powder check dies? do you use them ?

Eazmo · June 18, 2011, 10:40 AM

Hi guys,

I'm getting geared up for .223 and was wondering about powder check dies.

1. How many of you use them?

2. Are some better than others?

3. Waste of time/money?

Thanks for your input and recommendations.

Crunchy Frog · June 18, 2011, 12:41 PM

If you are using a single stage press you don't need a powder check die. Buy a reloading block or two. It is easy to visually inspect the powder level of your charged cases under a good light.

I decided to get one when I bought my first progressive press after hearing stories of squibs and overcharged handloads.

After some research I chose the RCBS lockout die. It does not require that you watch the die to determine the powder level. If it detects an improper level (too low or too high) it will STOP your press whether you are watching the little indicator rod or not. The first time it "worked" it surprised me. Turns out a .357 case had gotten mixed in with my .38s. The powder level was OK but the die "realized" the case was too long.

RCBS and Hornady make a die with a rod that indicates the powder level (RCBS is a Powder Check die, Hornady calls it a Powder Cop die). Midway had the Hornady on clearance last time I was on the website. Both are OK but they depend on the operator watching the die as the charged case goes through.

Dillon makes a powder checker but I'm not sure it is suitable for non-Dillon applications without some modification.

dawico · June 18, 2011, 12:48 PM

I have the Hornady Powder Cop, and I like it. You do have to keep your eye on it. It saves me from having to lean over the press and look in the case, and I trust it.

The Lock Out Die seems to be popular, but I would be nervous to not watch it.

Eazmo · June 18, 2011, 01:44 PM

thanks guys,

how does the RCBS Lockout die stop your press?

does it only work on RCBS presses?

thanks again

RWNielsen · June 18, 2011, 04:48 PM

I load on a Dillon. I have a powder check alarm on each tool head. You can't miss it when it goes off, very loud. Works on both over and under charged cases. Also....it's right in front of you for a visual as well.

Nosparetime · June 19, 2011, 10:15 PM

I use them on my Dillon 1050's..

If you have an open station on a progressive press I see no reason the dillon system with an alarm would not work. It comes with a powder die that you need.

Guy B. Meredith · June 20, 2011, 02:20 AM

Not sure of the mechanism in the RCBS lockout die, but I ALWAYS use one and it has saved my bacon two or three times in the 25,000 or so rounds I've reloaded. That shows how often I've actually needed it, but those 2 or 3 errors could have been the fatal ones.

CherokeeT · June 20, 2011, 08:29 AM

I load a Dillon 650 and use their powder check alarm die setup. Works great.

Rifleman1776 · June 20, 2011, 08:30 AM

No die.
My powder check is a bright light and my eyes.
I do use a powder dropper die, very handy.

jmorris · June 20, 2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

If you have an open station on a progressive press I see no reason the dillon system with an alarm would not work. It comes with a powder die that you need.

It will only work on the 650 and 1050 unless you drill a hole in the press. The Dillon alarm has to contact the top of the ram to work. I use them but if you find a load that winds up being compressed you can use your eyeball. I use them mostly for small charges of fast powder that you can't see.

jmorris · June 20, 2011, 09:32 AM

If you look close you can see the extra rod and knurled knob that contacts the ram.

gregjc9 · June 20, 2011, 12:20 PM

My Hornady Powder Cop has been retired since I got my RCBS Lock Out die. Works great, no longer have to worry about keeping one eye on it and the other on something else.

NWPilgrim · June 20, 2011, 01:15 PM

If you are reloading on a progressive then it makes sense, especially to check for no powder. But in .223 many of the powders will nearly fill the case. Varget for instance pretty much goes above the shoulder and nearly to the case mouth on most loads. I can't think of a powder that would NOT overflow on a double charge in .223, so that would be obvious.

The concern would be no powder and a possible squib. With most powders it would be full enough to easily see on a single stage or turret press. But on a progressive you probably want one so as to slow down for inspection of powder.

FtrPilot · June 20, 2011, 09:14 PM

I use the RCBS lockout die on a Hornady LNL AP. It works great. I will never load without one.

The link below is a video of how the RCBS lockout die works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0OGD8oIYzU

Nosparetime · June 23, 2011, 01:30 AM

jmorris: The powder check system on my 1050 is different than what you have on your machine. My rod goes on the outside of the toolhead and has a washer that contacts the shell plate.

