Nando Aqui
Member
I have been reloading with an RCBS Jr Press for many years, and I am now ready to buy a progressive press, either an RCBS Pro 2000 or a Dillon 550B.
Here is what I do now (batch process):
• Rifle (.308 & 30-06 for target; .223 for Hi-Power matches)
1. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean field/range junk, rinse & dry.
2. Lube
3. Size and de-cap
4. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean sizing grease, rinse & dry.
5. Tumble
6. Measure and trim as necessary
7. Prime
8. Powder charge – dispense each and every charge with a Lyman 1200 DPS and verify every 10 with the Lyman-Ohaus No.5 scale.
9. Press bullet
• Pistol (.45 ACP) primarily for IDPA
1. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean field/range junk, rinse & dry.
2. Lube
3. Size
4. De-cap & expand
5. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean sizing grease, rinse & dry.
6. Tumble
(No need to trim – yet anyway.)
7. Prime
8. Powder charge with Lyman No.5 thrower; weigh every 10 with Lyman-Ohaus No.5 scale
9. Press bullet and crimp as desired with same die
Since I don’t use as many .308 and 30-06, just several hundred per year, I will not be reloading them with the progressive press. I do want to reload the .223 for matches, as well as .45 ACP.
Questions:
From what I understand, the progressive process starts with the cleaned & lubed cases, and end with a loaded round, which begs the following:
1. If the cases progress from sizing/de-capping to the subsequent stations, when does the sizing lube get cleaned off?
2. What about tumbling?
3. What about trimming (the .223)?
4. Would the powder thrower, whether Dillon or RCBS, be sufficiently consistent with stick powders (Varget, for example) for the .223 for matches?
5. Will I have to get different .45 ACP dies that size-decap, expand, press bullet, and then a fourth die to crimp?
Thank you for your advice!
Alex
Here is what I do now (batch process):
• Rifle (.308 & 30-06 for target; .223 for Hi-Power matches)
1. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean field/range junk, rinse & dry.
2. Lube
3. Size and de-cap
4. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean sizing grease, rinse & dry.
5. Tumble
6. Measure and trim as necessary
7. Prime
8. Powder charge – dispense each and every charge with a Lyman 1200 DPS and verify every 10 with the Lyman-Ohaus No.5 scale.
9. Press bullet
• Pistol (.45 ACP) primarily for IDPA
1. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean field/range junk, rinse & dry.
2. Lube
3. Size
4. De-cap & expand
5. Dunk empty cases in can full of odorless mineral spirits to clean sizing grease, rinse & dry.
6. Tumble
(No need to trim – yet anyway.)
7. Prime
8. Powder charge with Lyman No.5 thrower; weigh every 10 with Lyman-Ohaus No.5 scale
9. Press bullet and crimp as desired with same die
Since I don’t use as many .308 and 30-06, just several hundred per year, I will not be reloading them with the progressive press. I do want to reload the .223 for matches, as well as .45 ACP.
Questions:
From what I understand, the progressive process starts with the cleaned & lubed cases, and end with a loaded round, which begs the following:
1. If the cases progress from sizing/de-capping to the subsequent stations, when does the sizing lube get cleaned off?
2. What about tumbling?
3. What about trimming (the .223)?
4. Would the powder thrower, whether Dillon or RCBS, be sufficiently consistent with stick powders (Varget, for example) for the .223 for matches?
5. Will I have to get different .45 ACP dies that size-decap, expand, press bullet, and then a fourth die to crimp?
Thank you for your advice!
Alex