Dillon Precision SL 900 - Manual (Page 16)

Reloading ammunition and handling powder and
primers is inherently dangerous. Just as in shooting,
accidents do happen. These accidents are
nondiscriminatory; they happen to both the novice and
the experienced reloader.
We have done everything we know how to make
your machine as safe as possible. We cannot, however,
guarantee your complete safety. To minimize your risk,
use common sense when reloading and follow these
basic rules:
Never operate the machine without ear and eye
protection on. Call our customer service department at
(800) 223-4570 for information on the wide variety of
shooting/safety glasses and hearing protection that
Dillon has to offer.
• PAY ATTENTION: Load only when you can give your
complete attention to the loading process. Don’t watch
television or try to carry on a conversation and load at
the same time. Watch the automatic systems operate
and make sure they are functioning properly. If you are
interrupted or must leave and come back to your
loading, always inspect the hulls at every station to
insure that the proper operations have been completed.
• SMOKING: Do not smoke while reloading or allow
anyone else to smoke in your reloading area. Do not
allow open flames in reloading area.
• SAFETY DEVICES: Do not remove any safety devices
from your machine or modify your machine in any way.
• MODIFICATIONS: Any modifications performed to a
machine, or the addition of any unapproved equipment
from other manufacturers will void the warranty.
• LEAD WARNING: Be sure to have proper ventilation
while handling lead components or when shooting lead
bullets. Lead is known to cause birth defects, other
reproductive harm and cancer. Wash your hands
thoroughly after handling anything made of lead.
• LOADS AND LENGTHS: Avoid maximum loads and
pressures at all times. Use only recommended loads
from manuals and information supplied by reliable
component manufacturers and suppliers. Since Dillon
Precision has no control over the components which
may be used on their equipment, no responsibility is
implied or assumed for results obtained through the use
of any such components.
Refer to a reliable loading manual for overall length
(OAL).
• QUALITY CHECKS: Every 50-100 rounds, perform
periodic quality control checks on the ammunition
being produced. Check the amount of powder being
dropped and primer supply.
• RELOADING AREA: Keep your components safely
stored. Clear your work area of loose powder, primers
and other flammables before loading.
• COMPONENTS: Never have more than one type of
powder in your reloading area at a time. The risk of a
mix-up is too great. Keep powder containers closed.
Be sure to inspect hulls prior to reloading for flaws,
cracks, splits or defects. Throw these hulls away.
Keep components and ammunition out of reach of
children.
• WINCHESTER HULLS: Please be aware that
Winchester has redesigned the AA target hull. This hull
is no longer a one-piece extruded design. Now, it is a
two-piece hull incorporating an inner reinforcing tube
which extends partway up the interior of the hull.
Winchester wads have been redesigned to work with
this new design. Additionally, some after-market wads
are now available which are compatible with the
redesigned hulls. Other wads may not be compatible
with the new AA hulls.
We suggest that you visually inspect your hulls, and
load the old and new style hulls separately, using
components appropriate to each style of hull.
• BLACK POWDER: Do not use black powder or black
powder substitutes in any Dillon powder measure.
Loading black powder cartridges requires specialized
loading equipment and techniques. Failure to do so can
result in severe injury or death.
• PRIMERS: Never force primers. If they get stuck in the
operation of the machine, disassemble it and gently
remove the obstruction.
Never attempt to deprime live primers – eventually
one will go off. When it does it will detonate the others
in the spent primer cup. Depriming live primers is the
single most dangerous thing you can do in reloading and
can cause grave injury or death.
• LOADED AMMUNITION: Properly label all of your
loaded ammunition (Date, Type of wad, primer, powder,
shot charge, etc.).
• BE PATIENT: Our loading equipment is
conservatively rated and you should have no trouble
achieving the published rates with a smooth, steady
hand. If something doesn’t seem right, stop, look and
listen. If the problem or the solution isn’t obvious, call
us. The reloading bench is no place to get into a hurry.
• REMEMBER: If your machine does not perform to
your expectations, or if you are having technical
difficulties, give us a call: (800) 223-4570 or see our
troubleshooting page online at
www.dillonprecision.com
General Machine Information
Based on our XL 650 machine frame, the SL 900
comes to you with some great automated features.
Starting from the right rear of the machine, the SL
900 features an electric casefeeder. This unit holds
approximately 80 empty hulls; enough for three boxes
of shotshells.
Turn the electric casefeeder on and the shotshell
disc (#17133) will rotate until the feed tube has filled,
then the microswitch will shut the unit off. Every
stroke of the roller handle (#22183) transfers one
empty hull from the feed tube to the shellplate via the
case insert slide ramp. Once a hull has been placed in
station one of the machine, moving the roller handle
(#22183) down will resize the brass base of the hull,
expand the mouth of the hull and remove the old
primer. NOTE: Always examine the hulls for rocks,
dirt, mud or other cases that may get stuck inside.
Also look for hulls that may appear stepped on or
flattened. Go ahead and squeeze them round again so
they won’t get stuck in the casefeed tube (#20536).
Returning the roller handle (#22183) to its full aft
position will advance the hull to station two, where a
new primer is inserted into the hull when you push
the roller handle (#22183) aft.
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MANDATORY SAFETY MEASURES
SL 900, May 2007 5/21/07 11:51 AM Page 16