Really helps.
Who says a progressive doesn't make accurate ammo
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jmorris
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To quantify what “accurate” means, in any conversation. 100/200 yard BR guys shoot .1-.3’s first to last place, with volume thrown charges and brass that hasn’t even been cleaned with more than a rag and brush.
Other people would think “accurate” is ringing an 8” steel plate at 25 yards, in .2 splits and might crash brass into itself by the thousands, wet, dry or even against steel pins.
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BushMaster-15
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Didn't mean to give the impression switching SRP and LRP in a Dillon was difficult ,it's just another PITA step ,so as to change calibers . With MY setup I pull two pins ,slide tool head out then place it in it's stand and grab the replacement pull shell plate and locating pins ,back into their respective box replace with suitable and off too the races . About #5 minutes , sometimes screwing with the primer seater takes twice that length of time !.
Accurate means HITTING what YOUR aiming at : It's an adjective meaning " free from error or defect; consistent with a standard, rule, or model; precise; exact. "
So absolute accuracy would indicate placing bullets in the same hole time and again without deviation ; Bullet Diameter X # of shots would be precise . Good Luck with doing that
Accurate means HITTING what YOUR aiming at : It's an adjective meaning " free from error or defect; consistent with a standard, rule, or model; precise; exact. "
So absolute accuracy would indicate placing bullets in the same hole time and again without deviation ; Bullet Diameter X # of shots would be precise . Good Luck with doing that
jmorris
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Certainly depends on what Dillon model we are talking about but a caliber change on a Dillon can be done in 30 seconds, sometimes.
If you have to change the primer size, that does add 2 minutes to the process though.
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BushMaster-15
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The ONE design flaw IMO with the Dillon is the Primer Tube base attaching with # 2 1/4x20 SHCS . It's REALLY easy to get it out of alignment and without that aftermarket bearing guide wobbled far to much for MY liking . As a result with the stock unit sometimes it would Hang Up and NOT return a primer during stroke . Result POWDER leaking out the NON primed case . Especially noticeable when doing large quantities of pistol rounds in rapid concession !. Last month I went through MY 550 Top to Bottom ,replacing ALL plastic bushings pivots springs and lube polishing sliding surfaces . Once again all is right in the loading library
Soonerpesek
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2 small locking washers with just enough tension on the cap screws fixed that issue for me......I did, however, also add the UniqueTek primer bar guide to the system.....
jmorris
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If you can’t feel the primer being seated, it’s not going to be tight enough in the pocket. No reason to advance it to #2 where you would charge the case, if that’s the case (pun intended).
Mel1776
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Can't speak for others on how they use their presses but for ME well : I take fired cases from specific chambers ( Rifle Cartridges ) they're dropped in specific boxes . I wipe cases before sending them into a universal de-priming Die ,depending upon case dirtiness ,I'll use the Ultrasonic or just mark their box for annealing . AS ALL OF MY Dies are locked down onto toolheads and Presses Ram stroke NEVER changes I get very consistent Shoulder set back and known case resizing . One or a K , might vary .001 - 02 . After which I check with case gauge or chambering in specific Rifle . Now when I measure cases for OAL AFTER sizing ,I'll run them on the mini lathe quick collet ,with tail stock preset stop ,which has a pilot caliber . Makes quick work of trimming pretty precisely . Then after that onto the progressive's full function , Prime charge bell seat crimp while hand feeding the 550 . After using MY special wiping rag ,I've go Finished ammo . Now IF I'm making jewelry ammo or very precise ammo after de-priming I'll run Ultrasonic 2-3 min. Max . then annealing followed by 20-30 min. pin wash . I then toss em in the old belt driven Dillon media hopper with drying fan and they tumble dry . followed by above . Certain cases mostly pistol I'll dry vibrate to clean . MY entire setup is to MAXIMIZE CLEANING AND POLISHING EFFICIENCY ,so as to cut reloading time to a minimum . When I was working TIME WASN'T MY Friend and with the amount of reloads I produced over #5 decades ,sleep was a premium . For a # of years I reloaded near 3K rounds a Month ,Hence WHY I bought Pallets of Primers . That did NOT include # 1 K- 1500 Shotshells a week for Trap and Sporting clays practice . As I competed in Both Shotgun and High power Rifle competitions and actually won a # of them .
I had the Good fortune to be instructed by some of the Top Shooters back in the day . Dry fire all you want but there is NO substitute for Trigger time live fire ; IMO .
A day of reckoning all the prep work sore shoulders TIME MONEY SPENT FINALLY PAID OFF ; One afternoon at a prestigious Central Calf. Shooting Club ; I WON a Huge 2 day competition and beat the reining Worlds champ Trap shooter and Sporting clays Champion back then ( the latter MY Friend and instructor ) . The prize money Shotgun and other prizes didn't swell My head or even really matter , I had FINALLY HAD BEATEN MY Former Instructor . It also opened several opportunities which would never of come about and the people I met and introduced too truly PRICELESS . Life long Friendships Trips invitations
Can't explain that feeling ,it just is a milestone mark of equalization among SHOOTERS a vindication of peers an acceptance all into one . Ammunition sponsors want you to represent THEIR Products ,FREE AMMO .
