POWDER MEASURE

#1 · August 4, 2008, 2:47 am

On the upstroke, the powder measure the powder bar snaps back into place instead of smoothly returning back into place.

Any suggestions?

D Victor

#2 · August 16, 2008, 9:01 pm

Hi -
The snapping back initiates a calculated vibration. In my humble opinion the hopper MUST shake in order to fill the slide evenly every time it's used. Maybe your particular type of powder has no trouble flowing and getting consistent fills, but that can't be the case with all powders.

If you've ever used a manual hopper, the instructions may have told you to have the handle tap the body at each end of the "throw" to get consistent powder measurements. This "snapping back" is much the same thing.

#3 · August 18, 2008, 4:30 pm

you can control the "snap" by tightening the blue wing nut at the bottom of the failsafe rod. This reduces the amount of the lock link tht engages the frame of the powder measure.

#4 · August 19, 2008, 3:25 am

Quote from Reloader on August 19, 2008, 3:25 am
I also have the new style powder hopper with the failsafe system, I ended up doing this and eliminated all snap and now very little to no variance in drops with ball or long grain powder

1. Polish the inside of the hopper and throat using #400 wet/dry paper and follow up with a dremmel polish job

2. I then polished the powder funnel and throat to a mirror finish ( only polish no metal removal) and only the top

3. Then I ground off the corner on the failsafe linkage as it was hitting the lower part of the hopper causing it to jump and snap, this lead to inconsistent powder drops

4. I took both powder bars apart and knocked all the rough edges off with #400 wet/dry paper and polish with dremmel, again no metal removal just polish I also installed a MRDial in place of the factory bolt to make changing weights easy and then installed a #187 spring from ACE (trim to fit) to take up any slack.

5. As you can see the linkage does not touch anymore and this is what I wanted, I also put a primed cartridge in station #1 and pushed the handle forward as if seating a primer I then tightened the wingnut all the way up and then backed off just enough to make a credit card snug to slip between the spring coils

6. And in closing let me say that I am extremely pleased with the work I did, Dillon makes a superior product and the customer service is bar none, I now get almost no change in loads
I pulled (60) charges of long grain rifle powder set at 43.8 and avg 43.79 and as far as pistol there was maybe 1/10 over 50 rounds
You have to do your part and maintain a smooth range of motion and donot be tempted to tap and shake the hopper as this disturbs the settling also I pull at least (15) charges before I ever start weighing and if a adjustment is needed I make it with the handle in the down position to reduce powder upset.

And if you still have trouble call Dillon they are the best and make the best "Blue Koolaid" you can drink

I also have the new style powder hopper with the failsafe system, I ended up doing this and eliminated all snap and now very little to no variance in drops with ball or long grain powder

1. Polish the inside of the hopper and throat using #400 wet/dry paper and follow up with a dremmel polish job

2. I then polished the powder funnel and throat to a mirror finish ( only polish no metal removal) and only the top

3. Then I ground off the corner on the failsafe linkage as it was hitting the lower part of the hopper causing it to jump and snap, this lead to inconsistent powder drops

4. I took both powder bars apart and knocked all the rough edges off with #400 wet/dry paper and polish with dremmel, again no metal removal just polish I also installed a MRDial in place of the factory bolt to make changing weights easy and then installed a #187 spring from ACE (trim to fit) to take up any slack.

5. As you can see the linkage does not touch anymore and this is what I wanted, I also put a primed cartridge in station #1 and pushed the handle forward as if seating a primer I then tightened the wingnut all the way up and then backed off just enough to make a credit card snug to slip between the spring coils

6. And in closing let me say that I am extremely pleased with the work I did, Dillon makes a superior product and the customer service is bar none, I now get almost no change in loads
I pulled (60) charges of long grain rifle powder set at 43.8 and avg 43.79 and as far as pistol there was maybe 1/10 over 50 rounds
You have to do your part and maintain a smooth range of motion and donot be tempted to tap and shake the hopper as this disturbs the settling also I pull at least (15) charges before I ever start weighing and if a adjustment is needed I make it with the handle in the down position to reduce powder upset.

And if you still have trouble call Dillon they are the best and make the best "Blue Koolaid" you can drink