Dillon 1050

[Hank Frank]

I presently have the blue aluminum tray on the 1050...but it requires moving your hand about 6 inches each time to place a bullet atop the casing. My hand gets kinda numb after awhile, and I need to stop and rest.

Previously, I used the old plastic container which Dillon furnished with the press, but don't care for that too much.

Has anyone come up with a better arrangement? I don't think I'm ready for the "KISS" system. I have a hard time walking and chewing gum at the same time.

Thanks...Hank

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: It sounds like your press may be mounted to high. Or you may have a circulation problem caused by gripping the bullet to hard. Lastly how many rounds are you doing at one time? I worked in a past life as a punch press operator feeding the press by hand. If you didn't get your hand positions just right you would get cramps. I had to adjust my seat position so my hand were always be below my heart. Make sense? Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric

[get2now]

I use a small akro bin that's inbetween the loader and casefeed post or I grab a handfull of bullets from the white box on the table. The trick is I rest my arm on the large bin that catches the loaded rounds and my hand rests on the post stud so there's very little movement except to manipulate the bullets for seating. You don't have to move your arm much except to grab more bullets.

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/63/relo...desks1isho2.jpg

I think a lot depends on your position at the loader too.

Gary

[XRe]

The answer is to just Keep It Simple Stupid... (ie, the KISS bullet feeder).

[Hank Frank]

Eric...I have changed chairs in addition to how I manage the bullets. I will take a closer look at the setup. You've hit the problem with my left hand cramping up. As for volume of bullets loaded, I'm embarrassed...perhaps 100 and I got to quit for a bit.

Gary...I might try the old method with the akro bins again. I did like this original method with my wrist resting on the bar. I've been fighting this new way with Dillon's aluminum tray and not liking it at all. It seems like Dillon never intended it to be used on the 1050. I would have designed the setup a lot different.

Off to the basement to take some measurements....Hank

[Mick]

I've been using the AKRO bin that came with the 1050 and I stand. I sat at the 550 but have always stood at the 1050.

I bought the 1050 the first year they came out....1980-something and have always stood. Someone mentioned to have the correct height and I found this to be very important as did my Chiropractor!!!

I can make an easy 750 "match" rounds an hour or 1000 rounds otherwise since I don't look into every case on practice rounds.

[Scout454]

I use the bullet tray on both 650's but I re-drilled the mounting bracket and mounted the differently. They are high enough for me (I stand) and I tilted them back a bit. I generally load 500-1,000 at a time.

[Sherwyn]

Here are some old pictures of mods I made to cut down all the movement. As you can probably see, I sit down while loading, and like the arm rest.

Doesn't matter much now, since I added the Kiss, but it still makes it easier to visually check the powder in the case.

[AlamoShooter]

in 1992 I designed a bullet tray that set on top of the loaded bullet bin for the 550 = I made working prototypes out of acrilic. Mike Dillion was not interested as he had something comeing out that would make the 550 obsolite.

the next year or so the 650 came out.

Any way my "Box" has an angeled front to it that matches the angel your hand naturaly turns to.

The cost of the injection tooling Mold was $5,000 to $25,000 so it is mothballed.

[shred]

If you poke around a lot, you can still find Brian "the king of no-wasted movement"'s bullet tray mod for the 1050..

[Hank Frank]

Mick and Scout454...it looks like I may try standing and see if it makes any difference.

Sherwyn....thanks for the pictures. Your case feeder support is different than what's on any of my 1050's. I do like your arm rest.

AlamoShooter...I made a similar item but I'm not too sure if I liked it. I took the light blue plastic box that Dillon dies come in, cut off the lid, and mounted the lower part to the top of the bullet bin. It raised the bullets to the same height as the brass in the 1050. All I had to do was pivot my wrist back and forth. Only problem, this setup really caused my wrist to cramp.

Shred...I will look for BE's 1050 mod

Thank you all....Hank

[Aircooled6racer]

Hank: I stand when I load on my 1050. I used to sit when I had my SDB. I hate to ask this next question but how old are you? If you are of the golden age (whatever that is) you may want to see a doctor about any circulation problems or heart problems. Thanks, Eric

[Hank Frank]

Eric...just got back from the basement, and standing does seem easier. I have to bend over a little bit on the down stroke, which means the press has to be raised, if I'm able to load standing up. I would never have thought to stand. I raised a chair up about 5 inches and I may have found an acceptable compremise. Weired not having my feet flat on the floor. I'm in my mid 60's, over weight, and have circulation problems....I don't enjoy standing for any length of time. My legs get extremely fatiqued.

Thanks to all for their help...perhaps it's time to give up shooting...although I love the smell of burned gun powder....Hank

[Aircooled6racer]

Hank: Don't give up shooting. If you get a bar stool that you can lean/sit against with both feet on the floor it may help. I can help you a little in getting in shape. Don't eat anything 3 hours before you go to bed. Start walking a little distance and just speed up the time it takes to walk the same distance. Get some light weights like 2 pounds you can do curls with and various exercises (look on internet). Park your car further away from the grocery store so you have to walk further. These should help some and if you have another one you can do this with all the better. Take care. Thanks, Eric

[Loves2Shoot]

A better bullet tray

[Hank Frank]

Eric...I think I'm going to try a butt seat from my bass boat (which I don't use anymore). I'll just have to figure out a way to mount it. Looks like I'll have to raise the press a little bit so I don't have to reach so far on the down stroke. You are correct about getting into shape. I tell the doctor every time I visit that I know what a person 85 or a zombie must feel like. He has no response. I plan to start bike riding as soon as the weather gets better here in Missouri. We are planning a 250 mile 4 day trip in June...I may get to find out what an ambulance ride is like, considering I could only go about 10 miles right now. (with no up hills)

Loves2Shoot....I would buy a few KISS feeders, but I would have to give up the powder check station, and I get a feeling of safety (can't think of a good word this early) with that device installed.

