My Dillon's shell plate has some vertical "give" to it (sort of spring loaded) to allow the plate to turn freely and index correctly. This "give" in the plate might make using/adjusting Bernie's collet crimp die difficult at best since this die is activated by the shell holder pushing up on the collet. At worst, you might have to move your ammo to a single stage press for the crimp. I don't see why you couldn't use a progressive press for everything else when loading the heel based bullet.
Seth,
I'm lazy... I want to do it all on the Dillon.
Since it is in the upward stroke it works, my .44-40 die works.
You know that Shoulder screw in the middle of your shell plate? The amount you have it turned in is probably what is setting your plate clearance. It shouldn’t work that way, a shoulder screw should be bottomed out. They are counting on the “ejector wire” that surrounds it to keep it from backing out any more.
Mine was too short and if you bottomed it out it bound the plate up. I called the factory about it and they told me you weren't supposed to tighten it all of the way. I told them they were nuts. They told me I could return it to have it checked out. This prompted an email to Mike, he just called me directly. He said he sighed when he saw who it was from. I beat him up a bit, he said everyone was leaving them loose anyway. I chewed on his ear for misusing a shoulder screw and told me to send the plate back. I asked "which one?" He laughed and said all of them, I got them back 3 days later they had spot faced everyone where the shoulder screw head retains the plate. I can now screw it in and the clearance is set.
The only problem is I will have to get any new shell plates modified to keep it all the same. I could have gotten some shoulder screw shims and accomplished the same thing. If you want to do it you can get them from McMaster-Carr Part number 91140A237 Plain Steel Shoulder Screw Shim - Lengthening .005" Thk, 3/8" Thread, 1/2" Shoulder,.352" ID,.496" OD
http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=91140A237 . Get the .005” thick ones they fit tight and won’t slip over the threads, “thread” them on. They don't go under the head, that would make it tighter they go on the shoulder where the thread is to space it taller.
Look at your shell plate, see that area where the relief is around the opening for the shell? That is where the bottom of the collet will push and since the plate is spring loaded (actually it is the detent ball bearing between stations 4 and 5 that is spring loaded) it will push back against the face of the platform body. It will sit square on this face and not bend anything.
Later,
Mako