Precision Reloading equipment what should I order?

JBD

JBD

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I would like to make more accurate ammo for my 223 what do I need.

This is what I have
Lee Turret Press
Lee Delux dies with the neck sizing only die
chamfer tool
digital calipers
lee safety scale
hornady digital scale
lee powder drop

My runout is quite large and I was thinking of buying either a foster seating die, or wilson. Also I was thinking that I need a powder trickler.

What should I consider buying?

I bummed a GEM Guage to measure runout, according to it my loads are between 3 thousandths and 15 thousandths running around 4. I compared to factory and on the guage they were measuring about 2 thousandths.
 
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ditch the press !!! get a trickler. you shouldn't get any more runout with the collet die that what it came out of teh chamber with, not sure what is going on there. i know a lot of people that have used the collet dies with very good success. how do you know your runout is bad....what type of tool are you using?
 
As an upgrade I would recommend picking up an RCBS Rockchucker press and a powder trickler. Weigh your charges to the .1 grain and ensure that your seating is dead on. I'm not a huge fan of turret presses due to the inherent play in the top. No need to go fancier than that for the 223. Your dies should be good enough but if you decide that you want to upgrade you could go to a Forster seater. I bought one for my 300WM and it's great. But try a new press first and then look at a new die set.

bingo1010 has a point, what are you using to tell what your runout is?
 
For making the ammo, the Forster or Redding seaters will help alot in reducing your runout. The runout is being created in the seating phase.

If you need to size your cases, consider a Redding body die. The reg. FL sizer may cause runout and will definitely oversize the necks.

I bump my shoulders using the body die, tumble to get off the lube, run them through the collet neck die, other clean up, then seat using a Forster seater. Ammo has little to no runout.

The best improvement you can make to you accuracy/load tuning is a more precise scale. I use the Jennings MACK20 and consider it the best for the little you spend. Next step up is the Acculab.

The Jennings has improved my load tuning ALOT especially in my 223 shooting.

Since you have a runout guage, measure before and after at each step and you will find your problem area. I bet it is the seater. Your press should not affect your results.

Good luck..

Jerry
 
Jason, I have, among several others, a LEE Classic Cast press and its a good press. Unless I was buying a specialty press I would recommend this press. I use Forster full length sizing dies and a Forster Bench Rest Competition sizing dies. My runout is basically zero. The best reloading tool I have is a cheap bench top drill press. Close second would be the RCBS Chargemaster. Yes, I full length size every time with dies that fit properly.
 
The small RCBS press app $79 works well for 223 buy yourself Redding Competition Die set, Neck sizer with bushings,seater die, and small base die to do body and bump back shoulders all in on Kit from Redding/Sinclair have not found anyone carring them on site?
Le collet works okay also but there seater isn't close to Redding
manitou
 
Ok I measured the runout on my brass. From what I can tell it is nil or close to it. So this brass was run through my collet die and lee turret press. So if I was guessing, I figure my turret press is okay and the lee seating die is causing some runout. I ordered that jennings mack 20 scale. 69.97$ and highly recommended for measuring illicit substances.:)


Rob what are u doing with the drill press?
 
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One thing you can check if your still loading while you wait on your new seating die is to check, and make sure that your bullet is not being pressed in by the tip which can cause run out issues.
 
32068BrassTrimming_004.jpg
 
jasonburnsdundee said:
Ok I measured the runout on my brass. From what I can tell it is nil or close to it. So this brass was run through my collet die and lee turret press. So if I was guessing, I figure my turret press is okay and the lee seating die is causing some runout. I ordered that jennings mack 20 scale. 69.97$ and highly recommended for measuring illicit substances.:)


Rob what are u doing with the drill press?
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the recomendation must be for a thumb placement spot on scale.... you need accurate weight for precision shooting not thumb under weights
 
Ok upgrading my equipment. Ordered the Jennings Mack 20 Scale. Ordered the Forster Ultra die as the regular benchrest die was sold out just about everywhere in North America. And a slightly used hornady trickler. I am going to give this a go. I still think a good single stage press might be in my future. Thanks for the help. I have yet to figure out what is rob doing with his drill.
 
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ben hunchak said:
Co-ax press, Redding or Forster Benchrest die set, powder trickler.
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x2 on that one. Next press for me will without doubt be a Forster Co-ax press.

I have a forster precision seater for my .308 and a full custom redding set for my 260AI.. won't ever buy another die set from anyone else except redding and forster from now on.
 
agent_mango said:
Where is the best place to order the Jennings Mack 20 from?
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x2 on that. I checked on-line quick and the cheapest I found in Canada was $102 plus shipping. Would love to get a scale with that accuracy for only $70.

Mystic, how long does it take to settle once you put the pan with powder on the scale?
 
For the jennings mack 20 I bought mine from

SAVE ON SCALES
4397 W BETHANY HOME RD # 1287
GLENDALE AZ 85301-5401

It was 69 US plus 30:( shipping

still cheaper than the canadaweigh website at 102 + shipping.(which they ship from thier american warehouse)
 
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