Dillon RL450 upgrade help

[oley55]

having already installed a Uniflow Powder Measures with Hornady LNL Case Activated Powder Drop, I decided I needed to make a modest upgrade to my two 1982-84 RL450's. That upgrade being the completed ammo auto eject, which includes a new shell plate platform. After having completely disassembled, cleaned, lubed and mostly reassembled the first RL450, I realized the new platform does NOT have a place to install the "primer depth adjusting bolt".

Bottoming out the plate on the downstroke gives me nearly a 1/4" of the primer seater above the platform (cool if I were going to swage primer pockets I guess). Without the primer depth adjusting bolt to stop the platform's downward travel it is now bottoming out on a fully compressed primer cup spring. The height of the primer seater stem is not adjustable on the old push/pull primer systems. The stem is installed fully bottomed out in the slide and then held in place by set screw.

I have zero desire to go with the newer auto primer systems as the old push/pull's are bullet proof and 100% reliable (at least for me). And I really like being able to set the dead stop point that guarantees I never over-seat a primer.

Any old RL450 users out there who have installed the Auto Eject Platform and have already solved my problem. Barring a better idea, I plan to do some practice drill-n-tap work on the old shell plate platform to see if I will be able to modify the new platforms to accept the primer depth adjusting bolt.

FYI, I have this same request for help posted on another forum. The last pic shows a gap under the primer slide because it was not tightened down for the pic.

 

[243winxb]

I really like being able to set the dead stop point that guarantees I never over-seat a primer

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/proper-primer-seating.3988467/

 

[Iowa Fox]

I was going to drill and tap the new shell plate when I upgraded my 450 but them said to heck with it and just seat them by feel to try it. I don't think I would go back to the positive stop plate.

 

[oley55]

I was going to drill and tap the new shell plate when I upgraded my 450 but them said to heck with it and just seat them by feel to try it. I don't think I would go back to the positive stop plate.

Yea, I was just resetting n adjusting everything to try exactly what you did. I hand prime all of my rifle n precision ammo and only prime pistol plinking ammo on my 450's (and have never had a primer FTF).

I am having some difficulty getting the paper clip looking case positioning spring set right. I was/am looking forward to it eliminating the need to nudge a case back into alignment after the resizing die's tension on the brass is released they sometimes jiggle out of position. Any obvious secrets for that?

 

[rr2030]

I don't think there is an issue with the primer seating depth. I upgraded my 450 as you have and have had zero issues with the primer seating depth. I place a fired case in the sizing station, loosen the primer stem locking screw, press the handle forward firmly, then with pressure still on the primer tighten the stem locking screw. I do the same for my 550.

The first photo is the depth on the 450, next is the 550, The following photo is of the 450, apparently, lacking any witness mark, my primer depth stop never made contact as yours did. The next photo is the 550, it does not have a stop on it either.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Yea, I was just resetting n adjusting everything to try exactly what you did. I hand prime all of my rifle n precision ammo and only prime pistol plinking ammo on my 450's (and have never had a primer FTF).

I am having some difficulty getting the paper clip looking case positioning spring set right. I was/am looking forward to it eliminating the need to nudge a case back into alignment after the resizing die's tension on the brass is released they sometimes jiggle out of position. Any obvious secrets for that?

No secrets on the paper clip. I just fiddle with it until I get it where I think its doing the best job.