550B deprime/size die
Quote from Reloader on September 22, 2014, 1:01 amEvening all,
I apologize for the previous no show post. Here it is hopefully.
Just returned home yesterday from an IDPA match where I traded Dillon 550B stories with two guys that happened to be experienced masters class shooters.
After discussing a couple cartridge malfunctions I had during a 120 round match, they asked to take a look at my rounds. They noticed a swelling at the upper end of the cartridge where the bullet seating is. They told me, "you see this", this is what we call coke bottling". We were comparing .45 ACP. One guy was shooting SWC like I was and the other was shooting round nose. Both of their rounds were straight up and down on the side walls from the rim to the case edge. No hint or swelling from a bullet being seated. They BOTH told me to prevent that because Dillon sizing/depriming dies are known to size down too far, that they use Lee sizing dies that are .040"over. Never heard of that and always thought my shells looked fine. Another thing that I DO have a problem with is every time a shell is pushed up into the sizing die it is never lined up directly centerline of case to centerline of die. I always have to go real slow to make sure the empty case starts into the die without slamming to a stop. Once the case has started ino the die then I can proceed with the handle to the bottom and the ram going to the top. Yes I am setting up the sizing die correctly, moving the die with a shell up into the die and leaving the ram there while I lock the die down to the toolhead.Any help with the swelling question and alignment issue would be most welcome.
Thanks
Sid
Evening all,
I apologize for the previous no show post. Here it is hopefully.
Just returned home yesterday from an IDPA match where I traded Dillon 550B stories with two guys that happened to be experienced masters class shooters.
After discussing a couple cartridge malfunctions I had during a 120 round match, they asked to take a look at my rounds. They noticed a swelling at the upper end of the cartridge where the bullet seating is. They told me, "you see this", this is what we call coke bottling". We were comparing .45 ACP. One guy was shooting SWC like I was and the other was shooting round nose. Both of their rounds were straight up and down on the side walls from the rim to the case edge. No hint or swelling from a bullet being seated. They BOTH told me to prevent that because Dillon sizing/depriming dies are known to size down too far, that they use Lee sizing dies that are .040"over. Never heard of that and always thought my shells looked fine. Another thing that I DO have a problem with is every time a shell is pushed up into the sizing die it is never lined up directly centerline of case to centerline of die. I always have to go real slow to make sure the empty case starts into the die without slamming to a stop. Once the case has started ino the die then I can proceed with the handle to the bottom and the ram going to the top. Yes I am setting up the sizing die correctly, moving the die with a shell up into the die and leaving the ram there while I lock the die down to the toolhead.
Any help with the swelling question and alignment issue would be most welcome.
Thanks
Sid
Quote from Reloader on September 23, 2014, 5:10 pmBe sure to tighten the die lock ring with a case up in the die. This ensures the die is centered in the threads. Also, push down on the edge of the shellplate between stations 2 and 3. If it feels springy, then the shellplate bolt needs to be tighter. Finally, at station one, there is an adjustable spring, shaped like a bent paperclip. This should not quite touch any part of the case. It should be .002-.004" away from touching the case.
Be sure to tighten the die lock ring with a case up in the die. This ensures the die is centered in the threads. Also, push down on the edge of the shellplate between stations 2 and 3. If it feels springy, then the shellplate bolt needs to be tighter. Finally, at station one, there is an adjustable spring, shaped like a bent paperclip. This should not quite touch any part of the case. It should be .002-.004" away from touching the case.
Quote from Reloader on October 7, 2014, 3:05 pmA coke bottle shaped round is not evidence of a problem with the press. Note that you do not have "swelling" at the upper end of the case. You are actually seeing the lower end of the case sized down more than necessary. Carbide resizers reduce the case diameter all the way down to the bottom. In some cases you can adjust the die upward, but the de-cappiing pin still has to work. Obviously your bullet diameter will make a difference, with lead bullets being around .001" greater in diam. The important part is the case diameter at the mouth of a finished round, and whether the round drops easily into the chamber of "your" barrel.
x9
A coke bottle shaped round is not evidence of a problem with the press. Note that you do not have "swelling" at the upper end of the case. You are actually seeing the lower end of the case sized down more than necessary. Carbide resizers reduce the case diameter all the way down to the bottom. In some cases you can adjust the die upward, but the de-cappiing pin still has to work. Obviously your bullet diameter will make a difference, with lead bullets being around .001" greater in diam. The important part is the case diameter at the mouth of a finished round, and whether the round drops easily into the chamber of "your" barrel.
x9