Zekernst
H & H
glad to help.
Soon To Be New Reloader
- Thread starter foghorn918
- Start date
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
WooHoo......550 arrived today, took about 3 weeks from order date. Now gotta figure out what to do with it 
Been gathering what I can components wise, hope to get this going very soon.
Think I'll get into one of Zeke's classes for a first hand look see for the reloading process.
Been gathering what I can components wise, hope to get this going very soon.
Think I'll get into one of Zeke's classes for a first hand look see for the reloading process.
technetium-99m
Mighty Righty
Great choice for a first press, now add components and start pulling the handle like a blind man looking for a nickle!
dennishoddy
Moderator
You will appreciate the lower cost ammo. Congrats on getting into something that will test your mind and your spare time. Lol!
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
Worked on putting a bench together today. Here was the plan:
Here it is so far:
Worked my dims out so I can rip 2 (3/4") sheets of plywood 33" wide double layer the top and the two 15" wide pieces left will be my bottom shelf.
Local builder let me go thru his throw away scrap pile after framers and roofer left the job site, so I got all the lumber for free. Spent about 1 1/2 hours pulling nails and separating pieces nailed together. Not the best looking wood, but it's in the garage and it was free so all I'll be out is the cost of the plywood!
Here it is so far:
Worked my dims out so I can rip 2 (3/4") sheets of plywood 33" wide double layer the top and the two 15" wide pieces left will be my bottom shelf.
Local builder let me go thru his throw away scrap pile after framers and roofer left the job site, so I got all the lumber for free. Spent about 1 1/2 hours pulling nails and separating pieces nailed together. Not the best looking wood, but it's in the garage and it was free so all I'll be out is the cost of the plywood!
Matt1911
Cyrwus Jr.
Shoot yeah Steve, you can't beat free. The nail holes add character
Dustin Cantrell
Well-Known Fanatic
Looks great!
dennishoddy
Moderator
That's going to make a great bench.
Zekernst
H & H
Looks awesome! Shelves along the back wall will help a lot for storing powder and primer assortments as well as diesets.
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
Bench is done, looking a little lonely. Ready to unbox the press....
Next photo will go in the "show your reloading bench" thread.
Next photo will go in the "show your reloading bench" thread.
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
So, I setup the dies reading along in the Dillon 550b manual. The bullet seating die is set at the OAL I wanted at 1.135, crimp die set, and bell and powder measure set.
When I was adjusting the seating die, the only case on the shell plate was the one under the seating die.
With everything set I ran a few rounds one at at time through all the stations so I could watch each operation. The OAL of those was still on.
Next I began running in progressive mode that would be normal for this press. After running several rounds through always checking the powder level before placing a bullet on the case, and stopping to re-check powder weight after 5, I started loading some more.
I ended up making a run of 20 rounds total. Now when I mic'd the OAL it is +.002 to +.0045 over my goal OAL of 1.135. I did use my barrel as a case guage and they were fine (Two were still at 1.135 and 1 at 1.1345).
I suspect that when I set the original OAL with only one case on the shell plate all the force from the stroke was focused at the position, and when I was running with cases at all positions the force was distributed more because of the sizing, belling, seating, and crimping going on.
Does that sound about right?
Should I always adjust seating depth with cases in all stations?
Did I miss a step in the manual?
Other dies settings were fine.
BTW after I was finished I weighed each round on the scale making sure they were all about the same, but that's just me since this was my first run at this.
When I was adjusting the seating die, the only case on the shell plate was the one under the seating die.
With everything set I ran a few rounds one at at time through all the stations so I could watch each operation. The OAL of those was still on.
Next I began running in progressive mode that would be normal for this press. After running several rounds through always checking the powder level before placing a bullet on the case, and stopping to re-check powder weight after 5, I started loading some more.
I ended up making a run of 20 rounds total. Now when I mic'd the OAL it is +.002 to +.0045 over my goal OAL of 1.135. I did use my barrel as a case guage and they were fine (Two were still at 1.135 and 1 at 1.1345).
I suspect that when I set the original OAL with only one case on the shell plate all the force from the stroke was focused at the position, and when I was running with cases at all positions the force was distributed more because of the sizing, belling, seating, and crimping going on.
Does that sound about right?
Should I always adjust seating depth with cases in all stations?
Did I miss a step in the manual?
Other dies settings were fine.
BTW after I was finished I weighed each round on the scale making sure they were all about the same, but that's just me since this was my first run at this.
