Problem with 45ACP shell plate alignment
Quote from Reloader on August 6, 2008, 5:57 pmFirst of all let me say that I'm still pretty new to the Dillon 550B. Just bought it a few months ago & started loading .223 on it with out any problems. The machine is a pleasure to use & cranking out ammo on the progressive is soooo much nicer than trying to do large volumes on a single stage.
After loading several thousand rounds of .223 I'd become very comfortable with the 550B & decide to add an extra caliber to the press. I ordered a new tool head, 45ACP caliber conversion, & Dillon dies.
As soon as I got everything set up for the new caliber I ran into problems when on the down stroke. The brass caught on the lip of the sizing die & I had to slightly turn the shell plate to get it to continue into the die. Then on the up stroke I ran into the same issue when seating the primer, had to slightly turn the plate again to seat the primer. After going through several rounds the problem appears to happen in the same index position every time. One of the positions never gives me any trouble, two of the others seem only slightly off, and the other is always out of alignment.
I've taken the conversion off several time, cleaned everything, readjusted it, but continue to get the same results. Is there any chance my caliber conversion is out of spec?
Thanks, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Terry
First of all let me say that I'm still pretty new to the Dillon 550B. Just bought it a few months ago & started loading .223 on it with out any problems. The machine is a pleasure to use & cranking out ammo on the progressive is soooo much nicer than trying to do large volumes on a single stage.
After loading several thousand rounds of .223 I'd become very comfortable with the 550B & decide to add an extra caliber to the press. I ordered a new tool head, 45ACP caliber conversion, & Dillon dies.
As soon as I got everything set up for the new caliber I ran into problems when on the down stroke. The brass caught on the lip of the sizing die & I had to slightly turn the shell plate to get it to continue into the die. Then on the up stroke I ran into the same issue when seating the primer, had to slightly turn the plate again to seat the primer. After going through several rounds the problem appears to happen in the same index position every time. One of the positions never gives me any trouble, two of the others seem only slightly off, and the other is always out of alignment.
I've taken the conversion off several time, cleaned everything, readjusted it, but continue to get the same results. Is there any chance my caliber conversion is out of spec?
Thanks, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Terry
Quote from Reloader on August 7, 2008, 12:03 amCheck to make sure that your shellplate has a #1 stamped on the top of it. Next loosen the lock ring of the die, place a brass case in station 1, pull the handle all the way down and leave it there. Next retighten the lock ring on the die and bring the operating handle all the way up. That should straighten things out but you also may want to look at the cartridge spring at station 1 to make sure it is adjusted correctly(just off the rim of the case).
Check to make sure that your shellplate has a #1 stamped on the top of it. Next loosen the lock ring of the die, place a brass case in station 1, pull the handle all the way down and leave it there. Next retighten the lock ring on the die and bring the operating handle all the way up. That should straighten things out but you also may want to look at the cartridge spring at station 1 to make sure it is adjusted correctly(just off the rim of the case).
Quote from Reloader on September 14, 2008, 6:56 amI'm having the same problem. Mine is with the .223 conversion kit. I called once and was told to exchange the shell plate with a new one from the dealer locally. I did that, but the new shell plate is EXACTLY like the old one. One shell slot puts the primer in SMOOTH and nice. 2 are rough, but work and 1 has to take some fiddling and then it still has to be forced. I'm ripping the sides off of my primers and getting crecent shaped slivers off of them. I tried the loosening the shell plate and tightening while the primer is in the pocket as noted above and get no change. SOMETHING has got to be out of alignment. Is it 2 shell plates from the same lot, or is it something in my press? This is driving me crazy.
New press, just set up and it's done it from the start. Any ideas would be appreciated.
I'm having the same problem. Mine is with the .223 conversion kit. I called once and was told to exchange the shell plate with a new one from the dealer locally. I did that, but the new shell plate is EXACTLY like the old one. One shell slot puts the primer in SMOOTH and nice. 2 are rough, but work and 1 has to take some fiddling and then it still has to be forced. I'm ripping the sides off of my primers and getting crecent shaped slivers off of them. I tried the loosening the shell plate and tightening while the primer is in the pocket as noted above and get no change. SOMETHING has got to be out of alignment. Is it 2 shell plates from the same lot, or is it something in my press? This is driving me crazy.
New press, just set up and it's done it from the start. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Quote from Reloader on November 15, 2008, 6:02 amI am having the same problem with my 45 Long colt set up.
I have been loading 45 ACP for quite some time, and it works fine.
I recently bought a set of dies and a conversion kit for 45 LC. After fiddling with it, I have found that one of the four shell cut outs on the shell plate won't let me push the case in far enough to align in the deprime/sizing die. It is consistantly the same cut out on the shell plate. It is as if the radius on the U is too tight. The other 3 work normally.
The obvious thing would be that I mixed up the shell plates, but the way I took it apart, that could not have happened, and I have double checked it anyway.
My 550 B is basically brand new, as I have only loaded probably 500 rounds of 45 ACP with it, and now about 50 rounds of 45 long colt. So it is not worn out by any means.
I am having the same problem with my 45 Long colt set up.
I have been loading 45 ACP for quite some time, and it works fine.
I recently bought a set of dies and a conversion kit for 45 LC. After fiddling with it, I have found that one of the four shell cut outs on the shell plate won't let me push the case in far enough to align in the deprime/sizing die. It is consistantly the same cut out on the shell plate. It is as if the radius on the U is too tight. The other 3 work normally.
The obvious thing would be that I mixed up the shell plates, but the way I took it apart, that could not have happened, and I have double checked it anyway.
My 550 B is basically brand new, as I have only loaded probably 500 rounds of 45 ACP with it, and now about 50 rounds of 45 long colt. So it is not worn out by any means.