Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Powder for .223 in Dillon 550

Recommendations for a good powder that will measure nicely through a newly purchased Dillon 550 progressive loader?
.223 with 50-55 grain bullets.

I find that most powders measure good with the Dillon 550B.

An area of caution is when using a powder (e.g. Varget) that fills the case to capacity you need to a bit more careful when indexing to avoid powder spill. Canned air will be your friend.

TAC will meter like water.

I'd for sure try TAC.

Another I'd look at BLC2.

In my Dillon 550, I've had good results using Win 748 and I am pretty sure I even used H 322 with no problems. Any suitable ball powder should work well. One that doesn't is H 110. I tried it for the 44 Mag. It is so fine that it jams the slide bar, while 2400 works fine.

XTerminator for that bullet weight range.

Zero issues here with H110.
Are you using the correct charge bar?

Well, I think so. Same size bar (large) that I use for the 748. The Dillon rep I spoke with asked what powder I was using and when I said H110 he indicated that the binding problem was not uncommon with it. Are you using the small bar with a spacer? My powder measures are fairly old too so may have more slop for the powder to get into.

I use the small for under 20 grains. Try giving the bars a good cleaning (rubbing alc) and if that does work then its time for an upgrade.

thanks for the replies!

This. +/- 0.1gr about 95% of the time, with a very occasional 0.2gr variation through the Dillon measure. There are articles on the net on doing a "fluff and buff" on the Dillon measure that supposedly will decrease this but I've been too lazy to do it.

I posted a trick for reaming out the dillon powder funel a while back, it really helps eliminate powder bridging.

Tac, Xterminator and H335 have worked pretty well in an RCBS Progressive for me. Dillion's are the cats meow so, like some have said probably about anything will flow well.

Care to share a link?

Here you go

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._Dillon_650_improvement_Modi#Post7420934

I did Spot's trick with help from Spot and it sure seems to work better.
Ball powders are better in a progressive, I really have to pay close attention with stick powders to make sure it is flowing right. Makes big f-in messes when it bridges.
If you want to keep things simple until you've run that 550 more, go with the ball powders. Tac and Xterminator have both done real well with me in 223. I think XT would be better for your weight, but either will work.

I learned that trick form some of the high power shooters at national match years ago.

It sure helps Varget

Many thanks Spot. The reamer you are reffering to is a plumbers tapered reamer for pipe?

We loaded a gazillion round on the 450 and 550 with H335 and win 748 with the 50 and 55g bullets

I know that I'm stubborn but I've had such huge success in my 223's with Varget that it's all I use and my 650 has passed through thousands of rounds with Varget.

I'm very careful though and pay a lot of attention to powder and use the check system that I can't remember the name of... LOL