Square Deal issues.

[Noxx]

I've got a ghost in my new Square Deal maybe someone here has seen before.

After about the first thousand rounds, which were effortless, I have a "rough spot" on the upstroke of the press handle. It's about midstroke, same place every time, and there's a definite "thump" to powering through it.

I've tore the thing down to it's bones, and cleaned and lubed everything I can clean and lube, and it's still there. I can't find anything binding or hanging up, and there's no problem with the loaded rounds, but it's certainly unnerving.

Anyone else run into this?

 

[Noxx]

FWIW, I know the best advice here is to call Dillon, but they're not open until tuesday.

 

[Shell Shucker]

It probably has issues with the primer feed mechanism. Call Dillon.

 

[SASS#23149]

see if the spring loaded primer 'fail safe rod' sin't sticking or hanging up on something.Mine does that occasionaly.

 

[Spartacus451]

Try loosening up the shell plate just a smidgen so it rotates more freely. Also, depending on the dies and components the cartridge can hang up exiting the die. Cleaning under the shell plate also helps it rotate more freely.

 

[Noxx]

Think I found it.

While cleaning a second time, I found what appear to be almost invisible shavings of brass clinging to the powder / expander die. The new batch of brass I am loading is +P, I think the thicker brass is probably hanging up exiting the expander?

 

[Noxx]

Sure enough.

Ran some cleaned, random range brass through it. The "bump" is still there, but it's almost not noticeable with the lighter brass.

I'm not sure if this means I should just give up on +P brass for the square deal, or if it's just the Starline. Gonna order up a short load from another vendor and see how that goes.

 

[BigSlick]

Starline is great brass, but I've seen *many* that need to be chamfered when I bought it new over the years.

Run a chamfer tool thru a couple dozen and see if things smooth out.

 

[45auto]

Try "Oneshot" lube on the cases also. It will reduce your loading effort by 50% IMHO.

Really "smooths" out the SDB.

 

[Noxx]

Run a chamfer tool thru a couple dozen and see if things smooth out.

I went ahead and chamfered about twenty cases and ran em thru. It did reduce the resistance, but very slightly. ATM it really seems like it's just the +p brass. As I don't load hot, I'll just avoid it in the future.