pasquot Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 i have a used 550b. attempting to set up 380 dies from scratch with lee dies. i had a terable time setting up the powder die for max powder flow and bell. i believe i got it now. the problem comes when i attempt to seat the bullet. no matter where i adjust the seating die the powder die will not allow me to raise the platform to seat the bullet. i have watched youtube vedeos and i understand how it works. but in reaity im doing something wrong. i havent seen that problem on video.. please assist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.flitcraft Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Pics or vids of what's going on?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 It sounds as though you have the powder funnel too far down. Adjust your powder funnel and hopper to bell the case with the arm of the 550 all the way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daboone Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 He states he's using Lee dies. If so it sound like the Lee powder thru expanding die is the problem. I'm guessing he is also using a Lee PM. Getting the correct amount "flare" and activating their PM's can require a lot of fiddling around. I think the problem maybe the wrong expander plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillon Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 If possible, please phone us when you can be in front of the machine. 800-223-4570. If you pull the handle down with no cases on the shellplate, only the size die should contact the top of the shellplate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenstone Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 (edited) On 5/17/2017 at 2:02 PM, pasquot said: i have a used 550b. attempting to set up 380 dies from scratch with lee dies. i had a terable time setting up the powder die for max powder flow and bell. i believe i got it now. the problem comes when i attempt to seat the bullet. no matter where i adjust the seating die the powder die will not allow me to raise the platform to seat the bullet. i have watched youtube vedeos and i understand how it works. but in reaity im doing something wrong. i havent seen that problem on video.. please assist Adding a Lee riser between the powder/expander die and powder drop/measure gets you a positive stop in the upward travel of the expander to adjust the die to. https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00162LR6W/ref=dp_olp_new_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=new Works for me Edited May 18, 2017 by Kenstone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasquot Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 i need to make a correction on dies. i am using lee dies in station 1 and station 3 but i am using dillon powder die set up in station 2. please keep suggestions comming. thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 1.raise the seating stem of the seating die way up. (That is the center piece) 2. Raise the ram all the way up. And bring the seating die down so it touches the shell plate then raise it up maybe one rotation. 3. If you have a factory round use it for a starting point. If not you can make a test round gauge by cutting a slit in a case so the bullet comes out easyer. Use the gauge to get your oal. To do this, put a bullet in your gauge case, put it in station 3 pull handle down the adjust the seating stem to the oal you want. Lmk if Im clear enough and if this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasquot Posted May 20, 2017 Author Share Posted May 20, 2017 thank you gentlemen for all your suggestions. i took all the dies and the dillon powder die out and started over. once again i had trouble adjusting the powder die for full tavel and expanding the case but sucess. it works now. i was able to make some quality bullets after i ruined a few. now if could just get all the primers to seat instead of upside down or sideways i will be in good shape.. once again thank you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 On Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 2:05 PM, pasquot said: thank you gentlemen for all your suggestions. i took all the dies and the dillon powder die out and started over. once again i had trouble adjusting the powder die for full tavel and expanding the case but sucess. it works now. i was able to make some quality bullets after i ruined a few. now if could just get all the primers to seat instead of upside down or sideways i will be in good shape.. once again thank you all. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillon Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 On the primer feed, make sure that the small primer magazine is installed. Unless your 550 is quite old, the plastic magazine tip is blue in color, and the wall thickness of the tube is more than for the large primer magazine, which has a red plastic tip. The small primer slide assembly has a brass-colored primer cup, whereas the large primer slide assembly has a silver-colored primer cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasquot Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 4 hours ago, rustybayonet said: +1 4 hours ago, rustybayonet said: +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasquot Posted May 22, 2017 Author Share Posted May 22, 2017 thank you for that information. i do have small primer set up correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 On 5/18/2017 at 10:25 AM, dillon said: If possible, please phone us when you can be in front of the machine. 800-223-4570. If you pull the handle down with no cases on the shellplate, only the size die should contact the top of the shellplate. 18 minutes ago, pasquot said: thank you for that information. i do have small primer set up correctly. Did you call the 800 number? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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