Reloading Press for Match Ammo

[ExtremeX]

I'm getting ready to buy my first press and not really sure what route I should go. I can afford a progressive press, and I am leaning towards this since I would also like to reload 9mm, .45 APC, and 5.56, but I have been told by a couple people that I should really look at a single stage press if my goal is to make match ammo.

For match ammo I will primarily be loading for the .308 Win. I have also given thought to reloading .223/5.56 match since I have an AR with a barrel that can benefit from better ammo as well.

So the question is, can you use a progressive press to reload respectable match ammo?

I dont see myself pushing out high volumes of .308, but I do intend to with 9mm, .45, and .223.

[Bill Steele]

I load my handgun on a Dillon 550 and my rifle on a single stage Rockchucker.

A guy that used to frequent these threads posted a quarter he obliterated at 600 yards with his 223's he loaded on a Dillon 650, so I think it is possible to get match quality ammo on a progressive.

[Dark Mod]

you can make excellent ammo with a progressive, but a single stage is better suited to the task. If you want to spend money, spend it on the dies and components.

But yes you can definatley make match grade ammo on a progressive.

[XDRoX]

You can absolutely load match ammo with a progressive. Many of the worlds best shooters load on progressives. The powder measure will never be as accurate as if you were to trickle, but IMO, powder isn't the most crucial factor in match ammo it's the bullet. And there are many mods to make the powder measures more consistent.

Having said that I do prefer to use a single stage for match ammo. Progressives aren't really that great for rifle rounds anyway because of all the prep work.

My advice would be to get a 550 or 650 or LNL and in addition an RCBS single stage. It'll add $125 or whatever hey cost nowadays to your bill, but you will find it very handy especially if you're going to be loading rifle rounds.

I can't imagine a reloading bench without at least one single stage. I use mine for all sorts of things like swaging, universal de-capping, trimming, load development, etc...

[ExtremeX]

"The powder measure will never be as accurate as if you were to trickle"

What do you mean by this... I would assume there are differences in quality from one power measure to the next, but not sure what the trickle method is?

[XDRoX]

"The powder measure will never be as accurate as if you were to trickle"

What do you mean by this... I would assume there are differences in quality from one power measure to the next, but not sure what the trickle method is?

A powder trickler is just like it sounds. Basically you trickle the powder into the case or into a pan on a scale. You trickle until you get the exact weight you want and then pour the powder into the case. The obviously takes a lot of time as you need to load every round individually.

RCBS makes a powder dispenser that basically does thing same thing but it's automated. I think it's around $200. I don't own one.

You can also buy a trickler for $20 and trickle by hand.

The best powder measure in called a Prometheus. They don't sell them any more as far as I know. You may be able to find one on eBay. When they did sell them I believe they were around $1500. These are for long range shooters though.

[lpspinner]

With the powder measure in the press, you're dropping your total charge into your case with a + or - .1 variance.

Using a trickler, you're dropping close to your charge on a scale and using the trickler, you're fine tuning the charge to the exact amount desired. This step is time consuming.

[XDRoX]

Here is a hand trickler:


Here is the RCBS powder dispenser:


Here is a Prometheus:

[XDRoX]

This is the reloading room of a member on glocktalk. You can see his Prometheus on the far right of the picture. If you ever want advice on how to load for distance, this is the guy to ask.

BTW, you can't see it in this picture, but he also has two single stages on his bench. A Forster and an RCBS.

[RugerNo1]

^And, a Spolar shotshell reloader (the gold contraption)!


Match ammo is all about CONSISTANCY.

I throw the powder charges to about .3 grains to my load and trickle in to exactly the load and has the best velocity consistancy and which my rifle prefers. I prefer a single stage for all rifle reloading because all my rifle reloading is match/varmint ammo. The single stage helps me have a better "feel" for sizing (why was that one so hard?) and for seating (that neck seemed to have higer/lower tension). An arbor press and chamber type dies are even better for "feel" when seating a bullet. By nature, match ammo for a rifle is more time consuming.

[ExtremeX]

Wow, thats a nice collection of reloading gear.

Thanks for the heads up guys. I guess im going to want/need a single stage press or two laying around anyways for various tasks. I might not feel so bad starting off with the single stage to get my feet wet and adding to the setup down the road.

I was thinking of using something like this + a scale for my .308 rifle rounds just to keep it cheap, and accurate while im learning and testing match ammo.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943305/lee-improved-powder-measure-kit?cm_vc=S014712103

[lpspinner]

The Lee powder scoops are great for what they are, but they will never give you the consistency you need for match grade ammo.

The words cheap and match do not belong together.

[damndave]

You can definitely make nice match ammo in a progressive, but depending on what powder you use will determine the consistency of the charge.

For example, in my Hornady when using Varget my target drop range is 44.2gr. It will range anywhere from 38.5 - 44.8 ish.

On a single stage or turret, you have much more control of the consistency which is the name of the game in precision shooting and making match ammo.

Majority of people load match rifle on a single stage/turret and pistol on a progressive. Progressive loading rifle cases isn't as fast as you think. You still need to brass prep after resizing which is the majority of the work.

[CalTeacher]

As long as you know what you're doing, you can make match ammo on anything from the little Lee hand loader to a Dillon 1050.

For my hunting ammunition in 45-70 I hand trickle all the powder charges because I'm not loading very many of them. Yes it does take time, but I'm willing to accept that trade off for the consistency...plus H4198 doesn't throw very consistent charges from my Lee Pro Auto Disk. I use my turret press for .223, 45-70 (cast bullet loads with Unique powder), and .308 and get very consistent and accurate ammo using that press.

I keep the progressive dedicated to pistol ammo.

[gau17]

I load my long range match ammo on a Lee Classic single stage. I use not because it's cheap but because is works great for me. Like someone else mentioned you don't need expensive equipment to make great ammo. It comes down to your process and the nut behind the press.

My match 1000 yds ammo:

Brass prep: Clean/Primer pockets uniform/chamfer primer pockets/trim debur
Charging: Dispense on RCBS chargemaster/trickle on Accurized RCBS 10-10

As you can tell from the picture below, my Lee press is one the cheapest equipment I use.