June 18, 2011, 10:40 AM	#1
Eazmo Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 164	powder check dies? do you use them ? Hi guys, I'm getting geared up for .223 and was wondering about powder check dies. 1. How many of you use them? 2. Are some better than others? 3. Waste of time/money? Thanks for your input and recommendations. __________________ I'm just an average man I drive a average van My dog ain't got no pedigree!

June 18, 2011, 01:44 PM	#4
Eazmo Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 164	thanks guys, how does the RCBS Lockout die stop your press? does it only work on RCBS presses? thanks again __________________ I'm just an average man I drive a average van My dog ain't got no pedigree!

June 18, 2011, 04:48 PM	#5
RWNielsen Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2009 Posts: 116	Powder Check I load on a Dillon. I have a powder check alarm on each tool head. You can't miss it when it goes off, very loud. Works on both over and under charged cases. Also....it's right in front of you for a visual as well. __________________ NRA Lifer

June 20, 2011, 02:20 AM	#7
Guy B. Meredith Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 1,581	Not sure of the mechanism in the RCBS lockout die, but I ALWAYS use one and it has saved my bacon two or three times in the 25,000 or so rounds I've reloaded. That shows how often I've actually needed it, but those 2 or 3 errors could have been the fatal ones. __________________ Smart Gun + 1 Battery + 3 Wires = Dumb Gun PC = Agenda driven groupthink filter on reality. Apostrophes denote ownership or missing letters NOT plurals!

June 20, 2011, 08:29 AM	#8
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I load a Dillon 650 and use their powder check alarm die setup. Works great. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

June 18, 2011, 12:41 PM	#2
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	If you are using a single stage press you don't need a powder check die. Buy a reloading block or two. It is easy to visually inspect the powder level of your charged cases under a good light. I decided to get one when I bought my first progressive press after hearing stories of squibs and overcharged handloads. After some research I chose the RCBS lockout die. It does not require that you watch the die to determine the powder level. If it detects an improper level (too low or too high) it will STOP your press whether you are watching the little indicator rod or not. The first time it "worked" it surprised me. Turns out a .357 case had gotten mixed in with my .38s. The powder level was OK but the die "realized" the case was too long. RCBS and Hornady make a die with a rod that indicates the powder level (RCBS is a Powder Check die, Hornady calls it a Powder Cop die). Midway had the Hornady on clearance last time I was on the website. Both are OK but they depend on the operator watching the die as the charged case goes through. Dillon makes a powder checker but I'm not sure it is suitable for non-Dillon applications without some modification.

June 18, 2011, 12:48 PM	#3
dawico Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2009 Location: Lampasas, TX Posts: 326	I have the Hornady Powder Cop, and I like it. You do have to keep your eye on it. It saves me from having to lean over the press and look in the case, and I trust it. The Lock Out Die seems to be popular, but I would be nervous to not watch it.

June 19, 2011, 10:15 PM	#6
Nosparetime Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 100	I use them on my Dillon 1050's.. If you have an open station on a progressive press I see no reason the dillon system with an alarm would not work. It comes with a powder die that you need.

June 20, 2011, 08:30 AM	#9
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	No die. My powder check is a bright light and my eyes. I do use a powder dropper die, very handy.

June 20, 2011, 09:32 AM	#11
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	If you look close you can see the extra rod and knurled knob that contacts the ram.

June 20, 2011, 12:20 PM	#12
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	My Hornady Powder Cop has been retired since I got my RCBS Lock Out die. Works great, no longer have to worry about keeping one eye on it and the other on something else. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg

June 20, 2011, 01:15 PM	#13
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	If you are reloading on a progressive then it makes sense, especially to check for no powder. But in .223 many of the powders will nearly fill the case. Varget for instance pretty much goes above the shoulder and nearly to the case mouth on most loads. I can't think of a powder that would NOT overflow on a double charge in .223, so that would be obvious. The concern would be no powder and a possible squib. With most powders it would be full enough to easily see on a single stage or turret press. But on a progressive you probably want one so as to slow down for inspection of powder. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

June 20, 2011, 09:14 PM	#14
FtrPilot Member Join Date: September 4, 2010 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 88	I use the RCBS lockout die on a Hornady LNL AP. It works great. I will never load without one. The link below is a video of how the RCBS lockout die works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0OGD8oIYzU

June 23, 2011, 01:30 AM	#15
Nosparetime Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 100	jmorris: The powder check system on my 1050 is different than what you have on your machine. My rod goes on the outside of the toolhead and has a washer that contacts the shell plate.