Dillon Progressive and 223s

[XTR]

Couple of questions in one post.

I spend an inordinate amount of time loading for F-Class so I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can load 223s that I can shoot in Service rifle w/o investing a ton more time, and still have good bullets.

I've got a Dillon 550 that I never use. It came from the father in law with a ton of stuff (4 powder throws for example), lots of tool heads, dies, plates, etc...)

I don't know if Dillon has changed their powder dispenser in the last decade or two, these are old ones. How well do they meter? Would I get better results mounting an RCBS with a case activated throw?

Is there a small grained powder that will work well in a throw and work behind 77s at mag length from 600 yards or do I really need to use something extruded for those?

 

[284driver]

My 650 throws ball powder well. It tends to cut the stick powders and that will usually result in as much as two tenths variance. If you have a smaller spherical powder, try it out and see how it meters.
If I had a little extra fundage laying around I would probably spring for the quickmeasure with Dillon attachment simply because it doesn't cut powders.

 

[XTR]

My 650 throws ball powder well. It tends to cut the stick powders and that will usually result in as much as two tenths variance. If you have a smaller spherical powder, try it out and see how it meters.
If I had a little extra fundage laying around I would probably spring for the quickmeasure with Dillon attachment simply because it doesn't cut powders.

I was thinking that I don't have anything but sticks here, but it just occured to me that I do have part of a bottle of H322 that I was experimenting with loading 45-70. I think I'll load it up and throw 30 or 100 charges and see what they look like.

 

[284driver]

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3790819.0;topicseen
You should find some progressive recommendations there.

 

[284driver]

Never mind. I see you already posted there.

 

[RJinTexas]

I've used my 550B to load 223 ammo for varmint rifles used to shoot p-dogs and didn't experience any noticeable decrease in kills then from hand charged loads but remember that's shooting at consistently changing distances. I also use my Dillion to load for close range AR carbine tactical matches where high volume shooting is the norm.

I only use ball type powders and prefer to use a powder which when a completely full case is used your still not exceed maximum published chamber pressure, just to keep everything safe. Even using ball powders it's not at all uncommon to see variances of +0.2 / -0.2 grain and on occasion you'll see a few cases with greater variances.

I'd never used a press mounted powder dispenser to produce loads for F Class, BR or score shooting. Another draw back is that you can't feel variance in pressure when seating primers.

RJ

 

[jonbearman]

If you call dillon and tell them that they are the type that isnt teflon treated slide bars(the part that you change to get the large or small capacity,they will send you the new updated powder throw for free.It is like a silent recall.

 

[Catfish]

The 550 Dillon will definately load match grade ammo. When I used to groundhog hunt with my old 222 mag. I had several different loads with different bullets that shot well under .500 and acouple that staied in the low 2`s. I load alot of Varment Nitmares because they are cheap and they shoot in the 6`s through my AR, not match, but pleanty good enough for hunting where 95% of shots are off handed at running targets.

 

[brian427cobra]

I'm planning on getting a 550 and mounting my Gen2 Prometheus Scale on top of it, a friend of mine has this setup and loads almost 350 rounds a hour, right now I can charge and seat 200 rounds on my Forster Co-Ax in a hour.

 

[mgx1138]

I load all of my mag length Service Rifle ammo in a Dillon 650. I use N-140 (short stick powder) and it meters the powder amazingly well. In fact, when I checked it by dropping charges into 10 cases, then weighing the charges they were ALL within a tenth.... that's as good as my Harrel measure can do. My mag length SR ammo (Hornady 68BT, N-140, CCI BR4, Rem case) shoots 1/2 minute very consistently.

BTW - the old style powder measures on the Dillon work better than the newer ones. I have two old ones (with the springs) and I'm not giving those up.

 

[rminut]

Just use RE15 in the Dillon, unless you have 20/15 vision and know how hold under 1 moa with a post front sight you will never outshoot what the 550 is capable of. National titles have been won using a progressive with RE15 in a service rifle.

Service rifle is not F class or Benchrest- if there is a shot in the 9 ring, it's because you pointed it there. sorry but welcome to cold hard reality of holding a rifle and breaking a 4.5 pound trigger.

 

[acloco]

I have two Dillon 550B's. One is set up to load all the pistol and the occasional rifle round. The other is set up to only produce 223 and 223 AI.

I use H4895 with 69 HPBT, 75 HPBT, & 77 HPBT.

The only trick that I think helps getting consistent drops, use TWO return springs on the powder drop.

 

[XTR]

Just use RE15 in the Dillon, unless you have 20/15 vision and know how hold under 1 moa with a post front sight you will never outshoot what the 550 is capable of. National titles have been won using a progressive with RE15 in a service rifle.

Service rifle is not F class or Benchrest- if there is a shot in the 9 ring, it's because you pointed it there. sorry but welcome to cold hard reality of holding a rifle and breaking a 4.5 pound trigger.

I suspected that the 550 would do anything I wanted it to, I really do get the second part.. That's why I'm getting this set up, and honestly I'm way more likely to be tossing 8s than 9s, but like most of us a need to have a confidence that what I'm tossing down there is going where I pointed it. My 52 yo eyes aren't nearly good enough to be a serious player in this game. I just want to do it for the fun. Thanks for the feeback.

 

[gotcha]

I agree with MGX1138. The older spring loaded measures work very consistently. A2230 is the "go to" for my .223 varmint loads. Meters very well. I used to check every 8th to 10th powder chg never found more than 1/10th gr difference. BUT, keep powder funnel at least half full to maintain consistency. I try to go slow and consistent pulls on handle at about 300 rounds per hour. Tweaking dies is time consuming but once set..... outstanding ammo for varminting.

 

[rminut]

XTR,
that is what makes service rifle shooting fun, it's about shooting and not reloading. Enjoy.

 

[NCFrank]

XTR,
Dillon did change the powder measure linkage and the return bar. No return springs came with these new measures.
Older measure linkage on left in photo.
New return bar has the additional bend where it slides into the linkage and no retainer clip as the older type.

Hope this helps.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

I have a Dillon 550B that I've been loading with for years. Everytime I wanted to load, it would take me dropping at least 20-30 charges, and a 1/2 hour of my time, to get the Dillon powder measure to consistantly throw charges within a +/- 0.1 gr. that I had it previously set up for.

Long story short, I gave up on Dillon's powder measures, and purchased a RCBS Uni-flow measure with the case activated linkage. It will hold a setting from the previous loading within my accuracy requirements, requiring a minimal set up time.

Bill

 

[Bamban]

purchased a RCBS Uni-flow measure with the case activated linkage. It will hold a setting from the previous loading within my accuracy requirements, requiring a minimal set up time.

Bill

Bill,

Could you please provide link as to where to get the case activated linkage compatible with the Uni-Flow?

Thank you.

nez

 

[flatlander]

Like several previous replies to this thread, I've used my RL450B & RL550B for loading 223 SR HP ammo, and either press does a fine job for this application. The H322 the OP mentioned will meter quite consistently, but so will IMR8208XBR, and it's well-suited for use with 77s at mag length in the 223.

 

[mac86951]

Check out John Feamster's book Black Magic. All about reloading the AR service rifle, and others. As well as lots of useful Progressive loading information.

-Mac