Dillon 550 ????'s

[pastprime]

I've had my new 550 up and loading 9mm for a couple days and now I have a few questions for you experienced users..

1. the primer slide has a kind of "jerky" motion toward the end of its outward travel..is that normal and will it smooth out with use, or should I lube the slide??

2. the manual says I should be able to adjust the powder measure from the bottom (even has a picture) but when I set it up I had to back it out so far to prevent over "belling" that I cannot adjust it from the bottom...is that correct for 9mm or do I have something else out of adjustment??

3. the press is kind of "klunky" sounding during a stroke, will that also smooth out or will it always sound that way...or again, do I need to lube somethings..

And just my opinion but, for those considering a progressive, I have had a Square Deal B and this 550B....for what I load the SDB was all I needed...I did not realize the difference in size and power that the 550B has over the SDB until I got it...It is overkill for me...but, if you want a progressive press that will load just about anything you will shoot for the rest of your life, get the 550B....and don't look back..

[freakshow10mm]

1. My large primer slide does that, but my small slide doesn't. Just the way it is for me. I never tried to fix it. I don't know how you would though.

2. I can't adjust my powder die from underneath either. Don't know where they got that from.

3. Probably just the way it is. It might smooth out a bit, but mine makes a bunch of noise too.

[Phunahm]

I contacted Dillon about the choppy travel here is what they said:

"The clunkiness is normal. Be sure the blue wing nut at the bottom of the failsafe rod is tight enough. Push forward on the handle as if seating a primer. While holding the handle forward, tighten the blue wing nut until the coil spring above it is partially compressed."

I dont know if it applies to your problem mine was due to the powder measure

[pastprime]

Thanks, guys... I may tighten the failsafe rod nut a little tighter...the manual says tighten just until the spring touches the bottom of the bracket (which it does not do because there is a white insert there now)...

Nosie is not a problem just curious....

I was more concerned about the action of the primer slide...

I appreciate the quick replies...

Hey, Adam, I forgot to thank you for the MTM primer flipper...works better than the metal one I had...

[freakshow10mm]

The MTM flipper is great. I use one and they are under $3. I don't list it with the press on my site, but try to remember to throw one in with every press order.

[killarbb]

for the jerky travel, whenever i take a break to load primer tubes i give it a quick shot of HOS(hornady one shot). seems to help smooth everything out

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Dillon claims that you arnt supposed to lube that primer slide. what i did was rub just a bit of sizeing lube on the end of the slide and that seemed to smooth it out. i have never been able to adjust the powder die from below "if im understanding you correctly" just the blue wing nut. yes the clunky sound is normal. after its been used some it will quite down but i have never heard one completly stop making noise.

hope this helps

[pastprime]

Thanks, I'll give it a try....

I've got a can close by cause I read from a couple people that they lube their pistol brass with it...tried it today and it does make a lot of difference...and since I'm not "speed reloading" anyway, why not grease the tracks...

[MONTEGOD7SS]

A couple of weeks ago somebody posted on GTR the process for changing the new powder measure over to the old super-dangerous way so that it doesn't clank and clunk so much, anybody remember it?

[HiddenEyes]

The primer slide gets sticky with residue from spent primers and powder. Keeping it clean helps a lot. I find that the best way is to take a cotton rag and rubbing alcohol and clean it really well, rub till that rag can't find any more dirt. Put the primer feeder assembly back together and it should run much better.

If you use any kind of lube it will work better for a little bit. After time that lube traps more dirt and it gets worse.

The only lube I ever used with any success is powdered moly. You might try that.


Mr. HE:cool:

[SlammedDime]

I took the little black piece off where the primer slide rides and used some left over flitz from polishing up my glock to polish it up... slide a lot more smoothly now.

[KCGunnr]

A couple of weeks ago somebody posted on GTR the process for changing the new powder measure over to the old super-dangerous way so that it doesn't clank and clunk so much, anybody remember it?

You mean this process?

http://www.ericwesselman.com/DillonPowderMeasure/

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Sweeeeeeeet. Thanks KCG!

[AFPD 118]

i take my primer system apart every 500 to 1000 rounds or so and clean with alcohol