Dillon 550B 5.56 work flow question

[Gary Wiant]

So far I've only reloaded pistol rounds with my 550B but now I need to reload some .223 / 5.56 and I think I'm stumped a little.

Typically with the 550B I use a toolhead with only a universal deprimming die and deprimed all my brass, clean in a wet stainless pins tumbler. Then resize when I load with the correct caliber dies in the toolhead.

If I'm loading rifle cartridges with my RCBS I throw the brass in a vibrating tumbler for a couple hours to get the maindirt off, deprime, trim if needed, work the primer pocket, stainless steel pin tumble to really clean then load.

My question is what is the best work flow with a rifle case? I'l'll need lube on the case to size the brass that I don't want to leave on, and after loading a couple hundred rounds I don't want to have to go through with an alcohol rag and hand clean all the lube off. Plus how will I get a chance to check the brass to see if I should trim it? My thoughts now are to buy another head and set it up just with a sizing die and decapping & resize, trim if needed prep the primer pocket, stainless steel pin clean off the lube then run it through the 550British normally (no sizer die on the head)

Also on an unrelated question, but still a 550b question
Does anyone else have issues with the Dillon powder measures consistently throwing the same amount of powder? It may be the powder, I don't notice it much when I'm loading 357 or 44 mag with 2400 but my son has a load for his 9mm that uses 700x which is a flake powder. I'm not sure if it is the powder or the fact that we are only using 4.6gr.

Any help is appreciated

 

[Jammer Six]

These are exactly the issues that led me to load rifle with a single stage press.

The only advantage a progressive press has is speed, and it only has that advantage if you load empty brass and don't touch it again until it drops out as a loaded round. Loading, unloading and re-loading brass between steps defeats the purpose and only advantage of a progressive press.

For these reasons, I only load pistol on a Dillon, and I bought a T-7 for my rifle. Now when I find myself using my Dillon as a single-stage press, I move that operation to the T-7.

I have no issues with Dillon's powder measure with ball powders, so I'll let others speak to that issue.

Good luck!

 

[USMCDOC]

I am only using my 550B to deprime and size the brass. After that, i use the single stage press

 

[rckendall]

Gary,
I think you are on the right track, from my experience. I do all my case prep and prime work first, then drop the powder and seat the bullet. You can use the 550B for the sizing portion too, just use it as a single stage.

If you will be using extruded powder you will need to taper and polish the drop tube itself or you will get occasional bridging of the powder. I remember it being a number 2 taper reamer that is used and they are readily available.

I shoot Highpower Service Rifle only in 223 and what most have found is that the Dillon powder measure works satisfactorily for the 200 and 300 yard strings, but most everyone weighs each charge for the 600 yard strings. Some say the accuracy of the powder measure is +/- .1 grain, others claim more, but the bottom line is that most find it acceptable.

I hope this will get you started and I'm sure you will come up with a system that suits you.

Richard

 

[Mulligan]

We
1.)single stage resized and deprimed
2.) tumbeled
3.) trim if needed
4.) load on 550b

No issue with RL-15 or Varget
Loaded 77 and 80 SMK exclusively
Out to 300 yards, extreamly good ammo
Single stage loaded for 600 yards
CW

 

[Gary Wiant]

Thanks to x all who have replied.

RIchard, can you explain more about where you used the reamer? I've only had my 550B since this past spring. Do you mean the powder tube or part of the measure itself?

Thanks

 

[rckendall]

Gary,
Dillon calls it the powder funnel (it comes in contact with the case) and it is quite small in diameter for 223 and quite long. Using the reamer gives a nice taper to the funnel, instead of just a straight tube. A friend did mine for me with his lathe and then I polished it a little with an abrasive pad.

Richard

 

[dickn52]

+1 on the T7. Single stage acting like a progressive...a little bit that is.

 

[Sheldon N]

My workflow for loading precision rifle on a Dillon 550B...

Tumble (primer in)
Anneal
Spray lube (alcohol/lanonlin mix, works great and is fast)

Toolhead #1
Universal depriming die
Full length size
Expander mandrel

Tumble to remove lube
Trim (if needed)
Champfer deburr clean primer pockets brush neck (Lyman case prep station)

Toolhead #2
Universal depriming die (to remove any media stuck in flashhole)
Prime
Powder die
Bullet seating die


For the powder station I have either the Dillon thrower if I'm making shorter range/practice ammo, or I can unscrew the powder measure and place a funnel in the same powder die. I modified a MTM Universal powder funnel with drop tube. If you cut off the fitting on the drop tube it can fit straight into the powder die to allow you to pour in precision measured charges without having to change the die or die settings.

