Why "44" on my Dillon 45 Colt Square Deal die?

[SunnySlopes]

It was the last of the caliber dies I ordered from Dillon and it has "44" stamped underneath the "45."

It's been awhile since I used it and I'm getting ready to load 45 ACP and got confused.

I called Dillon and they had to transfer my inquiry (support) to engineering. (Support had no idea why "44.")

They never explained why, but they did confirm it was the 45 Colt die.

Anybody here know why the #44? If I didn't already have the 44 mag die set, I might have confused the two.

 

[jmorris]

You didn’t get Gary. It’s a seating stem both share.



The actual “dies” are under the toolhead on the SD’s and note those are different.

Doesn’t look like their current manual has the conversion parts listed, why I attached it above.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Gotcha. Funny that "support" didn't know that. Makes sense.

 

[Mark_Mark]

SDB is the best thing ever!

 

[SunnySlopes]

SDB is the best thing ever!

Yeppers. I have two. One for cartridges w/large primers. One for small. Some guys have more: one for every caliber.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Yeppers. I have two. One for cartridges w/large primers. One for small. Some guys have more: one for every caliber.

I did a caliber conversion, .45 ACP to .357, very easy and straight forward

 

[cfullgraf]

SDB is the best thing ever!

I would not go that far but the SDB is a good press. It is a bit small and cramped making it difficult to verify the powder charge in the case.

I stopped loading 38 Specials on an SDB because the taller case is difficult to verify small, target level powder charges. I only load 380 ACP, 45 ACP and 9x19 on my SDBs these days.

I did a caliber conversion, .45 ACP to .357, very easy and straight forward

I have three SDB’s and do cartridge changes by swapping out the entire press on the bench. Alot quicker than doing the cartridge change on a single press.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I would not go that far but the SDB is a good press. It is a bit small and cramped making it difficult to verify the powder charge in the case.

I stopped loading 38 Specials on an SDB because the taller case is difficult to verify small, target level powder charges. I only load 380 ACP, 45 ACP and 9x19 on my SDBs these days.



I have three SDB’s and do cartridge changes by swapping out the entire press on the bench. Alot quicker than doing the cartridge change on a single press.

I didn’t verify my charge case, only loaded 100, but I’ll probably put a mirror over the seating station next time, to be 100% sure. I’ll shoot slow and sure Tuesday

 

[cfullgraf]

I didn’t verify my charge case, only loaded 100, but I’ll probably put a mirror over the seating station next time, to be 100% sure. I’ll shoot slow and sure Tuesday

Over time,I’m reasonably confident about the operation of my powder measures. But, old habits die hard, I like to verify that at least powder gets into the case.

Before progressive presses in my life, I’d charge a tray of cases then visually look into the cases to verify the powder charge level in all the cases were about the same.

For the most part, the powder measures I use through fairly consistent charges, so, the visual inspection is to verify I did not have an errant powder charge.

As I transitioned to progressive presses, I still want to check the powder charge in the case. For my Hornady L-N-L, a powder cop die is sufficient. It tells me the case has an adequate volume of powder. Remember, under normal operation I feel the powder measure throws consistent charges. The powder cop die shows an excessively low or high charge if that is the case.

The SDB press does not have room for a powder cop die. So, I like to visually check the powder level. Some folks have installed mirrors, other have installed cameras on their presses for checking powder charges. Good solutions that I have not implemented. My choice for the moment but they are good ideas for verifying powder charges.

GW Starr has a nice camera system on his press.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Over time,I’m reasonably confident about the operation of my powder measures. But, old habits die hard, I like to verify that at least powder gets into the case.

Before progressive presses in my life, I’d charge a tray of cases then visually look into the cases to verify the powder charge level in all the cases were about the same.

For the most part, the powder measures I use through fairly consistent charges, so, the visual inspection is to verify I did not have an errant powder charge.

As I transitioned to progressive presses, I still want to check the powder charge in the case. For my Hornady L-N-L, a powder cop die is sufficient. It tells me the case has an adequate volume of powder. Remember, under normal operation I feel the powder measure throws consistent charges. The powder cop die shows an excessively low or high charge if that is the case.

