 make the process too complex of a task (you might not like their operation any way) your in luck. All you have to do is swap out the fail safe rod and the measures are interchangeable. Only the SD has a different casting than the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henny Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) . You are correct in what I want to do. Reset the powder measure without it being on the Dillon. With the auto-index machines like the 650 and 1050, I don't want to play with either emptying the machine or operating the rest of the machine while adjusting the powder measure. Non-issue with manually indexed machine like 550. Maybe you have a technique for adjusting the powder measure without operating the machine and running brass through it. . I reload on both the 1050 and 650 machines. This is what works for me. To me it seems simpler than removing the powder measure. On the 650 I empty the cartridge feed tube by unhooking it from the case feeder, Using a finger to stop the cases from dumping out of the feed tube, I remove the feed tube and case feed adapter, then dump the feed tube back in the case feeder. I then remove the primer cam by just removing the screw that holds it on. Remove the locator pin from station 3. To adjust the powder I just put a case in station 2, pull the handle, return the handle, take the case out of station 3 and check the weight. When I have the powder charge adjusted, I turn on the case feeder, cycle the press to get a piece of brass in station 1, reinstall the primer cam and start loading! On the 1050 it's a lot simpler. Empty the case feeder tube like on the 650. Remove the locator pin from stations 4 and 5 and proceed to adjust the powder as I do on the 650. Once I'm satisfied, turn on the case feeder, reinstall the pins and start loading! These processes seem to me to be easier than removing / loosening the screws for the powder measure and removing the fail safe rod. Plus the powder measure is being operated as it will be on the press. Does this help? Or am I missing something here? I don't understand what the resistance is in operating the machine? With the above method, it's not like you are having brass and primers fed while adjusting your powder weight. Edited March 8, 2014 by Henny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjacobs Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I agree with Henny. Oh and on a 1050, if you dont want it to index you just remove the index pawl assembly from the back of the machine. 2 hex head bolts and its off, takes 20 seconds. I dont have any experience with a 650 to know how to get it to not auto advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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