45 acp reloading?

[JJE]

Just got a Dillon 550 setup for 9. Does it make sense to set it up and reload 45? Don’t shoot a ton of it but I enjoy the process of reloading and have a good amount of CFE Pistol. My main concern is my Kimber is finicky as hell and that will make me want another 45.

 

[nettle]

Buy an additional tool head for 45 ACP. Doing caliber swaps on a Dillon 550 is what the Dillon 550 does best.

 

[JJE]

Buy an additional tool head for 45 ACP. Doing caliber swaps on a Dillon 550 is what the Dillon 550 does best.

Would you get another powder setup as well?

 

[Dkk37058]

I myself wouldn’t get another powder thrower unless I was going to reload rifle cartridges
It’s to easy to make adjustments for pistol cartridges on the measure

 

[DiffEQ]

Just got a Dillon 550 setup for 9. Does it make sense to set it up and reload 45? Don’t shoot a ton of it but I enjoy the process of reloading and have a good amount of CFE Pistol. My main concern is my Kimber is finicky as hell and that will make me want another 45.

Yes. Especially for the Kimber.
Have an Officer Model Custom Shop, that never shot very well using Titegroup or factory FMJ loads.
Did a load workup with a bunch of different powders, found a node with 231/JHP that shrunk my group size (8 shot groups) by 2/3.

 

[GLShooter]

I've been loading 45 since 75. I'm shooting maybe 1500/year. All LSWC loads. It sure is cheaper than factory..

Greg

BTW I'd work that Kimber over until it would feed a cat wrapped in newspaper. 45's should not be that picky. Even my guns that print under 1 1/2" at 50 yards feed anything that I can put in it at standard specs.

 

[TIMO]

Do all the above. Also get a good set of standard 45ACP dies as well with a separate taper crimp die.

Tim

 

[kenhwind]

I put the Mr. Dial on my Dillon powder measures, and if I remember I write down the settings.

MRDial for Dillon Small Powder Bar - Adjustment Knob Measure | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MRDial for Dillon Small Powder Bar - Adjustment Knob Measure at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Well, I actually weigh each of my powders per 1 revolution of the dial to have as a reference.

And I would also consider the Redding Pro-Series die set.

 

[JJE]

I put the Mr. Dial on my Dillon powder measures, and if I remember I write down the settings.

MRDial for Dillon Small Powder Bar - Adjustment Knob Measure | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for MRDial for Dillon Small Powder Bar - Adjustment Knob Measure at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Well, I actually weigh each of my powders per 1 revolution of the dial to have as a reference.

And I would also consider the Redding Pro-Series die set.

How well does the dial work?

 

[BKA]

Just got a Dillon 550 setup for 9. Does it make sense to set it up and reload 45? Don’t shoot a ton of it but I enjoy the process of reloading and have a good amount of CFE Pistol. My main concern is my Kimber is finicky as hell and that will make me want another 45.

Yes, if you enjoy the process go for it! These days, tooling up and gathering all the new cartridge components can be considered part of the fun, almost like a treasure hunt, but shouldn't be too difficult for 45ACP. With the Dillon 550, I find having a dedicated powder measure on each tool head the least amount of hassle when switching over. You don't have to install a powder measure every time you switch tool heads, you don't have to swap powder charge bars in the powder measure, you don't have to swap powder funnels in the powder die and you don't have to make large adjustments on how much powder is dropped, you pretty much just set up everything on the tool head once and forget it. Dillon carbide pistol dies have performed flawlessly for me. Kimber still has a 500-round break in period, don't they? Brass is available with both large and small primer pockets, keep an eye out for this when sorting fired brass, enjoy

 

[T-Ball]

I would also gather as much small pistol primer 45 acp brass as I could find. That saves swapping out primer bars. I like large primer better,(I’m old school) but plinking rounds , spp do just fine. I have a 550 c and load alot of 9 and 45.

 

[jk80]

I second what bka says in his post. I do exactly the same plus one step. I have two 550's set up, one for large primers and one for small. All tools
Head/die set ups are set up with complete change over kits including powder measures.

 

[AzMandella]

If you are using a dillon this might interest some of you . Thinking about trying it myself .

Dillon EasyDial Large Bar For Sale | Titan Reloading

Dillon EasyDial Large Bar For Sale. Titan Reloading is a Master Distributor of Dillion Precision Reloading Equipment & Classic Lee Loader in Reloading Presses.

www.titanreloading.com

 

[stavey]

Just got a Dillon 550 setup for 9. Does it make sense to set it up and reload 45? Don’t shoot a ton of it but I enjoy the process of reloading and have a good amount of CFE Pistol. My main concern is my Kimber is finicky as hell and that will make me want
After years of testing pistols in the ransom rest.
Lots of them with “match” chambers. I use EGW undersize sizing dies for all 9mm and 45 acp. I then expand on the 650 using a mr bullet feeder powder funnel (basically a m-die). Accurate af and they feed in everything.

 

[NETim]

I reload nothing but Hi-Tek coated 200SWC's for my 1911's. The guns run much, much cleaner with the Hi-Tek coating. They cost a bit more than standard lubed bullets but they're worth it.

I run a crimp diameter of 0.469" to 0.470". I haven't seen a need to crimp any tighter.

 

[kenhwind]

How well does the dial work?

The dial is calibrated so you can count the revolutions, number, and hash mark divisions, whereas the Dillon just has a hex nut. I like them as I am not into a powder measure for each toolhead as I'd need a dozen powder measures. Besides that, I do not always use the same powder.

I made up a chart where I weighed the powder charge from 0 to 1, to 2 etc., so I'd have a quick reference.

If you are going to set up for one specific load with a dedicated powder measure than once, you have the powder bar adjusted for your powder charge you're all set, so the MRDial may not be necessary.

It is my understanding that Mike Dillon was flat out opposed to any knobs on the powder bar as people see the knob and are prone to turn them. This is also the reason most micrometer sights have coin slotted adjustment screws or are Fool Proof like the Williams.

I have two Dillon 550 presses so changing primer size is not an issue for me

 

[tominboise]

Changing the primer system on the 550 has not been a big deal for me. It takes about 5 minutes and gives me a chance to blow any crap out while I am in there. I used to have a few SDBs so I didn't have to change priming systems nor tool heads, but they took up too much bench space. Much happier with the RL550.

 

[762plinker]

buy a second full set as you can afford it.
even low volume will go quick one it is set up.
that means a second powder measure to skip set up time...later not today
and the big step as others have pointed out is a second press to skip the primer size change out.
yes i have 2 550's.
presses are not identical and switching from small press to large press for 45acp may not provide an identical oal and crimp. been there done that

 

[RegionRat]

Would you get another powder setup as well?

Yes, unless it means your kids go hungry... I would just swap the set-ups and skip all the fiddling with adjustments between calibers.

If you just complete a tool head for 45, then you will also find yourself swapping between primer sizes but then you just start loading instead of adjusting.

The less adjusting and fiddling between change-overs, the more likely you will do them.

It takes a couple of seconds to swap in a toolhead/caliber change, but you will not have to stop and waste rounds or time adjusting flare or charges if the tool head has a dedicated powder set up. YMMV

 

[WVRJ]

I can't help you much with your Dillon setup,but my Kimber Custom LW has never seen a factory load,and is yet to miss a beat.Their pistols seem to be looked down upon,but my experience with a few of them has been good.Short slide guns tend to be more picky eaters,and they tend to give more trouble with bullet setback when chambering.