Cognitive Dissident
I just ordered the Mighty Armory funnel flair die to try out for myself so I can compare it to the mr bullet feeder die
The way I solved my sticking problem with 9mm in my 550c was to deprime and size on the single stage. Stage one on the Dillon is filled with a Lee Universal expander and an NOE expander plug. If shipping is cheaper from an individual, I will offer up my services. You can have it shipped to me and I'll send it to you. Just an idea to check out. Second option would be to have a member here turn one on a lathe for you and ship it.
I took some measurements on my custom powder funnel. From the tip of the funnel where the powder exits to the start of the flair is .25". The straight barrel of the expander over most of that quarter inch is .356". The outside diameter of the tip of the funnel where the powder comes out is .31". From the .31" tip to where the expander is the .356" diameter is almost a straight taper is .04" long. I hope that makes sense to you. From where the flair starts to the where the flair ends at the shoulder is .25" long. Where the flair taper ends at the shoulder is .46" diameter. The shoulder diameter is .509".
The throats on my pistols like .3575" bullets. I size to .3577" and pulled bullets measure .3575" with my alloy. The fella didn't like making the expander that big but it works with my reloading components. If it's a little big it can be reduced in size. Where my expander contacts the brass has a high luster from so much use. Good Luck.
My cast bullets are a bit smaller (I think, because I cannot measure to .0001) .356". I am using the expander that came with the Dillon dies and have not had bullet shaving.
It might be worth going back to the Dillon expander and checking if it is adjusted to put a bit more flair on the case.
BTW, I use bevel base bullets. Flat base bullets are going to be a tougher challenge to keep from shaving. I also use "hardball" (92-2-6) alloy so it will be less prone to shaving than a softer alloy.
Like others, I use a case lube but that does not seem to be helping you so there is something going on with the expander. That is why I suggest going back to the Dillon expander. It should work and if not, Dillon will replace it.
Don Verna
Another thought, sounds like some serious galling going on. I’m thinking if you’re just cranking rounds out as fast as you can perhaps you’re building up heat on the funnel from the friction. This will increase the galling action significantly. Maybe slowing down will lessen the heat buildup and help prevent it from galling. One way to perhaps figure this out is if the sticking only starts after you’ve been loading a while, in other words if it’s not sticking when starting out cold but gets progressively worse as you go. This may be a weird thought, but something to consider and doesn’t cost a dime to try.
The carbon residue inside the fired cases acts as a lubricant on the powder funnel. All size dies will size the case neck portion tighter than necessary. This is because there is too much variation in case neck thickness. Then the powder funnel has an expander portion that opens the case neck up to a uniform inside diameter. This ensures consistant neck tension holding the projectile, regardless of brass manufacturer. If you insist on wet cleaning, leave the pins out and run for 30-45 minutes, so some carbon residue remains inside the case. Using a car wash containing car wax instead of other citric acid based products helps. A light spray of Dillon case lube on the brass can overcome this. Dillon case lube is alcohol and lanolin, so the powder burning rate is not affected.
Wet tumbling has some advantages and some disadvantages. The main reason I wet tumble is to clean the primer pockets. Everything that I have read indicates that for most application this is not really a benefit but if I am going thru the extra effort to wet tumble I want the primer pockets clean.
Since long before wet tumbling was a thing, I did/do all brass processing in two steps. All my Dillons have case feeders. I size, deprime and expand the neck/flare in the first time through the press. For straight wall cases I mostly use a Lyman M type die. Next is wet tumbling and or trimming if needed. Second pass thru the press is to prime, drop powder and seat/crimp the bullet. I prefer to crimp after the bullet is fully seated so I generally use a separate crimp die if needed. Using this method, you also a more flexibility for die locations.
Using this method (particularly with ball powders) the lack of additional vibration allows the Dillon measure to drop is amazing accuracy. Funnels sticking issues are also eliminated.
Last edited by M-Tecs; 11-07-2023 at 04:10 PM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
When I process pistol brass I mostly use carbide dies. I still use a light spray of Hornady One Shot. I've never timed output rates but it's well over 1,000 rounds per hour without any meaningful sticking/galling issues.
I do let the One Shot dry for at least 30 minutes.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
That less than 4 seconds per piece.......you can keep that up for an hour?
Cognitive Dissident
Awhile back I sized and deprimed 3,300 223 cases for a buddy in one setting using my Super 1050 and Dillon carbide sizing die. The cases were lightly tumbled in corncob to remove some stuck-on dirt/mud then sprayed with Hornady Ones shot the day before. When you only have to pour cases into the feeder and pull the handle 1 per 4 seconds is easy. I did let the dogs out a couple of times and did a couple of other minor things, but total time was still under 4 hours. Yes, my elbow was sore the next day.
Normally I like to do batches between 1K and 2K.
Last edited by M-Tecs; 11-07-2023 at 07:30 PM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
I used to have problems with sticking cases, but I don't anymore.
I load my 9mm on a Dillon RL1050. I removed the Dillon expander die on station 2. I installed a Lyman M die, I got it super cheap on eBay. At the powder measure I have a Photo Escape powder thru expander. The majority of the expanding happens with the Lyman die and the powder thru expander finishes the expansion. I load 147 grain Hi Tek coated cast bullets. I wet tumble my range pickup brass with s/s pins, Dawn, and citrus acid; and rinse tumble with car wash, I usually deprime it before the wet tumbling. I also rollsize, so my 9mm brass before it gets loaded.
Is there any other type?
Start the video at 6 minutes. He is sizing and trimming. All the excess lub. he has in the feeder will start causing problems but is does show a normal production rate of just processing brass.
jmorris has posted some nice videos of his fully automated Dillons. One example below in post #4. His stated he does 1000 rounds in 52 minutes for fully loaded ammo. My guess is he has to stop stopping to fill primers and powder. Bullets and brass should be able to be added as the machine cycles. I don't use bullet feeders and I do stop to pour cases in the feeder.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...11#post5641011
Last edited by M-Tecs; 11-08-2023 at 03:37 AM.
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
Only ones I know of are a tube that you stack the cases in. But I'm not a progressive press user. My shooting sports are well served by a single stage RCBS junior. I only know what I saw in the magazine ads before I quit reading them in the 1990s.
Cognitive Dissident
2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. - "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"Before you argue with someone, ask yourself, is that person even mentally mature enough to grasp the concept of different perspectives? Because if not, there’s absolutely no point."
– Amber Veal
"The Highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about".
- Wayne Dyer
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |