Pinning an all things Mark 7 thread like we have for Dillons to discuss anything and all things Mark 7
Official Mark 7 Apex10/Revolution **All things Mark 7 Thread**
- Thread starter padom
- Start date
Im a LONG time Dillon user. I have multiple 1050's automated with Ammobot's, 2x 650's and had a 550c for many years I just sold 2 weeks ago.
In light of looking for more stations, specifically for powder check and better sensors and on press primer fill, I am making the switch to fully loaded all options Apex 10's.
I decided to sell my fully loaded/upgraded dedicated 9mm Super 1050 first. Once I have the new 9mm Apex10 up and running and cranking out ammo, Ill then get another one to replace my automated 556 1050 thats also fully upgraded. What Ill do with my second 1050 im not sure yet. I MAY just keep it for 556 brass processing only. Not sure yet.
Thanks to Al and the people over at Mark 7, they gave me a great deal so it made sense to just get all the options and not mess around.
I got the following on the way:
Apex10 Automated Reloading Package - 9mm
Xprime
SwageSense
BulletSense
Digital Powder Check
DecapSense
Primer Orientation Sensor
Looking forward to this package arriving and getting it setup and dialed in.
In light of looking for more stations, specifically for powder check and better sensors and on press primer fill, I am making the switch to fully loaded all options Apex 10's.
I decided to sell my fully loaded/upgraded dedicated 9mm Super 1050 first. Once I have the new 9mm Apex10 up and running and cranking out ammo, Ill then get another one to replace my automated 556 1050 thats also fully upgraded. What Ill do with my second 1050 im not sure yet. I MAY just keep it for 556 brass processing only. Not sure yet.
Thanks to Al and the people over at Mark 7, they gave me a great deal so it made sense to just get all the options and not mess around.
I got the following on the way:
Apex10 Automated Reloading Package - 9mm
Xprime
SwageSense
BulletSense
Digital Powder Check
DecapSense
Primer Orientation Sensor
Looking forward to this package arriving and getting it setup and dialed in.
Really looking forward to on press automatic primer refills with the X-Prime and no longer having to fill primer tubes! I doubt anyone has an experience with this since it doesnt release until next month but I have one coming the package. Game changer.
www.mark7reloading.com
X-Prime for Apex 10
.kwetcj5-s{padding-bottom:1.5% !important;}.e8o6sqy>.mgz-element-inner{padding:0;margin:0;} NOTE: This item is available for Pre-Order, with Shipping Scheduled for Early October .mgz-element.vihgryl .mgz-element-heading-text{color:#000000;line-height:1.1;}High Capacity – Add up to 300 small...
www.mark7reloading.com
Finally received my Apex 10 autodrive and all but 1 sensor and X-Prime... they are on backorder.
Got it assembled last night and started throwing in dies and adjusting to test it out.
I have a Lyman Pro 9mm die pack coming this week. Started setting it up with my current 9mm dies to test it out.
Really liking this thing so far!
Got it assembled last night and started throwing in dies and adjusting to test it out.
I have a Lyman Pro 9mm die pack coming this week. Started setting it up with my current 9mm dies to test it out.
Really liking this thing so far!
Got all my existing dies from my 9mm 1050 dialed in along with powder charge and MBF for my Xtreme 165gr N340 sub load. Wanted to test it out while waiting for my Lyman Pro die pack
Im all out of subs my MP5 and AR9 so I figured let me test this thing out running off a few thousand..
Ammo is rolling off. This thing is sssooo smooth compared to my 1050/Ammobot. No jerkeyness or spilt powder. Can't wait to turn this thing up and let it eat!
Im all out of subs my MP5 and AR9 so I figured let me test this thing out running off a few thousand..
Ammo is rolling off. This thing is sssooo smooth compared to my 1050/Ammobot. No jerkeyness or spilt powder. Can't wait to turn this thing up and let it eat!
