Dillon 550B - Page 3

gdeal · August 13, 2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

In any event a double charge can kill you at worse. Here is an example of a slightly overloaded round, my first ever.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=367060

wow man. that's scary. maybe I shouldn't reload now.

dmazur · August 14, 2009, 12:07 AM

Quote:

You can get distracted at the wrong time and never notice.

I used to be paranoid about double charging on the 550B, but I have since adopted a practice which I believe should be used by everyone who uses this press -

Never turn your back on the press with the handle up. If you absolutely have to be interrupted, leave the handle down (mid-stroke). Then, when you come back to the reloading area after taking care of whatever was more important (is there such a thing?), you return the handle to the "up" position, index, insert brass at station 1 / bullet at station 3 and continue.

IMO, this simple safety practice makes it virtually impossible to pull the handle twice without indexing.

(As every stroke seats a bullet, the presence of a seated bullet at station 3 is another clue that you've completed a stroke and need to index...)

BigJimP · August 14, 2009, 02:06 PM

Looking into a case is easier said than done ( unless you remove every case you load from the press - then put it back ) and depending on the powder you use, can you tell if its off by 0.3 gr - probably not .....

No press is fool-proof / you can mess up on any press - get a squib round or get a double charge or inaccurate powder drops ----- guys that don't read their manuals, they might be sloppy in setup, they leave a set screw loose, they short cycle the press ...... all kinds of things....

To some extent you can help yourself by picking a bulky powder - so if you double charge it / it'll overflow the case or be real obvious .

A no drop is dangerous / and you have to look in every case ( or rig a mirror so you can look in ) - or use a powder check. Powder check systems are not infallable either - you have to understand them, adjust them, and use them .....

Reloading is a very safe practice / if done with the proper attitude and good quality controls. It isn't for everyone .....but it isn't difficult either if you follow good procedures, check things carefully and use common sense.

August 14, 2009, 02:06 PM	#53
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Looking into a case is easier said than done ( unless you remove every case you load from the press - then put it back ) and depending on the powder you use, can you tell if its off by 0.3 gr - probably not ..... No press is fool-proof / you can mess up on any press - get a squib round or get a double charge or inaccurate powder drops ----- guys that don't read their manuals, they might be sloppy in setup, they leave a set screw loose, they short cycle the press ...... all kinds of things.... To some extent you can help yourself by picking a bulky powder - so if you double charge it / it'll overflow the case or be real obvious . A no drop is dangerous / and you have to look in every case ( or rig a mirror so you can look in ) - or use a powder check. Powder check systems are not infallable either - you have to understand them, adjust them, and use them ..... Reloading is a very safe practice / if done with the proper attitude and good quality controls. It isn't for everyone .....but it isn't difficult either if you follow good procedures, check things carefully and use common sense.