shred Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 This is pretty much an el-cheapo copy of the real Dillon deal, which they no longer sell. My old counter design (hopefully lost in the board transition) had some limitations I wasn't happy with and $40+ on EBay seemed a little high so I dug around in the parts pile and came up with this: The counter was $4.99 at Harbor Freight, the 1" spring-clip $0.75 at Home Despot and the rest of the parts (aluminum strap, pop rivets, copper tube, brass screw) were already here. Here it is removed from the press: Note the clever bend and angled attachment of the aluminum strap to provide enough offset for a straight shot to the counter actuation arm, as well as the lower fine-tuning adjustment mechanism made by crimping the copper tube around a big-headed brass machine screw. Clip it around the crimp die (must be drilled through like Dillons), adjust the actuator and lower screw so the bullet of the round getting crimped clicks the counter over and you're good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSEMARTIN Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 That's pretty slick. I was wondering if it cycles smooth enough not to leave any divets at the tip of a finished round? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff89 Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Very nice! Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkelly Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Shred, What is the Harbor Freight p/n for the counter? Thanks, jkelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted October 1, 2003 Author Share Posted October 1, 2003 Q1- Divots A1- No. Actuation force for this thing is way smaller than denting force on my JHPs. Q2- HF Part number A2- 37063. Their web site says "may be discontinued" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Clev-ah!! Reminds me of some of the jerry-rigged gizmos we used to fix our cars with back in the days when cars were a little simpler to fix.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Shred, For the life of me I cannot figure out why you ( or anyone for that matter ) would need/want a counter? Help me out here. enlighten me please!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I'm with Warpspeed - I just count the # of pickup tubes times a hundred. I box my 40's in old 9mm/38 trays from Federal or PMC to check primer seating and for brass marking, so that's times fifty each. I gave up on my (Dillon) counter - it kept jamming and/or miscounting, despite adjustments - one of the few problems I've ever had with a Dillon product . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkelly Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Shred, Thank you for the counter p/n Respectfully, jkelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 Top ten reasons to have a counter: - You have a Dillon RF-100 and don't load tubes anymore - Something to keep you entertained as you're cranking out ammo - See how many more handle pulls you've got left in the session - Keep track of how long before you have to tear down your 1050 (every 15K, natch) - Did I load six hundred rounds or only five? - You can try four bullet weights in one tube of primers- 30 115's, 30 121's, 30 124's, etc - Numbers are cool (if you scored high on the Autistic test) - You can mark primer follower rods for your friends without counters (25, 50 & 75) - You only count what goes into the bin. - Who cares, it's another gizmo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 - Keep track of how long before you have to tear down your 1050 (every 15K, natch) But isn't that why you keep a reloading log...? (electronic or hardcopy)...On the other hand, - Numbers are cool (if you scored high on the Autistic test) ...carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 SiG Lady My number wasn't very high, but I keep a loading notebook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 I haven't kept a loading notebook since I had a SDB. I have a short attention span and hate that recordkeeping stuff-- I rip the top off the primer box, scribble the load on it and put it in the loaded round bin. When the bin gets full, I dump it into one of the brass bags Chuck B's been giving away and keep going. If the load changes, it goes into a different bag with an appropriate tag. Match ammo gets checked and boxed, but practice ammo fends for itself. Every time I open a new 1K of primers, I mark a sticker on the press. 15 marks and it's lube (and new sticker) time. I do have to admit to keeping a chrono spreadsheet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Lemme see: I have loaded exactly 74,175 rounds on my SDB since I bought it in June of 1994. I still record lot numbers on bullets, primers and powder, at least for match ammo. I have finally given up on recording the # of firings on really old brass used for practice ammo, but only because I had intended to throw it out after five firings, but am too cheap to stop using it. I still segregate cases by headstamp and origin. And, yes, I do realize what this indicates about my personality, but then, would ya want a doc to be any other way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snokid Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 you guys have too much time on your hands to be able to write all that stuff down.... I guess it must be my personality but all I do is load it up and then unload it, repeat... sure i have my loads scribbled down and a sheet of paper which is taped over the press, but writing down lot numbers, how many times loaded, and what not sure seems like a waste of valuable practice time to me... sno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted April 3, 2006 Author Share Posted April 3, 2006 It's been a while since I had any escapees from the shred-labs (the first post in this thread is from 2003), but here's the latest incarnation of the round counter. It's cooler because... it's digital Basically a microswitch on a post that closes every time a round goes through the crimp station, driving a $5.99 Wal-Mart pedometer with wires soldered to the pace gizmo. The microswitch is powered by gravity and 400 grains of 45-70 lead bullet parked around the back. There's a screw-adjust on the end of the post, plus wraparound blue wires and leftover red layout fluid for extra mad-bomber effect. Self-Contained! Easy Reset! Works on most brands of press! Instantly transferrable to any crimp die! (Lee FCD's require minor drilling). Now how much would you pay??! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mainus Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 You guys need help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gm iprod Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Imagine spending all that time doing some practice, or god forbid, talking to the spouse. Sorry what was I thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 That looks more like a TV bomb then a round counter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightshooter1 Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 They sold very similar ones on EBay about 4 years ago for less than $10 with shipping and I bought two. They worked great, sadly I sold one. Why does anyone need a counter? No one really needs one, just that it's nice to look down and see how many rounds are loaded. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intel6 Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 I never saw the need for them and had 3-4 laying around in a junk drawer. When I saw how much they sold for on Ebay I put them up and got $35+ for each of them. Neal in AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genghis Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 Wouldn't it be easier to mount a counter on the chute that directs the loaded rounds into the bin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Wouldn't it be easier to mount a counter on the chute that directs the loaded rounds into the bin? Not on a 1050; there isn't one. A counter that counts rounds going through the crimp die has the same effect and works on almost any press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA Friday Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 (edited) it would be cooler if you could devise a gizmo that would hold a marker and mark your brass for you. You could sell a 2 or 3 of those..... Edited June 2, 2006 by SA Friday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 A reload counter, just one more shred of evidence for my wife to use when she complains about my shooting expenses. I still cut up and hide empty powder containers in the bottom of the trash can. Now for something useful like a rubber stamp that indicates I just bought 5M bullets at the amazing price of $2.49 per M. That would make life a little easier. F.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now