New XL650 Q&A
Quote from Reloader on March 29, 2015, 6:06 pmTried to send this w/photos to Technical Help but they don't seem to be accepting email so will try the forum. I am unable to figure out how to send photos here-files too big.1st question:Experts please advise: newbie to XL650 set up for .223 rifle and want to convert to 9mm pistol. Already have 650 Quick Change 22059 kit on hand. Using caliber conversion chart, looks like I need to order the following 9mm parts: #F Powder Funnel-#13806, #5 Shellplate-#13509, #5 Station 1 Locator-#13546 and CF Adapter 9mm Green-#13450. My .223 already has CF Arm Bushing Green, CF Body Bushing, and locator pins #14060. Please advise if those are correct parts and anything else I missed. Using the 650 manual's Assembly pics I am able to identify which parts go where except the #5 station locator. Are there detailed instructions included with each part? I see the part in the drawing but can't identify it on my assembled machine. Guessing if I need these parts I will have to change out each caliber for each run, correct?2nd question:My first batch of .223 (dozen) after initial setup of new 650 went well (haven't fired any yet). My second run of 50 went ok. Using all CCI 400 sm rifle primers I noticed all primers were not seating smoothly. There was an occasional resistance/rough seating feel to lever. I checked the suspected cases and the primers appeared seated and no damage to primer or casings noted. Since I am feeding cases manually, some primers were skipped (no cases) and deposited in chute-I noticed some tiny half-moon slivers (not brass?) of metal possibly from de-priming? Here's the scary part: one primer detonated on seating! I stopped the process, removed the case, and inspected the machine. Finding nothing amiss, I continued the run to completion w/o incident. I think being new to the machine may be a factor but thought I'd seek your advice. Primers should seat smoothly with minimal force on the lever, correct?Thanks, and what an improvement over my first press! (except for detonation...)
Quote from Reloader on March 30, 2015, 1:35 amYour second question is probably easier to answer. It sounds like some of your primer pockets may not be smooth where the primer pocket starts. Try just putting a small bevel on the primer pocket but not too much. Just enough to let the primers start easier.
1st question
I went into my manual and after looking it over found that once you have a few kits that you can order just certain things and make a complete converion kit. Example of this is a green cf arm bushing which you already have. The station 5 locator slides into the #1 station and that is where your casing will drop into and be pushed in the #1 station for sizing. The locators slide in and out fairly easy. Once you do one you will see what it is, just look at station locator that is already there for 223's
Hope this helps and good luck.
Your second question is probably easier to answer. It sounds like some of your primer pockets may not be smooth where the primer pocket starts. Try just putting a small bevel on the primer pocket but not too much. Just enough to let the primers start easier.
1st question
I went into my manual and after looking it over found that once you have a few kits that you can order just certain things and make a complete converion kit. Example of this is a green cf arm bushing which you already have. The station 5 locator slides into the #1 station and that is where your casing will drop into and be pushed in the #1 station for sizing. The locators slide in and out fairly easy. Once you do one you will see what it is, just look at station locator that is already there for 223's
Hope this helps and good luck.
Quote from Reloader on March 30, 2015, 3:59 pmWhat others said.
If any of your cases have crimped primer pockets you can definitely feel more than normal resistance when you try to prime. From your description sounds like that's happening. The small slivers you found may be from primers or part of the case shaved off when trying to force the primers into crimped pockets. When using range pickup brass I pick out the brass with crimped primers and deprime and swage on a single stage RCBS before I throw them in the mix for reloading on my 650.
I am also new to XL650 from RCBS Rock Chucker and Pro2000. Love my Dillon.
What others said.
If any of your cases have crimped primer pockets you can definitely feel more than normal resistance when you try to prime. From your description sounds like that's happening. The small slivers you found may be from primers or part of the case shaved off when trying to force the primers into crimped pockets. When using range pickup brass I pick out the brass with crimped primers and deprime and swage on a single stage RCBS before I throw them in the mix for reloading on my 650.
I am also new to XL650 from RCBS Rock Chucker and Pro2000. Love my Dillon.
