Replacing Dillon powder measure

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rbernie

rbernie

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I have been using the Dillon powder measure on my RL550 for my rifle chamberings, and I am really sick and tired of dealing with powder bridging issues when using my preferred extruded powders. I’ve tried polishing the funnel and another such tricks, but I just can’t get it to where I’m happy with it.

What are my choices if I want another brand of case-actuated powder measure?
 
Looks like you can if you have the stations to do it. I use a regular expander in front of my powder drop, but I know you can expand and drop powder with these in the same station. Shouldn't take up any more than a station you already use for expanding cases.
 
Do the RCBS or Hornady drops work any better with stick powder than the Dillon?
 
 
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I have never had a drop measure work very well with stick powders. Redding, Lyman, RCBS, Harrell's, I have tried. With sticks for rifle I use a drop measure set light and trickle up. Of all the drop measures I have tried Redding has been the most accurate with sticks but still I had to trickle up.
 
rbernie said:
I have been using the Dillon powder measure on my RL550 for my rifle chamberings, and I am really sick and tired of dealing with powder bridging issues when using my preferred extruded powders. I’ve tried polishing the funnel and another such tricks, but I just can’t get it to where I’m happy with it.

What are my choices if I want another brand of case-actuated powder measure?
Click to expand...

You loading 223? I had smokey AA2520 powder bridge in the powder horn in my Dillion 550B. AA2520 is a ball powder, but if the stuff has the consistency of charcoal, it will gum up the powder horn. I polished the insides, used N140, a short stick powder, never had a problem afterwards. I also used AA4064 in the 223, it was a short stick powder, no powder bridging.

Even though I have been called elitist on this forum, for owning a Dillion, almost all of my short range ( out to 300 yards) 223, 308 and 30-06 was loaded on my Dillion. I never found a half a grain, or more, difference in thrown charges, of IMR 4895, to make any point of impact changes at 300 yards, with a service rifle. Or a match rifle. My 600 yard loads were always max, so I weighed those charges, can't say, that made a difference either. But, I felt better about my ammunition. The placebo effect is real. Not on paper, but in your head.
 
Tilos said:
This:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-Uniflow-Powder-Flow-Body-With-Case-Activated-Linkage-Kit-Progressive-Press/233028181814?_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=52885&meid=9103e9d63e9f4e90bacf3df73f39b6bf&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=1&sd=192743255304&itm=233028181814&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982
Kinda pricey though, and missing some parts.

Don't know how they work with stick powder and have converted my stuff to Lee pm's.
I have 2 Uniflows gathering dust in the shelf...but no PTD linkage.
another, could be just the linkage:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hornady-Case-Activated-Powder-Drop-050073-Reloading-Equipment/391961005954?_trkparms=aid=888007&algo=DISC.MBE&ao=1&asc=52885&meid=41487620c96747e1b12ac4cfebe6f47b&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=1&sd=233028181814&itm=391961005954&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982
… and linkage on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Hornady-050073-Case-Activated-Powder/dp/B000PCZZU8
:D
Click to expand...

The Ebay listing is specific about the Hornady linkage working on the Hornady LNL.
 
Slamfire said:
The Ebay listing is specific about the Hornady linkage working on the Hornady LNL.
Click to expand...
Thanks for reading my post and going to the links in it.

The linkage is case activated, will work on any press with a 7/8x14 hole, and is the same design as the RCBS linkage.
I doubt you'd be buying it anyway,
:D
 
Tilos said:
Thanks for reading my post and going to the links in it.

The linkage is case activated, will work on any press with a 7/8x14 hole, and is the same design as the RCBS linkage.
I doubt you'd be buying it anyway,
:D
Click to expand...

I will have to call Hornady and find out. I want to throw long stick IMR 4350/H4350 in 270 Win cases, and that powder throws horribly in my Dillion powder measure. And then, I will have to ask if I can use my Pacific measure with the conversion kit.

kftRhCv.jpg

Still using it, decades after the thing was discontinued.
 
In my experience there is no difference in the rotary measures like the Harrell's, Redding, and Lyman, than the sliding Dillon measure when it comes to stick powders. For ball and flake powders the Dillon measure on my 550 is super accurate. I would not expect this 550 measure to do well with stick powders. Nor would I even consider trying.
 
rbernie said:
I have been using the Dillon powder measure on my RL550 for my rifle chamberings, and I am really sick and tired of dealing with powder bridging issues when using my preferred extruded powders. I’ve tried polishing the funnel and another such tricks, but I just can’t get it to where I’m happy with it.

What are my choices if I want another brand of case-actuated powder measure?
Click to expand...

I'm listening..... :)
 
Have you had any luck calling Dillon? Chances are this is not the first time the company has to deal with powder measures and stick powders. It would be helpful to know calibers and powders that are the problem. What brand of dies are you using. I'm thinking you may have problems adapting some powder measures with Dillon dies to a 550. I have used several powders including a Belding&Mull. Some are better than others. I have had to use a trickler due to shearing grains and the aggravating nature of stick powder.
 
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I use a Lee Auto-Drum on my 550, I think it works very will with the stick powders. I use the Lee universal powder charging die for 223, to activate the powder measure. Add one riser in there to lift the measure up high enough to clear the other dies on the toolhead.
 
Toprudder said:
I use a Lee Auto-Drum on my 550, I think it works very will with the stick powders. I use the Lee universal powder charging die for 223, to activate the powder measure. Add one riser in there to lift the measure up high enough to clear the other dies on the toolhead.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. It is cheap and somewhat laughable but the Auto disk works very well with small stick powder. I've run many pounds of RL15 through mine and never had any issues. 4350 is a little larger so your results may not be as good. Have you considered switching to a powder that will meter better? Would certainly be cheaper and there are a ton of powders to try expecially if you can use one that is slightly faster. There are plenty of good choices around the Varget/RL15 styles.
 
The JDS Quick Measure (QM) is the only PM that I dependably trust with extruded/stick powders like 4350. The QM is expensive and the linkage for the Dillon doubles it's cost but worth it. I also agree the Autodrum is great for dispensing stick powders up to IMR/H4895 size. It also easier to set up and use than the QM.
 
I use the Lee Autodisk for all of my pistol and intermediate rifle chambering tool heads; it’s just the full power rifle chamberings that need a greater capacity than the Lee can offer. Right now, 22-250 is the bane of my existence relative to the Dillon.

It’s pretty hard to work with the existing funnel to reshape or polish it; the best that I could do was try to clean up the insides with 1500 grit sandpaper and then steel wool.
 
Something to try. In the past I have used an aquarium air pump, strapped to the hopper, to improve the consistency of the Dillon measure with some hard-to-measure pistol powders. I wonder if the same thing can be done to prevent powder bridging. The vibrations may help the powder drop through the funnel.
 
Any measure that will connect to 7/8-14 threads would work.

6C314AFF-8F8F-4C01-BDBF-EE256609E3D9.jpeg

Might need adapters. You can get other styles of “auto measures” like the RCBS on the pro 2000 and pro chucker presses or the Hornady LNL AP measure. Unfortunately they didn’t work much better with long extruded powders that the Dillon.

You can also get just the funnel (comes with the 550 BL) and use a dispenser.

Other than that, I’d suggest finding a powder that meters well and shoots accurately.
 
I've had good luck with Varget (another stick powder) in my Lee Auto Disk.
 
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