Using ball powder in a dillon powder measure.

[chuck7554]

Has anyone used ball powder such as 231 or BL2C (sp?) in the
Dillon powder measure. When I tried I could not seem to get consistant powder drops. Someone suggested to me that the Dillon powder measure had a problem with ball powders. Has anyone used someone else's powder measure on a Dillon? I primarily load pistol calibers so far.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Moving this to the handloading and reloading forum, where you're more likely to get appropriate answers.

 

[joed]

Some powders just cause problems in the Dillon measure, although I haven't had problems with ball powders. Unique is one that refuses to throw a consistent charge.

Your problem may be static.

 

[littleguns223]

I use 231/ hp38 in my Dillon 650 and the 550 and donot have any problems. You might to check and see if your powder measure adjusted correctly. make sure the little white square on the powder bar comes all the way to the end when it opens up.Once ia a while I will use a dryer sheet in side of the powder measure to keep the powder from sticking. (static) The only powder I have trouble with is trail boss and that is not really a big issue.

 

[dnmccoy]

231 meters great in my 550

 

[kelbro]

That's what I use most in Dillons. Must be an issue with your measure. Do you have the correct charge bar installed? They make three or four different sizes.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use 700-X (flake) and True Blue (ball) powders in my SDBs. They work and meter fine.

Wipe the measure down with a dryer anti-static sheet and that may help. Also, store a sheet in the measure when it is not in use. Also, that may help.

 

[marcodo]

Although relatively new to my 550B...W231 has worked out well

 

[Kingcreek]

I use a lot of 231 in my 550B, also other ball powders h335, etc with no problems.

 

[mahansm]

231, 296, AA2, AA5 all meter well (+-.1 grain) in my Square Deal B/RL550B.

 

[Bud0505]

I've been using W231 for 20 plus years in my 550B and have never had a problem. Although you didn't ask about Unique I've been using it just as long as the 231 without any problems.

 

[rodinal220]

Been using 231/HP38 since 1984 in my 450,no problems. Powders like 296/H110 do not work in a Dillon measure.

 

[Kingcreek]

About the only powder that gave me any trouble was Unique and that was minimal.

 

[Greg Mercurio]

About 14,000 rounds with B-LC(2) and RLB-550 so far. Must work ok.

 

[helotaxi]

Is the powder measure new? If so you might want to run a pound or so of powder through it to deposit some of the graphite from the powder on the inside surfaces of the measure. This will keep the powder from sticking to the measure and aids in getting consistent drops. Once that has been done, ball powder should measure no worse than +/- 0.1gn every time.