Dillion Square deal B problem-Maybe

1Longbow · May 29, 2016, 08:14 PM

What do you other progressive reloader do to make sure you are getting powder dropped as you reload? I got a new Square Deal B and in the first 50 reloads ,I had 3 squib loads. You guys look and every shell to see if the powder dropped? Thank you

rebs · May 30, 2016, 06:15 AM

I do both look in the cases and also I use and RCBS lockout die for pistol rounds and a Hornady powder cop for rifle rounds. Both will indicate if you have an over or under or no charge of powder. I would not reload without them. With 45 acp it is easy to look in each case, 38, 357 and rifle loads not so easy to see the powder.

9x45 · May 30, 2016, 08:36 AM

OP, something else is wrong. I've loaded over 230,000 rounds on my old SD in 15 years and never had a squib. Plus there is no room for a check die on a SD, it doesn't have enough stations or use standard 7/8-"14 dies. Most guys running progressives rig a small light to look in the case. Make sure your powder hopper is secure to the powder thru die, if that is not right, it can cause issues. And if something messes up during loading, like you get a crimped primer case stuck at the priming station, then pull the cases from all the stations and put them aside. That is usually where people get in trouble. Also make sure your fail safe linkage is properly adjusted. Dillon progressives will only throw charges down to about +/- .1 grains, so don't look for more than that, and the OAL will vary (full stations) about +/- .003". For more info, go to the Dillion Reloading forum at BrianEnos. com. The Dillon rep is on the forum.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=78

PA-Joe · May 30, 2016, 03:49 PM

Make sure your powder tube has a baffle. Then you have to learn how to do an extra tap on the up stoke and then an extrat tap on the down stoke. Did you clean the inside of the measure piston?

**Unclenick** · May 30, 2016, 04:04 PM

Make sure you run the handle all the way down against the stops at each load cycle. Failing to do that can prevent the slide bar from moving far enough to drop powder properly. Shaking the hopper should not be required as the whole machine shakes during operation, but if you are using a large flake powder, like Unique, tap it anyway to make sure the powder hasn't bridged and blocked itself from dropping into the measure. Don't try for super light charges with a coarse flake powder like that, either. You can make the powder charge cavity small enough that it more likely to bridge and block dropping in.

sawdustdad · May 30, 2016, 08:28 PM

I, too, have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on three square deal presses and never had a squib.

You are doing something wrong or your press is defective.

jmorris · May 31, 2016, 08:55 AM

Take your powder measure off and make sure the plastic bushing is still in there.

If it's not that is your problem. You can find it in the last can you returned powder to.

But yes, if you visually verify each powder charge you won't have squibs. If can be difficult to see down inside tall dark cases and mirrors/lights can help out a lot.

g.willikers · May 31, 2016, 09:35 AM

Did you check to see of the powder drop slide is working free and easy?
And the return spring is in place?
A good cleaning to keep it running back and forth smoothly might be occasionally needed.
And a little light shining down on the bullet seating position is definitely a good idea on any press.
The mirror is a really good idea, too.
Might add that one to mine.

jmorris · May 31, 2016, 12:26 PM

Depends on how old his is but they quit putting return springs on the powder measures a long time ago. Actually pretty sure before the "B" revision.

The original linkage is the black one, then they came out with the failsafe rod and switched to the one on the measure, you didn't need the return springs at that point.

The ones they send out now are different to prevent double charges from a short stroke.

One thing they all have in common is that they need the plastic bushing to operate correctly.

kerreckt · May 31, 2016, 03:59 PM

I use a 550B and do look into each reload when I place the projectile to be seated. It has become habit. My stool height, the light setup are all about being able to easily check the powder level when placing the projectile to be seated.

9x45 · June 1, 2016, 10:47 AM

jmorris, yes, the newer SD's come with the Harley shifter linkage, and like a Harley, it shakes and makes allot of noise. I took all that off and went back to the springs, and now it acts like a Gold Wing, you could put a nickle on edge on the press and it won't move and you can't even hear it cycle.....

hogcowboy · June 1, 2016, 12:20 PM

I use a little brass hammer that tap each powder drop with. Never had a problem once I started doing that.

9x45 · June 1, 2016, 02:19 PM

hog, what powder?

**Unclenick** · June 1, 2016, 04:20 PM

Allow me to add emphasis to what Jmorris said about the plastic bushing. I had one fall out, unnoticed, one time, and not only got near squibs but near double-charges, as if the powder for one load were hanging up on top of the drop tube, then getting added to the powder charge for the next round. I should add that I was using a drop tube/operating rod that I'd made myself to a Lyman M type profile and that had a flatter top portion, so I don't know this will happen with a factory rod. But irregular powder charges in some degree can happen with one and never a positive.

When I found the errant bushing on the floor and figured out what it was and put it back, the problems stopped. The symptom during operation, other than the irregular charges, was rocking by the measure during operation. If you ever see that, stop and look.

