9mm on the Dillon 550B....

by Gunner @, St Louis, Sunday, June 23, 2024, 13:18 (151 days ago)

I love my 550, have loaded over 35,000 rounds on it, all big bore pistol rounds, 41 Mag and 45 Colt. My Dillon Square Deal is used for 45 acp, almost 30,000 rounds on it, no issues with either, until now.

It the past year I have bought several 9mm guns, including a CMMG Banshee AR, suppressed it is the most fun gun I have ever shot besides a full auto, so I decided to start loading for the 9mm. I wanted a Square Deal in 9mm but none were available, including from Dillon! I didn't want to mess with converting my 45 Square Deal so I bought dies and an conversion kit for the 550, and that is where the issues started.

Primer sitting that is, especially shooting a suppressed 9mm pistol, even with the booster installed, a lighter recoil spring solved some of those issues but I was still getting misfires. Checked the primer seating arm position, off 1-2mm, re-centered it, re-cleaned the priming system but am still having issues with the primers not seating correctly.

At this point I am only loading sub sonic rounds as I have 1,000+ rounds of factory ammo. I have an after market extended primer arm plate with roller bearing installed on the 550, even operating the handle slow I get primer flops, short seated and crunchy seating at times. I know I am a little biased and wanted a Square Deal and didn't want to use the 550 with it's long stroke handle throw but I know there lots and lots of reloaders using the 550 for 9mm.

I have been reloading since 1988 and have NEVER had a round of ammo not go bang until the 9mm and it is frustrating me, anyone have any advice or suggestions????


Gunner

--
https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

Give Dillon a call.

by E Sisk, Sunday, June 23, 2024, 13:35 (151 days ago) @ Gunner

.

I have found a lot of difference in 9mm cases.

by JimT, Texas, Sunday, June 23, 2024, 14:15 (151 days ago) @ Gunner

Thicker or thinner case walls ... tight primer pockets ... once-fired brass sometimes contains military brass with crimped primer pockets ...

That may not be your problem as I don't load anything on progressives, having gotten rid of mine years ago. But even on single stage presses I have found the 9mm to be challenge at times.

--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

I have found a lot of difference in 9mm cases.

by Gunner @, St Louis, Sunday, June 23, 2024, 16:55 (150 days ago) @ JimT

All my cases are once fired factory, mostly PMC with a little MagTech and Czech mixed in, that I shot. I wonder if the Czech ammo might have crimped pockets, though it doesn't state it on the box, some cases just crush the primer on seating, over tight/crimped??? pocket. I haven't paid any attention to which brand is giving me issues, I just dump the case in the trash and move on as I have 1,000+ cases.

Gunner

--
https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

I was given about 2500 cases and then picked up another

by JimT, Texas, Sunday, June 23, 2024, 17:25 (150 days ago) @ Gunner

thousand or so free of charge. Sorted them all by headstamp. The military ones need the primer pocket reamed or you crush primers trying to seat them. Ran into that on a few commercial ones for some reason. All the ones that need reamed I toss in the junk brass.

--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

At least at one point

by A K Church, Monday, June 24, 2024, 10:57 (150 days ago) @ JimT
edited by A K Church, Monday, June 24, 2024, 11:16

Fiocchi commercial 9mm for the US market was loaded with staked red lacquer sealed primers, and lacquer sealed bullets.

This was Boxer primed, so presumably it wasn't contract overruns from some agency order. Early/mid 90s. Maybe before, maybe after, that I don't know.

what brand of primers are you using?

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 22:49 (147 days ago) @ Gunner

softer Winchesters and federals hopefully. the folks on the phones at Dillon are very helpful. call em.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

what brand of primers are you using?

by Gunner @, St Louis, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 23:10 (147 days ago) @ Rob Leahy

Older Winchester (blue box) I do have some of the new white boxes.


Gunner

--
https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

9mm on the Dillon 550B....

by Creeker @, Hardwoods, Monday, June 24, 2024, 09:30 (150 days ago) @ Gunner

I can almost feel your pain. Way back when, I had trouble with my priming arm, the slide that is, jerking and sometimes the primer would jump out of the cup or invert as yours does. It's been a lot of frosty morning since that happened but I do remember once I adjusted things properly the problem went away and has never returned. Not being there I cannot say for sure. Plus the fact that you've loaded many thousands rounds I would think the problem odd as it only happens with your 9 mm setup. Maybe best for you is to call Dillon which is already been said. Wish you well Gunner.

9mm on the Dillon 550B....

by anachronism, Saturday, July 06, 2024, 18:22 (137 days ago) @ Creeker

All Dillon presses need to have their platform realigned every so often. Dillon has an alignment tool for this. Trust me, you need to do this periodically:
Dillon Platform Alignment

More 550 videos: www.dillonprecision.com/rl550-product-videos.html]Dillon Videos[/link]

The cleaning and lubrication video is worth watching at least twice. There is also a primer track guide offered by Dillon and Uniquetek that's a flat steel plate for the primer shuttle to ride on. If your shuttle is only riding on bare aluminum you can get hitches and jimmies that cause the primers to flip in the cup.

Bob

9mm on the Dillon 550B....

by Creeker @, Hardwoods, Sunday, July 07, 2024, 18:03 (136 days ago) @ anachronism

I have 3 or 4 of the tools & yes my slide rides on the plate. Wish I could remember the cure. Getting some years on here. Thanks for the video. Good stuff.

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