|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
Lennie what is a "red" progressive reloader? Hornady?? the thing I am beginning to worry about is after you size the case you normally trim to length. Seems like you would have to size and trim, separately, while the priming the case, powder addition, and bullet seating could be done automatically. Not sure about crimp if you wanted or needed it. Case prep should only have to be done very rarely (other than de-crimping primer pockets which of course is only once). Some guys sound like they're trimming every time; if you have to do that, there's something wrong with your sizing die setup. Personally I prep brass once, and for all subsequent loadings just run it through the Dillon 550 from fired to loaded in one pass, until cases need to be trimmed again, maybe 5-8 loadings depending on the brass. The caveat is that brass is kept separate and not just randomly mixed in with range brass or dumped in a general 5.56 bucket for later re-use; if you do that you'll need to prep brass every time to be safe. I agree and do it the same way. By the time I need to trim, for me its time to anneal again.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755 |
I agree and do it the same way. By the time I need to trim, for me its time to anneal again.
Yup that is about right for me as well, and proper sizing leads to less need for both.
Last edited by Yondering; 04/14/20.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
Yep. Except the annealing part must be our TX heat. I can anneal, and load and let the ammo sit a year or more. All fine.
I can not anneal and leave ammo sit and in a year or two probably 30% or more will split necks on firing ruining the brass. Hence I anneal more often than I thought and not for accuracy reasons generally speaking.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,317
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,317 |
After that you figure out that if you run a bunch of loads 12-15 before you start loading then you get much better powder throws across the board. Can you expand on this part a bit? I'm not following. Are you just talking about running 12-15 "throws" through the powder measure before you start seating bullets?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,338 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 17,338 Likes: 3 |
I've got a couple 550's that I reload all my rifle rounds with.
I don't think I save much time, but I aint pulling the handle that much either.
I run 100 rd batches and I do things in two stages which go like this.
Tumble overnight in Corn Cob Spray lube Lee deprimer in 1st stage FL size 2nd Mandrel neck die 3rd
Tumble 20-30 min to clean off lube
Anneal Trim
Lee deprimer stage 1 (clears any stuck media) + seat primer Autocharge/throw stage 2 Seat bullet stage 3
I've got all my Dillon heads locked down with the Uniquetek set up and I consider it a must have for COAL consistency.
I have one 550 set up for .308 cases and one for .223 and I change out the primer seater and its spring when changing to small rifle in the 6 Dasher or .22 Creedmoor.
It takes me a little over an hour to charge 100 cases and seat bullets.
Screw you! I'm voting for Trump again!
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the 24HCF.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,851
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,851 |
I have three progressives
Lee Loadmaster Two...Hornady AP's one is dedicated to the 223
Maker of the Frankenstud Sling Keeper
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,226
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,226 |
My Dillon 550 is set up for 5.56 right now with CFE223 in the powder silo.
Murphy was a grunt.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755 |
After that you figure out that if you run a bunch of loads 12-15 before you start loading then you get much better powder throws across the board. Can you expand on this part a bit? I'm not following. Are you just talking about running 12-15 "throws" through the powder measure before you start seating bullets? I think he's talking about setting aside your first 12-15 rounds. As you load, the powder hopper gets shaken around to some degree, so it settles differently than when you first pour it in the hopper or after it's sat for a while (remember powder dispensers measure by volume, and settled powder is denser). Once you get in a consistent rhythm, the powder can settle in the same way after each load. IMO using a powder baffle helps this to some degree. The other factor here that I've noticed is the powder charge weight can vary a tenth grain or so between just one round in the powder station and a full shell plate. Some powders are more affected by that than others.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
and 1/10 or even a couple tenths should not hurt accuracy unless you are long ranging it or have a load thats not in a sweet spot.
And yes on getting rhythm, one could just shoot those rounds as practice or whatever.
I use baffles in the Dillon. I also have been a bit anal about marking my reservoir in thirds with tape and keep the powder between 1/3 and 2/3 so it helps the weight consistency pushing down some I think. Though I've not tested it.
IMHO there are two things to worry about. Straight loaded rounds. And having a load in a sweet spot. How you get there is up to you.
