My 800+ is 3 years old with only about 25,000 rounds loaded on it. Only adjustment i made was the crimp starter to make my center of the shells close properly on the gray and red AA's and the STS's. I did file the hangnail on the primer feed slide that would hang on the next primer to be loaded causing the slide to hang and therefore never put a primer on the post.

I have made no other adjustments. I am happy with my purchase and would purchase another in a heart beat.

WesleyB

 

I have said many times that the P/W will turn out a great reload. Whiz is 2nd to none for support. But my experience with the 800+, shell feeder, automate and then hydraulic unit with the 800+ was the same as yours. P/W had a poorly cut primer ram in the unit when I got it. I ordered some of Whiz's hardened rams and problem was basically solved. Still, it seemed like it was always something.

So, I got the Spolar and have never looked back. It is a champ, and adjustments are just a distant memory. Perfect....certainly not, nothing is, but in reloading it is as close as you will find. Support is first class (as is Whiz, can't say the same for the factory however), and while I am a big fan of having all spare parts around I might need, I have not even put a set of wad guide fingers in probably 2+ years now.

 

I recently bought the same machine, my first reloader. I have to say, my experience has been good. I made a couple adjustments and aside from having to tap the primer tray once in awhile, it has been performing flawlessly. I've only loaded about 4,000 shells so far, but i feel i made a good choice.Hope you get it adjusted and working well.

 

Charlie, the P/W loaders are a bit different from a MEC. When the primer is not seating flush you first need to be sure the hull is FULLY inserted at the first station. If the hull is not inserted all the way in the shell holder at the first station it will be pushed in further by the primer and the primer will not be flush. If you adjust the primer depth and continue to let the primer punch seat the primer AND push the hull further into the shell holder you will eventially bend the primer punch. A bent primer punch will eventially cause cycling problems. You will end up chasing a bunch of other problems when the REAL problem is in the FIRST station (been there, done that!).

Jim Skeel

 

I had a Dillon 900 with case feeder. Sold it and got a P/W 800+ that come with auto drive and case feeder and I don't have any reason to own anything else. Mine will loads a box of shells in 90 seconds with out any problems. What little issues I have had are mine and not the loaders. I mite also add that I have loaded thousands and thousands of loads and all is well.

 

Skeel is on target. But my first recommendation would be to load some once fired hulls and make sure they are brass based such as Fed GM, STS, or AAs. Steel base hulls can often be oversize and not want to fully seat in the die.

 

It's also important to note that the difference in the way the MEC and the P-W each support the hull base when inserting the primer makes a huge difference in how easy it is to seat primers flush.

The MEC uses the powder drop tube to support the primer tunnel from the inside of the hull. You can force just about any primer into any hull with that design. The P-W supports the hull base only by its rim leaving the center of the base (and the primer tunnel) unsupported so it can flex if the primer is hard to insert and leave the primer not fully seated. And if I remember correctly, the Spolar uses the same design and suffers from the same deficiency.

The problem isn't major if you are loading brass base hulls (what the P-W was designed for), but some steel base/primer combinations simply won't allow full seating without abusing the press.

There are some workarounds that can be applied to once-fired hulls to address this matter depending on the hull and primer combination. The hulls can be deprimed/primed on a different machine amd Remington hulls can have extra plastic at the end of the primer tunnel removed with a drill bit.

I have trouble getting Winchester primers to fully seat in once-fired Gun Club hulls. My workaround is to use an old Lee Load-All II to deprime and then primer several 5 gallon buckets full of hulls at a time. Then when I need them I remove the primer punch from the P-W and just cycle the primed hulls through the loader skipping the priming step. Once the hulls have been fired once with WW primers, things go more smoothly the rest of the time.

MK

 

Helpful feedback, the primer set up on the PW is interesting, I will keep the way it works in mind as I try to work out the kinks. Thank God I didn't try to jump in with the hull feeder right off the bat.

I'm only using OF STS or AA hulls.

Thanks to all.

Charlie

 

It is necessary to have a PW adjusted properly to load proper shells. I only use primers that are specifically designed for the hull I am loading.

Pat Ireland

 

Pat, you gotta be careful suggesting logic like that. It is crazy though. It almost seems like the primers, hulls, and wads were somehow designed to work together as an assembly!

I have several friends who happily use the Fed 209A primer in STS hulls. It is a great primer. It allows them to save a little on powder too. I tried to use them with the STS cases and the shells had 'the wobbles' unless I really leaned on the primers with the primer seating station. This bothered me a bit and I went back to Remington primers very quickly. They make the 7625 smoke a little more than the Fed 209As, but it keeps the bugs away.

My PW 800B is very old. I am the third owner. I bought it from the frustrated second owner for $50. Best $50 I ever spent. He threw in 1500 STS hulls too with the loader. Is there any way of dating the older PWs?

 

Bob, if you are looking for a little hotter primer than an STS209 to use in Remington hulls, try the Winchester 209. Remington primers are about .010" shorter than all the Win, Fed, Fio, etc., so Winchester puts a reduced diameter step in the top of their primers so it will work flawlessly in Remington hulls.

 

Thanks for the info zzt, but I am happy with the Remington primers. I will use the WW 209s if I can't get the Remingtons.

 

I was the same way of "which machine"? My friend said buy the Spolar and I did. Problem one it takes 60-90 days for delivery. Reloading problems, I will let you know when I get my first problem. 7,000 on it so far. It is very simple with no learning curve, I mean none. It meters perfect, it reloads cheap and expensive hulls well. Simple! Perfect for a guy like me, (lol). Mike Sharkey, DC

 

Hey, rather than complain about it on a national forum, call the factory.

