Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

[turbo54]

So I bought a concentricity gage this evening and was checking out a bunch of cartridges Ive loaded over the last 3-4 months.

Bottom line: Worst concentricity I found was .002", with MOST coming in at .001"

I am loading on a Dillon 650, using Forster competition dies with the sliding sleeve. Some of the cartridges were sized with an RCBS FLS die WITH expander, some WITHOUT the expander. Most were neck sized and shoulder bumped with the Forster bushing/bump die.

All dies have the "o-ring float" system going, which you can read about in the reloading stickies at the top of this forum.

Ive had groups better than 1/4 MOA that were made on my 650. With the casesfeeder, it sure does go a lot faster than that old Rockchucker I used to use!

 

[memo43]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

sounds pretty good to me, what calibers where you reloading for. I have thought about takeing the plunge as Ifind myself shooting an reloading more often for all my Highpower shoots.
I am running 3 single stage press's

also what weapons are you shooting an distances

 

[Hookman]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

Turbo54, I have a similar progressive setup with Dillon 550B and use the Forster Bump bushing die, RCBS Chargemaster, Dillon Powder funnel and Forster Mirco seater..I don't have a concentricity gauge, but it seems to work really well.

I use a single stage press for Full Length sizing and de-priming. (Keeps the crud out of the Dillon)

 

[turbo54]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: memo43</div><div class="ubbcode-body">sounds pretty good to me, what calibers where you reloading for. I have thought about takeing the plunge as Ifind myself shooting an reloading more often for all my Highpower shoots.
I am running 3 single stage press's

also what weapons are you shooting an distances
</div></div>

My precision rifle loading on the 650 has been exclusively 308. I've been loading for an FN SPR A3G and a Savage 10FP, which I shoot at 600 yards 4-5 times a month, and at 1000+ every other month.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hookman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Turbo54, I have a similar progressive setup with Dillon 550B and use the Forster Bump bushing die, RCBS Chargemaster, Dillon Powder funnel and Forster Mirco seater..I don't have a concentricity gauge, but it seems to work really well.

I use a single stage press for Full Length sizing and de-priming. (Keeps the crud out of the Dillon) </div></div>

I have a Satern powder funnel that I keep in station 2 of the tool head. As the ram runs up, the case seems to do a fine job of engaging into the powder funnel, then lifts it up. I use a benchtop digital scale and an RCBS uniflow powder measure. I haven't timed myself, but I suspect I can load about 3 cartridges per minute this way...obviously the limiter being how fast I can weigh/tune a charge and drop it in the funnel. I doubt a chargemaster would speed me up. Maybe if I had two or three of them...?? Another technique I use is to give my scale more time to "settle" by immediately throwing another charge after I dump the current weighed charge into the funnel. I always put my finger over the casemouth when it is moving to station 3. The "detent" of the shellplate can jostle some powder out. I have nothing in the toolhead in station 3, so I place a bullet into the casemouth when it is sticking up out of the toolhead in station 3.

I don't blame you for doing your FLS in a single stage - to keep your dillon clean, but if you've got a casefeeder, you gotta try it in the Dillon at least once!

I don't do it until I've got many many hundreds of cases to get run through, because everything will need a cleaning afterwards - the feeder, the feedplate, the droptube, shellplate.... I make my own sizing lube with lanolin and alcohol. I put the cases in gallon ziplock bags, spray some lube, jostle, spray, jostle. Then let the bag sit open for a while to let the alcohol evaporate off. Dump the cases into the feeder, turn it on and start pulling the lever!

With a beer in one hand, the lever in the other, I can resize 1000 cases in an hour this way. Sure, it takes another 25-30 minutes to clean the Dillon up afterwards, but it beats the hell out of loading those cases into/outof a single stage one by one. Try it!

 

[wfjames22]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I always put my finger over the casemouth when it is moving to station 3. The "detent" of the shellplate can jostle some powder out.</div></div>

I had the same problem until I tried this. IT WORKS!! Cheap/easy fix.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

Thanks for the link! I'll give that whirl.

 

[Hookman]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

Turbo54, sounds like a great setup. I will have to try the case feeder one of these days, it would make it go much faster. What caliber are you loading?

 

[VKC]

Re: Progressive press for precision reloading - REPORT

I use a progressive press for my reloading and have found the difference in concentricity has to do more with the bullet seater than anything else. I'm getting about the same as you with a Hornady LNL and Redding die set.