I have 5 Dillon presses 1 450B, 2 550s, and 2 1050s.
I reload precision longrange ammo on the 550s and had problems two case head seperations)at the F-class Nationals. After an extensive review of my loading I found the problem and thought I should share it with others who load with a progressive press.
My two Dillon 550s were made about 10 years apart from each other. I have been loading ammo with both for years with little or no problems. I have one set up for large and one set up for small primers. Recently, I used the tool head set up for one loader on the other press. I assumed there would be no problems. How wrong was I. The stroke of one loader was approximately .005' longer on one press than the other. This over sized my cases by about .0035'. This was hardly noticable during the loading process but was quickly found out when the cases had case head separations after 3 reloadings. This particular case 6mmBRX normally is reloaded between 16 and 20 times.
If you reload on any press and use dies that were set up for another press, make sure you check that they are sizing those cases where they are supposed to be sized.
The changes in one loaders dimentions can be very suttle but the consequences be very devestating. I ruined about 200 pieces of twice fired brass.
All due to operator error.
Nat Lambeth
I reload precision longrange ammo on the 550s and had problems two case head seperations)at the F-class Nationals. After an extensive review of my loading I found the problem and thought I should share it with others who load with a progressive press.
My two Dillon 550s were made about 10 years apart from each other. I have been loading ammo with both for years with little or no problems. I have one set up for large and one set up for small primers. Recently, I used the tool head set up for one loader on the other press. I assumed there would be no problems. How wrong was I. The stroke of one loader was approximately .005' longer on one press than the other. This over sized my cases by about .0035'. This was hardly noticable during the loading process but was quickly found out when the cases had case head separations after 3 reloadings. This particular case 6mmBRX normally is reloaded between 16 and 20 times.
If you reload on any press and use dies that were set up for another press, make sure you check that they are sizing those cases where they are supposed to be sized.
The changes in one loaders dimentions can be very suttle but the consequences be very devestating. I ruined about 200 pieces of twice fired brass.
All due to operator error.
Nat Lambeth