Spilling Powder
Quote from Reloader on October 15, 2013, 6:49 pmI am having a problem with powder spilling on my shellplate and primer bar with my 550B. I am loading .308 Winchester using Winchester 748 powder (41.5 grains). Now it's not dumping mass quantities of powder perhaps 5-10 granule's per drop, but after 20 or 30 drops it's enough to prevent the primer bar from operating correctly. Now I have read all the posts on this forum concerning inconsistent power drops and spilling powder. I have the powder measure rod adjusted per Dillon instructions, and it enters the linkage from the left. I am using the B rifle powder funnel and no matter how fast or slow I charge the powder still spills. So last week I called and talked to a rep and he told me to completely adjust the blue wing nut all the way up then back it off one turn, I did that but then the shellplate didn't go all the way down. He then said he could send me a new powder measure but before he did that he wanted me to remove the reservoir and to make sure that the tube that was inserted into the bottom of the powder measure was flush and if it was to call back. I did that and it looks ok. I called back and talked to another rep and he said it sounded like the powder bar was the problem and he would send me a new one. I got that and in the adjusting process the first few drops of 30-35 grains there was no spillage, however above that I get spillage. So today I called and talked to a rep and he told me that there was nothing to be done and I was going to have to live with the spillage and to get some compressed air and every 25 or 30 drops I would have to clean the shellplate and primer bar. Not exactly what I was expecting so I figured I would throw it out here and see if it is just happening to me or if it happens to everyone who loads bottleneck rifle ammo with ball powder. Here's all the info, Dillon 550B with large powder bar, carbide dies, B rifle powder funnel, .308 Winchester, Winchester primers, Winchester 748 powder (41.5 grains). Thanks for the anticipated cooperation.
I am having a problem with powder spilling on my shellplate and primer bar with my 550B. I am loading .308 Winchester using Winchester 748 powder (41.5 grains). Now it's not dumping mass quantities of powder perhaps 5-10 granule's per drop, but after 20 or 30 drops it's enough to prevent the primer bar from operating correctly. Now I have read all the posts on this forum concerning inconsistent power drops and spilling powder. I have the powder measure rod adjusted per Dillon instructions, and it enters the linkage from the left. I am using the B rifle powder funnel and no matter how fast or slow I charge the powder still spills. So last week I called and talked to a rep and he told me to completely adjust the blue wing nut all the way up then back it off one turn, I did that but then the shellplate didn't go all the way down. He then said he could send me a new powder measure but before he did that he wanted me to remove the reservoir and to make sure that the tube that was inserted into the bottom of the powder measure was flush and if it was to call back. I did that and it looks ok. I called back and talked to another rep and he said it sounded like the powder bar was the problem and he would send me a new one. I got that and in the adjusting process the first few drops of 30-35 grains there was no spillage, however above that I get spillage. So today I called and talked to a rep and he told me that there was nothing to be done and I was going to have to live with the spillage and to get some compressed air and every 25 or 30 drops I would have to clean the shellplate and primer bar. Not exactly what I was expecting so I figured I would throw it out here and see if it is just happening to me or if it happens to everyone who loads bottleneck rifle ammo with ball powder. Here's all the info, Dillon 550B with large powder bar, carbide dies, B rifle powder funnel, .308 Winchester, Winchester primers, Winchester 748 powder (41.5 grains). Thanks for the anticipated cooperation.
Quote from Reloader on October 16, 2013, 5:07 pmThis sounds more like static cling than anything else. First, do be sure the B funnel is installed groove-end up.
Cut a long, narrow strip from a dryer anti-static sheet. Run it down inside of the powder measure until it reaches the metal base. Found the rest over the top and secure it with a piece of tape.
I suspect this will correct the issue.
This sounds more like static cling than anything else. First, do be sure the B funnel is installed groove-end up.
Cut a long, narrow strip from a dryer anti-static sheet. Run it down inside of the powder measure until it reaches the metal base. Found the rest over the top and secure it with a piece of tape.
I suspect this will correct the issue.
Quote from Reloader on October 17, 2013, 3:50 pmThanks for the response. The powder funnel is in correctly with the groove at the top. I have installed a strip of static cling material long enough to lay flat on the hopper base after powder is loaded. Should a result be noticeable immediately or is there a time frame before results will show up ie. less or no more spillage? I have also polished the inside of the hopper. It appears to me that powder is laying on the top ridge of the powder funnel, not a lot perhaps 5-10 granules that I noticed when I removed the powder measure. When I am on the upswing with the handle after charging the last inch or so of travel is when the powder spills. If this is normal for the 550 I will have to live with it and I will stop looking for a problem that might be inherent to the press. I guess that is the question here, should I keep looking for a problem with the press or is it just the way it is? Thanks for your help.
