Precision rifle ammo on Dillon 550B?

[Danattherock]

What is needed? Loading 6.5 Creedmore for tactical rifle matches (PRS & DMR) where 1-2 MOA steel is engaged at 100-1000 yards. Current load is 139 Scenar with 42.2 H4350 Fed 210M 20 thou off and it's shooting 5-7's in stock Ruger Precision.

I employ two step sizing, first neck sizing with Lee Collet, then bumping shoulders back 2 thou with Redding body die. Seat with inline Forster. If using my 550 rather than Chucker, my thought is to lube and bump shoulders on Chucker, tumble lube off, then complete on 550.

Station one Lee collet neck sizing and adding primer.
Station two dropping powder. This is where I'm hearing crickets...
Station three seat bullets with Forster BR
Station four unused

Whats best way to charge? Is there a funnel type attachment? I have two Chargemasters I could use if applicable. Not sure how to go about this.

Any other modifications needed? Custom tight tolerance tool head? Not sure on source but heard these exist, reducing slop as I recall. Any suggestions at all appreciated.

Shooting lots of matches, 150-200 rounds, practicing 1-2x/week, got infant and toddler. Would be great if I could spend less time at reloading bench. Even though we all know how enjoyable it is.

Thanks for any comment.


Dan
NC

 

[Jammer Six]

Good luck!

 

[Cujo]

Edited original post. Didn't realize you would use the RC first and then use the 550 as a true progressive. Good luck!

 

[Sniper338]

Wont happen.

 

[Danattherock]

I appreciate the skepticism. Truly. But it worked for David Tubb and John Whidden, so it's clearly doable. Also, keep in mind I'm not shooting bench rest. 3/4 MOA will be acceptable for the games I play.

My buddy is a sponsored national level 3 gunner and loads sub MOA 77 smk and Varget on his bone stock Dillon 550. I'm just trying to step the game up a bit with tighter tolerance tool head and weighing all my charges individually with my two RCBS Chargemasters. Appears a modest goal.

I see Whidden sells floating tool heads.

Any idea where to buy a funnel drop charging die?

Dan

 

[Mulligan]

When my Son started shooting high-power (AR-15 in .223) we could not keep up (3000-5000 round a year) After extensive testing, we went with the 550B. There was no loss in precision. We completely sized on the Forester CO-AX, tumbled the brass, trimmed with a Giraud, and then primed, powder and seated on the Dillon. This was for the 100-300 yard stuff, at 600 we seen a slight loss in accuracy so we loaded it single stage. Having said this, he shot his best matches at 600 with the Dillon loaded ammo (he was in the grove and muscle memory took over..... We fight as we train). The precision plates are most likely a good bet....they were not available when we were loading....I used set screws to take out the slack. The powder measures on the Dillon are good, mine are 10+ years old and I had no problems with Varget. Understand the new ones are better.
CW

 

[ebb]

Jammer Six, you have argued endlessly over at bench rest central that match ammo can be loaded on a Dillon, and Dave Tubb does it all the time. Have you changed your mind???

 

[Scott Harris]

What is needed? Loading 6.5 Creedmore for tactical rifle matches (PRS & DMR) where 1-2 MOA steel is engaged at 100-1000 yards. Current load is 139 Scenar with 42.2 H4350 Fed 210M 20 thou off and it's shooting 5-7's in stock Ruger Precision.

I employ two step sizing, first neck sizing with Lee Collet, then bumping shoulders back 2 thou with Redding body die. Seat with inline Forster. If using my 550 rather than Chucker, my thought is to lube and bump shoulders on Chucker, tumble lube off, then complete on 550.

Station one Lee collet neck sizing and adding primer.
Station two dropping powder. This is where I'm hearing crickets...
Station three seat bullets with Forster BR
Station four unused

Whats best way to charge? Is there a funnel type attachment? I have two Chargemasters I could use if applicable. Not sure how to go about this.

Any other modifications needed? Custom tight tolerance tool head? Not sure on source but heard these exist, reducing slop as I recall. Any suggestions at all appreciated.

Shooting lots of matches, 150-200 rounds, practicing 1-2x/week, got infant and toddler. Would be great if I could spend less time at reloading bench. Even though we all know how enjoyable it is.

Thanks for any comment.


Dan
NC

Dan, I should have an article published on accurate shooter in the near future describing how to make precision ammo with a Dillon 550. Send me a PM if you want an early copy.

Regards,
Scott

 

[Cuando]

Dan,

It's totally doable. There is a funnel adapter for dumping charges from your charge masters at station two. Run your collet die at station one and your body die at station four. Works great but make sure you use plenty of One Shot so you don't stick a loaded round. 3/4" accuracy no problem.

