Need help: erratic shoulder bump on progressive press

[ricco1949]

I haven't had issues with shoulder bump on 650 and 1050 Dillons in manual mode for 20 VTs, 222s and 223s PDn loads.

However the recently acquired 1050 with Ponsness/Warren auto drive HS varies +/- .0025 from desired setting despite well lubed, heavily annealed brass, a die set opposite from the sizing station to minimize shell plate flex, and definite audible click on the lower cam stop.

I have not found a solution even after discussing with PW. The only advice offered was to increase the clutch torque to 100+ inch lbs. I suspect there is just too much stacking tolerance in the drive arm linkage.

I now only use the P/W for prep decapping and swaging and then set HS manually operating the handle in a separate pass.

I also have found that lube needs to be absent in the loading phase to avoid contaminating the bullet drop with powder stuck around the case mouth.

 

[Hengehold]

Yes. I have observed the variation and it will change from lot to lot and your annealing regime. Watch for die contact like people suggest. That cost me a match as well.

Single stage is the most precise. Progressive is an exercise in patience and tolerance.

Are you running more than one barrel.. that can get exciting as well with a progressive.

I tend to run a little more shoulder clearance with the progressive.

Hi Marty,
I am going through this setup process with brass that was shot in one barrel.

However, I have 4 Palma guns and use the same reamer on all the barrels. As it turns out, they are all so close that only one of them needs a different bump setting.

For this progressive brass processing experiment I tried once fired brass and brass that has 5 firings and was annealed on an AMP after the 5th firing, just prior to the FL sizing.

When it comes to using a progressive to make ammo for 1000yd matches, it feels like I am just using the wrong tool for the job.

 

[The German]

Not a Dillon, but to get consistent results on my Frankford Arsenal X10, I am using hold down dies in all unused stations to minimize the shell plate flexing/play.

 

[ricco1949]

Not a Dillon, but to get consistent results on my Frankford Arsenal X10, I am using hold down dies in all unused stations to minimize the shell plate flexing/play.

How much +/- variance are you able to achieve with this MO?

 

[LPToes]

I've had a couple of Dillon presses, and it is my opinion that they are designed to work best with Dillon dies, powder measures, etc... I had trouble with RCBS handgun dies not having sufficient thread atop (didn't use the progressives for rifle), requiring the lockrings to be placed under the die plate. Although, I too, used an aftermarket plate. I think removable/swappable plates are mostly about selling more powder measures, and add another layer of mis-alignment and inconsistency, hence having to screw the plate down to keep the thing from rattling.

It is fun to watch the ammo carousel. Brass ring always just out of reach.

What affect have you noticed on paper/dinner table? I've never been a good enough shot to know if I'm within Maxwell Smart's margin of error.

 

[JSH]

Interesting thread. I have and have a few progressive presses. When I started bumping shoulder years ago, I would spend a lot of time setting up. Only to find out with all the shell holders loaded it went to crap. More time adjusting and tinkering.
I gave up and went back to my old slow way. Two different presses and two different operations.
Worked for me and no more issues

 

[Mike TackleBerry]

BLUF: shoulder bump on Dillon 750 is erratic and not maintained at the initial shoulder bump setting.

I decided to get a progressive to do several steps of brass prep at one time (FL size with Type-S die, prime, and uniform the NK dia with an expanding mandrill). I just bought a Dillon 750 and am setting it up to bump the shoulder about .002-.003”. After I have the FL die adjusted for the desired setting I begin cycling the press to process brass. When using the press in full operation (size, prime, NK uniform at the same time) the shoulder bump goes from .003 to .006 of setback.

I readjust the die and it happens again.

-Armanov tool head is screwed firmly into place.
-FL die lock ring is used as a standard lock ring and not used in the “floating” configuration. Lock ring was initially used on top of tool head with minimal die thread access so moved it to the bottom of the die. (See pic)
-.020” taken off bottom of FL sizing die to ensure it is not contacting the Dillon shell holder. (See pic)
-case holder has no play or rocking to cause variance. It is solid.
-brass used was once fired Lapua 308 Win.

On a single stage press I might have a max of .001” variation in shoulder bump based on the number of times brass was fired.

Is anybody able to get similar shoulder bump consistency between a single stage and progressive or is my experience of inconsistent shoulder bump with a 750 just par for the course? View attachment 1726408View attachment 1726407View attachment 1726406

On my Dillon 550 i put the dies directly across from each other so when a round is being mandreled the other one is being sized and pressure is distributed more evenly. Move your bushing die to the red mark.

 

[The German]

How much +/- variance are you able to achieve with this MO?

As I don't shoot long distance and primarily handgun at 25 yard, I don't consistently measure it, but without the hold down dies, it was "all over the place" up to about 0.03" - now, when I measure, it is below 0.01"