OK guys - I loaded my first batch of .223's last night. I'm using a Dillon 500B and had loaded only handguns prior. After reading through numerous threads, I decided on the sequence I'd use for the bottle neck cases. I picked up a second Dillon tool head for $13, and screwed in the decapping die. I lubed the cases by squirting them down with a home made lube (lanolin and alcohol). I placed the tool head into position and decapped, they went like a dream. Super easy, in fact much easier than the 9mm I had been doing. I expected all kinds of effort to be used but there was virtually none. When they were all decapped and sized, I took them out and tumbled the lube off. Now I switched tool heads, and placed the one with the powder, seating and crimping die in the press and proceeded to load normally. The station one did the priming, and the balance dropped the powder, seated and crimped.
After this exercise, I actually see no reason as to why I shouldn't do this all in one operation. In my experience, the lube never affected the powder on any of my other reloads, so why not decap and size, powder drop etc as a normal progressive is supposed to do? It would save one extra step.
Anyway, it was fun, as all reloading is. This week I take them to the range and we'll see how they shoot.
After this exercise, I actually see no reason as to why I shouldn't do this all in one operation. In my experience, the lube never affected the powder on any of my other reloads, so why not decap and size, powder drop etc as a normal progressive is supposed to do? It would save one extra step.
Anyway, it was fun, as all reloading is. This week I take them to the range and we'll see how they shoot.