seeing powder level

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:00 pm

I use a Dillon RL 550 B for reloading. I'ts hard to see the powder level in a case while it is at the powder fill station. Soooo... I made a minor modification to the press.
Drilled a small hole in the side of the tool head to accept a dental mirror. It's a press fit, so is adjustable. The pic is from close to what I see when reloading. (almost). You can see the .45 Colt case mouth in the bottom of the mirror (left side of pic). I can actually see the primer pocket in the mirror when reloading. Sure makes checking powder levels easier.
If one is what one eats, then I'm quick, cheap, and easy.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:31 pm

Great idea MH, I can see that it works fine. AAs we get older we get smarter? Damn I must be a genius by now?

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:43 pm

Thanks. I'm not sure I will ever get old enough to get smart. Sometimes, the obvious does bite me in the nose, and says 'Pay attention' though.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:52 pm

Medicine Hat wrote:Thanks. I'm not sure I will ever get old enough to get smart. Sometimes, the obvious does bite me in the nose, and says 'Pay attention' though.

I Was always told that you will never get to be an old man if you keep doing stupid things, well I proved that wrong.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:50 pm

A very good idea. I could also see using an inspection mirror mounted with a magnetic base as another option. The benefit to your idea is that a press fit would be more resistant to vibration that naturally occurs with the reloading press process and less adjustment to the mirror positioning should be necessary.

R,
Bullseye

Georgezilla · Post by **Georgezilla** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:05 pm

That is an awesome idea. This is the sort of thing that should come standard on re-loaders.

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:23 pm

Would it be a lot easier to use a Lock-Out die? Oh I forgot Dillon only has 4 stations.

Good Idea. You can use some these small LED flex lights to light up the case to make it easier to see.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 2:28 pm

If you send that pic and a brief explanation to Dillon they might incorporate a mirror into their press designs.

R,
Bullseye

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 3:48 pm

Bullseye wrote:If you send that pic and a brief explanation to Dillon they might incorporate a mirror into their press designs.

R,
Bullseye

Thanks, I had thought about it but not too seriously. Then when you suggested it, thought "why not", maybe someone else would find this useful, and Dillon can do it better than I did. The only change they would have to make is provide the hole in the tool heads when cast, then sell the mirror as an accessory.