dillan auto powder dumper for different press?

[Kaiser Mike]

I'll start by saying, I'm fairly tight for funds.

That being said, I was given a Dillon powder measurer (like on 550's and up). Its an older model. I thought it was an RCBS because of its being green.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-rl550-xl650-powder-measure_8_120_23599.html

https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-Classic-Turret-Press/dp/B003BWTF1E

I'm looking at the Lee 4 hole turret press. I'm not terribly interested in it for auto loading but more as a manual turret.
The Lee disk system seems to have some issues with finding small charges and you have to swap disks. With this, its a screw turn to adjust.

Do any of yall think this is feasible? I cant see why not.

Thanks for your time.

[tb-av]

How old is that Dillon. I have never seen a Green Dillon. My Dillon stuff has to be going on 20 years.

Not that that is big deal, just curios.

If I were you and you can't get a 550. Get a single stage press. Like Lyman. Then you buy nice dies, you don't need to spend money on all manner of extras. Just do one thing at a time. In fact, if I didn't have any money, I would consider selling the powder measure for a scale. You can dump powder by hand but you always will need to weigh it.

If you have access to some scrap wood and a drill press. Lay out a grid and drill 100 holes that are just larger than your caliber as a shell holder.

So you clean, deprime, resize and set your shells in that block. Powder by hand. Place bullet and seat. --- that's the short hand pistol version anyway.

IOW, price out the quality parts and then decide which one's can be substituted by time or maybe a friend. You have -got- to have a scale... unless of course you're a thrill seeker.

You can get little hand tools for for priming, cleaning primer pockets. You have to have a set of dies.

Post WTB ads in the EE. A lot of what you need people may be wiling to part with if they knew someone wanted it and could get some use from it.

That's just my 5 cents. On a budget and safety / quality in mind. I want a good scale. A good set of dies. A functional press of required quality as cheap as I could get. A powder measure and all that other mess doesn't even get a thought.

ETA: forgot to answer your question.


Do any of yall think this is feasible?

Sure, but your lead was finances. It's feasible but not necessarily financially practical.

[Kaiser Mike]

I've got a chucker that i've used for 20 plus years. I just wanted something a bit faster. Loading for AR and pistols. If the accuracy isnt any good with the ar, it'll still speed up my pistol stuff.
I've got an old ohaus scale but i'm getting a digital for Yule. I do fully process my rifle stuff. Trim, deburr and the works. Hand prime as well. RCBS dies (about as old as the press lol).

Not a bad idea on checking the pages for used stuff. If theyre 100 bucks or so new, might be half or so used. Not a bad gamble.

I just now looked at the dillon prices. Been a while.

They have a turret for just over 2bills. I have the dumper. This might be the better way to go. I can save up the extra.

The 2nd AR i'm building might just have to wait. All about choices i guess.

Thanks for the prod in the right direction.

[tb-av]

Oh!... ok,,, my bad... I thought you meant you were just wanting to start.

I'm still kind of a buy a mutt and enjoy every second of wearing it out or save up your coins and buy a quality piece that you can resell if you decide to get out of the game. A finicky piece of reloading gear would test my nerves in about 30 minutes on a good day.

[williejc]

Lee's Classic Cast Turret is one example where Lee out did themselves--meaning that it's well made and highly functional. The Lee measure using discs works also. Using a drill you can open up a smaller hole to throw the desired charge, or you can install a set screw in the side of a larger hole and screw it in or out to adjust charge. I'm referring to the Lee Auto disc measure. Lee dies include a powder through expander die which allows neck expanding and powder dumping at the same time. There are two turret presses; the Classic Cast is the better made one. Also, the Auto Disc measure is made in two versions; I suggest the slightly more expensive one.

Before you buy anything, pm me. I maybe able to assist you to start reloading with good equipment and do so inexpensively. Once I tutored one of our famous forum members who then became an accomplished precision hand loader and precision rifle shooter. He managed this feat with basic equipment on a 1950s Lachmillar press that many would consider obsolete.

[williejc]

I wrote my reply as if you were starting reloading. I still will be happy to offer assistance and may have an item or two around here that would help you accomplish your goal.

[Bimmer]

Feasible? Yes.

A good idea? No.

I hate to be the guy that says "Just suck it up and buy a Dillon RL550B," but I do think that's the correct answer.

FWIW, if you're already reloading, and you already have dies and components and gauges and a scale and all the other rigamarole (even a powder measure), then you only need a new press, and that alone isn't that expensive.

[Gunfixr]

Are you asking if you can put a dillon powder charger on a Lee press?
Sort of. Yes, you could buy the powder die, and screw it in. But, the Lee is designed to be pushed up by the case going into the die. The dillon has the linkage. So, the dillon may be able to be pushed up like the Lee, but it's larger and heavier, I think you'd have a hard time not putting way too much bell on the case mouth.

You know, Lee has a screw adjustable bushing that replaces the disks.

