Large primers
Quote from Reloader on January 21, 2013, 4:49 pmI have been reloading using my 550B for a little over a year. From the start, the large primer system has been my continuing headache. After using the 550B to load 45 acp for the first time about a year ago, I changed the original plastic tip on the primer pickup tube after running an alcohol patch thru the tube. I did the same patch cleaning for the large primer magazine to help the primer feed. Did the same cleaning exercise about a month ago after having problems with both the large primer pickup and magazine tubes had intermittent failures.
Now the primers feed okay with an occasional missed feed into the cup. But, I keep having problems with the pickup tube when I try to drop the primers into the magazine. I am trying a new plated bullet so yesterday I did two batches of 25 each, changing powder drop only. Both times the drop failed after about 20 primers dropped into the magazine. Since this batch is just after a cleaning, I am running out of ideas. To get beyond the problem, I dump the primers out of both ends with the aid of the plastic rod and gravity. Put the same 5 primers in the tubes and move on.
Using Winchester large pistol primers. Thoughts?
I have been reloading using my 550B for a little over a year. From the start, the large primer system has been my continuing headache. After using the 550B to load 45 acp for the first time about a year ago, I changed the original plastic tip on the primer pickup tube after running an alcohol patch thru the tube. I did the same patch cleaning for the large primer magazine to help the primer feed. Did the same cleaning exercise about a month ago after having problems with both the large primer pickup and magazine tubes had intermittent failures.
Now the primers feed okay with an occasional missed feed into the cup. But, I keep having problems with the pickup tube when I try to drop the primers into the magazine. I am trying a new plated bullet so yesterday I did two batches of 25 each, changing powder drop only. Both times the drop failed after about 20 primers dropped into the magazine. Since this batch is just after a cleaning, I am running out of ideas. To get beyond the problem, I dump the primers out of both ends with the aid of the plastic rod and gravity. Put the same 5 primers in the tubes and move on.
Using Winchester large pistol primers. Thoughts?
Quote from Reloader on January 22, 2013, 5:17 pmIt sounds more like the particular lot of primers you have are out of round. This happens. Try a different batch of primers if you can find some, see if any improvement.
It sounds more like the particular lot of primers you have are out of round. This happens. Try a different batch of primers if you can find some, see if any improvement.
Quote from Reloader on January 22, 2013, 8:41 pmNot sure if this answers your comment but I actually did use two packs of Winchester primers to do these 50 rounds. The first pack had a single row of 10 left so opened a new one to get 15 more for the first batch of 25. Then I used the new pack to get my other 25 bullets.
I guess I could have gotten the last few primers from the second pack but it seems strange that both runs of 25 would get stuck with about 5 left in the pickup tube. I know I was having this same problem when I cleaned the pickup and magazine tube the last reloading session, that is why I took the time to clean about a month ago. Also, this would mean that both packs of 100 Winchester primers had out of round issues.
The small primers drop fine and I do shoot twice as many 9mm as 45, usually 200 rounds of 9mm to 100 rounds of 45 a month. But the large primer drop into the magazine just won't cooperate yet. Thanks
Not sure if this answers your comment but I actually did use two packs of Winchester primers to do these 50 rounds. The first pack had a single row of 10 left so opened a new one to get 15 more for the first batch of 25. Then I used the new pack to get my other 25 bullets.
I guess I could have gotten the last few primers from the second pack but it seems strange that both runs of 25 would get stuck with about 5 left in the pickup tube. I know I was having this same problem when I cleaned the pickup and magazine tube the last reloading session, that is why I took the time to clean about a month ago. Also, this would mean that both packs of 100 Winchester primers had out of round issues.
The small primers drop fine and I do shoot twice as many 9mm as 45, usually 200 rounds of 9mm to 100 rounds of 45 a month. But the large primer drop into the magazine just won't cooperate yet. Thanks
Quote from Reloader on January 22, 2013, 10:18 pmNot sure if this answers your comment but I actually did use two packs of Winchester primers to do these 50 rounds. The first pack had a single row of 10 left so opened a new one to get 15 more for the first batch of 25. Then I used the new pack to get my other 25 bullets.
