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Need held with Harrell Premium Measure of Dillon 550

Chris916

Hi, I have a lot of time on a 650XL doing .223, and I recently bougt a 550C to do .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor, but I am having some challenges with the poweder measure. I was planning on using the Harrells Premium measure instead of the one that comes with the dillon, but I can't figure out how to attach it to the Dillon.



Dillon told me I needed the RL450 Powder die and the powder die adapter- which I purchased-- However the botom of the Harrels measure does not have male threads to thread into the adapter-so it just sits on the top (which is obviously not goint to work) I called Harrels and they said they are a small shop and dont make an adapter. Is anyone here using the Harrells Premium measure on the Dillon 550 or am I SOL? I am still in the return period, so If I cant make this work I am going to return it and buy another one. Please let me know.


Thanks,


Chris
 
FWIW,
I have NEVER converted a Dillon Press to a Harrelll's Premium Culver Measure. What I HAVE noticed: I own a Harrell's Premium Culver Measure and honestly I have found the Harrell's Culver Measure has DICK to offer over the RCBS Uniflow with the micrometer adjustment on my RCBS 2000. Granted I am operating the Uniflow through the Pro 2000 mechanism. I have found that to be a GOOD THING, versus running the Harrell's Premium Measure by hand. NOT saying the Harrell's Premium Culver Measure is not technically and aesthetically a BETTER measure, however, I dunno if you are going to actually see a difference when run through the press. Granted, we are talking about an RCBS Micrometer Measure(included with my $299 Pro 2000 in 2002), vesus a powder measure that cost within $30 of the TOTAL of the RCBS 2000 as a UNIT. ONLY thing I am thinking about is what you are getting for your money... Neat measure, needle bearings, etc... I concur it FEELS nicer, however, I dunno what it is actually going to deliver on charge weight.... Could be TOTALLY wrong. Probabely am... Just know with another press, of course no longer available, that the high dollar powder measure delivered ZIP, NADA, BUPKUS over what the "crude"(relatively) factory measure offered. I am NOT trying to change your mind. Rather just give you another bit of experience in a SIMILAR, but totally different, situation. Will look forward to your findings...

Regards, Matt.
 
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I would like this to work for my 222 setup. I have the RL450 die and adaptor which works with the uniflow but I really like the Harrell's. Think I am gonna try engineer sumthin'.
 
I do not recommend the Herrells. I bought one for Benchrest, and it is not significantly better than other measures. It's better made, like a piece of jewelery, and it is super smooth, and it looks neat, but it still throws a wide range occasionally.

I have taken data by throwing 100 rounds and weighing them on a 0.1 gr resolution scale, on a Dillon, a RCBS, a Lyman 55 Niel Jones Culver type conversion, and a Herrells BR measure. They all will throw an occasional load at plus or minus 0.2 gr. That's an extreme spread (ES) of 0.4 gr. Yes, some other person may be able to do a better job, but I was being careful to be consistent. Even if I had measured them on a more accurate scale, there is still that ES.

So, I say. go ahead and use the Dillon measure.

An alternative is the Lee Pro Disk measure. They do an excellent job on pistol loads . I have them on my Dillon 550 for my 39 special, 9mm, 45acp and 40 S&W loads. Fully automatic, actuated by the cartridge case, they really work well. Perhaps using the double disk they may get to the volume needed for a larger rifle case, you would have to check with Lee.

I was using my Chargemaster for accurate loads, but have switched to the A&D FX120i and an Autothrow and autotrickler, which is superbly accurate.
 
Xkv8r said:
I would like this to work for my 222 setup. I have the RL450 die and adaptor which works with the uniflow but I really like the Harrell's. Think I am gonna try engineer sumthin'.
Click to expand...

Why not check with the folks at Harrell's, they have always been really helpful.
 
I have a Harrell’s and a Dillon. They both throw off occasionally and it has to do IMO with the human component of the throw. The dillon is more mechanical which is why it is pretty consistent but still susceptible because you are actuating the main lever manually. Basically, you have to be super consistent in addition to using a powder that flows well. I love the Dillon for pistol and .223 plinkers but I use a trickler for my match rifle loads. I dont think attaching the Harrels to the Dillon would be better than the Dillon powder measure.
 
Chris916 said:
Hi, I have a lot of time on a 650XL doing .223, and I recently bougt a 550C to do .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor, but I am having some challenges with the poweder measure. I was planning on using the Harrells Premium measure instead of the one that comes with the dillon, but I can't figure out how to attach it to the Dillon.



Dillon told me I needed the RL450 Powder die and the powder die adapter- which I purchased-- However the botom of the Harrels measure does not have male threads to thread into the adapter-so it just sits on the top (which is obviously not goint to work) I called Harrels and they said they are a small shop and dont make an adapter. Is anyone here using the Harrells Premium measure on the Dillon 550 or am I SOL? I am still in the return period, so If I cant make this work I am going to return it and buy another one. Please let me know.