For a rifle powder that meters well in the Dillon thrower, look at XBR 8208. Lots of guys using that for 223 with heavy bullets with great success.

 

[johara1]

I use a Hornaday progressive but the powder measure is garbage. I size and prime and made a funnel for the powder drop. I built a small bracket a long side the press and mounted my Harrells powder measure on it and do it by hand every time. It works great with 8208 and 77 gr. SMK. Out of the space gun with a scope it will group .3 at 100..... jim

 

[Sheldon N]

Here's some pics of what I use for a powder funnel for manual charges. It's the universal powder funnel and drop tube from the MTM powder funnel kit. I cut the base of the drop tube off at the point where the inner tube was the narrowest. Then I lightly sanded it for fit in the Dillon powder die, and used a bit of heat (torch) on the powder die to get a tight press fit of the drop tube. It sits at exactly the height the inner powder funnel comes up to, and since the drop tube ID is much narrower than the powder funnel no kernels can get caught on the lip of the inner Dillon powder funnel and hang up. Sits nice and stable when the ram is in the down position. Plus since it's clear you can see if there are any issues with bridging.

Took about 5-10 minutes to modify.

 

[Rustystud]

With all progressive reloading Case prep is paramount. For plinking in the yard I don't always prep the complete gammit. With Target grade or Personal defense grade I fully prep my cases and reload them from a fully sized trimmed, de-capped, primer pocket cleaned cases. Even with carbide dies the 223 cases should be lubed. I load on both a Dillon 550 and a Dillon 1050. The better the cases the better the loading goes.
Nat Lambeth

 

[powderbrake]

I have two different 223 setups on my Dillon 550

Here is my procedure for loading my 223 which I use in my prairie dog gun for accuracy. I neck size only, and use those rounds in only in that one gun.

1) trim on my Giraurd trimmer
2) Tumble clean in medium sized corn cob media with a non-ammonia polishing compound.
3) Size, deprime , reprime in a Redding Competition Neck sizer die.
4) second station is a Dillon powder measure. (with powder funnel taper reamed and polished)
5) third station, seat bullet in a Redding Competition Micrometer seater die.
6) Shoot them.

Here is my procedure for other 223 round that may be shot in any gun.

1) trim on my Giraurd trimmer
2) Tumble clean in medium sized corn cob media with a non-ammonia polishing compound.
3) lay clean brass in a pan, spray lightly with Dillon's sizing lube.
4) Full length size, deprime and reprime at station 1. I use Dillon dies here.
5) second station is a Dillon powder measure
6) seat bullet at third station
7) Dillon taper crimp die at 4th station.
8) sprinkle a solvent on a bath towel, place 50 or so loaded rounds on towel, rub to remove lube.
9) shoot them.


Regarding accuracy of Dillon measures for rifle loads;

I wanted the most accurate measure for the 550 press, so I tested the Dillon and the RCBS, mounted on my 550, throwing 31.7 grains of Varget (my 6mmBR load). I threw 50 rounds from each, and weighed each on an electronic scale which read to 0.1 gr.
results:

Dillon:
Ave 31.71
Max 31.9
Min 31.4
SD 0.108

RCBS:
Ave 31.69
Max 32.0
Min 31.4
SD 0.138

So it seems that like most all powder measures with this stick powder they throw about +- .2 to .3.

So I bought a Chargemaster, and weigh the loads I need more accuracy with. I will be going to and A&D or Sartorious soon.


Regarding Dillon powder measure for pistol loading;

I have a complete head setup for my Dillon for every caliber which I shoot, both rifle and pistol.
I have replaced my Dillon powder measures with Lee Pro Disk measures on my pistol heads. The Dillon measures are too big to throw small charges like the 2.8 grains of Bullseye I use in my 38 Specials with a 148 gr HBWC. The Lees are more accurate, it's easy to select proper disk, no adjustments to make, and they include a powder shut-off. They are actuated by the case pushing up on the powder funnel, and do not have an actuating rod like the Dillon. You have to get the measure, the part that screws into the head, and the appropriate powder funnel which also flares the case mouth.

Yeah, it says 4.97 gr Bullseye in the picture. That was the average of 20 throws, as weighed and divided by 20. No, it can't throw to two decimal places. Like any powder measure it's probably lucky to hit +- .1 or .2. I have not weigh checked the Lee for my pistol loads.