You probably aren't familiar with it enough to make it run smoothly. I've used BOTH the P/W and Spolar and each has it own idiocryansies.

I'd bet they'd take it back and refund you your money.

WW

 

Whiz, this is a national forum to discuss things just like this. Like Whiz says, You probably aren't familiar with it yet. I've been using the 900 series for over 20 years now and am still learning about the machine. I have bought downrange wads that were designed for either 1 ounce or 1 1/8 ounce of shot in straight wall hulls from guys who could not get them to work in their reloaders. With the proper adjustments they work great. The point is, If you don't know how to make them work, your opinion is that they are crap. They aren't crap, you just don't know how to make them work yet. I have to ask you to adjust your expectations. No reloader is mindless, and it take time and effort to understand how they work, how they adjust and what components work with each other. Because of this thread, hopefully there will be a new appreciation for that fact with the newbies who rely on this forum for insight and information.

 

Come on Whiz..... you COULD offer some suggestions instead of just driving away business.

 

Skeets
I bet if you did call PW or send it back it would cost you .
The post you see from a PW-dealer would be one more reason not to mess with PW . I have never seen anyone from Spolar give a customer an answer like that . Just makes you run out and buy one don,t it .

Save yourself time and money send it back if you can .

 

Yo, the primer feed into the arm is controlled by the rubber wheel. If you can manually pull back the primer arm then you need to adjust it. You adjust it in the following manner. The black metal arm that rides between the well is connected by two hex head screws. Un-loosen them and slide behind them a shim so that the metal arm now pushes the primer arm further back. This will solve your feeding problem.

 

1. I did offer a recommendation - send it back. Can't get any better than that. Also, if the primer ram is malfunctioning, then you have probably bent it's hook. These machines work great right out of the box.

2. I am reminded of two old addages: (1) "You can please some on the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but never all the people all the time.", (2) the idea that all people can operate mechanical equipment, much like the computer tech who said "send it back," does have some merit, believe me!

3. I guess if that hurts some or you fella's feelings, I am truly sorry, but that's life.

I also know that P/W has one meny occasions, sent call tags, so you may not have to "pay" to have it returned. Particularly if you paid via credit card, they must refund all.

Finally, if a customer wants the hydro or electric drive and shell feeder when he buys a new reloader, I always tell him to run the reloader a couple thousand rounds BEFORE installing EACH add-on. They don't always listen, but at least I have exxplained it to them.

 

GeeeeWhizzz, I suggest you reread my post, I am in no way "complaining on a national forum": I was simply asking the many knowledgeable members on this site if they had any suggestions to help me out.

Unlike your post, most people replied with constructive suggestions and comments: this being my first post I am am grateful for the offers of help.

As a matter of fact I am in touch with the PW factory and they are making a sincere effort to help me out, it appears that the problem I am having is not something they have seen before. I give them an "A" for effort and between the good folks on this forum and the equally good folks at PW I hope to solve this issue I am having. It may turn out the problem is with the way I am trying to operate it, if that is the case then we will all learn something new.

I am not the type of person who throws up his hands and says "this is junk, I want my money back now: it appears that most folk on this forum have the same mentality.

Am I sorry I did not go with the Spolar, yes I am, at least at this point, but I bet I can get this machine going just fine and then decide whether to stick with it, or sell it and get the Spolar.

If it winds up working as well as so many people tell me it can, I will most likly stick with it.


Thanks for your comments,
Charlie Mahar

 

Sorry guys it looks like Whiz got up on the wrong side of the bed today.He is one of our best dealers iam sure he will be fine by monday.Dick Medley P/W

 

It's amazing how many times this type of post comes up and I can see why Whiz may have been a little harsh let's say.Other's have posted some stupid things in the past and the forum has LIT up on them.These loaders are like learning how to drive a car for the first time,Some can do it right at first and some can't! Mechanicaly challenged is more than not the real answer.If you would be so nice as to call Whiz or the factory and explain your problems they will teach you how to operate the loader.

I have 5 PW's now and they were all a challenge a first but I did not throw in the towel and I enjoy operating them.I have buddies with spolars and they have there share of problems too!Stick with the PW and get past the learning curve and you will enjoy it.PJ

 

I hate to jump in, but I MUST defend Mr. Whiz...

I took a little 30 year lay-off from the sport, and after deciding to start again, this April, I was UNBELIEVABLY LUCKY to happen to get to know Jim.

His advise, and super attention to try and help out a total stranger was as impressive to me as anyone or anything I have personally ever seen !!!

It hasn't taken me long to realize, this man is as good an individual as there is, walking the face of the earth. Why in the hell would anybody bash such a kind and caring individual ???

I could write tons more about the Man, but, believe me, he personifies the term "CLASS ACT".

If anyone disagrees, feel free to contact me personally. My toll free phone number is (888) 258-0616. My e-mail is also listed !!!

Not trying to stir shit, but think before you piss in your post toasties !!!

Mark Schneider

 

It sounds to me that you may have issues no matter what loader you own. Without knowing you personally I would say that the there could be some lack of Mechanical knowledge. Like I said before, I cant see all the issues because mine has been fabulous and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Sometimes you just have to understand how it works and try to figure it out on your own, if possible.
Good luck with what ever loader you end up with. I hope it serves you well.

 

Hey, Dick: Why don't you jump into these threads instead of me?

WW