Quote from Reloader on June 10, 2015, 10:41 pm

Powder metering problems on a 1050

Hello. This is my first time posting on the Dillon forums, but I have always found the advice here to be EXTREMELY useful. So hopefully, someone can help me figure this one out....

I'm loading .460 Rowland cartridges from a brand new 4lb jug of Hodgdon's Longshot powder. I'm doing it on a Super 1050 that was previously setup to run .45 ACP, and it was running great. I'm trying to drop 13.2 grains. It will drop 13.2 grains, then on the very next drop or two, it will be considerably off. Then it will again be very close to 13.2. Then its way off again.....

My scale is the Dillon electronic scale. I've logged the last 43 powder drops with any machine adjustments that I made. The powder bar adjustment bolt was not turned during any of these drops. Please see below:

14.3
13.2
13.3
14.1
13.2
13.9
14.0
13.2
14.0
(Changed the powder fail safe rod and checked the blue wing nut tightness and topped off powder)
13.5
13.2
13.9
13.3
14.0
13.3
(Tightened the tool head main screw 3/8 turn)
13.9
13.2
14.1
13.2
13.9
13.2
14.0
13.3
14.0
13.2
14.0
13.2
13.1
14.0
(Total switch out of the entire powder system, and powder die. Cleaned the ball expander)
13.2
13.2
14.1
13.4
14.2
13.6
13.4
14.1
13.3
14.1
13.3
14.1
13.3
13.9

The blue wing nut on the powder fail safe rod is adjusted so the spring compresses 50%'ish. I have used two different fail safe rods and springs. The powder system is properly seated and securely mounted to the powder die, which is also firmly tightened to the tool head. The shell plate lock nut is secured and adjusted properly.

I currently have three Super 1050's which has allowed me to switch out parts in hopes of finding a solution. I first identified the problem while using a small powder bar then switched to a large powder bar. Then I used a brand new large powder bar from my spare parts kit. Then I switched out the entire powder system and tried the large bar powder systems from the other two Super 1050's, but the problem remains. The priming bar is running smoothly and not hanging up.

I have never had any metering issues with HS-6, TiteGroup, Blue Dot, or CFE223. This is the first time that I have ever used Longshot. I called Hodgdon this morning and they told me that the physical properties of Longshot are not unusual and that it should meter no differently than any of the other powders that I've had great success with.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Jerry