I guess I could have gotten the last few primers from the second pack but it seems strange that both runs of 25 would get stuck with about 5 left in the pickup tube. I know I was having this same problem when I cleaned the pickup and magazine tube the last reloading session, that is why I took the time to clean about a month ago. Also, this would mean that both packs of 100 Winchester primers had out of round issues.
The small primers drop fine and I do shoot twice as many 9mm as 45, usually 200 rounds of 9mm to 100 rounds of 45 a month. But the large primer drop into the magazine just won't cooperate yet. Thanks
Not sure if this answers your comment but I actually did use two packs of Winchester primers to do these 50 rounds. The first pack had a single row of 10 left so opened a new one to get 15 more for the first batch of 25. Then I used the new pack to get my other 25 bullets.
I guess I could have gotten the last few primers from the second pack but it seems strange that both runs of 25 would get stuck with about 5 left in the pickup tube. I know I was having this same problem when I cleaned the pickup and magazine tube the last reloading session, that is why I took the time to clean about a month ago. Also, this would mean that both packs of 100 Winchester primers had out of round issues.
The small primers drop fine and I do shoot twice as many 9mm as 45, usually 200 rounds of 9mm to 100 rounds of 45 a month. But the large primer drop into the magazine just won't cooperate yet. Thanks
Quote from Reloader on January 23, 2013, 7:55 pmIf I understand your question & and the procedure you used-- and you were ONLY putting in 25 large primers at a time ?? (vs 100 ) then it might suggest that you just have a gravity/weight issue ? Years ago... I seem to recall this issue when the primer tube(with Dillon primer follower in place with primer warning device) I determined that the 'black plastic primer follower rod' was too light and after some testing.. I ended up drilling a hole in base of a 240gr LSWC bullet to fit on top of the black plastic follower & that solved the problem + the 'low' primer alarm worked better and the FOLLOWER ROD didn't get 'HUNG-UP' on the ALARM 'lever'-- WHICH ALSO COULD BE THE CAUSE of your problem ? because I think it is suppose to 'alert' you when primers get low in the primer feed tube-- maybe it's about 5 primers ? -->>> YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT FIRST !!
HOWEVER-- if YOU add extra weight to the "primer tube follower"--YOU HAVE TO
BE CAREFUL NOT TO JUST "LET IT DROP" INTO THE TUBE, SINCE YOU MIGHT EXPLODE THE PRIMERS-- ESPECIALLY WITH A PARTIALLY FILLED PRIMER TUBE !!!!
I suppose that is why Dillon didn't give it more 'weight'; It's a safety issue-- since they can't predict how hurriedly some people will try to operate their 'machines'
If I understand your question & and the procedure you used-- and you were ONLY putting in 25 large primers at a time ?? (vs 100 ) then it might suggest that you just have a gravity/weight issue ? Years ago... I seem to recall this issue when the primer tube(with Dillon primer follower in place with primer warning device) I determined that the 'black plastic primer follower rod' was too light and after some testing.. I ended up drilling a hole in base of a 240gr LSWC bullet to fit on top of the black plastic follower & that solved the problem + the 'low' primer alarm worked better and the FOLLOWER ROD didn't get 'HUNG-UP' on the ALARM 'lever'-- WHICH ALSO COULD BE THE CAUSE of your problem ? because I think it is suppose to 'alert' you when primers get low in the primer feed tube-- maybe it's about 5 primers ? -->>> YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT FIRST !!
HOWEVER-- if YOU add extra weight to the "primer tube follower"--YOU HAVE TO
BE CAREFUL NOT TO JUST "LET IT DROP" INTO THE TUBE, SINCE YOU MIGHT EXPLODE THE PRIMERS-- ESPECIALLY WITH A PARTIALLY FILLED PRIMER TUBE !!!!
I suppose that is why Dillon didn't give it more 'weight'; It's a safety issue-- since they can't predict how hurriedly some people will try to operate their 'machines'
Quote from Reloader on January 24, 2013, 12:56 amThanks for the input. I have already put a spent 45 casing on top of the plastic rod for some weight, it fits perfectly. I did this to help with a feed of mostly the last few small primers and left it there permanently. Hopefully this reply won't double post like the one above from me but the mini-Mac and Firefox seem to hiccup last night. Thanks again.
