jo w Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 i have shot .45 acp these past few years, and decided to return to .38 special for local range fun for a while. i have a dillon square deal b, federal small pistol primers , clean winchester brass and rainier 158 gn rn bullets. i have to use federal primers due to some trigger work i did on the 686. the initial reloading session was very frustrating, at least 60% off the rounds required very heavy seating, and 20% of the rounds produced were defective. primers weren't seated properly, mashed in the primer seat, twisted and seated askew, or high primers that wouldn't seat with extra help. i seem to remember this was an issue too when i first reloaded for .38 special, but it can't be normal. any help? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 Sounds like you have not got the primer station setup right. Are you sure you have all the parts for the large priming system removed and the parts for the small system installed? Sound sort of like a larger primer part is still in the system (maybe on the shuttle that moves the primers from the feed tube to under the cartridge) letting the primer move around too much. Grab your manual and go through the change process section again maybe that will help locate the problem. When all else fails call up Dillon's help line, they will be more than happy to help trouble shoot your machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19852 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I have a SQDB too and find loading .38spl very easy with it. Just loaded some rounds with Fed primers that worked quite well. Sounds like something is wrong with your press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckaroo45 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I gotta agree w/ mcb. Sounds like either mixed primer seating parts or incorrectly adjusted seating ram. My SDB runs primer seat 100% if I do my end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo w Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 (maybe on the shuttle that moves the primers from the feed tube to under the cartridge) dammit- i think that was it. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Nesbitt Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Somebody posted this on here before. When raising the ram handle, after sizing the brass, let the ram handle settle into the up position, then hesitate for an instant, then make a firm smooth press to seat the primer. Seating the primer is a separate movement from raising the ram handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo w Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 thanks guys, it was the primer slide piece. put the small pistol one in and all is good. what a moron! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MifflinKid Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 (edited) I don't have a Square Deal press, rather a RL550B. If the priming bars on the two are similar I have a suggestion. On my large priming bar I used a lettering die to impress an 'L' (and an 'S' on the small priming bar). I did this on the top portion nearest me when I'm running the press. Further, I filled in each of the impressed letters with florescent green paint. It's pretty hard to get them confused now. Edited November 21, 2014 by MifflinKid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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