dillon xl650 question

[BC_Guy]

I'm thinking there may be one of these in my future, initially just to reload .223. The idea of doing 500 in the time I now do 50 makes me giddy.

I'm curious, as I'm already set up with a single stage RCBS with all the bells and whistles, is any of that gear transferrable?

IE- are the dies standard sized? I know that seems obvious but I haven't seen it anywhere on their site or manuals... can I use my existing dies?

-can I just use my current scale, why do they sell different scales for the 650 and the 1050?

-do you need to crimp a'la their three die setup? I know some advocate this for semis, but can this step be omitted altogether?

 

[bear.23]

Ok For the press..
The Dies should be transferrable, as long as you are using standard dies...
The scale is not part of the press and should be fine to keep...

If don't crimp now why change... You may find the powder funnel bells the case mouth and you have to...

Rifle is not my expertise yet...

But I crimp everything I don't know why I wouldn't...

 

[Greenfields]

Hey BC guy, yes you can use your own dies, crimping can be omitted but why? Use the Lee Factory crimp die works well. Scales? I have no idea, but to me a scale is a scale is a scale....as long as it is accurate.

If you are going to go progressive from single, I would highly recommend due diligence. Check a case for powder accuracy every once and a while, the frequancy depends on your level of paranoia and how much you like your face.

Cheers
Brian

 

[BC_Guy]

Well, it seems to have always been up for conjecture whether or not to crimp match grade .223 bullets with no cannelure. I've tried playing with the Lee crimp die, and still have one. I much prefer to use the redding full-length sizing die with the adjustable bushing neck and slightly increase the neck tension that way. I measured rounds after they've been chambered and unloaded a few times (both through firing and simple cycling), no change in length. Not really a crimp, but the same effect, and it doesn't bite into my (non-cannelured) bullets. I'm glad to hear I can use that same method if I go progressive.

As for paranoia, mine borders on the extreme The way I do it now, I use a trickler and weigh every powder charge to my desired weight (which would still be +/- the deviation of my scale).

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[bear.23]

As for paranoia, mine borders on the extreme The way I do it now, I use a trickler and weigh every powder charge to my desired weight (which would still be +/- the deviation of my scale).

Thanks for the replies guys.

No doubt you also weigh your deprimed, cleaned, trimmed cases...

In this case your not going to save time going with a 650...
If you are going to continue these processes you are single staging youself...
Save your money...

 

[BC_Guy]

I don't usually weigh the brass, but even still I realize I'm going to have to speed the process up a bit. I still might go the extra mile occasionally for competition ammo, but most of the time slightly better quality than factory ammo in bulk is what I'm after.
Not to mention some of the bullet weights I'm doing are scarce to non-existent in factory ammo in Canada.

And for the trimming (which is also a life stealer), I'm grabbing one of those giraud trimmers.

 

[beltfed]

What are you putting this ammo through? I'm loading .223 on my 550b, and pleasantly suprised that the powder throw (varget no less), seating and crimping is very consistant. My last benched group out of my AR came in at .626" at 100m....

 

[Canuck223]

If don't crimp now why change... You may find the powder funnel bells the case mouth and you have to...

QUOTE]

The rifle powder funnel works off of the shoulder of the case, so there is no belling. Crimping is still just a matter of taste.

Using a progressive is nice, but you may find it's best to still break down the process into batches.

 

[bear.23]

If don't crimp now why change... You may find the powder funnel bells the case mouth and you have to...

QUOTE]

The rifle powder funnel works off of the shoulder of the case, so there is no belling. Crimping is still just a matter of taste.

Using a progressive is nice, but you may find it's best to still break down the process into batches.

Explains why the funnel is so short... Like I say I'm just starting with rifle... I know a little about a lot but not everything about anything...