Few tips & notes for rifle & precision:
- You must run a die that holds brass in place over the priming station if you want to prime on press
- Purchase the HD TH Jack Bolt
- Torquing everything down with the toolhead lowered is important (jack bolt, guide rod bushings, etc)
- Decapping is one of the most critical steps for loading on a progressive... if you know, you know
- Strip out 100% of the swaging nonsense, run a universal decap on the decap station & a secondary decap on the swage station (FL sizer w/ decap or whatever)
- The casefeeder opening is adjustable - if you're spilling brass, this is >50% your issue
- The A10 index pawl will not stay timed no matter what you do or how hard you try. C'est la vie.
- If you're getting more than 0.002" headspace ES, it's because you suck at lubing brass or your sizer has lube built up in it. I can keep ES under 0.0015" across 300pc if I'm careful (yes muh calipers, don't @ me)
- M7 mechanical powder throwers are sensitive to fill level & would likely benefit greatly from a vibrator. It's still pretty impressive... 9/10 throws are ~+/-0.04gr, then 1/10 will be 0.1 to 0.2gr over. I'm pretty sure this is caused by powder settling in the hopper
- M7 mechical powder thrower has a break-in period, lightly lubing the compliance assembly does help with consistency prior to finishing break in. I'd manually cycle it a few hundred times prior to ever putting powder in it
- M7 powder alarms spill spherical everywhere. Cleanly file a crosshatch on the end of the brass probe tip with a rough bastard to break surface tension (75% reduction in spill volume)
- My $10 ebay 3d printed powder funnel works just as well as my $80 Entirely Crimson, although the QD on the EC is much better. You can also just press fit a cheap RCBS plastic funnel onto the top of an M7 powder funnel
- FW Arms/Dillon auto-centering decap dies suck. Also they will back out if you don't torque the piss out of the lock ring
- Seater dies with a sliding collar (Redding, Forster, Matchmaster) will not work unless you cut 1/2" off the sleeve
- Lyman Pro Seater Dies produce TIR comparable to any other standard seating die (I'm excepting MP/SAC/etc), but must have their stems honed
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So I ran into something I havent experienced with my 9mm 1050...
Im still waiting on my Mark 7 Digital Powder check thats on backorder. So I installed my Double Alpha Magnetic Powder Check until the Mark 7 one arrives...
Im slowly one by one installing all the Mark 7 sensors. I have the Mark 7 DecapSense installed but turned off because Im running new primed brass right now. I installed the Mark 7 BulletSense yesterday and man its a lifesaver for upside down or toppling off bullets when your getting everything dialed in. I found out this isnt really an issue when running same headstamp. But I ran some primed mix headstamp brass yesterday and thats when your expander set for one headstamp isnt exactly correct for other headstamps and you get some toppling bullets after the MBF sometimes so the BulletSense stops the press when that happens which is great.
But... I ran into a powder issue yesterday. Im running 3.6gr of VV N340 which Ive loaded and shot 10's of thousands of. Thats my go to 9mm subsonic load for many many years. Awesome load, never had any issues loading it on my Dillon.
During my run yesterday the DAA powder check would go off every 20 rounds or so. I would manually stop the press and sure enough, there would be either no powder or 2-3 kernels in that case. Id pull that case and restart. It did this every 20rd or so which had me really worried. That powder check cant come soon enough.
N340 is a very very small stick powder. I can only assume its bridging or something in this Mark 7 mechanical powder measure... I have the hopper filled all the way up... I ran a bunch of rounds and tapped the side of the hopper a bunch to get everything settled in the beginning when setting it up, weighing each charge on my A&D to ensure I had it dialed it and consistent which it is...
Im going to call Mark 7 today and see what they have to say but never had this issue on my 1050... Maybe Im missing something..
Im still waiting on my Mark 7 Digital Powder check thats on backorder. So I installed my Double Alpha Magnetic Powder Check until the Mark 7 one arrives...
