I am having a problem with my Dillon XL650 press. The problem centers around maintaining a consistent overall length (.45acp). I generally like to keep the length at 1.260 (to much longer and it won't feed through my Para). However, when checking out each batch I am seeing variations that range from 1.259 to 1.268. I can understand seeing a +/- .003 variation but not the above. I was using the Dillon dies when getting these results. I have recently switched over to a Lee Seating Die and have since been able to reduce the variation down to 1.259 to 1.266. Not much improvement.

I have already spent a couple of hours on the phone with Dillon's Technical support and have traded numerous emails - no solution found through them. In fact, one email from them stated "it's only ammo", talk about ticking one off.

Everything is tight and stable on the press and bench. I even had the gentlemen who taught me how to reload come over and inspect the press, he could not find the cause. Also I am seeing these same results over a variety of different bullets (Rainier, Hard Cast, Meister, & PrecisionBullets - all 230gr RN)

I have even tried the Redding competition seating die with no luck.

I have heard rumor of some folks finding the shell plate to be out of spec and causing issues. Anyone know anything about this?

Any suggestions on how to get tighter results on the OAL?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.......

Hello Steve,

I don't have a 650 (I have a 550), but will toss out some ideas.

I don't think that the shellplate is going to be the culprit. When you are "pushing" the brass into the dies/shellplate, the base of the cartridge should be resting against the top of the ram, the shellplate should NOT "interfere" with the case at all when raised into the dies/toolhead. The shellplate only "removes" the brass from the dies, and indexes them radially relative to the toolhead. Is the "top fitting" tight on the ram?

Does the toolplate "move up" to the same location when the ram is raised? I know that the toolplates are not "press-fit" on my 550, so there is going to be some amount of play there, does it matter if you have rounds in the other stations? Maybe put a "wedge" at the bottom of the groove between the toolhead and the press to keep it "fixed" against the top of the groove. Is the seating die tight in the toolhead (I know, pretty basic, but just trying to think of all possibilities)?

Do you know how much variation there is between the "datum point" (seater diameter contact point) and the end of the bullet - how consistent are the bullets?

If all else fails, just adjust it so that the "longest" cartridge is 1.260" max.?

Hope this helps and good luck,

Bill

Your variation probably comes from the shape and inconsistency in the noses of your bullets, particularly if the bullet seater isn't an exact match for the bullets you are using. Many of the die manufactures will alter the bullet seater to conform to the bullets you want to use or you can do it yourself. That would be the first place I'd look and I'd bet even money that's where the "problem" lies. There isn't any slop in the shell holder in the XL650 riding on those bearings, an the slop for the the toolhead would normally be consistent under pressure while seating.

Match your seater button to the bullets you are seating and I'd bet you'll solve your "problem". Don't want to anger you further but I sort of agree with Dillon. Plus or minus .0045" isn't going to make that much difference in your ballistics and accuracy. I'll bet your bullets will vary considerably more in weight than you realize and that's not going to matter too much either.

Thanks for the input guys....

Bob - one of the first things checked was the seater button, that was the driving factor in switching over to the Lee seating die - better fit. I agree that a plus .003 to even a .0045 is exceptable - but not the +.008 that I am seeing (at a setting of 1.260 I am only seeing a small percentange that are coming up at -.001). Possible issues with the consistency of the bullets was also considered that is why the experimentation with the different brands. I even went so far as to weight and measure a batch of 100 rounds - found very little inconsistency in weight or length - not enough to explain the +.008 in OAL.

Bill - there is a tiny little play in the tool head, but it is consistent all the way around. This was one of the possible issues identified by Dillon and we did try shimming it to hold it in a locked position - no luck. Yes, all dies are tight in the toolhead. In reference to the shellplat rumor - this was centered around the possible inconsistency of the cuts for the shells that would allow a case to sit higher in one hole versus one of the others.

Thanks for the ideas guys, please keep them coming and don't be afraid to suggest what may seem like common sense or basic knowledge - at this point I will consider everything......