How Important is Powder Check Die?

blopez50

New member
I'm setting up a LnL AP press. I'll just be loading 45 and 9 for now. I've always had great luck with my powders and haven't ever thrown any charges that are way off.

The press is set up now:
1)Size/deprime
2)Expand
3)Powder drop
4)Seat
5)Crimp

My question is, how necessary is a powder check die? I don't really have a place for it... I could always use the crimp/seater but have had horrible luck with those.

Thanks for the help!
 
You know, in all the years I have reloaded, I have never used a powder check die, of course, I have not used a progressive press either, largely because I did not want to create ammo that I did not inspect each and every operation on as I went.

In my past, I simply used powders that filled the open capacity of the case with the proper charge volume, and I was unable to double charge any without spilling it all over the place, with a single exception, and that was some Bullseye in some .45 ACP loads I once did, and had I visually checked them, I would have seen the problem. That was my learning experience, a full-auto .45 for the single magazine required to allow time for me to get my finger off the trigger. I pulled all those rounds and recycled them. That experience, early in my reloading days (late 1980's/early 1990's), broke me from wanting a progressive press, in fact.

Other than that one time that I screwed up where a visual inspection, even randomly, of the cases would have demonstrated a problem, I have never needed a check die to verify loads. I looked into the cases and compared the entire tray at one time. Worked like a charm.

Now, on a progressive press? If it were ME?? I would use a buzzer type indicator die, something that got my attention. I don't know if yours has a buzzer or a capacity to stop the press, but if not, that is what I would look for. I have seen my step-son have issues with a progressive press, and it was very ugly, once case in point was that no primers were mounted in over 100 rounds of 9 MM, the other occasion I witnessed was a powder related malfunction, in both cases, all ammo had to be pulled, and in the only other problem I saw him have, he had a lot of cases that were crushed or otherwise unuseable because of bullet seating and case centering issues, which made a real pain in the azz for him, and almost sent him back to doing it my way, one tray at a time, single stage.
 
oh, by 'stop the press' I mean some form of interlock that will not allow you to go farther before remedy of the situation, if that possibility exists...
 
I had thought about getting one for my LNL, but haven't yet. I have been seating/crimping at the same time and I set that die at the last station.

Mine goes...

1. Size/deprime
2. Expand
3. Powder drop
4. Empty
5. Seat/crimp

I can visually check the charge at the top of the stroke before I set a bullet to be seated. If you are set on crimping separately than you have no room for a powder check die. Unless you go to an expander/powder drop combo to open up a station.

http://ultimatereloader.com/2012/01/13/l...rough-expander/
 
I run one when I am reloading for pistols and 223 but I seat/crimp on one station. I run a tapper crimp and have had no problems with the 40's that I have loaded. I really like it for 40's because I am only running something like 4gr of bullseye and it gives you a visual Q that there is the right charge in there.
 
Now having had 2 cases not get a charge and getting bullets stuck in my barrel I physically check every case before placing a bullet on it. I've never used a powder check die so not sure if they are reliable but I personally want to see the powder charge in every case. Most people I've talked to concur and do the same thing.

I should note, I've never used the LNL so I am not sure if it's possible to physically check each case but I would assume it is.
 
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Originally Posted By: BubbaChickenYou know, in all the years I have reloaded, I have never used a powder check die, of course, I have not used a progressive press either, largely because I did not want to create ammo that I did not inspect each and every operation on as I went.

In my past, I simply used powders that filled the open capacity of the case with the proper charge volume, and I was unable to double charge any without spilling it all over the place, with a single exception, and that was some Bullseye in some .45 ACP loads I once did, and had I visually checked them, I would have seen the problem. That was my learning experience, a full-auto .45 for the single magazine required to allow time for me to get my finger off the trigger. I pulled all those rounds and recycled them. That experience, early in my reloading days (late 1980's/early 1990's), broke me from wanting a progressive press, in fact.

Other than that one time that I screwed up where a visual inspection, even randomly, of the cases would have demonstrated a problem, I have never needed a check die to verify loads. I looked into the cases and compared the entire tray at one time. Worked like a charm.

Now, on a progressive press? If it were ME?? I would use a buzzer type indicator die, something that got my attention. I don't know if yours has a buzzer or a capacity to stop the press, but if not, that is what I would look for. I have seen my step-son have issues with a progressive press, and it was very ugly, once case in point was that no primers were mounted in over 100 rounds of 9 MM, the other occasion I witnessed was a powder related malfunction, in both cases, all ammo had to be pulled, and in the only other problem I saw him have, he had a lot of cases that were crushed or otherwise unuseable because of bullet seating and case centering issues, which made a real pain in the azz for him, and almost sent him back to doing it my way, one tray at a time, single stage.


You are out of your mind.

Giving advice on stuff as "if it were possible", and "I have never used a progressive press either" Don't give advise on things you have never done! You sound like a dumb azz that want's to be important. Good Grief.

Crawl back into your rabbit hole. You are nuts!

A "buzzer type indicator die"?????? What the F is that?????
 
I've had a Dillon 550, 650 and 1050 for 12 years. Sold the 550 and still have the other two. The reason I sold the 550 was it had 4 stations and no room for a check die. That press gave me 3 squibs with Unique.

On the 3rd squib I called Dillon and ordered the 650, next day the 550 went up for sale.

I will not run a progressive press without a powder check die. It's not 'if' you get a bad charge but 'when'.

Some say they want to look at every charge. No thanks, I'll trust the die before I trust myself. The powder check die will keep working through all the interruptions you get while reloading. For the price of the check die it's very cheap insurance.

Yes, there is a powder check die with a buzzer, Dillon makes it. That is what I use. RCBS makes a die that will lock up the press if the charge is off.

That's my opinion.
 
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Originally Posted By: joedThat press gave me 3 squibs with Unique.

All my squib's were with Unique as well. It's due to it being a flake powder. I won't use a flake powder in a progressive anymore. Doesn't meter well. I will trust myself before I trust a mechanical object. But to each his own. The most important thing is what works for you and is safe.
 
Thank you dpollard! I asked all over the internet if anyone else was having trouble with Unique. Most told me no though a few said yes. I figured the ones reporting no problems weren't loading enough of it. Unique will bite you sooner or later in just about any measure.

I'm very much aware that the flake powder is what causes it. I no longer use Unique and went to Power Pistol and Universal.

Interesting that some of you trust yourselves more then the die. That powder check die as served me well for 8 years now, I have them in both progressives. And there's one less thing in life I have to worry about. All is well in Joe's world.
 


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