Monday 13 March, 2023
After reloading for many years, I recently made the transition to a progressive press. I primarily reload 9x19 and selected a Mark 7 Apex 10 press. The DAA Powder Check 2.0 is installed immediately following the powder drop and before the bullet drop. The DAA Powder Check 2.0 installed and adjusted easily.
The ONLY issue I have with the Powder Check 2.0 is that it did create a significant mess on the shellplate after 200 to 300 rounds. The problem is not caused by static electricity, but rather the airflow caused by the powder check brass plunger displacing the air inside the case during the stroke. The problem is likely more significant when loading 9mm with fine powders (my case). Also, the fact that the brass plunger enters the case at the point of the stroke when the tool head is moving most rapidly doesn't help.
After much weeping and gnashing of teeth, I was able to mitigate the issue substantially. After setting the powder check die depth correctly, I purposely inserted a case that was loaded with powder 1 grain lighter than my normal charge and cycled the toolhead down. With the toolhead down, I put a zip tie around the steel shaft at the top of the die so that the plunger could not drop any lower during operation. I then removed the light loaded case, and replaced it with a correctly charged case to complete the setup (magnet position). Basically, I just reduced the speed that the brass plunger is moving when it enters the case now.
Doing this, the powder mess was almost completely eliminated and the powder check still identifies incorrect loads.
My initial thought was to give a lower review, but I believe the problem I encountered was due to the combination of the case dimensions, type of powder, dimensions of the brass plunger, and speed of the press stroke in my circumstance.
It's a very innovative product that works quite well in most circumstances. 4 stars and I will purchase the DAA powder check again if the need arises.
Johnny W***s
Saturday 11 March, 2023
Thought I was only going to use on 38 Special reloading because of tall, small case which is difficult to see powder levels. But because it is so easy to setup, I use for everything. The light and buzzer give you peace of mind.
Marvin S***t
Tuesday 07 March, 2023
Very good quality and functional, and it fits my new Lee six pack pro just fin !!!
Henrik R***s
Monday 06 March, 2023
Nice unit. A little touchy but once you get it set it works as advertised. The alarm is a great feature as you do not have to look inside the cases to check powder levels. The red led is also a great feature. I tested this on charges of 3.5 grains of Bullseye in 38spl cases. It has a differential range of about 3/10 of a grain so be careful using maximum loads. All in all I like this as I don't have to keep watching the stem on my manual powder check die. I am using this on a Hornady progressive 5 station press.
Robert D Jackson J***r
Sunday 05 March, 2023
Works as advertised and is easy to set up. I have a powder bar adjustment knob from another company installed and the magnet will hit the knob if there isn't a case in station 2 to make the powder bar move forward thus not allowing you to make a full stroke. Does the Double AA adjustment knob have a narrower profile if so this might eliminate the problem I am having.
Ron J***n
Thursday 02 March, 2023
This does a nice job on my Lee Pro 6000. It’s a bit finicky, but when you get it properly set it works well. Sometimes, after going through the instructions and setting it up, you think it’s set exactly right. Then when you start using it, it makes very short blips on the up or down stroke. So, the magnet needs to be adjusted again. I also find it very difficult to turn the die - but maybe the threads just need a bit of wax or something. Generally a good product and I’ll keep using it.
Stefan A***g
Saturday 25 February, 2023
I believe this is a great powder check. But for my purposes it just doesn’t work very well. I use very fine powder and a very small charge. This makes it extremely difficult to adjust. I haven’t been able to get it set up properly. Double alphas customer service is A+ though. I’ve corresponded via email and they gave me some things to try but all in all, it still isn’t working. I just don’t think its right for my application. I would still recommend it for the average reloader though!
Nicholas S***l
Tuesday 21 February, 2023
I purchased this powder check for reloading 5.7x28 on my Dillon 750. I've chosen a 4 stars not because of the product, but because I'm still trying to dial it in. The 5.7x28 is a very sensitive round to reload, but once I dial it in I'll rewrite a review.
Robert A***n
Monday 13 February, 2023
I just purchased the Lee 6 stage progressive loader, and this was a great addition for one of the stations. It is does give false alarms occasionally, but it also gives great peace of mind.
Terry H***l
Saturday 04 February, 2023
Easy to set up but getting too many alarms and when I check the charge with a scale it is the same as what I set up with, I guess too many alarms and having to check is better than none.
James H***k
Saturday 04 February, 2023
Works great! Let's me know if charge is low or high. Running on a Lee pro 6000.
