Need some advice 4 accurate 308 reloading

[problemchild]

Im going to break the 1st rule and do the reloading on my dillon 650. I will pull each round and check the powder charge and trickle up or down to make them the same weight. This is the equipment I have and Im interested to know how I can eeek out the best accuracy from it. Im not interested in buying new equipment. Are there any tip sites to making the 650 perform at its best?

With that said here is what I was going to do. Can you guys look over my routine and tell me what I am missing or what Im doing wrong?

I plan on weighing each case and matching same weight cases up.
I have dillon carbide dies.
I will clean primer pocket.
Trim the brass to the same length.
Weigh each powder charge after its dropped.
Weigh each smk 175g bullet and match up weights.
Im going to shim my tool head so it does not slop around.
I have some once fired FC GMM brass.
I also have some LC once fired military brass.
Im using H380 powder (ball )
Im using cci/winchester standard primers.

Should I crimp or not crimp the case?

Im shooting a POF 308 and dont want the bullet seating depth to change as it slams into the feed ramp.

[Beelzy]

1. Use a single stage press

2. Use Match primers

3. Do not crimp the case

[problemchild]

1. Use a single stage press

2. Use Match primers

3. Do not crimp the case

Match primers are not available and Im not going to pay a hazmat to get them. I dont own a single stage and Im not going to buy one as I stated above. My goal is to get "the most" out of what I have. I guess I can hold off crimp but will the OAL change as it slams into the feed ramp?

[phish]

...

Im going to break the 1st rule and do the reloading on my dillon 650. I will pull each round and check the powder charge and trickle up or down to make them the same weight. This is the equipment I have and Im interested to know how I can eeek out the best accuracy from it. Im not interested in buying new equipment. Are there any tip sites to making the 650 perform at its best?

With that said here is what I was going to do. Can you guys look over my routine and tell me what I am missing or what Im doing wrong?

I plan on weighing each case and matching same weight cases up. waste of time
I have dillon carbide dies.
I will clean primer pocket. waste of time
Trim the brass to the same length.
Weigh each powder charge after its dropped. kinda defeats the purpose of the 650 don't it?
Weigh each smk 175g bullet and match up weights. waste of time
Im going to shim my tool head so it does not slop around.
I have some once fired FC GMM brass.
I also have some LC once fired military brass.
Im using H380 powder (ball ) not my 1st choice, or 4th for that matter
Im using cci/winchester standard primers.

Should I crimp or not crimp the case? no crimp, your Dillon dies will give you enough neck tension

Im shooting a POF 308 and dont want the bullet seating depth to change as it slams into the feed ramp.

[phish]

2. Use Match primers

Why?

[phish]

I guess I can hold off crimp but will the OAL change as it slams into the feed ramp?

make a dummy round with no primer and powder charge, measure it, load it in a mag, chamber it, measure it again to check for any change

[Beelzy]

Why?

I figure if one goes through all of that effort to obtain a performance load that
premium primers are a given. Of course I have very high standards.

[FLIGHT762]

I would recommend Zediker's book " Handloading for Competition". He is very knowledgeable and he discusses in depth all the questions you're asking.

http://www.zediker.com/books/handloading/hlmain.html

[popeye4]

Also check out Zediker's articles on loading for the M14 and once fired brass issues: http://www.zediker.com/downloads/m14.html. You get lots of info without buying the book (but the book is well worth it).

Don't forget to lube your cases, the Dillon carbide dies for bottleneck rifle cartridges still require lube. If you clean your brass, they'll probably last forever, though.

Regarding primers: I don't think you need benchrest primers, but I don't believe anyone uses CCI primers in matches. WW are reliable, hot, and hard (good for gas guns). But in the present market, use what you can find.

If you're using ball powder (or something close to it), the Dillon should throw powder charges just fine. I've polished the bowl in mine and it improved powder flow, but I use Vihtavuori powders and they flow well already.

What range are you shooting at? A lot of highpower shooters load their 200 yd and 300 yd ammo on Dillons (and a Master Class friend of mine even does his 600 yd ammo on one). I think your Dillon will crank out good ammo if you give it a chance.

Instead of cleaning primer pockets, I'd uniform them using a Sinclair uniformer. The pockets will then be square and deep enough to seat your primers with some recess below the case head (important with semi autos with free floating firing pins, not sure what the POF has). Also, if the Lake City hasn't been processed, you'll need to remove the primer crimp. I also deburr the primer hole. I don't know if it really matters, but it only has to be done once.

[popeye4]

BTW, I do all my brass prep off the Dillon (size, trim, primer pocket uniform, clean). That way, I have clean ammo that doesn't need the lube removed. Of course, I have a single stage press for this use. I know you don't have one, but you should break down and get one, I actually use mine a ton even with a Dillon 650 on the bench. Check ebay, there are usually quite a few available there.

[Fjold]

You have carbide 308 Win dies?

[problemchild]

You have carbide 308 Win dies?

Yeah the titanium nitrides were out of stock.

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/titanium-nitride-coated-custom-dies-from-ch4d/

Dillon Carbide Rifle Dies (Three-Die Sets)
Stock Number: dcrd3ds
308 Winchester 10793 $140.95

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/24498/catid/4/Dillon_Carbide_Rifle_Dies__Individual___Three_Die_Sets_

[LGB Loader]

Of course, I have a single stage press for this use. I know you don't have one, but you should break down and get one, I actually use mine a ton even with a Dillon 650 on the bench.

YUP...

In the Cave, I have 2 XL650's, a 550B, a Redding T7 Turret and I still have a faithful old LEE Classic Cast single stage that I use all the time. My Super 1050 is on it's way via the little brown truck.

Actually, I have 3 single stage presses counting my old RCBS rockchucker that started it all. That's packed away. I also have a a small bench in the family room for when football season is on and I want to process some brass. Lee Challenger press without the breechlocks. Not as smooth but works fine.

I would look into getting a single stage. I have said this too many times to count, I could get by without any of my presses except for my single stage.

LGB

[rksimple]

tell me what I am missing or what Im doing wrong?

You don't seem very willing to take good advice.

[problemchild]

You don't seem very willing to take good advice.

Why is that because I asked to "get the most out of what I have" not be told to buy all new equipment? I asked how to get the most out of my existing equipment.
Thats why I stated it SOOOOOOOOOO clearly that I wanted to work with what I already own in the 1st post. I dont have room for more equipment. Hell I barely have room for the 650. I want to work with the equipment I have. I really don't want to get into a pissing contest.