Hank

[Loves2Shoot]

You can add a mirror, and since you aren't grabbing for bullets, it is easy to watch the powder level. My hands just got too sore after reloading so many rounds and this was a good solution for me.

[AlamoShooter]

Mick and Scout454...it looks like I may try standing and see if it makes any difference.

Sherwyn....thanks for the pictures. Your case feeder support is different than what's on any of my 1050's. I do like your arm rest.

AlamoShooter...I made a similar item but I'm not too sure if I liked it. I took the light blue plastic box that Dillon dies come in, cut off the lid, and mounted the lower part to the top of the bullet bin. It raised the bullets to the same height as the brass in the 1050. All I had to do was pivot my wrist back and forth. Only problem, this setup really caused my wrist to cramp.

Shred...I will look for BE's 1050 mod

Thank you all....Hank

the box I made stacked like the Acro Bins but the front was set at an angel and came out to form a tray

Turn your tray so that it point to your elbow = that way your wrist does not have to "break to the Outside" =That out ward brake is what causes the wrist pain.

[Hank Frank]

AlamoShooter....I think you've nailed my wrist problem. That is exactly what happens with my wrist. I'll be in the basement in a few minutes to refabricate my old unit, or just make a new one.

I just have one last problem to overcome now that I've raised my chair. I need to change the throw of the 1050 handle. I don't want it to go down so far...it makes me have to bend a little. (or I need to get a longer right arm) If I could get the handle to stop sooner on the down stroke, it would be more comfortable. I may try to put a slight upward bend in the handle, or try to see if I can get the shaft going through the press to re-index differently. Ealier today, a person at Dillon said the handle on the 1050 he had just tried, stops at his belt and he's 5'10". I'm 5'11" , and my handle goes almost down to the bottom of my pants pocket. I have the older RL1050, and I'm sure he was using the Super 1050. The only explanation seems that their press must be mounted a lot higher than mine.

Thanks...Hank

[shred]

I just have one last problem to overcome now that I've raised my chair. I need to change the throw of the 1050 handle. I don't want it to go down so far...it makes me have to bend a little. (or I need to get a longer right arm) If I could get the handle to stop sooner on the down stroke, it would be more comfortable. I may try to put a slight upward bend in the handle, or try to see if I can get the shaft going through the press to re-index differently. Ealier today, a person at Dillon said the handle on the 1050 he had just tried, stops at his belt and he's 5'10". I'm 5'11" , and my handle goes almost down to the bottom of my pants pocket. I have the older RL1050, and I'm sure he was using the Super 1050. The only explanation seems that their press must be mounted a lot higher than mine.

Thanks...Hank

Your handle does have the 3 length positions, right? I run mine at 'shortest' and far prefer it like that.

[Hank Frank]

Your handle does have the 3 length positions, right? I run mine at 'shortest' and far prefer it like that.

Shred....I do run mine in the shortest detent also. Yesterday I took the handles off the 1050's and preceeded to put a 2' bend at the center of each arm. What a difference it makes on the down stroke (actually I think 2 1/2" would have been more ideal). This is what Dillon should have done to begin with on these presses. Dillon should come out with a new handle with this upward bend. ( I wonder if I will get any royalties if they take my advice.

Have a good day...Hank

[RePete]

A better bullet tray

I totaly agree, that what I did.

But, prior to the KISS feeder I made a tray that fit into the top recess of the AKRO bin loaded round catcher, 1" deep. I made mine too long but 8" long is all you need.

Edited March 29, 2008 by RePete

[Larry Burchfield]

I use a double wide magnetic parts tray set on top of the accro bin bracket turned at an angle.

Larry

[johnhurd]

And I have a sling hanging from the ceiling that I place my arm in next to the elbow for those long sessions, hey works for me!!!!

PS that is a little 6" frying pan...

Edited April 15, 2008 by johnhurd

[Hank Frank]

I had forgotten all about this thread...since I've corrected most of my problems. (1) I raised the mounting base for the 1050's higher, and now I stand...or sit on a high bar stool. As Eric stated in an earlier post, my left hand needs to be below my heart line...really helps! (2) I took the steel handles off and put a 2 inch upward bend in each one so I don't have to push the handle down so far. (are you listening Dillon) This has really made a difference and made reloading easier and more enjoyable. (3) As for the bullet tray, I have tried just about every possibility. I settled on Dillon's aluminum tray, even though I feel they could have come up with a much better design for the 1050. I mounted the tray as they instructed, but I moved the 2 steel studs holding the case feeder to the rear mounting holes. This moved the bullet tray rearward and much closer to the seating station. Much easier on my left wrist. One is probably going to ask, "is the plastic tube from the case feeder still verticle?" Yes, and since none of the tubes were verticle to begin with, and I have the luxury of 4 combinations to mix and match by moving the case feeders from press to press, I came up with a combination that allows all 4 presses to be fine.

I strongly suggest everyone consider bending the handle up (not too far since you'll have to reach too far on the up stroke), and moving the mounting posts to the rear holes to allow the bullet tray to be closer to the seating station. ( You can always move it back it it doesn't work for you. )

Thank you all for your input....Hank