Anything other than that like polishing, weighing charges and so on, for MOST purposes is a waste of time. We have won many matches with dull dingy ammo loaded in bulk on a Dillon, even out to 600 yards though as I've often said I load 600 plus stuff on a single stage most of the time when we were shooting, assuming I had time. Mostly a mental gain rather than a real gain...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 885
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 885 |
I have a Dillon 650 set up with an electric case feeder. I use Benchmark and it meters beautifully through the powder measure. Couple years back I bought two 5 gallon buckets of processed 5.56 brass from my gunsmith for less then $200.00, about 3500 cases to the bucket. Taking my time I can run off about 600 rounds an hour.
Haven't run out of cases yet.
I've loaded pistol ammo on a SDB for over 20 years. It loads about 400 per hour.
Also have a BL550 I use to load for my Garands and 03A3s.
Last edited by HTDUCK; 04/15/20.
Your mind is your primary weapon. Never let it get rusty.
Endowment Member NRA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,949
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,949 |
I have used the same Dillon press since about 1995. I load all of my ammo including practice ammo, precision match and hunting ammo. I consistently hear you cannot load match grade ammo on it but that's a bunch of crap. My run out is typically .002-.003 on rifle ammo. Accuracy of the powder bar is based on the powder selection, as usual long stick powders like to hang up. In 5.56 and .243/6mm Creedmoor I use ball powders such as Ramshot TAC or Hunter. Getting up to .270 and larger I have no problems with any of the Hodgdon short cut or Alliant reloader series.
Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.
"In rifle work, group size is of some interest...but it is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots." Jeff Cooper
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,458
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,458 |
I recently started using my 550B on 223. I use Dillion insanely expensive carbide dies, spray brass with hornady lube, and AA2230 powder. I get a very uniform powder throw, and the bullets are very consistent. I'm never in a real rush, so I can get 400 in an hour. I have a original hornady projector progressive and I always had primer seating issues, probably because it was no set up right. I have not touched it in 15 years. EDIT: I sold the press.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 772
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 772 |
I have had a dillion 550 for 22 years .I finally wore out that first one three years ago .They sent me a new one when I sent it back . There were not any parts that were not work out .I had loaded over 100000 rounds .It was 338-378 forming from 416 weatherby that stretched that press .I hate loading 223 on be because of small bullets and the fact you can't tell a crimped primer on lots of 223 brass until you size it .I really liked 357 rem mag because it was super easy to load .I loaded more if it than anything . The most impressive thing I loaded waa 250 per hour of 416 rem mag .I loaded 2000 rounds in one day .It takes alot of poweder
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,078
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,078 |
I just loaded 500 223 on my Dillion 550. If you want to make bullet seating easy install and RCBS Match Master seating die. Just drop the bullet in and pull handle.
Gun Owners of America Escapee's RV Club Elks Moose
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,235 Likes: 27
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,235 Likes: 27 |
I just loaded 500 223 on my Dillion 550. If you want to make bullet seating easy install and RCBS Match Master seating die. Just drop the bullet in and pull handle. I cringe when I see that brass set screw on that RCBS lock ring. Good luck with that one...
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,387
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,387 |
I just loaded 500 223 on my Dillion 550. If you want to make bullet seating easy install and RCBS Match Master seating die. Just drop the bullet in and pull handle. I cringe when I see that brass set screw on that RCBS lock ring. Good luck with that one... PonsnessWarren was the developer of the design currently used by RCBS. It was first marketed over 20 years ago.
In training to be an obedient master to my two labs
Shooting, fishing and hunting
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,755 |
Yeah and it is really prone to the lock ring coming loose, or the set screw stripping out. However in a Dillon tool head, the set screw doesn't have to be used anyway so it doesn't really matter. They can be a PITA in a single stage press though where the die gets removed all the time.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,867
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,867 |
I've run a Dillon 550 since the early 90s. They are a great machine, and you just can't beat Dillon's lifetime warranty.
I ran a 650 for a few years, and the case feeder and auto indexing was really nice. I didn't like the extra setup and conversion time, so I sold it and picked up a second 550. I leave one setup for large primers and the other for small primers.
There are times I really miss the 650, though. I could really crank out some ammo with that thing!
Thoroughly enjoying Alaska since 2001.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 19,496
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 19,496 |
I'm out of reloading now but used a Dillon 550 for years. I recommend it.
Retired cat herder.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 122
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 122 |
2 550s and one 50 bmg progressive (Dillon)
Last edited by plastikosmd; 05/06/20.
|
|
|
|
529 members (204guy, 1lessdog, 1minute, 1badf350, 10ring1, 10gaugemag, 64 invisible),
2,549
guests, and
1,179
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,785
Posts18,515,806
Members74,017
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|