expendable

Just giving you a hard time. I think I was on the 50 yard range right next door to you, I recognize that little Crickett.

Hmmmm.. those glasses aren’t doing you much good up there.

I didn't notice is said Ambi safety. It could be multiple things causing the problem, But I would start by removing the grips (both sides) and seeing how it works.

Is it possible that the LH grip panel is in the way? Some grips and extended safeties don't play well together.

I dry fire all of my guns regularly for practice and have for years. The only ones I put dummy/snapcaps in are rimfires.

Wonder why they had you send the whole press in to them instead of just sending you a new part?

It would be nice to have a seating plug that fits every bullet profile, but with all of the different manufacturers there are just to many variables. You'll never be able to fit them all perfectly. I load all different makes, weights and shapes of bullets and use one seating plug with no ring on the bullets, but I seat and crimp separately. Koz

Are you seating and crimping in the same step? If so that may be what is causing it. The crimp is applied during the last bit of seating and causes more resistance than seating an crimping separately. Koz

The extractor might solve the problem. Mine only has problems after it gets fairly dirty, and seems to be related to the LCI, at least that's what the empties hang up on. Kurt

    I hope you at least bought the whale a drink first.

    What did they have for Pistol powders? I've been there numerous times in the last few months, and they never have anything but rifle powders.   Kurt

Trying to decide if it is worth the drive, someone on AR15.com said reloading supplies were scare and overpriced, that didn't sound to me like David was there

Who is there? What did they have in stock?

I think you would Be fine with the LNL, 550 or 650, they will all do what you are after, I like the SDB also but you already have dies that fit the other presses and it limits you to pistol only. I've seen a lot of people in the last few years jump full bore into a progressive with case/bullet feeders and all of the other bells and whistles, then the next thing you know they are telling me how they stuck a bullet in the barrel from a squib load or that it's just sitting collecting dust because they couldn't get it running right. I've loaded on all of these presses except for the LNL and liked all of them, I don't know how long you have been reloading or what your mechanical aptitude is, just be aware that you can over buy and have regrets also. Kurt

You have to decide what you are trying to accomplish with a progressive reloader. Do you want to load a lot of one caliber at a time or will you load in small batches changing calibers In between ? Going to an auto indexing progressive with a case feeder is a big jump from a single stage press, a lot is going on all at one time, you will need pay close attention to what is going on and know how to get everything back in sync when something goes wrong. Many people feel that an auto indexing press is safer, but I disagree for me a manual indexing press is much easier to correct any issues and get back going without loading a bad round. Kurt

What calibers are you in need of trimming? Kurt

It could be coming from the powder thru expander, sometimes when it is belling the brass it will rub some off of the inside. I wouldn't worry about it though, I don't think it will cause any harm. Kurt

I haven't had good luck with Titegroup and lead bullets, I think it burns hotter causing leading for me. I would stick with the slower powders Unique and 231 (never used HS6) and a midrange load. For light loads I would use the Bullseye. Kurt Ps: you've got a good selection of powders there, I'm kind of jealous.

B4 stand, haven't heard that in a while. Kurt

I have not read it, but I am familiar with the Skunk Works. I was stationed in Tonopah NV and worked on the F117 in the early 90's. Kurt

The thing that boggles my mind is they were designed with slide rules on drafting boards back in the 50's, just amazing!   Kurt

Uhm......yeah I like all of my fingers right where they are! Kurt

From page 12 of the Dillon 550 manual: Be aware that new brass will often “stick” on the powder funnel or cause resistance on the upstroke. Cleaning the brass in a tumbler should help. Kurt

The only new brass I've ever loaded was starline and I had this problem, it will get better once they are shot a few times and get some carbon on them. I think Dillon has some info on they're website about it, I will need to look to see if I can find it. Kurt

I have a Sheild and the 7rd mag will lock open reliably on the last round but the 8rd not so much. I carry the 8rd as the spare mag so I'm not to concerned with it. I would first look to see if your holding down the slide lock with your thumb in recoil though. Kurt