9x45 · June 2, 2016, 09:40 AM

Longbow, your SD should cycle like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6ocXxHqLpY

May 29, 2016, 08:14 PM	#1
1Longbow Member Join Date: April 4, 2006 Posts: 43	Dillion Square deal B problem-Maybe What do you other progressive reloader do to make sure you are getting powder dropped as you reload? I got a new Square Deal B and in the first 50 reloads ,I had 3 squib loads. You guys look and every shell to see if the powder dropped? Thank you

May 30, 2016, 08:36 AM	#3
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	OP, something else is wrong. I've loaded over 230,000 rounds on my old SD in 15 years and never had a squib. Plus there is no room for a check die on a SD, it doesn't have enough stations or use standard 7/8-"14 dies. Most guys running progressives rig a small light to look in the case. Make sure your powder hopper is secure to the powder thru die, if that is not right, it can cause issues. And if something messes up during loading, like you get a crimped primer case stuck at the priming station, then pull the cases from all the stations and put them aside. That is usually where people get in trouble. Also make sure your fail safe linkage is properly adjusted. Dillon progressives will only throw charges down to about +/- .1 grains, so don't look for more than that, and the OAL will vary (full stations) about +/- .003". For more info, go to the Dillion Reloading forum at BrianEnos. com. The Dillon rep is on the forum. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=78 __________________ Sometimes my Glock forgets where to look.....

May 30, 2016, 04:04 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Make sure you run the handle all the way down against the stops at each load cycle. Failing to do that can prevent the slide bar from moving far enough to drop powder properly. Shaking the hopper should not be required as the whole machine shakes during operation, but if you are using a large flake powder, like Unique, tap it anyway to make sure the powder hasn't bridged and blocked itself from dropping into the measure. Don't try for super light charges with a coarse flake powder like that, either. You can make the powder charge cavity small enough that it more likely to bridge and block dropping in. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 31, 2016, 08:55 AM	#7
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	Take your powder measure off and make sure the plastic bushing is still in there. If it's not that is your problem. You can find it in the last can you returned powder to. But yes, if you visually verify each powder charge you won't have squibs. If can be difficult to see down inside tall dark cases and mirrors/lights can help out a lot. Last edited by jmorris; May 31, 2016 at 09:02 AM.

May 31, 2016, 09:35 AM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Did you check to see of the powder drop slide is working free and easy? And the return spring is in place? A good cleaning to keep it running back and forth smoothly might be occasionally needed. And a little light shining down on the bullet seating position is definitely a good idea on any press. The mirror is a really good idea, too. Might add that one to mine. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 30, 2016, 06:15 AM	#2
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	I do both look in the cases and also I use and RCBS lockout die for pistol rounds and a Hornady powder cop for rifle rounds. Both will indicate if you have an over or under or no charge of powder. I would not reload without them. With 45 acp it is easy to look in each case, 38, 357 and rifle loads not so easy to see the powder.

May 30, 2016, 03:49 PM	#4
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	Make sure your powder tube has a baffle. Then you have to learn how to do an extra tap on the up stoke and then an extrat tap on the down stoke. Did you clean the inside of the measure piston?

May 30, 2016, 08:28 PM	#6
sawdustdad Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2014 Location: Virginia Posts: 484	I, too, have loaded tens of thousands of rounds on three square deal presses and never had a squib. You are doing something wrong or your press is defective.

May 31, 2016, 12:26 PM	#9
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	Depends on how old his is but they quit putting return springs on the powder measures a long time ago. Actually pretty sure before the "B" revision. The original linkage is the black one, then they came out with the failsafe rod and switched to the one on the measure, you didn't need the return springs at that point. The ones they send out now are different to prevent double charges from a short stroke. One thing they all have in common is that they need the plastic bushing to operate correctly.

May 31, 2016, 03:59 PM	#10
kerreckt Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2011 Location: SE VA. Posts: 216	I use a 550B and do look into each reload when I place the projectile to be seated. It has become habit. My stool height, the light setup are all about being able to easily check the powder level when placing the projectile to be seated.

June 1, 2016, 10:47 AM	#11
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	jmorris, yes, the newer SD's come with the Harley shifter linkage, and like a Harley, it shakes and makes allot of noise. I took all that off and went back to the springs, and now it acts like a Gold Wing, you could put a nickle on edge on the press and it won't move and you can't even hear it cycle..... __________________ Sometimes my Glock forgets where to look.....

June 1, 2016, 12:20 PM	#12
hogcowboy Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2010 Location: N33 32.941 W 97 53.546 Texas Posts: 231	I use a little brass hammer that tap each powder drop with. Never had a problem once I started doing that. __________________ Do things as if your life depends on it. It COULD! American Legion Rider

June 1, 2016, 02:19 PM	#13
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	hog, what powder? __________________ Sometimes my Glock forgets where to look.....

June 1, 2016, 04:20 PM	#14
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Allow me to add emphasis to what Jmorris said about the plastic bushing. I had one fall out, unnoticed, one time, and not only got near squibs but near double-charges, as if the powder for one load were hanging up on top of the drop tube, then getting added to the powder charge for the next round. I should add that I was using a drop tube/operating rod that I'd made myself to a Lyman M type profile and that had a flatter top portion, so I don't know this will happen with a factory rod. But irregular powder charges in some degree can happen with one and never a positive. When I found the errant bushing on the floor and figured out what it was and put it back, the problems stopped. The symptom during operation, other than the irregular charges, was rocking by the measure during operation. If you ever see that, stop and look. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

June 2, 2016, 09:40 AM	#15
9x45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2000 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,089	Longbow, your SD should cycle like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6ocXxHqLpY __________________ Sometimes my Glock forgets where to look.....