Dillon 650: .45ACP primers too high

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cavman

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I just got done decapping ~10000 .45 ACP brass.

There were a few breakdowns in this relatively new 650:
1. The tool head came loose so I took off the shell plate and tightened the two screws back into place.
2. The primer wheel wasn't indexing all the way (problem seemed to be fixed when I backed off the screw underneath, to lower the "primer pusher pin". (It is this that I think is the problem.

So now putting it all back together, I see that the primers get seated correctly when the screw/primer pusher pin is screwed in enough. However, the primer wheel won't index. (A lot of resistance that I don't want to push)

If I back off the screw/push-pin, the primer wheel indexes again, but the push pin has been lower too far to seat the cap in the brass correctly.

I have gone back and forth and forth and back and the adage of "only a fool will keep on doing the same thing and expect a different outcome."

Any ideas?

thanks
cavman

ps I have taken the primer assembly off (two main black screws) and indexed it by hand, everything is smooth. (It is smooth on the machine as long as that push-pin screw is not in too tight also, but then again it isn't able to go high enough to seat the primers correctly)
 
No idea if it's the machine or not but I no longer will ever use CCI primers in .45ACP.. they just don't seat well enough. What kind of primers are you using?
 
CCI.
But this was not an issue until I did all the tinkering. I have used the CCI just fine before (I have about 1300 reloads on it so far, 1000 with Federal Primers and the rest with CCI. Camp Perry sold out of Federal primers pretty quick)
 
Is it possible that the handle is hitting your bench or something and not letting it seat the primers? I just took a look at mine and it's not possible to have shellplate in upside down and the top of the primer punch drops down to just below the primer feed plate upon pulling the handle back. I guess I'd start by adjusting that punch to sit just below primer feed plate in the first 2-4 inches of travel on the handle (backwards)

FWIW.

Regards,
Dave
 
If I understand correctly, you decapped (only) 10,000 45acp cases on a slightly used dillon 650 and are now in the proccess of running them through the press again to load.

check for
a spent primer sticking up the works,
correct size primer seating rod,
primer seating rod return spring (spring missing or worn out)
shell plate to loose?


Never had this trouble before and have used 1000s of CCI primers.

Ron
 
Shell plate too loose?

I don't think so. I have tightened that down. That was the only recommendation in the Manual. I did as instructed by loosening the little screw on the side, then tightening the main center screw in the middle of the shell plate until too tight then backing off.

a spent primer sticking up the works?

You are not kidding. They were everywhere. I did check and find them all that were in the way, however, (there were even three in the space underneath the base of the primer push rid)


correct size primer seating rod?

I think that is the primer seating rod is the thing that pushes the primer up into the casing, right? In that case I think that it is correct as it did just fine up until I started this marathon de-capping. (I had successfully made ~1300 rounds 185 gr. and 200 gr. which were primed just fine).


primer seating rod return spring (spring missing or worn out)?

That may be something. But it must be a heck of a strong spring. As I said, for the primer wheel to turn, the seating rod must be backed off to too low of a height. For the seating rod to push the primer in to the correct depth, it must be screwed in farther. However, at that correct screw depth, the primer wheel will not, will not turn. It is locked tight.


thanks for all the ideas tho'. This is got me flummoxed.

cavman
 
Done.

Brewing up a "high hop", Pumpkin spice, 5 gallon batch and watching the RedSox as I type.

Best advice all day!

cavman
 
OK, I just went out and check the press, the "seater assmbly" aka primer rod seater should never impede the shell plate no matter were you set it. Pull the seater assembly and check for function, as in retacting properly.

Just because I need to know, why are you depriming in a seperate operation. For 45acp I don't do any extra primer or flash hole prep as it has made zero difference in the past. It would also defeat the timely maner in which you can reload these rounds. Take no offence, just curious
 
Both the 550 owners I know deprime, then tumble, then reprime with a hand primer (Lee autoprime, etc.), before running them through the press (without a decapping rod/pin). They do this to keep the tumbling media cleaner and longer lasting, and because they don't like hassling with keeping the priming system running smoothly.

Andy
 
For me dirty fired brass gets cleaned then into the case feeder and loaded.
It seems a bit strange to deprime brass then clean?? Now you have a dirty brass
going through your resizer. To each his own.
Chief-7700
 
I will have to call Dillon, as every time I tighten the screw up tight, it impedes the primer wheel from turning; and I can't find any reason why as of yet. (I take the primer assembly off and it runs smoothly enough, but when on, and with the primer rod screw screwed in properly, it seizes up)

As to why I am de-capping, I received a bunch of brass that had been crimped: TZZ. WCC, IMI, ect. I tumble clean first, and then I am removing the cap and then will run a little hand tool through the primer hole to get out the crimp before I put through the machine "for real".

cavman
 
With that many cases to have to remove the primer crimp, I'ld go with a swager system if I were in your shoes. I have both the dillon and RCBS but I would like to try the one from CH4D, it looks even faster. Be sure and report back what has casused this issue when you know.
 
Dillon said that they think the only thing it can be is the the primer rod must not be re-seating, therefore too high, and causing the primer wheel to not be able to return.

They are sending a new primer push rod as well as a little silver indexing arm for the primer assembly which rotates the wheel.

Will advise if I figure out the problem.
 
I love the helpful answers like.....never had problems with CCI, or Hornady, or Lee. Answers like that are so UNhelpful. I read it like this:neener:I dislike Dillon and think it's funny you are having problems:neener:


Not funny at all because your frustration was quite apparent. Mean spirited answers like that are just salt in the wound.
 
sounds right

I have a 650 had a problem with primers not seating properly. I had to
remove the shell plate and did not tighten it correctly and it turned out
to be the cause of the primer problem. I would have recommended
that the shell plate was loose.

I am using CCI primers and don't have a problem, i would suspect that
Dillon is correct with their solution.

I'm sure you'll be back in business shortly

wood
 
I have an SDB. I size and prime on a Lee challenger with the Auto Prime II. This seats them to the bottom of the pocket every single time. You have little to no mechanical advantage when priming on most progressives. I did find that CCI primers were harder to seat to the bottom of the pocket and I now try and use Winchesters. Running already sized cases through the SDB takes far less effort, but the SDB harder to work then the 650.

When I called Dillon they just told me to lean harder. I hurt myself quite badly trying to get the press to seat the primers and it tooks months to heal.
 
If you measure from the top of the bushing around the primer seating punch, the top of the punch should be between flush and .020" below flush. It sounds like the punch assembly is dirty. The primer seating punch assembly must be threaded in flush with the top of the platform.
 
DILLONHELP said:
It sounds like the punch assembly is dirty.
Click to expand...


Will check that out. Seems plausible. I didn't think that the thing moved, other that up and down against the spring tension, however.

thanks


cavman
 
While waiting for the spare parts from Dillon to arrive, (the push rod and primer wheel indexing arm), I thought I would clean the primer assembly up.

I found that the indexing arm, when lifted all the way up to be indexed, would have a stutter. The wheel would not index fully (I think that it is hanging on the little ball bearing for a second before the wheel completed its cycle). This "hang up" was there both before and after I cleaned it up, so cleaning it (and I think I did an okay job) matter naught. Sometimes it would not index and I would have to give a little tug to have it finish the cycle.

It seemed as if the indexing arm needed to be pushed a little more than it actually was when it was pushed against the black plastic cam on the machine.

This, though, I think is secondary to the primer rod not going up all the way, and not seating the primer properly and flush.

Anyways, that is all.

thanks
cavman
 
Be sure to lightly grease the axle pin that goes through both the primer index arm and the primer disc. This helps bunches
 
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