reloading for rifle

[ar15barrels]

Randall,

How *inaccurate* is it then to use a stick powder with a Dillon progressive press? +/- 0.3 grains?
I haven't collected any statistics yet - but when doing charge checks I've seen it be +/- 0.2 grains.

Depends on the powder.
4895 and 4064 are worse than Varget or RL15...
The longer the sticks, the worse the powder meters.
You have to be particularly careful of bridging with a 22 caliber and stick powders.
The powder will "bridge" in the funnel.
Then when you cycle the handle back up, the powder dumps everywhere but into the case.
This is not nearly as much of a problem with larger bore cartridges because there's more room for the powder to flow through the powder funnel.

[Gnzrme]

Ok, then what are some good BALL powders for 223....Those rounds that I loaded with RL15 were not that good....(which you guys stated that they wouldnt)....So now I have 2#'s of a powder that isnt really good for 55gr bullets...will try to get some 62's, also processing my brass with universal trim lengths will help immensely....

[buffybuster]

Ok, then what are some good BALL powders for 223....Those rounds that I loaded with RL15 were not that good....(which you guys stated that they wouldnt)....So now I have 2#'s of a powder that isnt really good for 55gr bullets...will try to get some 62's, also processing my brass with universal trim lengths will help immensely....

For 55gr bullets these have served well and meter well:

H322 (extruded but still meters well)
H335
RS-Xterminator
RS-TAC
W748
AA2230
Benchmark (No direct experience, but told it meters well)
BLC-2 (would probably also work, but no direct experience)

[NRAhighpowershooter]

one of the best shooters that as won just about every award at Camp Perry, USMC Maj(ret.)Jim O'Connell, uses a 550 and Varget to load all his short line loads.. he only uses a single stage for his 600yd loads. For HighPower matches, as long as you're 0.2gr on either side of your target load it doesn't matter.

[subiegillis]

stop thread jacking......would like a answer is the dillion 500 or 550b good for reloading rifle rounds or not?

[Rhys898]

I'm not sure about the 500 but the 550 and bigger are fine for 223 and 308. I do know that the Square Deal B is not recommended/doesn't work for rifle calibers. The only 500 I've heard of is the AT500 which is not a progressive press, its a turret press that I think can be converted to a progressive.

Jer

[wilshire1412]

In my own opinion I would use a 550 to do rifle cartridges before I would try them on a XL 650, mainly because the 550 does not auto index the shellplate or the primer feed and can be used more like a turret press if need be.

[jwest]

Depends on the powder.
4895 and 4064 are worse than Varget or RL15...
The longer the sticks, the worse the powder meters.
You have to be particularly careful of bridging with a 22 caliber and stick powders.
The powder will "bridge" in the funnel.
Then when you cycle the handle back up, the powder dumps everywhere but into the case.
This is not nearly as much of a problem with larger bore cartridges because there's more room for the powder to flow through the powder funnel.

Randall,

I've had the bridging problem a few times and it is very annoying when that happens. I thought it was due to using a little too much lube on the inside of the cartridge - I still think that was the reason it happened - I was using Benchmark/0.223.

Thanks,
John

subiegillis - The RL 550B handles the most calibers - which is why I picked it. I shoot .50 AE - the 650 will not load that. Thus far, I have only reloaded 0.223 with it - and it is fine. I'm getting tooled up for other calibers, and slowly getting the components in for the other calibers as well. I don't see any reason you wouldn't want to use a Dillon. If you are a competitive shooter - you can get the Redding Micrometer precision dies and you can load your powder manually if needed - you can still do this on a Dillon press. It is easy to take a round out in any stage of the process and do what you require for your load.

[ar15barrels]

stop thread jacking......would like a answer is the dillion 500 or 550b good for reloading rifle rounds or not?

Yes and no.
Depends on your goals.

[ar15barrels]

I've had the bridging problem a few times and it is very annoying when that happens. I thought it was due to using a little too much lube on the inside of the cartridge - I still think that was the reason it happened - I was using Benchmark/0.223.

You should not have any wet lube inside the case.
Use dry lube inside case necks.

Bridging happens in the powder funnel, not in the case neck.
By the time it flows past the funnel, it moves straight into the case without stoppages unless you had some wet lube holding some powder in the neck and making another obstruction.

[jwest]

Randall,

What do you use for dry lube to be used inside the case necks?

Thanks,
John

[ar15barrels]

What do you use for dry lube to be used inside the case necks?

I don't lube case necks inside.
My neck expanding is done from above rather than from inside so I don't have to worry about stretching necks due to lack of lube.

[jwest]

So, you don't use the Dillon dies for this then?

[popeye4]