Kevin H***n
Sunday 04 December, 2022
This is a really good product, that is really close to being awesome. Betting in couple generations, it'll be just about perfect. This item works rather well once it is set up, and makes progressive reloading far easier. Lock out dies, and powder check dies have got nothing on this. The dillon powder check leaves much to be desired, especially compared to this. Couple of improvement areas are there. First.. setup can be finicky. If they placed some sort of indicator on the magnet or sensor it would make it so much easier. Either a pair of marks on the magnet and sensor to line up, or line the top of the magnet with the top of the sensor body so to line up center of magnet with center of sensor would be excellet. Next. all adjustments are done with an allen wrench. A storage point for the allen wrench would be great.
Dennis D***r
Wednesday 23 November, 2022
Firstly, DA has provided excellent customer service and support with one problem and a few other questions I had on this product; I will continue to do business with them without a doubt! Overall this is a great product once you've got it setup correctly. Things I did not know that I do now via their help/my discovery:
- You will need to trim down the pistol plunger length to work with 300 BLK (DA nicely sent me an extra plunger so I could keep the pistol one intact)
- In "rifle" setup, the brass tip on the rod is up since it doesn't fit in bottleneck cartridges. The problem is in fine powder, the rod sinks nearly to the bottom of the case, rendering this product unusable (not enough surface area on the "bare" rod to stop sinking).
Solution: Brass tip does fit in 300 BLK cases (so just use "pistol" setup even though you're reloading a rifle cartridge); I anticipate this sinking issue may be nullified in less fine powders, but TBD.
Overall, this great product goes to an excellent product (and 5 stars) if the fine power sinking issue could be addressed.
Michael C***y
Monday 24 October, 2022
Works like a champ on my 650. Easy to setup and well worth the money.
Will W***n
Thursday 13 October, 2022
This product serves its purpose, but there are three things that could be improved. First, the plunger picks up powder and drops it on the press. Cleaning the brass plunger, and using dryer sheets to reduce static does not help the problem. Perhaps some sort of coating on the plunger would help. Second, it's difficult to rotate the red die body in the press while keeping the sensor stationary. One direction of rotation is easy, the other very tight. Fully loosening the socket head screw does not decrease the friction. Finally, adjusting the magnet to the correct level is a difficult operation. The smooth shaft provides no index to see the amount of movement while adjusting. If the magnet slips, the starting point is lost. Perhaps threading the shaft and magnet would allow an incremental adjustment, and prevent loss of the starting point.
[DAA Reply]:
Thanks for your feedback and comments. It is appreciate. This may help:
Indeed, with some powders, in some climates, small amounts of powder can be picked up through static. This is difficult to avoid but typically is not an amount that has any real effect on function/accuracy. we updated the shoe from plastic to brass to help with this, but its not a perfect solution.
The plastic bracket is indeed made of firm material and can be tight on the die to rotate even when the screw is open. This can be easily overcome by inserting a little wedge, like a match or some folded carboard to keep it open while you setup.
Threading the rod for fine adjustment is a good idea we did toy with, but found that it added too much friction when the rod was reversed for 223. You can use a pencil to mark a reference line on the side of the body of the powder check, which is near the magnet, and use that for a reference while setting up.
Victor B***d
Friday 30 September, 2022
Can be very sensitive with certain powders. Constantly adjusting it. Hoping DAA will allow me to return it, as it didn't work for me.
DAA has a lot of great ideas, and I've purchased many of them over the years.
William A***s
Tuesday 13 September, 2022
I originally purchased a Dillion powder check for my 9mm 1050 toolhead;
https://www.amazon.com/Dillon-Precision-Powder-Check-System/dp/B00XM3GBYG
I replaced it with the DAA Magnetic Powder Check and bought additional powder checks for my 45 ACP and 5.56 toolheads. The DAA Powder Check is a superior design because the height is adjusted based upon the height of the magnet. It is easier to install and doesn't get out of adjustment like the Dillon powder check.
Stop if you are going to get a powder check and you are considering the Dillon. I had to continue to check the powder level visually when using the Dillon to avoid squibs. Why bother getting a powder check if you still need to check the powder visually to eliminate squibs?
Roy P***o
Wednesday 07 September, 2022
This powder checker is fabulous! I never really had confidence in the other powder checkers I had this one has the alarm, LED light signal and is super sensitive and easy to set. It is totally changed my reloading game!
Dan D***d
Monday 29 August, 2022
Works great if Im using a specific brand of brass. Dial it in for Winchester brass, and it chugs right along with no problem. If you collect range brass as I do, you cant run hodge-podge brass through it. Differences in head space from brand to brand will set off the alarm.
James O***e
Tuesday 21 June, 2022
Works great but I can’t use it because the two in one die did not work for me ?
Dick G***n
