Pistol Toolhead Set Up (Page 5)
Station 2 - Adjustment of Powder Die & Powder Funnel

Note:  Adjusting the powder die for a straight wall case is not the same as adjusting a powder die for a bottle-necked case. This is because straight wall cases are given a bell and bottle-necked cases are  not given a bell. Adjusting the powder die for a  bottle-necked  case is covered  in the rifle section.

  For the powder bar to properly dispense a measured powder charge the powder bar must travel its full distance. To travel its full distance, the white cube must contact the powder measure body (see arrow Figure 40).
  The belling process does not begin until after the powder bar has traveled its full distance. The angled portion on the bottom of the powder funnel (see arrow Figure 41) is what bells the cartridge. Once the white cube has contacted the powder measure body the the case is forced upward against the tapered portion of the powder funnel producing a bell. The more the powder die is adjusted down (clockwise) the more the case will be belled.

Note: If the powder die is not adjusted down far enough to cause the powder bar to travel its full distance the powder charge will be erratic and the case will not receive enough bell.

  To adjust the powder die/powder funnel:
1.  Drop a case into the casefeed funnel and cycle the handle. The case should now be in the shellplate at Station one.
2.  Raise the platform. Notice the resistance at the end of the downstroke. This is the resistance of the case in the sizing die. Lower the platform. The case will index to Station two.
3.  Raise the platform. Check to see how far the powder bar has traveled Figure 40.
4.  If the white cube has not traveled its full distance, lower the platform just enough to pull the case off of the powder funnel (this will prevent the shellplate from indexing while you adjust the powder die). While holding the powder measure, turn the die down 1/8 of a turn Figure 42. Again raise the platform and observe the travel of the powder bar.
5.  Repeat step four until the powder bar travels its full distance Figure 40.
Once the powder bar travels fully across you should continue to adjust the powder die for the desired amount of bell (turn the powder die 1/8 of a turn at a time). The desired amount bell is just enough to allow the bullet to sit on the case mouth without falling off and to keep the case from shaving lead during the seating process (see "A" Figure 43).

Note: If you screw the die down too far, the case will  look like  example "C" Figure 43. You must then      discard this case,  back the powder die off,     by turning it counter-clockwise,  and continue with a new sized case. You'll soon learn to judge the correct amount of bell by simply looking at it. In the meantime, you might ca use your dial calipers to check it. Twenty thousandths of an inch greater  (at the mouth of the case) than its   original diameter, should about do it.

6. Once you've achieved the desired amount of bell - with the case in Station 2, raise the platform. Run the lockring down hand tight Figure 44.
7.  Insure the bellcrank and the failsafe bracket Figure 45 are aligned.
Using a 5/32" Allen wrench, snug the collar clamp screws Figure 46.
8. While holding the powder measure, snug the lockring using a 1 1/8 wrench Figure 47. Now lower the platform.

Next...