Thanks,


Chris
Click to expand...
I have a Barrels premium, a Harre
 
I have a Harrells premium, Harrells br, Redding br3, and Dillon 550b. My Redding is the most consistent of all, next is the Dillon. I have shot -1/2" groups at 200 yards with ammo loaded on the Dillon. Rifle was Rem. XCR long range article 223. Was loaded with H4895 powder. I don't think anything would be gained using the Harrells on the Dillon. The Harrells are very well made and smooth but I get + or - .5 grain with varget with both Harrells. Need to throw and trickle for long range loads. Just my opinion.
Wishing all a Merry Christmas!
Tom
 
The Harrels measures aren’t particularly more accurate than any other drum type measure. Their advantage is their adjustment systenpm is repeatable in either direction. You add X clicks and you get Y increase in powder. Reverse it and you lose the increase in one throw.

If you dump the Dillon measure and get an RCBS with a case activated linkage you’ll get the advantages of a drum measure. Stick and some larger flake powders will now measure adequately. The Dillon isn’t a good system except for ball powders and there are some of those that leak like fine sand from a Dillon. There are micrometer adjustment stems too. I’ve used the Hornady on my ammo plant and it is very good.

However, if loading for long range, get a couple or three chargemasters and use those with a powder die.
 
Call harrels and tell them what you are doing. I think they could take an extended die blank and bore it out to fit their measure. I am sure they have cnc equipment and programming it would be easy to just bore a hole to fit the neck correctly so you dont spill powder.
 
jonbearman said:
Call harrels and tell them what you are doing. I think they could take an extended die blank and bore it out to fit their measure. I am sure they have cnc equipment and programming it would be easy to just bore a hole to fit the neck correctly so you dont spill powder.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all the replies. Harrell’s were very nice on the phone, but said they were a small shop and couldn’t help me. Said their measures weren’t made to mount on progressive presses. I returned it and I’m using the Dillon measure
 
Chris916 said:
Thanks for all the replies. Harrell’s were very nice on the phone, but said they were a small shop and couldn’t help me. Said their measures weren’t made to mount on progressive presses. I returned it and I’m using the Dillon measure
Click to expand...
I think u made the wise choice. Like a previous post stated, i also found that powder throwers can be held around the 0.2gr area. And combine that with the fact that ur using on a press, just sticking woth the dillion was the smart thing to do.
 
C.E.Smith043 said:
I think u made the wise choice. Like a previous post stated, i also found that powder throwers can be held around the 0.2gr area. And combine that with the fact that ur using on a press, just sticking woth the dillion was the smart thing to do.
Click to expand...

Smarter is to swap out the Dillon and add either an RCBS Uniflow with a case activation kit or the similar Hornady measure system. Either one will be superior to the Dillon.
 
riflewoman said:
Smarter is to swap out the Dillon and add either an RCBS Uniflow with a case activation kit or the similar Hornady measure system. Either one will be superior to the Dillon.
Click to expand...

FWIW & IMHO,
Concur. I've found the RCBS Uniflow with Micrometer Stem to be as accurate as ANY mechanical powder measure made. I found it benefited in accuracy when the operation stroke was dampened by my RCBS 2000. As a matter of fact I bought my RCBS 2000 within a year of my Harrell's Premium Culver Measure from Sinclair. I was impressed with the build quality on the Harrell's, however, I found it offered nothing accuracy wise over the Uniflow. I've got that same uniflow with an RCBS powder baffle(I asked they sent) and it is still as accurate as ANY volumetric throw I have ever used.

I don't think the dampening effect of running the Uniflow through the press should be ignored. It makes it far easier to get a repetitive stroke which is the key to as much accuracy as possible...imho.

The funny part about the whole exercise is I paid $299(2002) for the RCBS 2000 WITH the Micrometer equipped Uniflow and both rifle and pistol chambers(from Graf's no less). The Harrell's Premium Culver Measure ran about the same by the time you bought the stand. The Micrometer equipped Uniflow, with the new stand, currently runs something on the order of $185. Good measure. Over priced at this point. That said they are everywhere used and few want them...

They DO have FAR more surface area between the drum and the casting. This is a non-issue when run through the press, however, it may make a difference running it by hand... Maybe not. Motor mica and a very, very, very fine/judicious amount of polishing on the casting interior surface can do wonders on that friction...fwiw & ime.

Regards, Matt.

Btw, as an aside the MOST accurate groups I have ever shot were THROWN from my Harrell's Premium Culver Measure. Granted it was ball powder. The all seem to do well there...
 
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