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
Thanks Tony.
45recoil
likes to party
Bingo!Wall said:
dennishoddy
Moderator
BTW after I was finished I weighed each round on the scale making sure they were all about the same, but that's just me since this was my first run at this.
I don't own a dillon, so I'll leave the advice about that to those that do.
Don't take the final loaded weight of a round as gospel that it has all of its components and is ready to go. Weigh empty brass from differenet sources, and you will see that some may weigh 3-4 grains than other brands. Bullets will vary in weight as well a grain or two. If your talking about a 4-5 grain load of powder, you can see how easy it might be to have a squib down the road. I'm speaking from experience here. Had a loader issue, and had some loads get no powder. I saw it, corrected the problem, and went back to weigh the loaded rounds to see if they had any powder shortage. Figured I had it taken care of and got two squibs on the match the next day. If there is any doubt, pull the bullets and reload the cases.
Edit: others have faster fingers than me. Thanks Tony.
I don't own a dillon, so I'll leave the advice about that to those that do.
Don't take the final loaded weight of a round as gospel that it has all of its components and is ready to go. Weigh empty brass from differenet sources, and you will see that some may weigh 3-4 grains than other brands. Bullets will vary in weight as well a grain or two. If your talking about a 4-5 grain load of powder, you can see how easy it might be to have a squib down the road. I'm speaking from experience here. Had a loader issue, and had some loads get no powder. I saw it, corrected the problem, and went back to weigh the loaded rounds to see if they had any powder shortage. Figured I had it taken care of and got two squibs on the match the next day. If there is any doubt, pull the bullets and reload the cases.
Edit: others have faster fingers than me. Thanks Tony.
foghorn918
Consistently Inconsistent
OK fellas, I shot my first reloads today in my G24 w/ factory barrel. Worked up 20 rounds of each load to run through the chrony, and shot another 40 rounds for groups and was pleased with grouping and nice round holes (no tumbling).
Used Precision Delta FMJ Truncated Cone 180gr bullets, Federal small pistol primers, and WST powder. OAL of 1.135, and crimp of .422
Here are my results with the chrony, so lets talk numbers with me and tell me what you see.
WST 4.5gr
High Velocity - 897
Low Velocity - 857
Avg Velocity - 876
Extreme Spread - 40
Standard Deviation - 10
WST 4.7 gr.
High Velocity - 908
Low Velocity - 883
Avg Velocity - 894
Extreme Spread - 25
Standard Deviation - 7
WST 4.9 gr
High Velocity - 934
Low Velocity - 897
Avg Velocity - 913
Extreme Spread - 37
Standard Deviation - 8
At 4.9 gr I am very close but still not quite at major power factor with this bullet, so next I'll load at 5.0 grains of powder to see what I get.
Is the goal to have each round meet the minimum velocity required for major power factor?
Here is my form I'm using to log load data for my notebook I've started, if you see something else I need to track or add, let me know:
Thanks to all who have helped me with questions at matches and pm's.
Used Precision Delta FMJ Truncated Cone 180gr bullets, Federal small pistol primers, and WST powder. OAL of 1.135, and crimp of .422
Here are my results with the chrony, so lets talk numbers with me and tell me what you see.
WST 4.5gr
High Velocity - 897
Low Velocity - 857
Avg Velocity - 876
Extreme Spread - 40
Standard Deviation - 10
WST 4.7 gr.
High Velocity - 908
Low Velocity - 883
Avg Velocity - 894
Extreme Spread - 25
Standard Deviation - 7
WST 4.9 gr
High Velocity - 934
Low Velocity - 897
Avg Velocity - 913
Extreme Spread - 37
Standard Deviation - 8
At 4.9 gr I am very close but still not quite at major power factor with this bullet, so next I'll load at 5.0 grains of powder to see what I get.
Is the goal to have each round meet the minimum velocity required for major power factor?
Here is my form I'm using to log load data for my notebook I've started, if you see something else I need to track or add, let me know:
Thanks to all who have helped me with questions at matches and pm's.
drmitchgibson
The white Morgan Freeman
The goal is to have the softest-shooting load that makes power factor under every condition. Try your loads at different temperatures. Keep some cold on the way to the range, and keep some warm. See how they chrono. They all need to make major power factor.
technetium-99m
Mighty Righty
With a 180 your average velocity needs to be around 950 for a comfortable margin. Shoot for 172pf and you wont have to sweat it. Also keep up on the chronographing, multiple days are really needed for good data.
