Trouble with .40 S&W
Quote from Reloader on October 21, 2020, 12:22 amI just started loading .40 S&W. When adjusted for full powder bar movement and slight belling of the case mouth, the powder funnel contacts the shellplate when there is no case in station two. There is enough contact to raise the powder measure .240" which moves the powder bar 9/16". This additional movement beyond the normal cycling of the powder bar is somehow packing an additional two to three tenth grains into the metering aperture. Ideally, the powder bar contacting the shellplate should not move the powder bar at all.
I can't think of an easy way to stop this from happening so I've been trying to dump these charges back into the hopper, but it's one more thing to have to remember. If I shorten the top of the funnel, I'll just have to screw the powder die down that much farther in order to get the case to flare and it won't fix anything. Shortening the bottom of the funnel would help, though. The distance that the funnel extends below the point where it begins to flare the case is about .240" less on the #F (9mm) funnel than on the #W (.40) which is about the amount of vertical travel of the powder measure that results from the funnel contacting the shellplate.
This is the first time I have used Hodgdon Universal (flake) powder. I'm sure that is a factor with the sliding back and forth causing additional packing of the flake powder. I consider the fact that this is happening to be a defect in the design of the funnel. I can't believe this, but I may have to cut-off the bottom of my new funnel and try to reshape it. It's thirty dollars for a new funnel with shipping. I see the .45 ACP funnel is long on the bottom, also. I hope this is not going to be a recurring problem.
I just started loading .40 S&W. When adjusted for full powder bar movement and slight belling of the case mouth, the powder funnel contacts the shellplate when there is no case in station two. There is enough contact to raise the powder measure .240" which moves the powder bar 9/16". This additional movement beyond the normal cycling of the powder bar is somehow packing an additional two to three tenth grains into the metering aperture. Ideally, the powder bar contacting the shellplate should not move the powder bar at all.
I can't think of an easy way to stop this from happening so I've been trying to dump these charges back into the hopper, but it's one more thing to have to remember. If I shorten the top of the funnel, I'll just have to screw the powder die down that much farther in order to get the case to flare and it won't fix anything. Shortening the bottom of the funnel would help, though. The distance that the funnel extends below the point where it begins to flare the case is about .240" less on the #F (9mm) funnel than on the #W (.40) which is about the amount of vertical travel of the powder measure that results from the funnel contacting the shellplate.
This is the first time I have used Hodgdon Universal (flake) powder. I'm sure that is a factor with the sliding back and forth causing additional packing of the flake powder. I consider the fact that this is happening to be a defect in the design of the funnel. I can't believe this, but I may have to cut-off the bottom of my new funnel and try to reshape it. It's thirty dollars for a new funnel with shipping. I see the .45 ACP funnel is long on the bottom, also. I hope this is not going to be a recurring problem.
Quote from Reloader on October 21, 2020, 3:57 amI cut off the bottom of the funnel. I still have about 1/8" of powder bar travel somehow, but the edge of the powder aperture no longer slides under the edge of the powder bar spacer. Anyway, charges are now never off by more than 0.1 grains, and believe me, I tried a lot. So problem completely solved and I'm done messing with it.
The bottom of the funnel was hard so I needed to use a carbide insert to cut it. Then I used a sharpening stone and 400 grit sandpaper to round the edge. I have to say withdrawal from the case is much easier now that the expander is half it's original length.
I cut off the bottom of the funnel. I still have about 1/8" of powder bar travel somehow, but the edge of the powder aperture no longer slides under the edge of the powder bar spacer. Anyway, charges are now never off by more than 0.1 grains, and believe me, I tried a lot. So problem completely solved and I'm done messing with it.
The bottom of the funnel was hard so I needed to use a carbide insert to cut it. Then I used a sharpening stone and 400 grit sandpaper to round the edge. I have to say withdrawal from the case is much easier now that the expander is half it's original length.
Quote from Reloader on May 30, 2021, 4:39 pm> problem completely solved and I'm done messing with it
I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more). There is now no movement of the powder bar when there is not case in station 2.
> problem completely solved and I'm done messing with it
I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more). There is now no movement of the powder bar when there is not case in station 2.
Quote from Reloader on June 12, 2021, 8:31 pm> I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more).
On second thought, I don't think that actually helped because I had to adjust the powder die down a little more to flare the case mouth. The Dillon funnel should be shorter, but it should be okay for 10mm
> I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more).
On second thought, I don't think that actually helped because I had to adjust the powder die down a little more to flare the case mouth. The Dillon funnel should be shorter, but it should be okay for 10mm
Quote from Reloader on June 12, 2021, 8:34 pm> I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more).
On second thought, I don't think that actually helped because I had to adjust the powder die down farther. Bottom line is, the Dillon powder funnel should be shorter by a half inch.
> I ended-up taking .080" off the drop tube of the powder dispenser when I had it off to polish it (more).
On second thought, I don't think that actually helped because I had to adjust the powder die down farther. Bottom line is, the Dillon powder funnel should be shorter by a half inch.