Mallc: Hope you enjoy your 650, as it is a good machine. Your logic on the $100 comment escapes me, unless of course it is intended as cynical sarcasm.
Your question on run-out or as it is more correctly called concentricity. As shooters have become more demanding in their search for accuracy, specialized reloading equipment has come into the market. It is well known that bullet run-out, or concentricity, is a major factor in producing accu-rate ammunition.
In years past, the accepted practice for checking concentricity of a handloaded round was to roll the cartridge across a flat surface, such as glass, and note any wobble at the bullet’s tip. This was a fast way of culling obviously defective cartridges, but will fail to isolate those with less obvious run-out problems. Add to this the fact that run-out problems can be caused by not just an improperly seated bullet, but by the case itself, and the limitations of this approach become unacceptable.
Today, handloaders have several options that are capable of measuring concentricity to .001" or less. Most operate on some variation of the same principle. A loaded cartridge is mounted in the unit, normally supported by a “V” block arrangement at the case head and bullet ogive. The cartridge is rotated slowly, while a dial indicator bears on the area of the cartridge being checked. Any concentricity problems are not only immediately visible, but measurable on the dial indicator.
One of the first commercial models, which is still readily available and quite popular, was the Forster/Bonanza Co-Ax Indicator. Recent entries in the concentricity gauge market include models by Sinclair International, NECO, and RCBS. Some models, such as the NECO Gauge and RCBS Case Master, are capable of not only measuring bullet run-out, but case neck variation, wall thickness and concentricity as well. Given the accuracy obtainable, particularly from many of today’s bolt action rifles, using a concentricity gauge to get the last bit of accuracy out of handloaded ammunition makes perfect sense.
The Hornady LNL AP is a beefy machine, much more solid than the Dillons. IMHO it apparently does not flex as unevenly due different pressures on each side of the ram/shell plate as compared to the 550 or 650. This would explain the better run-out. But I’m no expert.
You may be interested to know that my friend with the 650 is "rabid true blue" died in the wool Dillon man. A few weeks ago he sheepishly told me his wife had given him permission to buy a new LNL AP
Wife's permission????
I asked him if he was a man or a mouse????? Cmon now squeek up.
Hope my wife doesnt read this.
