The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - New to Reloading, Weight Variation Question

dmazur · May 2, 2012, 01:42 PM

Point of clarification -

I use the 550B as a progressive press. The list of steps (above) was describing how it could be used as a turret press, if you wanted to watch each station while you are learning how the press works.

I also look into each case as I index the shellplate. I'm not going to spot a 0.2gr difference, but I'll definitely see a missing charge.

As much as possible, I reload without interruptions. However, if something happens and I have to leave the press, I leave the handle down. This means you are absolutely mid-stroke and you index after completing the stroke. It is one way of dealing with a manually-indexing press, to avoid double charging.

So far, the Dillon powder measures haven't given me much trouble. It throws +/- 0.1gr consistently. I had one event where I didn't assemble the linkage correctly.

I think of the periodic checks as a form of sampling for quality control, and not necessarily a proof that x many rounds are bad. As I said, it is better than reloading 500, doing a check at the end of that run and then wondering how many are bad...

Obviously, a powder check die is better. For 550B users, the choice is whether a combination seater/crimper would be as easy to use as separate dies, freeing a station.

May 2, 2012, 01:42 PM	#19
dmazur Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,310	Point of clarification - I use the 550B as a progressive press. The list of steps (above) was describing how it could be used as a turret press, if you wanted to watch each station while you are learning how the press works. I also look into each case as I index the shellplate. I'm not going to spot a 0.2gr difference, but I'll definitely see a missing charge. As much as possible, I reload without interruptions. However, if something happens and I have to leave the press, I leave the handle down. This means you are absolutely mid-stroke and you index after completing the stroke. It is one way of dealing with a manually-indexing press, to avoid double charging. So far, the Dillon powder measures haven't given me much trouble. It throws +/- 0.1gr consistently. I had one event where I didn't assemble the linkage correctly. I think of the periodic checks as a form of sampling for quality control, and not necessarily a proof that x many rounds are bad. As I said, it is better than reloading 500, doing a check at the end of that run and then wondering how many are bad... Obviously, a powder check die is better. For 550B users, the choice is whether a combination seater/crimper would be as easy to use as separate dies, freeing a station.