Im slowly one by one installing all the Mark 7 sensors. I have the Mark 7 DecapSense installed but turned off because Im running new primed brass right now. I installed the Mark 7 BulletSense yesterday and man its a lifesaver for upside down or toppling off bullets when your getting everything dialed in. I found out this isnt really an issue when running same headstamp. But I ran some primed mix headstamp brass yesterday and thats when your expander set for one headstamp isnt exactly correct for other headstamps and you get some toppling bullets after the MBF sometimes so the BulletSense stops the press when that happens which is great.
But... I ran into a powder issue yesterday. Im running 3.6gr of VV N340 which Ive loaded and shot 10's of thousands of. Thats my go to 9mm subsonic load for many many years. Awesome load, never had any issues loading it on my Dillon.
During my run yesterday the DAA powder check would go off every 20 rounds or so. I would manually stop the press and sure enough, there would be either no powder or 2-3 kernels in that case. Id pull that case and restart. It did this every 20rd or so which had me really worried. That powder check cant come soon enough.
N340 is a very very small stick powder. I can only assume its bridging or something in this Mark 7 mechanical powder measure... I have the hopper filled all the way up... I ran a bunch of rounds and tapped the side of the hopper a bunch to get everything settled in the beginning when setting it up, weighing each charge on my A&D to ensure I had it dialed it and consistent which it is...
Im going to call Mark 7 today and see what they have to say but never had this issue on my 1050... Maybe Im missing something..
Been running a Mk7 for awhile and it's been a learning curve...
The Primer Xpress was a joke. Never worked correctly. Replaced it with a Hit Factor collator, what a god send. Highly recommended.
Hated the Mk7 power checker, pulled powder out of the cases and made a mess. Replaced it with a laser powder checker along with a different laser bullet checker. The original laser sensor is a shit-show involving a mirror, gross adjustment screws and you always bump it out of alignment while working around the shell plate.
I also HIGHLY suggest the range panda CNC bullet feeder adjustment to replace the BS factory Mr. Bullet feeder shim system. The engineer at MBF should be kicked in the dick for that abortion.
The Primer Xpress was a joke. Never worked correctly. Replaced it with a Hit Factor collator, what a god send. Highly recommended.
Hated the Mk7 power checker, pulled powder out of the cases and made a mess. Replaced it with a laser powder checker along with a different laser bullet checker. The original laser sensor is a shit-show involving a mirror, gross adjustment screws and you always bump it out of alignment while working around the shell plate.
I also HIGHLY suggest the range panda CNC bullet feeder adjustment to replace the BS factory Mr. Bullet feeder shim system. The engineer at MBF should be kicked in the dick for that abortion.
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I have the BulletSense running good right now on a 1500rd run.. Yes those 2 tiny allen laser adjustement screws are super sensitive.
In regards to the range panda bullet feeder... Ive been using the DAA pre-set noseguides for a while now and they are great. I have one setup for each bullet I load, just slide it in.. The Range Panda looks very similar, just CNC instead of plastic.
What powder and bullet sensors are you using right now instead of the Mark 7? I see your pics says sub-moa but not finding anything with a search.
I had the DAA nose guides as well but the RP kicks the hell out of those. The DAA moves adjustments too, there is no lock like on the RP. You can also hand adjust it without a wrench.
Join the MK7 Reloaders group on FB and look up John Stuhmiller. He makes the Sub-MOA equipment. Way better than the MK7 offerings. Super simple to set up, no spilled powder and no more fucking with the stupid mirrors, set screws and BS.
I hate having to tinker with shit that was functioning fine yesterday. The addition of the primer collator, RP and the Sub MOA I just turn on the press and keep it fed. Cheers.
Ive never had any adjustments move on my DAA nose guides, and I have 100's of thousands of rounds on them on my automated 1050s.. the RP looks really nice but until I have an issue with these I dont need to change. I have 10-15 of them set for each bullet
I already purchased the new Mark 7 X-Prime that ships in the next few weeks.. looks similar in design to the Hit factory. I guess we will see how it works.
