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Looks like an RT1200/1500 on the left one to size & trim, and a Sinclair expander mandrel to expand the neck? One on the right looks like an RCBS Uniflow w/ case-activated powder drop, bullet feeder, and Redding Competition seater?
Hard to believe you're using thrown charges with all those lab scales laying around...![]()
How many people are you loading for? Seems like you'd be able to load a season's worth of Palma ammo in a few hours!
That is... impressive!![]()
having the powder thrower drop the weighed charge in the case when it's ready and in position is slick. At first I was thinking 'why?'... until I thought about the times I've had someone/thing distract me, and ended up dumping powder down the funnel with the ram/shellplate *down*![]()
I do get where people who are committed to the very nth degree of accuracy want to control each and every step along the way, using single stage presses, hand trimmers and hydro seaters. I have all those things. I just don't like using them very much any more.
Maybe, but I'm not sure the AutoTrickler can dispense in 6 seconds from empty. Would be interesting to see the comparison. As I was starting 'from cold' and thinking about video things I wasn't quite at my slickest in that segment.The charge/seat portion... honestly doesn't look much, if any, faster than what I get with my 550 + AutoThrower + AutoTrickler. I've never timed or videoed myself doing it though, so I might be all wet on that.
I started with an M die. They have a bit of a reputation for inducing a little bit of runout, hence I switched to the Sinclair and some custom mandrels.and a Lyman 'M' die
Maybe a discussion with John Whidden and David Tubb will help youI got it all.. negativo. Single stage on rifle ammo.
... And i never have understood why youd use a progressive as a single stage. I run my 550 like it was designed- never crossed my mind to do a secondary operation on it. I can crank out loaded ammo as long as i want to feed it and it shoots fine- but its not a benchrest press and i have accepted that.
That there is my dream reloading room!I am using Dillon 550s for all my ammo. PRS to F-Class. 17 Mach IV to 338 Lapua.
Targets and results show I am not losing any points from a single stage. All I gain is more time to spend at the range.
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Ill keep my comments in the vein of shooting f-class. I guarantee you that you can load as accurately as needed on a 550 if you do it right as you can by any other method. While not heavily promoted or admitted to there are more top f-class shooters using a 550 than you probably realize (although I totally admit that the majority still use an Arbor press). It takes the right dies, right tool-heads and some common sense understanding about what things are really having an effect on your accuracy.
I use the Harris method with an Autotrickler and Newlon dies but I prime separately. With brass primed and ready to go I loaded 800rds for Nationals/SOA in just about four hours and won three medals. I shoot 600yds every week and regularly shoot 200s with high X counts. My ammo will shoot a 2” vertical at 1000. Trust me, it works if you work it.
Now if you’re into using an arbor press and every aspect of that sort of loading process that’s cool too. I did that for years and it’s obviously the bees knees for a ton of people. Does it probably
give you more concentric ammo, sure. Does it let you sort your ammo by seating pressure, sure. Do a ton of top f-class guys load that way too, absolutely.
There is no BEST, there is only best for YOU so go out and test and make the best decision that works for you.
I can’t speak to BR or PRS use of a 550.
as USUAL poor definition of the question.
DEFINE THE WORD COMPETITION.
probably not benchrest.
but yes easy on most pistol comp
service rifle
maybe f class if a wide load node is found.
Hi Monte, I've tested 550 press-primed ammo with hand-primed (21st century click-adjustable) ammo several times and never saw a difference in SDs or on target performance. Just mash 'em and go.... In theory, hand-seating primers should be better that mashing them in with the primer slide. In practice... not sure I shoot well enough to tell the difference.
Is that what it is? I thought it was a Mad Scientist's laboratory.That there is my dream reloading room!
what part of the question don't you understand ?
How many of you guys use a progressive press for accurate reloads ?