Quote from Reloader on March 30, 2015, 10:16 pmThanks all for the advice. Crimped primer pockets, huh? How do I identify? None of my cases are range finds-all are commercial-bought fired my rifle. In fact, I think the only ammo I've used has been 5.56 American Eagle. My first 50 batch fired perfectly-not one glitch! I will take a look at the swage if the issue continues. I tumbled these with spent primers in, then ran em through the press. Will take a look at the pockets next run and try cleaning them (that helped on my Lee press-just not enough!). Did have some powder rotation spill at the shell plate so bought the ball & spring kit from eBay and will update when I swap shell plates.
Thanks all for the advice. Crimped primer pockets, huh? How do I identify? None of my cases are range finds-all are commercial-bought fired my rifle. In fact, I think the only ammo I've used has been 5.56 American Eagle. My first 50 batch fired perfectly-not one glitch! I will take a look at the swage if the issue continues. I tumbled these with spent primers in, then ran em through the press. Will take a look at the pockets next run and try cleaning them (that helped on my Lee press-just not enough!). Did have some powder rotation spill at the shell plate so bought the ball & spring kit from eBay and will update when I swap shell plates.
Quote from Reloader on March 31, 2015, 4:32 amYou should be able to tell by looking. The edges of the primer pockets should have a slight radius to them, not square edges. Take a spent primer and see if it starts into the primer pocket easily. If it is easy to start in and goes in 0.030" or so then stops, your pockets are probably not crimped. If the pockets are crimped it will be difficult to start the primer into the pocket.
The next thing I would check would be the Station 2 Primer Station Locator Tab (item 8 in the Primer System Assembly drawing in your manual). This spring loaded tab keeps the case aligned for priming. If the tab is not set properly the case may not be properly aligned for priming. This is discussed in Step 17 in the Caliber Conversion section of your manual (Page 39, FIG 194 and 195 in my manual).
The answer to the final question in your first post, "Primers should seat smoothly with minimal force on the lever, correct?", is yes.
Hope this helps.
You should be able to tell by looking. The edges of the primer pockets should have a slight radius to them, not square edges. Take a spent primer and see if it starts into the primer pocket easily. If it is easy to start in and goes in 0.030" or so then stops, your pockets are probably not crimped. If the pockets are crimped it will be difficult to start the primer into the pocket.
The next thing I would check would be the Station 2 Primer Station Locator Tab (item 8 in the Primer System Assembly drawing in your manual). This spring loaded tab keeps the case aligned for priming. If the tab is not set properly the case may not be properly aligned for priming. This is discussed in Step 17 in the Caliber Conversion section of your manual (Page 39, FIG 194 and 195 in my manual).
The answer to the final question in your first post, "Primers should seat smoothly with minimal force on the lever, correct?", is yes.
Hope this helps.
Quote from Reloader on March 31, 2015, 4:47 amPART 2
In your original post you referred to a "#5 station locator". I think you mean the "#5 Station 1 Locator". This is the aluminum shell guide at station 1 shown as item 8 in the Platform Assembly drawing.
PART 2
In your original post you referred to a "#5 station locator". I think you mean the "#5 Station 1 Locator". This is the aluminum shell guide at station 1 shown as item 8 in the Platform Assembly drawing.
Quote from Reloader on April 1, 2015, 3:33 pmThanks BR549. I will take a look at the cases and try the primer test as you suggested and will take a look at the spring tab. I see the #5 Station 1 locator iin the drawing but identifying it on the assembled press was not as easy-must be the excellent quality of Dillon machined parts! When I swap out calibers all will be revealed...Now that I thnk about it, I wonder if my pulling the case out of that station to measure the powder load then putting it back in may have misaligned the spring tab...will check, thanks.
Thanks BR549. I will take a look at the cases and try the primer test as you suggested and will take a look at the spring tab. I see the #5 Station 1 locator iin the drawing but identifying it on the assembled press was not as easy-must be the excellent quality of Dillon machined parts! When I swap out calibers all will be revealed...Now that I thnk about it, I wonder if my pulling the case out of that station to measure the powder load then putting it back in may have misaligned the spring tab...will check, thanks.
Quote from Reloader on April 2, 2015, 7:43 pmNew Dillon (or otherwise) owners: read through the whole manual before you start reloading. Helps answer a lot of questions and prevents avoidable mistakes. I've learned the hard way...
New Dillon (or otherwise) owners: read through the whole manual before you start reloading. Helps answer a lot of questions and prevents avoidable mistakes. I've learned the hard way...