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Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:41 am
by wasa43
Hi Folks

After the problem I had with 7-08 powder charges, I have modified my work flow with the Dillon. This only works if you have a digital powder scale:

Remove the pins from the powder charging and bullet seating stations.
Put the primed case on the powder scale, zero the scale.
Charge the case, and put it on the scale.
If the powder charge meets your spec, put the case back on the press, and seat the bullet, and you are done.
If the powder charge is out of spec, pour the powder back into the measure, and try again.

Repeat with the next case.

This allows you to weigh each powder charge, but you don't have to pour the powder into the pan, weigh it, get the funnel, pour it back into the case, etc.

It allows perfect quality control, and it still fairly fast. It also has the advantage of letting you know how much the weight of the primed cases varies. It's never happened, but if I had a case that was way outside the normal range, I'd cull it.

Hope somebody finds this useful.

Re: Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:15 am
by Jerry G
I have removed the Dillon powder measure and set a powder funel into the hole at that station. When I push the handle down the case comes up into the bottom of the powder funel and raises it a little. I dump powder onto a pan using my Redding measure and weigh the charge then dump the pan into the top of the powder funel. I load over 100 cases per hour which is fast enough for me. The 40 year old Redding does a great job and it is very seldom I have to adjust the powder charge to get to plus or minus 0.1 gr. :-bd

Re: Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:58 am
by Jason
Ooo.. Jerry's procedure with my RCBS Charge Master substituted in might have just given me a reason to buy a progressive press finally...

Re: Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 3:58 pm
by Jerry G
You won't be sorry Jason. Progressives are the way to go if you do a lot of realoading, which I assume you do shooting HP Sil. I would get an automatic primer feed with the press.

Re: Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:33 pm
by Trent
how is concentricity looking out of the progressives? I am a one-at-a-time type of guy, but sometimes I do dream of a progressive setup. Especially after a couple of big matches.

Re: Modified Dillon workflow

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:28 pm
by Jerry G
I am getting 5/8 minute groups on a very regular basis with mu 6.5x47 and my 243 with a very tight 7 twist.