Dillon priming troubles

[peacemaker45]

I've got a Dillon Square Deal B, in .45 ACP that's giving me a headache. The priming ram doesn't seem to be centered in the shellplate, causing primers to catch on it. They turn sideways, flip upside down, or cause enough of a jump to the shellplate to kick powder out of the next case.

Anyhow, I can't seem to find anything about it in the manual, and I'm never home to look at the press when the tech support line is open.

Anyone have any ideas?

~~~Mat

 

[Eric F]

Dillon not working? Ha HA HA

ok Just kidding I find it so funny when a dillon breaks down only because most dillon owners dog Lee so bad.

Now on to your fix. I think you have a timing issue? Has the press ever been droped? Look for bent or loose parts. I will look at one tomorrow morning to see if I can figure it out for you.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

If you don't get it fixed, PM me and I will have my son come on line with an answer. He used to build those units at Dillon.

 

[Bruce H.]

I have a Dillon Square Deal B that I have used for about four years to load 380 ACP, 9mm, 38 Special and 40 S&W. I really like the press. How new is your press? Did it come set up for 45 ACP or have you changed dies, Shell Plate and the numbered Brass Pins (locator Buttons) for use with 45 ACP? It sounds to me like the Shell Plate on that press, may be the wrong caliber or you may be using the wrong size Numbered Brass Pins that are situated on the frame of the press at stations two, three and four. The Shell Plate and the Brass pins are what align the pistol brass to the primer seating pin. I know that when I change calibers on my Square Deal B I must change both the Shell Plate and the Brass Pins, along with the dies, so that the correct ones are used for the caliber I will be loading. According to my Dillon manual the Shell plate and the Brass pins for 45 ACP should both be numbered with a 1. The numbers are located on the top of the Brass pins and on the top of the Shell Plate. If you are using the correct shell plate and brass pin, then it must be a timing issue.

 

[buenhec]

Is the press on a stable platform? My 650 used to do that on a flimsy computer desk I was using.Once I built my own table it went away.

 

[Wildfire]

Primer Issues.

Hey there:
The only primer Issues I have had with the square Deal B is the primer feed tube. I ended up putting an empty .45 long colt case on the top of the primer pusher to add weight to keep them from sticking in the tube.
Your problem sounds like a timing issue or some wrong parts on that shell plate.
And even though I do not use Lee stuff , i still do not knock it or the guys that use it.

 

[DILLONHELP]

First, be sure you have the correct brass locator pins installed. Should be #1.
Next, Put your thumb lightly on the left edge of the shellplate, and cycle the handle without any cases on the machine. You are looking to see if the shellplate is rotated far enough for the detent ball to lock it in place. If it is, then probably the primer cup isn't fully seated in the primer slide. Using calipers, measure from the underside of the primer slide to the top of the cup. Should be 1.410", +/- .003". If too tall, use a clamp or vise to reseat, then tighten the set screw.
If the shellplate doesn't rotate far enough, then look for a set screw on the upper rear of right side of the square shaft. This stops the shellplate index lever. Back this screw out in 1/4 turn increments until the shellplate is rotated far enough for the detent ball to lock it in place.
If all else fails, then there is a set screw in the back of the primer housing that lines up the primer cup under the hole in the shellplate. The specific screw you need to adjust is underneath the primer slide, just above the coil return spring. Adjust it in 1/2 turn increments. The oin the coil return spring attaches to hits this set screw, which controls how far in toward the shellplate the primer slide can go. It should be stiff, as it is blue loctited in place. Adjust this screw LAST, after checking everything else first, as it is seldom this screw gets out of adjustment.

 

[peacemaker45]

It's a brand new press, only a few months old, came in .45 acp.

Thanks DILLONHELP, I'll give that a try when I get home.

 

[tbtrout]

Call Dillon, I had an issue like yours last year. The CSR walked me through an adjustment and it has run fine ever since.

 

[Canuc Shooter]

I've had both the SDB and the RL550B for over 12 years, the only time I've had any primer flips etc is when I use the CCi large pistol primers, they are a wee bit higher than any other primers available in the north. Both presses like Federal and Winchester primers.