Can you flare without dispensing powder on Dillon?

[joejoe05]

Newbie here.

Is it possible to get the 2nd stage to flare the casing without dispensing powder when the powder measure is attached with powder in it? Is the only way to remove the powder measure?

I want to size, flare, seat, and crimp to test my OAL, but I don't want to add a primer or powder just yet.

Using a Dillon XL750. Thanks.

[George16]

You have to remove the powder. In fact, I just did that to confirm my OAL is set at 1.165” for my major load using AA7 for my Czechmate.

[joejoe05]

Ok thanks!

[Matt101]

Just operate as normal, then remove the case at station 3 and dump the powder back in the hopper


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[Wobbly]

I want to size, flare, seat, and crimp to test my OAL, but I don't want to add a primer or powder just yet.

• You've been given the only 2 ways I know of.

• BTW, the powder measure must be in place (empty or full) because the powder measure provides the resistance on the Powder Funnel to initiate the Expansion and Flaring.

• So you're building "dummy cartridges" and that's easy to do.
 - Simply don't push forward on the op lever and no primer seating will take place.
 - Then follow one of the 2 hints given above to cover the powder.
 - Finally, realize that the case does not need to be belled at all to seat most bullets. The belling exists to do seating on a mass-manufacturing scale, but if you're simply seating a few bullets, then those steps aren't absolutely necessary. Yes, seating will be easier with a plated bullet with a rounded base than it will with a jacketed bullet with a sharp-cornered base. But it's not impossible.

• BTW, the powder measure should be stored in an empty condition. I'm wondering from your question if there is already powder in your PM's hopper ? This is not good safety procedure and it can be harmful to the PM itself. At the end of every loading session, all powder should be returned to its canister.

Hope this helps

[joejoe05]

I need to seat a primer in order to remove the case at station 3 and dump the powder back in the hopper. Without a primer, the powder just falls out. I'm getting powder all over the place.. I didn't realize how messy this could get.

Seems like my best option is to just seat a primer to plug the casing, allow the powder to fill, remove the case at station 3 and dump the powder back in the hopper, then finish the dummy round (though not as dummy with a live primer).

- Finally, realize that the case does not need to be belled at all to seat most bullets. The belling exists to do seating on a mass-manufacturing scale, but if you're simply seating a few bullets, then those steps aren't absolutely necessary. Yes, seating will be easier with a plated bullet with a rounded base than it will with a jacketed bullet with a sharp-cornered base. But it's not impossible.

I'm using Montana Gold 124gr JHP which seem to require the flare.

[painter]

I need to seat a primer in order to remove the case at station 3 and dump the powder back in the hopper. Without a primer, the powder just falls out. I'm getting powder all over the place.. I didn't realize how messy this could get.

Seems like my best option is to just seat a primer to plug the casing, allow the powder to fill, remove the case at station 3 and dump the powder back in the hopper, then finish the dummy round (though not as dummy with a live primer).

- Finally, realize that the case does not need to be belled at all to seat most bullets. The belling exists to do seating on a mass-manufacturing scale, but if you're simply seating a few bullets, then those steps aren't absolutely necessary. Yes, seating will be easier with a plated bullet with a rounded base than it will with a jacketed bullet with a sharp-cornered base. But it's not impossible.

I'm using Montana Gold 124gr JHP which seem to require the flare.

How about re-seating a spent primer?

[bradfordlh]

You can also resize a case and leave the spent primer in by removing the decapping pin at stage one.

[joejoe05]

Remove the decapping pin!! Thank you!!

[Wobbly]

Remove the decapping pin!! Thank you!!

I was just going to say !   

But again, why is there powder in the PM ?

[George16]

I agree in not keeping powder in the powder measure. I always empty my powder measure after each reloading session. It’ll also keep the plastic from getting tarnished and turning into gray or sometimes black.

[joejoe05]

But again, why is there powder in the PM ?

• Set up my press
• Installed each die using a casing at each station to calibrate and get desired OAL. Moved a single casing from stations 1 to 5, learning each station individually. Never had more than 1 casing on the shell plate at this time.
• Added powder to the PM and practiced dialing in powder measurements with my scale. Kept filling a single casing over and over again and got a feel for how much to turn the screw for adjustments and how many pulls it takes to stabilize.
• Loaded casings in the case feeder to see the progressive press in action with casings in each station, but had powder in the PM from the prior step. 

This is when powder would fall through the deprimed casings (didn't want to use any live primers yet). I was trying to re-calibrate my seating die since my OAL changed after having the plate full vs having just a single case at station 4. I did try emptying the PM, but it still made a mess for the next 4-6 pulls.

I eventually added primers and got it going, but in retrospect, I should have just removed the decapping pin.

I'm having an absolute blast and loving how much there is to learn. I'll have more questions soon and appreciate all the help.


Also, installed my UFO lights and spent primer tube yesterday. Thanks for those suggestions, Wobbly. Both awesome upgrades!

[Wobbly]

There's a nice accessory that helps you more easily release the Powder Measure so that you can pour the powder from the hopper back into the canister. The first ones were made by Entirely Crimson. Now there are a lot of copycat versions. I don't know that any of them are better than the other, except for longevity. The metal ones will probably hold up better than the "3D printed versions".

https://entirelycrimson.com/collections/dillon-xl-650/products/quick-disconnect-for-dillon-powder-alarm-1

Their little video explains everything.

[George16]

After manually emptying the powder measure, put an unsize casing with the spent primer directly under the powder measure and crank the handle to dispense the remaining powder. Continue to do this until there’s no more powder being dispensed  from the pm. Using an unsized casing with the spent primer still intact prevent a mess of powder on your shell plate.

[Matt101]

Cmon, you don’t lose that much powder through the flash hole for it to be a real issue.


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