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[markm]

Yeah. There's a bar that goes into the dillon powder measure that won't be there on another press. It could work, but it'd be more of an ass ache than it'd be worth.

[Kaiser Mike]

Williejc, Thanks for the offer of mentorship! Regardless of how long i've been doing this (20 plus years), I'll NEVER turn down advice from some one more experienced.
Thank you sir!

I am still flip flopping on this one. Too many folks are talking too good about it.

I"m just curious if it will give the possibility of MOA loads (if i do my part) for rifle. Since i'm not a IPSC guy, i dont worry too much about keeping 4" groups at 50 yds lol.

[Kaiser Mike]

Looking at the way mine works, it has a metal funnel that when you push it up, it operates the slide.
It does have the linkage as well for the 550 or 650.

[Kaiser Mike]

While i dont mind some of the "heavier built" pieces that Lee makes, some of their stuff just kinda looks weak.
I saw the adjuster bar you mentioned. I just want something that will reliably give me exact to .1 of grain (better if possible) accuracy.

[Gunfixr]

If you want better than 1/10th of a grain, you should just skip the charger, and use a trickler.

I have a Lee screw adjustable bar I bought whenever it was they came out with it, other than rub marks, like the discs get, it shows no wear, no loss of accuracy.

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[Kaiser Mike]

YES!!!!

I finally got time to set up the dumper. Rock solid.

I read on an old site where 1000 yd guys were doing this. They do all the usual hand prep to the brass, hand prime, and seat. To speed up the process, they have one of these dillon dumpers in another press. I"m using a Lee C press that i usually set up for decapping and sizing.

There is no need for all the rods and so forth. The casing push's the funnel tube up and that actuates the rest.

After about 5 minutes of adjusting, I was throwing AA2520 at 24gr like a champ. I only used that because it was on my bench.

I hope this helps someone.

Thanks for all the input.

That 100 bucks i was gonna dump on a turret press, is half way to a new AR upper!

[markm]

There is no need for all the rods and so forth.

There is when the powder measure starts getting dirty and sticking. But as long as you watch that the powder bar is making a full cycle back and fourth, EVERY time, you'll be ok.

I've had these things stick plenty of times. The linkage ensures that the bar goes all the way back to give you a full powder charge.

[Kaiser Mike]

I have it set that i have to do a full swing on the handle. It bottoms out on the edge of my bench. This will allow me to keep my accuracy with the single stage but ramp up the speed with a reliable dumper.
My old Hornady rotor type (and my other RCBS rotor) never gave me reliable dumps. I spent most of my time on the scales. Granted. I am a bit picky on keeping my numbers true. IF there is an accuracy issue,
I want to know its me and not the ammo.

I can dump a tray of 50 rounds, check at the 10's, and then visually inspect the cases to ensure no squib loads. When my case prep is done, i should be able to make
at least a round a minute. I think more but i'm being conservative.

I really appreciate all the input here folks.

[markm]

I have it set that i have to do a full swing on the handle.

I understand that. What I'm saying is that these powder meters can clog/jam on the down stroke. just something to watch for.


I can dump a tray of 50 rounds, check at the 10's, and then visually inspect the cases to ensure no squib loads.

If you can see the bar working full cycles, there's no need to check the weights a bunch of times. I set a light overhead so that I can see the charges. It's easy to see consistent charges.... or when you've run out of powder, or if you get an odd piece of brass that has a noticeably lower internal case volume.

[Kaiser Mike]

Ah. Understood. Thanks for the heads up.


New to using a dumper as a "precision" tool. Ive been dumping "close" and trickling. Pistol was just a dump at mid pressure.
Still learning even after this long lol!

[markm]

I run the Dillon powder measure for our .223 precision loads. It works pretty good.

[fedupflyer]

I run the Dillon powder measure for our .223 precision loads. It works pretty good.

Yup,
Polishing the metal bottom to a mirror like finish and using the micrometer charge bar is the ticket.

[markm]

Yup,
Polishing the metal bottom to a mirror like finish and using the micrometer charge bar is the ticket.

Please expound. I'd love any pics an/or info on this.

[Gunfixr]

Yup,
Polishing the metal bottom to a mirror like finish and using the micrometer charge bar is the ticket.
Yes, I'd love to hear more about this also.

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[fedupflyer]

Like this,

42980

42981

(not my pics but you get the idea)



and the micrometer insert from Uniqutek.
http://uniquetek.com/product/T1231



I took some very fine steel wool (I think it was 000) and polished the entire bowl and also down the funnel.
Then I used a dremel (on low speed) and some jewelers polish and got a mirror like finish.

I just got finished doing a 300 rnd load session with TAC and I measured every tenth round and I had ZERO deviation.

[Kaiser Mike]

thats a great idea!

the giant adjuster knob is also good! Reminds me of putting big wheels on the tuner of a crystal set radio for fine tuning!

How i didn't think of that lol! Then again, its been about a year since i listened to it. Dallas AM late night isnt what it used to be.