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dillon powder measure with a LCTP?

932 views 20 replies 9 participants last post by  9x45 
#1 ·
i recently picked up 45 acp dies and have a lee classic turret press that i load 9mm with the lee auto disk powder measure. eventually, some day in the future, i plan to get a 550 and will be loading these two calibers and will want to switch between them pretty easily.

my question: does the dillon measure work like the lee measure in that when the brass is pushed up to the powder die it is given a little flange and the powder drops? if so, i'm thinking i'd get a dillon quick change assembly

https://www.dillonprecision.com/rl-550-series-deluxe-quick-change-assembly_8_49_23602.html

and use it with my LCTP until i get the 550. then when i get the 550, i'm ready to go in two calibers, and can sell the LCTP without dies. is this a good plan?

if the dillon measure won't work with the lee press, i'd probably just get another lee auto disk so i won't have to switch my current lee measure between two calibers, just change out the turrets.

thanks in advance for your opinions!
 
#2 ·
You could always try Lee's auto drum. Much cheaper.
 
#3 ·
i have an auto drum now--i'm guess you mean the lee "perfect powder measure"? i'm fine using the drum now, despite it's lack of fine tuning, and would use it for one of the calibers until i have a dillon.

if i got a dillon measure setup and used it with my LCTP in the meantime, i'd be already to go with two calibers on a 550. i'm actually looking to save money by going to the dillon powder measure, as i wouldn't have two lee measures (whether they be drum or perfect) to sell with the LCTP.
 
#4 ·
ugh, i'd need a caliber conversion kit too

https://www.dillonprecision.com/rl-550-caliber-conversion-kit_8_2_23598.html

because that's what does the flange. so it goes from $115 plus $50 for the conversion kit. it makes sense now.

over three times what a lee powder measure would run, but it still goes with my goal of having two calibers for the future 550. and i'd save the money on the second lee measure.
 
#5 ·
I use Lee powder thru expander die and Lee Pro auto disk powder measure on my Dillon 550B because it is easier to adjust the bell and much easier to empty. Consistency is the same compared to Dillon from my experience. You don't need a second measure if you are using Lee powder thru expander die on both calibers, just transfer the powder measure.
 
#7 ·
Yes it would work with some modification sort of make the first gen Dillon powder measure Bolt nut, washers and springs. But I think he would be better off in just getting the Lee Auto Drum The Auto Drum does not use the discs and it can be adjusted to whatever you want it to throw and also you can get extra drums for a quick change for when you want to throw the same amount. Even though the Auto Drum is fast and easy to dial in what you want to throw and also it could be used on the Dillon 550. I use it on my 450.
 
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#9 ·
Yes and no. I tried it when I had an LCT. The case will activate the Dillon and the powder will drop correctly.

The problem is that the Dillon weighs too much, and will hamper the free rotation of the turret, which causes the little square nylon nut to strip.

I really like the Dillon powder dump, and that's one of the reasons I no longer have the LCT.
 
#11 ·
ah, no i have auto-disk, not the auto-drum: https://leeprecision.com/pro-auto-disk.html and to tell the truth, i don't mind the limitations of the auto-drum's increments. some day i'll want to dial it in, but for now it's fine.

i have checked out the perfect powder measure in person, and i think i got that mixed up with the auto-drum--i will say that the perfect powder measure seemed cheaply made and plastic-y.

i'm really not a fan of the fit and finish of the lee stuff, hence why i want to go to the dillon. lee was fine to get my head around reloading, but it really isn't quality stuff.
 
#13 ·
Personally, I would just stick with the Auto Disk Pro. I never found it too limiting cavity wise. I did have to adjust each of mine so they wouldn't leak with the finer powders, but it only took a few minutes with fine sandpaper laid flat on a work surface, a few swipes on each side of the standards to close the gap and allow the polymer seal of the AD Pro to seal completely against the disk.

