Do you have multiple powder measures for your progressive press?

rajbcpa · March 12, 2013, 03:50 PM

I just bought a second powder measure for my 550B. I plan to use one powder measure for large rifle cases and one measure for small cases.

This seems logical and I assume it can help save time when moving back and forth from small to large cases....

Swapping out the large and small powder shuttle in the Dillon powder measure is a PITA, so this is a solution to that, I suppose.

Anyway, it does not seem to be a waste of $. It took about 6 weeks to get this powder measure from Dillon - yikes!

wogpotter · March 12, 2013, 03:56 PM

Yes, I have 2.
One (The original factory Dillon) I use for stick & ball powder, (IMR 3031 or WW748BR) mostly when loading rifle cases. The other, an old Lyman #55 I use with an adapter when loading fine grain or flake powder such as Unique or H-110 for pistol loads, as it suits the material better.

Shootest · March 12, 2013, 04:25 PM

I have 7 powder measures for my XL650 (same one as RL550b) but that is just because I am to lazy to adjust them all the time.

CrustyFN · March 12, 2013, 04:55 PM

I have two with my Dillon 550, one with the small bar and one with the large bar.

medalguy · March 12, 2013, 06:43 PM

Well now, I have five Dillons, each dedicated to a specific caliber (45, 9, .223, .308, .30-06) and each is left set up until I'm ready to load that caliber again. Very simple, nothing moves. I watched yard sales and gun shows to find good deals on presses and bought them when I found them.

kdemers58 · March 12, 2013, 06:59 PM

I have 4 two are dillion for the rl550 one is a lyman the last is a rcbs i use the lyman for my single stage orange crusher good luck to the newbee's

Kevin Rohrer · March 12, 2013, 07:35 PM

I have several Dillon's for my Dillon; one for each pistol caliber. I also run a single Quick-Measure for my rifle reloading. It handles all powders equally well.

BillM · March 12, 2013, 08:06 PM

Only running pistol calibers on my 550B on a regular basis. 3 toolheads set up
complete with powder measure--9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP

jmorris · March 12, 2013, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Swapping out the large and small powder shuttle in the Dillon powder measure is a PITA, so this is a solution to that, I suppose.

It's only one bolt.

I think I have 7 or 8 Dillon measures but 6 of them are always on a press have a separate powder bar for every load though.

Ronbert · March 13, 2013, 04:43 PM

1 550b

2 Dillon powder measures each on my most-used pistol caliber toolhead setups

1 RCBS measure with the adapter rig that lets me use it with the Dillon powder drop die which also works in my single-stage press or wherever I want to use it.

bamiller · March 13, 2013, 05:58 PM

I have a Dillon RL550B with a separate powder measure each for 9mm, 40 S&W, & 45 ACP. Also switching my 45 ACP over to small primer. Now all I have to do to change caliber is pull the two pins and switch out the tool heads containing the dies and measure.

TATER · March 14, 2013, 11:45 AM

Yes, I have one set for every caliber. I am Lazy as well.

schmellba99 · March 14, 2013, 11:53 AM

Apparently I'm the only non-dillon dude on this thread.

I have an LnL and use the micrometer inserts on my powder drop. Swapping them out is about a 30 second task (complete rotor and all). I keep micrometer settings noted in my load book, set to that and usually make a tweak or two - then start rocking and rolling. Easy peasy.

FrankenMauser · March 14, 2013, 03:35 PM

I have 3 for my 550B.
I generally use one for 9x19mm, one for .45 Auto, and the third gets used for everything else - usually .380 Auto.

However... I still have some extra "change-over" time when going to .380 Auto, because I don't own a proper .380 cartridge conversion.
Instead, I use the .223/5.56 shell plate and 9x19mm powder funnel / expander. (I also use a .38 Special "Wadcutter Only" die for seating... but that's a different matter.

)

If I had more money lying around, I'd have a full quick-change kit (including powder measure) for each cartridge conversion... but I still haven't found a money tree.

luis7 · March 15, 2013, 04:17 AM

I have 4 power measure for my dillon 550 with tool head
One for 357, one for 38 sp an two for 9mm (one for target bullet an other for plinking bullet)
I dont like adjust its for diferents caliber or bullets.
Greetings from España.

greentick · March 15, 2013, 01:02 PM

This is a great thread.

I have been loading on a 550B for 19yrs now and have JUST ONE POWDER MEASURE with the pistol, rifle and magnum powder bars. Just got all the stuff for my EIGHTH caliber.

"...but honey, all my friends are doing it..."

Waldog · March 15, 2013, 01:30 PM

I have ONE powder measure for my LNL!

It's interesting to see that some reloaders have 6-7 powder measures for the same press.

rodfac · March 15, 2013, 03:28 PM

Yes...I have two Dillon 550B's for reloading hand gun ammunition. One is permanently set for small pistol primers and the other for large. Each press also has its dedicated Dillon powder measure. This setup minimizes caliber change time and after 50+ years of reloading, I figgur I'm worth it!

For rifle, I use an RCBS Uniflow with both big and small micrometer drops.

Rod

greentick · March 15, 2013, 03:54 PM

that's what I'm sayin... time to buy another

McClintock · March 15, 2013, 10:36 PM

I have 2 powder measures for my Dillon 550B, and one powder bar for each caliber I load (5 calibers so far; 9mm, .38 special, .223 Remington, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .220 Swift), so I can swap out the powder bar fairly quickly and not have to adjust the measure each time. I do weigh a powder drop before I start loading, just to make sure nothing shifted since the last time the powder bar was used.