Unfortunately MY involvement with WORK had escalated to the point , I couldn't pursue shooting much less other pursuits to the level I'd once dreamed of . Regrets NO , Aerospace is where I BELONGED . Now wondering what if ?. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
Mel1776
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TL/DR
LiveLife
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Based on 2022 USPSA annual equipment survey, progressives must be good enough to load match ammo - https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2022-00#page=42
- Open division - 30% Dillon 1050, 27% Dillon 650, 12% Dillon 750, 12% Mark 7, 10% Dillon 1100
- Limited/L10 - 33% Dillon 1050, 26% Dillon 650, 11% Dillon 550, 9% Dillon 750, 5% Mark 7
- Production - 26% Dillon 650, 21% Dillon 1050, 12% Dillon 1100, 10% Dillon 750, 8% Dillon 550, 6% Mark 7
- PCC - 38% Dillon 650, 24% Dillon 1050, 13% Dillon 750, 11% Dillon 550, 10% Dillon 1100
kalielkslayer
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Well You all can imagine , Nobody was blown away more so than I was this AM !. I haven't seen let alone shot this Rifle in over #26 years and had Never shot it on a target before this morning . Had #8 cartridges left in the original box ,so NO fouler Nothing ,just cold #4 into each target . Here's what absolutely Shocked the B Geezus out of ME , I ONLY remember laser bore sighting the scope and Never put it on a target . Shot #12 rounds in and old Orange grove ,just to be sure ALL worked as it should and that was it . Fast forward 26+ years and this prints out
One shops collects builds ,becomes busy with work plays with other toys ,call it what you will . I had .223 ,5.56x45mm small caliber AR's and Bolt Rifles back then didn't even own a triple deuce but loaded for it ,because of a couple of friends who did own them .
Story short ; I SHOULD have taken it seriously and actually done some loading and experimenting , as in more than one load which worked for My Friends gun
Bet you’re kicking yourself in the a$$ you haven’t shot it more???
kalielkslayer
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If you can’t feel the primer being seated, it’s not going to be tight enough in the pocket. No reason to advance it to #2 where you would charge the case, if that’s the case (pun intended).
It’s happened to me me a few times. But each time I kinda knew it happened but kept on.
That doesn’t happen anymore. It’s a learning experience, and I’m a slow learner at times.
rdnktrkr
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I was at a friends house recently and admired his set-up, he shoots a couple of pistol competitions and is competitive, he reloads more in a month than I do in a year.
He brings pistol brass in his shop in 5 gal buckets, soaks the brass for at least a day in soapy water, dumps it all out to dry, runs them through a Lee APP single stage with a case feeder to decap and size, then cleans with ss pins, sets them out to dry again, then starts his 5 station progressive, looked like with the case feeder and bullet feeder the primer set-up was the speed brake. I looked closely at his loads and was impressed enough that I'm looking at upgrading to a progressive.
I asked about using a universal decapper and he said by sizing twice he had more consistent ammo. He does the same thing with 223 to shoot in a service rifle competition with iron sites
He brings pistol brass in his shop in 5 gal buckets, soaks the brass for at least a day in soapy water, dumps it all out to dry, runs them through a Lee APP single stage with a case feeder to decap and size, then cleans with ss pins, sets them out to dry again, then starts his 5 station progressive, looked like with the case feeder and bullet feeder the primer set-up was the speed brake. I looked closely at his loads and was impressed enough that I'm looking at upgrading to a progressive.
I asked about using a universal decapper and he said by sizing twice he had more consistent ammo. He does the same thing with 223 to shoot in a service rifle competition with iron sites
And that goes for any type of press you are using. I mostly use a turret press and being consistent with how you pull the lever each and every time does make a difference, especially with powder drops.
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BushMaster-15
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Exactly !. I had NO clue as to it's accuracy ,as it was simply an acquisition ,acquired in the performance of labor from someone who had inherited
from their Father and needed My expertise in composites . At the time the smallest caliber center fire I had was 5.56x45mm but I had grown up shooting 7 mm RM and .338 Win Mag ,along with 90% .30 Cal stuff .
As for reloading everyone should know and I'd venture to say 98+% on this forum do know ,consistency is the KEY in accuracy .
A group of .223 aka 5.56x45mm I shot years back at 200 yd. ,had a HORRIBLE deviation as in 123 Fps ES ,yet ALL rounds #15 fell into a group covered by a dime . Anyone who loads and uses a chronograph Knows that's HORRIBLE and unacceptable for consistency . Yet there they were all bunched up and piled into and on top of each other and the paper with backer Doesn't lie .
Finding a load Your gun prefers is another piece of the puzzle isn't it . So I sometimes chuckle when I see someone asking for load data ,don't get Me wrong one has to start somewhere but I'm here to tell You NO Two guns are exactly alike . Case in point take two of MY #3 Bushmasters XM15E2S 20" Black rifles with chrome lined bores #a few serial numbers off ( I had tried back in the 90's getting two consecutive serial #'d units but it's as close as I could get ) each shoots very well but NOT with the same loads . One prefers 52-69 gr. the other 62-77 gr. same twist 1:7 ,so go figure . Don't know about the 3 Rd. as I've yet to shoot it and I'm thinking I purchased all around 1992-94 .
A valid point I'd like to share is this : I remember Bolt guys ragging on Black rifles as they were simply fodder dispensers and Not for any real degree of accuracy !. Well I've got a few Accurate Bolt rifles in 5.56x45mm and they WON'T shoot moa , in a couple of cases ,let alone hold #3 -#5 shot groups under .750" . So I'm inclined to believe Proper Ammo and someone with a steady hand makes a Huge Difference and obviously the Rifle !.
Have another close friend who several decades ago was a pretty fair 10 speed bicyclist racer ,good enough to have gotten a European sponsored racing stint for a couple of years . Even won a couple of major tournaments and a really slick Italian full campy equipped Racing bike a Legnano . Those were highly sought #55-60 years ago . Anyway I asked him one afternoon while we were riding along SoCal coastal waterfront ,what he liked and disliked the most while racing . Liked ; Uphill I had the stamina and could catch opponents , Dislike ; The German who was #12 kilos heavier on an old Huffy kicking My Butt downhill and on the flats .
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