The SDB press does not have room for a powder cop die. So, I like to visually check the powder level. Some folks have installed mirrors, other have installed cameras on their presses for checking powder charges. Good solutions that I have not implemented. My choice for the moment but they are good ideas for verifying powder charges.

GW Starr has a nice camera system on his press.

I’m going to shake each shell tonight. Do a audio check for powder. I too use to charge each case on the tray like I’m icing a cake. then do a visual inspection of each case for powder. Got really good at it. Could do 1,000 in a few hours, and that was completely on a Rock Chucker.

Tell you what about the Dillion powder charge… very consistent with HP-38. I do a meter check about every 25 charges. But it’s so consistent, I would be ok with 100 charges check.

I have a Dillon powder check die. Adopted to the Lee Pro 4000. But I’ll probably shelve that press for a Dillon 750. The powder drop is that good.

 

[cfullgraf]

I’m going to shake each shell tonight. Do a audio check for powder. I too use to charge each case on the tray like I’m icing a cake. then do a visual inspection of each case for powder. Got really good at it. Could do 1,000 in a few hours, and that was completely on a Rock Chucker.

Tell you what about the Dillion powder charge… very consistent with HP-38. I do a meter check about every 25 charges. But it’s so consistent, I would be ok with 100 charges check.

I have a Dillon powder check die. Adopted to the Lee Pro 4000. But I’ll probably shelve that press for a Dillon 750. The powder drop is that good.

I find the Dillon powder measures quite consistent in the charges that they throw, but from the "old days" I like to verify. It does not really slow things down but makes me happy. If you do get into low powder charges like 380 ACP you need to have the small powder charge bars.

As I said, I like loading cartridges on the SDB where I can verify the powder charge. For 380 ACP, 45 ACP and 9x19, my loadings are pretty much consistent so the SBDs work well. Minimal adjustments required and load until the cows come home.

 

[WVRJ]

I bought a SDB last week.Quite an improvement over my Lyman turret press.Fired the ammo I made with it a few minutes ago.Got my lunch and heading back to the range.

 

[Kingcreek]

I bought a square deal (before the B) when they first came out. It has loaded over 30k .45acp rounds. It was rebuilt by Dillon once. It has paid for itself many times over.

 

[SunnySlopes]

So, I like to visually check the powder level. Some folks have installed mirrors, other have installed cameras on their presses for checking powder charges. Good solutions that I have not implemented. My choice for the moment but they are good ideas for verifying powder charges.

GW Starr has a nice camera system on his press.

Yeah, I visually check as well. And I'll weigh random charges periodically.

I'd be interested as to how anyone would install a mirror that would be functional on the SDB. Also, cameras?

 

[SunnySlopes]

I’m going to shake each shell tonight. Do a audio check for powder.

You're going to do an audio check? What does that mean? And, shake each shell?

 

[Mark_Mark]

You're going to do an audio check? What does that mean? And, shake each shell?

put it close to my ears and shake shake shake! lol

all the cases had powder!

 

[jmorris]

Not sure it’s the best thing ever but they were a good deal when they came out, about half the price of the 550.



As you can see above they didn’t have some of the features they do now.

They did upgrade them over the years for free though. When I sent my first in for their free refurbishment, it came back with new linkages and the low primer alarm. With a phone call they sent me the new parts for my other one.

Originally they came with the black linkage and used the springs for return and some powders would bind the powder bar in the measure, creating squibs if the user didn’t catch the malfunction.



That’s when they added the fail safe rod to force the measure to return at the bottom of the stroke.

Some years later they changed again to the “clunker” linkages they use now to help prevent double charges with partial strokes, that the two above would allow.

 

[jmorris]

put it close to my ears and shake shake shake! lol

all the cases had powder!

If I could have hearing like that, I’d wear ear plugs all day, just to maintain it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

If I could have hearing like that, I’d wear ear plugs all day, just to maintain it.

I worked in a few factories, textile mill, labs, airport. it was pretty much mandatory to wear ear plugs (except airport) but I sure did. fire up a APU and you learn quickly how much your ears can take

 

[DILLONHELP]

In the current manual, this chart is on page 30. sdb-manual.pdf (dilloncdn.com)