 

[Sheldon N]

I wanted the most accurate measure for the 550 press, so I tested the Dillon and the RCBS, mounted on my 550, throwing 31.7 grains of Varget (my 6mmBR load). I threw 50 rounds from each, and weighed each on an electronic scale which read to 0.1 gr.
results:

Dillon:
Ave 31.71
Max 31.9
Min 31.4
SD 0.108

I've done a similar test with Varget and XBR 8208 from my Dillon 550 powder measure. 20 charges of each with a target weight of ~30g, checked on a precision scale with 0.02g resolution.

Varget XBR
0.124 0.079 Standard Deviation (gr)
0.46 0.26 Extreme Spread (gr)

 

[ranger3]

My process for the 223 and or 22-250 is that I have a separate head which has a Lee Collette die and second stage body die. I may or may not prime on this pass depending on if I'm ready to load or just getting brass ready. Of course this is after I clean, trim and do whatever to the brass. Then on second pass I prime, drop powder load and load bullets. I have had exceptional luck with ball powders on the Dillon powder measure, not so great with stick powders but haven't polished my funnel on the Dillon yet. I recently loaded 50 22-250 using 50 VMAX and H380, only 3 loads that were off on powder when I let the measure get too low. COAL on the bullet seating was within .002 on all loads using a Lee seater die. All others were spot on.

 

[Eagle1899]

For random brass I set up like this:

Tumble clean
Dillon case lube sprayed into bucket, brass tossed in bucket
Small base full length die station 1
Swage-It in place of primer feed
Dillon Rapid Trim station 3
Tumble Clean

For brass that has already been through the above:

Tumble clean
Dillon case lube sprayed into bucket, brass tossed in bucket
Full length bushing die and prime station 1
Dillon powder measure 2
Seating die 3
Lee Factory Crimp Die 4
Tumble clean
Shoot

I use this process for 223 and 308.

 

[SheepDog]

My process is a bit more involved but the basics are there. I take the time to set my powder measure up for the load then throw 10 charges and weigh it and then correct the powder measure to throw ten charges to the powder charge so 10 throws are 10 times the required charge. I also clean the pocket and clean inside the base to make sure it has been prepared correctly before or to trim any flashing for new or range brass. I also run each case through the trimmer because that is faster than checking each piece with calipers and then trim the long ones. At each step I inspect the necks and body of the cases. I keep my cases at chamber length - 0.003" and most of the time they just rub a bit. I chamfer the inside and deburr the outside of the throat. then they are charged with a primer and powder and examined to visually check the powder levels relative to each other in a tray. Then I seat the bullets and pack in the box and the box is labeled. The ammo is then stacked in the ammo cabinet.

 

[ireload2]

One of the best I saw on youtube was a Dillon set up to size 1, size 2 and decap, trim and swage primer pockets.
The double sizing gave him more precise sizing. Then he cleaned the cases
Next to a second Dillon where he seated a primer, charged the case and seated the bullets. He was sort of a mass loader because it looked like 1000 rounds was just a small lot for his operation.

His operation was permanently set up for 5.56.
He had a separate set up for 7.62mm.

 

[snert]

I do all my case prep on T7 and clean my cases, after.

Then I use the Dillon to load, seat bullets.

Any time you put a powder measure on a machine you induce vibration. Since a powder measure measures by volume, sometimes you shake in more, sometimes less. If I load for my taget guns, i measure or weigh. if I am loading for a service rifle, i just chose a powder that measures well and consistent, (never exact) and don't worry.

700X is notoriously hard to measure by volume. All flake powders are. 800 x is even worse. That is why in pistol cartridges 2400 is popular while unigue is less so...and that at pistol powder amounts. in a shotgun on a mec, it doesn't matter. On a rifle cartridge hoping to shoot MOA at 800 yards...well that is a different critter.

 

[jepp2]

Does anyone else have issues with the Dillon powder measures consistently throwing the same amount of powder? It may be the powder, I don't notice it much when I'm loading 357 or 44 mag with 2400 but my son has a load for his 9mm that uses 700x which is a flake powder. I'm not sure if it is the powder or the fact that we are only using 4.6gr.

The Dillon powder measure is known to have problems consistently disbursing some powders. 700X is one of those powders, Unique, Blue Dot, etc. also have similar issues. Some things you can do to improve the powder throw consistency:

1. Maintain a reasonably consistent powder level in your measure.
2. Movement of the linkage should be as uniform in speed and action as possible.
3. If you let the measure set for a while, throw a few and return the powder to the measure
4. Disassemble your powder measure and polish the aluminum funnel to improve consistency of the flow and to reduce the chance for bridging. I'm including a picture to show level of polish to achieve.

[URL=http://s860.photobucket.com/user/jepp2/media/Dillon%20Powder%20Measure%20Polish_zps1hxxb2mz.jpg.html][/URL]