Jeff
Thanks for the response. The powder funnel is in correctly with the groove at the top. I have installed a strip of static cling material long enough to lay flat on the hopper base after powder is loaded. Should a result be noticeable immediately or is there a time frame before results will show up ie. less or no more spillage? I have also polished the inside of the hopper. It appears to me that powder is laying on the top ridge of the powder funnel, not a lot perhaps 5-10 granules that I noticed when I removed the powder measure. When I am on the upswing with the handle after charging the last inch or so of travel is when the powder spills. If this is normal for the 550 I will have to live with it and I will stop looking for a problem that might be inherent to the press. I guess that is the question here, should I keep looking for a problem with the press or is it just the way it is? Thanks for your help.
Jeff
Quote from Reloader on November 13, 2013, 11:16 pmI always thought spilled powder was a by-product of the Dillon system, but I have managed to reduce it somewhat by not running the press handle too fast and indexing the shellplate too quickly. Even when operating my 550 smoothly I still get a few grains of powder here and there. I keep a trashcan under the press and everytime I reload the primer magazine, I use a small brush to clear away debris and powder granules that have collected around the shellplate.
I always thought spilled powder was a by-product of the Dillon system, but I have managed to reduce it somewhat by not running the press handle too fast and indexing the shellplate too quickly. Even when operating my 550 smoothly I still get a few grains of powder here and there. I keep a trashcan under the press and everytime I reload the primer magazine, I use a small brush to clear away debris and powder granules that have collected around the shellplate.
Quote from Reloader on November 14, 2013, 12:58 amI have the powder measure rod adjusted per Dillon instructions, and it enters the linkage from the left. Mine enters from the right on 6 different cal. I don't spill no powder. Go figure.
I have the powder measure rod adjusted per Dillon instructions, and it enters the linkage from the left. Mine enters from the right on 6 different cal. I don't spill no powder. Go figure.
Quote from Reloader on December 7, 2013, 5:42 pmFirst off let me say I love my Dillon 550. The service and help by the Dillon staff is absolutely the best and is an example of how a business should provide customer service and customer satisfaction. They sent me a new powder bar no questions asked to try and help me solve my problem, but nothing cured the spillage. I realized that the powder drop just couldn't help but spill the Winchester 748 ball powder. I believe some just gets caught on top of the powder funnel and then just spills onto the shell plate. Now myself personally I don't use my 550 as a progressive when I load .308 Winchester, I load one round at a time. I am retired so I don't need to load 300 rounds an hour, I can load them at me leisure. I am looking for a powder charge as accurate as possible so I wound up buying an electronic scale and powder dispenser combo and now I get exactly 41.5 grains per load and I hand dump each charge. This works for me and makes my reloading experience more fun.
First off let me say I love my Dillon 550. The service and help by the Dillon staff is absolutely the best and is an example of how a business should provide customer service and customer satisfaction. They sent me a new powder bar no questions asked to try and help me solve my problem, but nothing cured the spillage. I realized that the powder drop just couldn't help but spill the Winchester 748 ball powder. I believe some just gets caught on top of the powder funnel and then just spills onto the shell plate. Now myself personally I don't use my 550 as a progressive when I load .308 Winchester, I load one round at a time. I am retired so I don't need to load 300 rounds an hour, I can load them at me leisure. I am looking for a powder charge as accurate as possible so I wound up buying an electronic scale and powder dispenser combo and now I get exactly 41.5 grains per load and I hand dump each charge. This works for me and makes my reloading experience more fun.
Quote from Reloader on December 31, 2013, 9:49 pmI also have spillage with the Winchester 748 powder. Kind of a shame that that is just the way it is. I'm almost ready to start doing the powder manually. Not what I wanted a progressive loader for.
I also have spillage with the Winchester 748 powder. Kind of a shame that that is just the way it is. I'm almost ready to start doing the powder manually. Not what I wanted a progressive loader for.
Quote from Reloader on January 4, 2015, 6:27 pmI have experienced this same problem with several calibers and the 650 model also. My fix is to hang weights off the powder rod where the spring and wing nut is. About a pound is all that is required. I use a small plastic bag, spare bullets and the clip from the Remington dehumidifier to hook on the wing nut. I can provide pictures if required. The weight pulls the powder bar closed before the shell leaves the funnel/die and thereby keeps the opening closed. Periodic cleaning helps also.
reelect no one.
I have experienced this same problem with several calibers and the 650 model also. My fix is to hang weights off the powder rod where the spring and wing nut is. About a pound is all that is required. I use a small plastic bag, spare bullets and the clip from the Remington dehumidifier to hook on the wing nut. I can provide pictures if required. The weight pulls the powder bar closed before the shell leaves the funnel/die and thereby keeps the opening closed. Periodic cleaning helps also.
reelect no one.