Thanks for the input. I have already put a spent 45 casing on top of the plastic rod for some weight, it fits perfectly. I did this to help with a feed of mostly the last few small primers and left it there permanently. Hopefully this reply won't double post like the one above from me but the mini-Mac and Firefox seem to hiccup last night. Thanks again.
Quote from Reloader on February 4, 2013, 9:49 pmDid 150 9mm and 150 45 acp using a new box of Winchester large and small primers. Same problem with the dropping of the large primers into the magazine and both large and small had multiple feed problems into the primer cups. Either the primer just failed to drop or on both size primers I would look into the area where the primers were to drop and I would be looking at bottom of the primer, sitting vertical.
Checked the cup height and it is within limits on both large and small. So, I am about to do another cleaning process. Seems like a 17 mm brush might work to clean out the small primer tubes, both magazine and pickup. But, on the large tubes, the 17 is really too small and anything larger, the cleaning rod is too big. Anyone have any success with the cleaning of the large primer tubes? Thanks
Did 150 9mm and 150 45 acp using a new box of Winchester large and small primers. Same problem with the dropping of the large primers into the magazine and both large and small had multiple feed problems into the primer cups. Either the primer just failed to drop or on both size primers I would look into the area where the primers were to drop and I would be looking at bottom of the primer, sitting vertical.
Checked the cup height and it is within limits on both large and small. So, I am about to do another cleaning process. Seems like a 17 mm brush might work to clean out the small primer tubes, both magazine and pickup. But, on the large tubes, the 17 is really too small and anything larger, the cleaning rod is too big. Anyone have any success with the cleaning of the large primer tubes? Thanks
Quote from Reloader on February 6, 2013, 9:18 amI'm sorry you're still having a 'primer' drop problem. I've been using my 550B press
since 1992 and have reloaded 'thousands' of rounds of many calibers and 'knock on wood', have never cleaned any of my primer tubes-- so I'm thinking/wondering if you have damaged tips on the end of the tubes or maybe you are not putting them in the proper position in the machine ?? (The raised edge on the plastic tip must fit into the groove of the machine at the bottom of the primer shield tube) Please see my response to 'lancealtek' EVERY OTHER PRIMER and see if it is any help-- It's rather lengthly & specific, but may help. Good luck !
I'm sorry you're still having a 'primer' drop problem. I've been using my 550B press
since 1992 and have reloaded 'thousands' of rounds of many calibers and 'knock on wood', have never cleaned any of my primer tubes-- so I'm thinking/wondering if you have damaged tips on the end of the tubes or maybe you are not putting them in the proper position in the machine ?? (The raised edge on the plastic tip must fit into the groove of the machine at the bottom of the primer shield tube) Please see my response to 'lancealtek' EVERY OTHER PRIMER and see if it is any help-- It's rather lengthly & specific, but may help. Good luck !
Quote from Reloader on February 6, 2013, 11:23 amThanks for the replay and I had already read your post to every other primer. When I started loading with large primers about 1.5 years ago I did suspect the plastic tip on the tube so I replaced them with new ones. As you see it didn't help.
The magazine is seating correctly, I feel the notch snap in the feed so I know that it is there. Usually the small primers don't give me problems but I have yet to gain confidence in the large system, although it was strange that both small and large had the vertical primer feed problem.
Until things get right, I guess I will need to check each casing for a primer after station one, it is a pain when you drop powder without a primer. Yes, you stop and clean up the mess.
Thanks again....
Thanks for the replay and I had already read your post to every other primer. When I started loading with large primers about 1.5 years ago I did suspect the plastic tip on the tube so I replaced them with new ones. As you see it didn't help.
The magazine is seating correctly, I feel the notch snap in the feed so I know that it is there. Usually the small primers don't give me problems but I have yet to gain confidence in the large system, although it was strange that both small and large had the vertical primer feed problem.
Until things get right, I guess I will need to check each casing for a primer after station one, it is a pain when you drop powder without a primer. Yes, you stop and clean up the mess.
Thanks again....