Cheers!
McClintock

March 12, 2013, 03:50 PM	#1
rajbcpa Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2012 Posts: 321	Do you have multiple powder measures for your progressive press? I just bought a second powder measure for my 550B. I plan to use one powder measure for large rifle cases and one measure for small cases. This seems logical and I assume it can help save time when moving back and forth from small to large cases.... Swapping out the large and small powder shuttle in the Dillon powder measure is a PITA, so this is a solution to that, I suppose. Anyway, it does not seem to be a waste of $. It took about 6 weeks to get this powder measure from Dillon - yikes!

March 12, 2013, 03:56 PM	#2
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Yes, I have 2. One (The original factory Dillon) I use for stick & ball powder, (IMR 3031 or WW748BR) mostly when loading rifle cases. The other, an old Lyman #55 I use with an adapter when loading fine grain or flake powder such as Unique or H-110 for pistol loads, as it suits the material better. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 12, 2013, 04:25 PM	#3
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I have 7 powder measures for my XL650 (same one as RL550b) but that is just because I am to lazy to adjust them all the time. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

March 12, 2013, 04:55 PM	#4
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I have two with my Dillon 550, one with the small bar and one with the large bar. __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

March 12, 2013, 07:35 PM	#7
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	I have several Dillon's for my Dillon; one for each pistol caliber. I also run a single Quick-Measure for my rifle reloading. It handles all powders equally well. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer

March 12, 2013, 06:43 PM	#5
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	Well now, I have five Dillons, each dedicated to a specific caliber (45, 9, .223, .308, .30-06) and each is left set up until I'm ready to load that caliber again. Very simple, nothing moves. I watched yard sales and gun shows to find good deals on presses and bought them when I found them.

March 12, 2013, 06:59 PM	#6
kdemers58 Member Join Date: February 9, 2013 Posts: 27	I have 4 two are dillion for the rl550 one is a lyman the last is a rcbs i use the lyman for my single stage orange crusher good luck to the newbee's

March 12, 2013, 08:06 PM	#8
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Only running pistol calibers on my 550B on a regular basis. 3 toolheads set up complete with powder measure--9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP

March 13, 2013, 04:43 PM	#10
Ronbert Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2009 Location: Ft. Collins, CO. Posts: 398	1 550b 2 Dillon powder measures each on my most-used pistol caliber toolhead setups 1 RCBS measure with the adapter rig that lets me use it with the Dillon powder drop die which also works in my single-stage press or wherever I want to use it.

March 13, 2013, 05:58 PM	#11
bamiller Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 455	I have a Dillon RL550B with a separate powder measure each for 9mm, 40 S&W, & 45 ACP. Also switching my 45 ACP over to small primer. Now all I have to do to change caliber is pull the two pins and switch out the tool heads containing the dies and measure.

March 14, 2013, 11:45 AM	#12
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	XL 650 Yes, I have one set for every caliber. I am Lazy as well.

March 14, 2013, 11:53 AM	#13
schmellba99 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Posts: 803	Apparently I'm the only non-dillon dude on this thread. I have an LnL and use the micrometer inserts on my powder drop. Swapping them out is about a 30 second task (complete rotor and all). I keep micrometer settings noted in my load book, set to that and usually make a tweak or two - then start rocking and rolling. Easy peasy.

March 14, 2013, 03:35 PM	#14
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,421	I have 3 for my 550B. I generally use one for 9x19mm, one for .45 Auto, and the third gets used for everything else - usually .380 Auto. However... I still have some extra "change-over" time when going to .380 Auto, because I don't own a proper .380 cartridge conversion. Instead, I use the .223/5.56 shell plate and 9x19mm powder funnel / expander. (I also use a .38 Special "Wadcutter Only" die for seating... but that's a different matter. ) If I had more money lying around, I'd have a full quick-change kit (including powder measure) for each cartridge conversion... but I still haven't found a money tree. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

March 15, 2013, 04:17 AM	#15
luis7 Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Location: ESPAÑA Posts: 39	I have 4 power measure for my dillon 550 with tool head One for 357, one for 38 sp an two for 9mm (one for target bullet an other for plinking bullet) I dont like adjust its for diferents caliber or bullets. Greetings from España.

March 15, 2013, 01:02 PM	#16
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	This is a great thread. I have been loading on a 550B for 19yrs now and have JUST ONE POWDER MEASURE with the pistol, rifle and magnum powder bars. Just got all the stuff for my EIGHTH caliber. "...but honey, all my friends are doing it..." __________________ nous défions

March 15, 2013, 01:30 PM	#17
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	I have ONE powder measure for my LNL! It's interesting to see that some reloaders have 6-7 powder measures for the same press. __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

March 15, 2013, 03:28 PM	#18
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Yes...I have two Dillon 550B's for reloading hand gun ammunition. One is permanently set for small pistol primers and the other for large. Each press also has its dedicated Dillon powder measure. This setup minimizes caliber change time and after 50+ years of reloading, I figgur I'm worth it! For rifle, I use an RCBS Uniflow with both big and small micrometer drops. Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

March 15, 2013, 03:54 PM	#19
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	that's what I'm sayin... time to buy another __________________ nous défions

March 15, 2013, 10:36 PM	#20
McClintock Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2008 Location: The Bald Prairie of Southern Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 305	I have 2 powder measures for my Dillon 550B, and one powder bar for each caliber I load (5 calibers so far; 9mm, .38 special, .223 Remington, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .220 Swift), so I can swap out the powder bar fairly quickly and not have to adjust the measure each time. I do weigh a powder drop before I start loading, just to make sure nothing shifted since the last time the powder bar was used. Cheers! McClintock

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