Dillon 650 powder throwing accuracy

[ovenpaa]

One for the Dillon owners.

What sort of powder throw accuracy do you see with the Dillon system using powders such as N140/TR140 and have you experimented with improving the accuracy. My initial thoughts were polishing everything, maintaining high powder levels and adding a small vibrator motor such as used on a mobile 'phone to keep the powder uniformly settled however even with these measures what sort of consistency can be expected?

[Steve E]

The club that I belong to that loads tens of thousand rounds a year, gave up on the Dillon. We found it so inconsistent that it was not worth the bother. Many hours/days were spent fettling to try and get it consistent but it never was.

Our Dillon is going to be rebuilt using newly made components by an engineer in Surrey as we found that the quality control by Dillon was variable.
I am sure that others may have a mor positive experience.

For powder we rely on five RCBS Charge-masters, every thing else is done on either a Rock chucker or a co-ax press with redding dies.

[dodgyrog]

Dave
Do NOT rely on the Dillon powder thrower for the coarser extruded powders. Even ball powder can 'bridge' in the thrower and I would recommend weighing each powder charge individually.

[rox]

I get extremely consistent results from my Dillon S1050 for all dimensions/measurements, but I don't use the powder measure or any Dillon dies. I once used a RCBS case-activated Competition powder measure on the Dillon*, but the results were poor with stick powders (worse than -/+ 0.2 gn from memory). Since I can drop individually weighed charges (+/- 0.03 gn) at a rate of 300 per hour, and fully prep and trim cases at 1000 per hour, I doubt I'll ever have the need to use the Dillon measure.

* For this test I made-up a set of cases with the primer pockets blanked-off with inverted fired primer cups (ultrasonic cleaned, with the anvils removed).

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[saddler]

Only run a 550, but it has the same powder unit/measure as the 650.

Not got around to doing so yet, but the plan for the more extruded type powders is to use an RCBS Uniflow, with one of the case activator kits from a Hornady LnL.
If that doesn't work, then it'll be use the 550 strong points - and load rifle ammo (with the extruded powders) as an "interrupted progressive" - doing certain stages on the press, charge cases off-press using the RCBS Chargemaster, then finish the seating/crimp final assembly back on the press...

OR

Try to source powders that flow better through a volume type measure, then all stages can be done on press at the same time.

Quite a lot of discussion on this already on the Brian Enos forum

[Maggot]

One for the Dillon owners.

What sort of powder throw accuracy do you see with the Dillon system using powders such as N140/TR140 and have you experimented with improving the accuracy. My initial thoughts were polishing everything, maintaining high powder levels and adding a small vibrator motor such as used on a mobile 'phone to keep the powder uniformly settled however even with these measures what sort of consistency can be expected?

Speak to Bradders Dave

[rox]

use an RCBS Uniflow, with one of the case activator kits from a Hornady LnL.

Are these better than RCBS own case-activation kits?

load rifle ammo (with the extruded powders) as an "interrupted progressive" - doing certain stages on the press, charge cases off-press using the RCBS Chargemaster, then finish the seating/crimp final assembly back on the press...

Why would you take the case off the press to charge it, only to put it back on again?

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[sapper811]

The purpose of a Dillon is to turn out lots of rounds quickly. If you want grain accuracy a Dillon will not be the machine. If you want a consistant usable load for your rifle / shooting discipline all the Dillon range can produce this. My 650 churned out 3500 rounds last year. Each one went bang as required. You can fettle them as Mr Bradley has via a detailed polish. This i am led to believe works wonders. When i have chance it is on my list of things to do.

If you want to weigh each powder charge then sell your Dillon as it's useless.

[rox]

The purpose of a Dillon is to turn out lots of rounds quickly. If you want grain accuracy a Dillon will not be the machine. If you want a consistant usable load for your rifle / shooting discipline all the Dillon range can produce this. My 650 churned out 3500 rounds last year. Each one went bang as required. You can fettle them as Mr Bradley has via a detailed polish. This i am led to believe works wonders. When i have chance it is on my list of things to do.

If you want to weigh each powder charge then sell your Dillon as it's useless.

Incorrect. I make thousands of rounds on my Dillon with more precise charges than most are capable of measuring (+-0.02 by force restoration balance) and case dimensions that are as consistent as single stage processing, given decent brass to start with. Try loading 300 rounds per hour on your rock chucker.
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[Maggot]

The purpose of a Dillon is to turn out lots of rounds quickly. If you want grain accuracy a Dillon will not be the machine. If you want a consistant usable load for your rifle / shooting discipline all the Dillon range can produce this. My 650 churned out 3500 rounds last year. Each one went bang as required. You can fettle them as Mr Bradley has via a detailed polish. This i am led to believe works wonders. When i have chance it is on my list of things to do.

If you want to weigh each powder charge then sell your Dillon as it's useless.

Incorrect. I make thousands of rounds on my Dillon with more precise charges than most are capable of measuring (+-0.02 by force restoration balance) and case dimensions that are as consistent as single stage processing, given decent brass to start with. Try loading 300 rounds per hour on your rock chucker.
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I must admit I thought they were highly regarded Rox

I would love one but I don't load enough to warrant one...yet