BigSoundRacing
Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2007
- Messages
- 202
I’m new to reloading on a progressive and would like some feedback.
I have a Dillon 650 setup for .308 with the case feeder. The rounds are cycled through a new DSA SA58 FAL, currently chewing up the brass pretty good because the rifle is so tight.
Station 1 is a Redding Type S Full Sizing Die/Decap with bushing
Station 2 does the primer
Station 3 is the Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop
Station 4 is empty
Station 5 is the Redding Competition Bullet Seating Die
The Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop is in Station 3 to provide good clearances for the mechanism of the drop and the low primer alarm.
Currently following this process to reload.
Pass #1 for New Brass, no primers, case retaining pin removed on Station 3:
1 - uniform the primer pocket
2 - run through Station 1 Full Size Die/Decap to correct bruised necks
3 – no activity in Station 2 since primers are not loaded
4 – hand remove the case from Station 3 so powder does not drop
5 - uniform the flash hole since the neck needs to be round for the tool
6 - trim the case length
Pass #1 for Fired Brass, no primers, case retaining pin removed on Station 3:
1 – lube the cases
2 – run through Station 1 Full Size Die/Decap
3 – hand remove the case from Station 3 so powder does not drop
4 – clean off the lube
5 – trim case length
Pass #2, primers loaded and case retaining pin installed on Station 3, full size die removed:
1 – nothing happens in Station 1
2 – Primer installed by Station 2
3 – Powder drop by Station 3
4 – place bullet into case in Station 5 and seat
5 – Visual inspection of primer seat and weighing on digital scale
My friends eight year old daughter is doing my QA. She checks the seat of every primer with her finger, the overall weight of the finished cartridge on the digital scale, and gently packs the rounds into zip lock bags - asks me when we are going to reload again so she can help.
I have a second tool head so it is easy enough to move the Full Size/Decap Die to its own tool head.
Questions:
Should I move the priming step into Pass #1?
This would support inspection of the seated primer before the powder charge and seating the bullet. But, the primer would be in place when I trimmed the case, and the primer mechanism of Pass #2 would kiss the primer again, ensuring it is seated fully without popping the primer.
Any concern about the case trim shavings being trapped in the flash hole?
Any concerns about tumbling the primed cases to remove the case lube?
Any comments or concerns in general?
Thanks, BSR
I have a Dillon 650 setup for .308 with the case feeder. The rounds are cycled through a new DSA SA58 FAL, currently chewing up the brass pretty good because the rifle is so tight.
Station 1 is a Redding Type S Full Sizing Die/Decap with bushing
Station 2 does the primer
Station 3 is the Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop
Station 4 is empty
Station 5 is the Redding Competition Bullet Seating Die
The Hornady Case Activated Powder Drop is in Station 3 to provide good clearances for the mechanism of the drop and the low primer alarm.
Currently following this process to reload.
Pass #1 for New Brass, no primers, case retaining pin removed on Station 3:
1 - uniform the primer pocket
2 - run through Station 1 Full Size Die/Decap to correct bruised necks
3 – no activity in Station 2 since primers are not loaded
4 – hand remove the case from Station 3 so powder does not drop
5 - uniform the flash hole since the neck needs to be round for the tool
6 - trim the case length
Pass #1 for Fired Brass, no primers, case retaining pin removed on Station 3:
1 – lube the cases
2 – run through Station 1 Full Size Die/Decap
3 – hand remove the case from Station 3 so powder does not drop
4 – clean off the lube
5 – trim case length
Pass #2, primers loaded and case retaining pin installed on Station 3, full size die removed:
1 – nothing happens in Station 1
2 – Primer installed by Station 2
3 – Powder drop by Station 3
4 – place bullet into case in Station 5 and seat
5 – Visual inspection of primer seat and weighing on digital scale
My friends eight year old daughter is doing my QA. She checks the seat of every primer with her finger, the overall weight of the finished cartridge on the digital scale, and gently packs the rounds into zip lock bags - asks me when we are going to reload again so she can help.
I have a second tool head so it is easy enough to move the Full Size/Decap Die to its own tool head.
Questions:
Should I move the priming step into Pass #1?
This would support inspection of the seated primer before the powder charge and seating the bullet. But, the primer would be in place when I trimmed the case, and the primer mechanism of Pass #2 would kiss the primer again, ensuring it is seated fully without popping the primer.
Any concern about the case trim shavings being trapped in the flash hole?
Any concerns about tumbling the primed cases to remove the case lube?
Any comments or concerns in general?
Thanks, BSR