progressive or turred

[robbor]

Are any of the progressive or turret presses any good for loading match ammo as good as a single stage press?

 

[jonbearman]

My dillon seems to load with very little runout.I am sure that there are others such as the hornady etc that will do it right.What dicipline are you shooting.If it is benchrest ,then a single stage is more effective or an arbor press.Give us alittle more imfo to work with.

 

[Travelor]

robbar,

When I started to really look for accuracy I bought a cartridge gage that measured runnout (concentricity) of the loaded ammo. I found that my RCBS presses were not really what I would hope for. I purchased a Forster Co-Axial press and a set of Redding Competition bushing dies and my runnout practicaly went away (under .002").

So to answer your question, I would look for a Forster single stage press and some quality competition dies (my experience with RCBS competiton dies tells me - NOT THESE.

That being said, one year a few years ago the US hosted the World Palma Matches. A hosting country supplies all competitors with loaded ammo. The contractor that on the bid and loaded the ammo for the US used two Dillon 550 presses with BR quality does and his results ere outstanding ammo.

So there you are - take your choice.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

When I started to really look for accuracy I bought a cartridge gage that measured runnout (concentricity) of the loaded ammo. I found that my RCBS presses were not really what I would hope for. I purchased a Forster Co-Axial press and a set of Redding Competition bushing dies and my runnout practicaly went away (under .002").

Travelor,
First... I have read some of your stuff, and this in no way is meant to say that you are wrong or your facts are not correct.

I use a RCBS Rockchucker, and with my Harrels dies I get less than .002" run out on my loaded rounds. Were you using high quality dies when you came to your conclusion on the RCBS press? or is it possible that my RCBS happens to be a good one and your were not? I shoot 100 yard benchrest, and I also preload (another factor that they say you can not do and be successful) and I have done pretty good. I have turned in several groups in the .1's and several 20+ x counts in score competition.

I am extremely happy with my RCBS single stage press, and don't want people to think that they are all bad.

Once again, I mean absolutely no disrespect at all.

 

[Travelor]

WES, no offense taken at all as you are correct. Thanks for pointing out my incorrect methodology in the assumption the Forster press was the fix.

When I changed presses AND dies I was changing two things at a time, rather than evaluating one at a time. Bad juju! My conclusion that either one was the fix cannot be correct until I evaluate one change at a time.

Changing two things at one time is never a good way to evaluate one thing.

George

 

[Taildrag15X]

Are any of the progressive or turret presses any good for loading match ammo as good as a single stage press?

I've used a Dillon 550 for Match Ammo, but all the brass was Match prepared before hand. All I used it for was priming, powder (ball powders works best, after many trys at cleaning up charging bars to make it "flow like water") and bullet seating. The kickout stage was upgraded with a "soft catch" system so the completed ammo getting kicked out didn't bang against each other.

 

[BoydAllen]

I believe that dies and how they match fired brass, and how the chamber fits the sized brass are much more important than what sort of press is used. If the press does not hold a case off center to dies, and inserts it to a consistent depth, it has done its job.

 

[Kenny474]

Whidden Gunworks makes precision machined toolheads for the Dillon's and floating die toolheads as well, both of which are supposed to improve the quality of the ammo loaded on a Dillon. They are supposed to improve the alignment of the dies and the shell-holder and improve concentricity.
John Whidden also states that he uses a Dillon 650 to load all his match ammo with a floating toolhead, so evidently it's very possible to get good results when using a progressive.

 

[minnesota]

I think it depends on what you are exactly doing. I have had good results using my hornady progressive in 223 rem. I use the redding competition dies and do all prep using the single stage press. I charge and load on the progressive. some of my best groups came using the progressive press. If you are looking to use big stick powders and 30-06 stick with the single stage press. The progressives really like ball powder or really fine stick powder such as h322 or Benchmark.

 

[1shot]

Minnesota is right in regards to the powder statement. I have a Dillon 550 and the tool heads are so sloppy that there is no way I’d go to a L-R match with ammo that came from that press. Now John W. makes some very good stuff but I don’t have any of his tool heads, but since I already have a Redding T-7 press with two turrets to keep my dies right where they should be, I think I’ll stick with that set-up. When posters talk about TIR or runout are you measuring from the mid-point of the neck, or on the bearing surface of the bullet? Depending on your brass prep, or lack of, the two numbers could be very different. This post isn’t intended as a flame towards anyone, but rather to make people think about what it is you are doing or trying to accomplish then make adjustments accordingly.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[Joe O]

I have loaded on A Hornady LnL Progressive press over 10 years,and thousands of pistol cartridges,(5 Calibers),However there is no gain by loading rifle,by just dropping powder,and seating bullets,as I deprime and clean all rifle primer pockets with a uniformer,then seat primers with a hand tool..I use an electronic powder dispensor,and seat as I go.Finished rounds go right into the specific ammo box.I don't use blocks,and use a modified Lyman pan/funnel to eliminate extra handling of equipment.The pan is weighted to activate the auto start on my DPS 3 powder measure.