 

[HPMike800]

I assemble my ammo on a Dillion 550. Use a single stage to size your brass. Then clean your brass up. I now seat primers by hand, you can do it on the Dillion if you want to. For quality rifle ammo do not use the Dillon powder throw. The design is crap for larger powder charges, it was desigend for pistol. Service rifle shooters & 3-gun guys have used the Dillion for years for 223 short range ammo. That's about the max you can get. Better results have been obtained by many adapting a Hornaday throw to the Dillon.

I have a Harrels throw adapted to a Dillon powder die for short range ammo. I throw a funnel in the die when I weigh charges. I prime/ drop powder in stage one, seat at stage two and come out of the press at stage three.

 

[Danattherock]

Thanks guys. PM sent Scott.

My intention, however tentative, is to lube and bump shoulder with body die on my Rock Chucker. Then tumble cases to remove lube, and then Dillon 550 for completion, Lee neck collet on one, powder drop via two Chargemasters on two, seating bullet with Forster BR on three, four empty.


Dan
NC

 

[Jdne5b]

I would consider sizing on the 550 and then wipe lube off of the loaded round with a rag and rubbing alcohol.

 

[MQ1]

Dan,

I've reloaded on a 550 for bulk applications for a number of years, but I'll tell you that my competitive reolading on it has been limited to pistols...I still do my serious rifle loads with a single stage.

If you are serious about using the Dillon, you should consider using a Redding Type S Full Length Die in your first stage...reduce a two step process into 1 step that should be just as good if you choose the right bushing.

I have not had great success with H4350 in the Dillon powder measure, but to be honest I have not messed with it much. There may be a better powder to run throught the Dillon, and I'll let others suggest based on their experience. My press will toss H4895 and AA2015 well, but none of the bigger stick powders. You could get the 450 funnel and hand charge with your RCBS Chargemaster...call Dillon and they will sell you what you need.

If you are looking to improve effeciency, I'd look to build a practice load with a ball powder on the Dillon, and build your match loads the old fashioned way...unless you find a magic combination on the Dillon that can be your new standard load.

Hope this helps,

MQ1

 

[slm9s]

In order to maximize efficiency, you'll definitely need two chargemasters - or else you'll constantly be waiting for powder charges.

 

[Danattherock]

Great idea MQ.

Heading to garage in a bit to load H4350 into my Dillon 550 223 top end. Just throwing a bunch of charges to see how repeatable it is with 4350. That will set up next test, hand loading a few with that variance, whatever it is (1/10th, 2/10ths, etc).

My load is 42.2, so will load 42 and 42.4, if variance seen in Dillon is 2/10. Will shoot cardboard at 985 yards and see how the three respective charges print. That will answer if I'm using my Chargemasters and funnel or Dillon powder bar.

Thinking the Whidden floating tool head is a good idea, but may do runout test with standard Dillon tool head first. Also, I've got a spare top end kit on hand anyway. Just need to get a caliber conversion kit. Thanks for the ideas. This has legs, I'm certain. Main issue, how to charge cases.



Dan

 

[Cuando]

Dan,

I've had a real hard time getting h4350 to meter through my Dillon consistently. Read about guys using a vibrating back massager attached to their powder measure to even things out a little. Works pretty good. You might try it. Also, run out is a non issue on the 550 in my experience. Seating depth variation can be however. Sure hope you post your results.

 

[Endyo]

We had a discussion on this last year:
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...-class-high-power-ammo.3881226/#post-36621710

Scott Harris had a lot of good input for exactly what you're looking at doing. Precision ammo on a 550. He used Whidden's floating tool-head and modified a Prometheus to drop powder.

He was working on an extensive write up...cough...cough... Scott Harris you're being called out.

 

[Endyo]

Dan, I should have an article published on accurate shooter in the near future describing how to make precision ammo with a Dillon 550. Send me a PM if you want an early copy.

Regards,
Scott

HAHA! He actually beat me to the punch, he has shown himself!

 

[MQ1]

Great idea MQ.
...
Thinking the Whidden floating tool head is a good idea, but may do runout test with standard Dillon tool head first. Also, I've got a spare top end kit on hand anyway. Just need to get a caliber conversion kit. Thanks for the ideas. This has legs, I'm certain. Main issue, how to charge cases.

Dan

I did not find runout to be a real issue on my Dillon as long as I used quality dies and set them up appropriately. There is an inherent bit of float already in the design, and I often wondered if just enlarging the tool head pin holes would yeild a discernable difference in runout, but I never really felt this was a problem that needed solving.

Let us know your results!

MQ1

 

[Danattherock]

Will do man. And thanks for your input.

I just ordered the 6.5 caliber conversion kit and a Whidden floating tool head. Still undecided about powder/funnel die or what to buy.

Dan