Dillon users: question about changing primer size

[Lefty Trigger]

Have any of you found an easy way to change primer size with out having to dump leftover primers out. Just pulling out the inner tube just leaves the primers behind.

 

[Hoser]

Which Dillon Machine?

 

[Erud]

Not sure which machine you are using or why this is an issue, but I’ve always put the same number of primers in the tube as cases that I’m going to load. Maybe I’m missing something, but why would you have leftover primers in the tube after loading?

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Running a 550C machine, if I load a full tube of 100 primers and only load 50 rounds there are 50 leftover. Then I want to change to large primers there is not a simple way to get those 50 out without dumping them back in a primer tray and reloading them back in a tube. I think you should be able to remove the "inner" tube with the primers in it and just set it aside, but if you lift it out the primers dump inside the steel sleeve.

 

[Erud]

I don't know of any way to do that. Why not just load 50 primers into the tube, or whatever number that you are planning to actually load in that session?

 

[Hoser]

Loosen/remove the two bolts under the primer housing and lift the housing, inner/outer sleeve and primer slide out all that the same time. Easy peesey. Almost a 3 handed operation the first couple times you do it, but after a while its easy.

 

[memilanuk]

To add to what @Hoser said... I dump the 'extras' in a ziploc baggie, with a note as to what brand, model, lot # and date this all took place.

Why not just load 50 primers into the tube, or whatever number that you are planning to actually load in that session?

most people I know load full tubes whenever possible.... maybe even have multiple tubes handy... load what you need and dump the extras as noted above.

 

[Erud]

To add to what @Hoser said... I dump the 'extras' in a ziploc baggie, with a note as to what brand, model, lot # and date this all took place.



most people I know load full tubes whenever possible.... maybe even have multiple tubes handy... load what you need and dump the extras as noted above.

What’s the advantage of doing that?

 

[memilanuk]

Because most people loading on a Dillon aren't loading 40 or 50 rounds?

If I need 132 rounds for a weekend match, I personally am not going to sit there counting out 32 individual primers - I'm going to dump a tray in the VibraPrime, get them in the press, and get to loading.

Or, if I have a baggie with extras from last time, I'll toss *those* in the VibraPrime...

 

[alf]

Or you have a shit pile of brass in a bucket with no idea how many are in there.....

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Well that's kinda what I have been doing,.. dumping them back in the primer tray to reload back in a tube. I like to tinker with loads and powders all the time so I never set down and just run hundreds of rounds at one time and since I only shoot wheel guns its mostly in groups of 49 for the 7 shot guns or 48 for the 6 shot guns.

 

[Doug Beach]

Primers come in these handy trays of 100, with a sliding top. I dump out the precise number I need. No counting required. I’m sure that takes less time than baggy management after the fact.

 

[Erud]

Primers come in these handy trays of 100, with a sliding top. I dump out the precise number I need. No counting required. I’m sure that takes less time than baggy management after the fact.

Yeah, that's the way I've always done it too. If I was going to crank out 1017 rounds in one session I'd just use 10 trays of 100, then start paying attention as I started running out of brass and make sure I only put 17 primers in at the end.

 

[Erud]

Because most people loading on a Dillon aren't loading 40 or 50 rounds?

If I need 132 rounds for a weekend match, I personally am not going to sit there counting out 32 individual primers - I'm going to dump a tray in the VibraPrime, get them in the press, and get to loading.

Or, if I have a baggie with extras from last time, I'll toss *those* in the VibraPrime...

Fair enough, but it's pretty easy to just dump one box of 100 primers in, then expose the first 4 rows of the next box and hold your finger over 8 of the primers in the last row.

 

[Erud]

Or you have a shit pile of brass in a bucket with no idea how many are in there.....

There’s no need to count them all, just the last few when you get down to less than 100 left.

 

[memilanuk]

Fair enough, but it's pretty easy to just dump one box of 100 primers in, then expose the first 4 rows of the next box and hold your finger over 8 of the primers in the last row.

Sounds great in theory; in practice invariably there always seems to be at least one leaker, now and then

If I knew I was going to load exactly X amount of rounds for one caliber/cartridge/primer, and then turn around and do something completely different, it might be worth the hassle. Personally I'd rather just fill it up and then unload whatever doesn't get used. Kind of like we all do with the powder in the hopper... it's just not that big of a deal.

 

[mongo chicago]

I like to handle primers as little as possible, so I count them out for what I need. Seem as though you are making things a lot harder by not counting. If you have a bucket full of brass to load, don't dump any more primers than you need for a reloading session.

 

[alf]

I have a bunch of primer tubes & I fill them up before I start loading, so I don't have to stop mid-stream.......

 

[taz442]

I have a dillon 650, so this relates to this press. I purchased a second primer setup and set one up for small primers and the other for large. If I'm changing primers I just remove the whole unit and leave any primer in the tube.

 

[hpshooter]

" I just remove the whole unit and leave any primer in the tube."
Likewise