The adjustable charge bar worked for me as well, just not for small charges, but for say 4.8grs of Bullseye, not a problem. :)

All in, I think Lee does more for Dillon sales than all the pretty girls, in all the pretty print media they ever produced. ;)
 
#12 · (Edited)
In theory, the Dillon powder measure should feed powder when the powder funnel enters the cartridge case. That engagement operates the powder dump. There is also a "failsafe" rod that is tied to the "return bracket" to ensure that the powder measure returns to its parked position.

That system works perfectly on the Dillon press. I think it's a bad idea to "adapt" it to another application. The older RL450 manual powder measure would be a simple and very effective addition to your press, by comparison.

If you want a real effective powder measure, I highly recommend the Lyman 55. The 55 has three separate chambers that can be adjusted for a perfect powder drop. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny! It even has a small hammer attached to the measure to vibrate the unit the same way for every drop!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/703838/lyman-55-powder-measure

Flash
 
#15 ·
If you want a real effective powder measure, I highly recommend the Lyman 55. The 55 has three separate chambers that can be adjusted for a perfect powder drop. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny! It even has a small hammer attached to the measure to vibrate the unit the same way for every drop!
i think this would be brilliant if i ever do single stage rifle cartridges--thanks!
 
#16 ·
Yes it would work with some modification sort of make the first gen Dillon powder measure Bolt nut, washers and springs. But I think he would be better off in just getting the Lee Auto Drum The Auto Drum does not use the discs and it can be adjusted to whatever you want it to throw and also you can get extra drums for a quick change for when you want to throw the same amount. Even though the Auto Drum is fast and easy to dial in what you want to throw and also it could be used on the Dillon 550. I use it on my 450.
I'd need 25 drums which would be a pain to store and find the one I need - for me, it's much easier to just turn the disc to the proper number, load with the appropriate powder and never worry about checking it.

That said, I do use the drums for rifle loading on the Classic Cast Powder Measure. Only need about five though. Different strokes.
 
#17 ·
I think it has taken me about 2 minutes max to dial in what I what to throw with the Auto Drum and it throws what I want it to throw not plus or minus of what I want. I also get consistant throws. I just had way to many problems with the Disks I had 3 or 4 of them and every one was a pain.
 
#18 ·
Yes, the adjustable can be dialed in without trouble, but I fail to see how the disc can possibly be a pain and it definitely doesn't take two minutes to switch. Your personality must be one that needs to have the exact amount you want and that's why the drum is your favorite.

Mine is one that with moderate loads, 1/2 grain up/down works. That doesn't mean 1/2 on one a 1/2 on another. Once you have the disc you want, it gives that amount day in and day out, never more and less. In the end, there are two measures that make both of us happy.
 
#19 ·
my question: does the dillon measure work like the lee measure in that when the brass is pushed up to the powder die it is given a little flange and the powder drops? if so, i'm thinking i'd get a dillon quick change assembly!
Yes, Dillon's are a powder thru die and put a bell on the brass when cycled along with the powder charge.
 
#20 ·
In theory, the Dillon powder measure should feed powder when the powder funnel enters the cartridge case. That engagement operates the powder dump. There is also a "failsafe" rod that is tied to the "return bracket" to ensure that the powder measure returns to its parked position.
Only the newer ones. All the originals used just the springs to return the powder bar and recharge it. I got a Square Deal as match product back in 2001 and it had the "fail safe" Harley shift linkage on it, clunky and clanky, so I converted it back to the GoldWing silent linkage like my 1986 550....





Square Deal converted. Dillon does not recommend doing this.

 
#21 ·
Variations in powder charge are also because of the powder itself. Sugar powders, like TiteGroup and BE-86 will throw at +/- .1 grains out of any Dillon, and corn flake powders, like Unique, can vary by +/-.2-3 grains. For action pistol, it hardly matters, but for anything precision, that's different. I load .243 WIN on a single stage press and use a trickler to get the right final charge weight.
 
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