How many of you AR shooters also reload?
- Thread starter snipersyn
- Start date
Great tip man!!
I'm gonna give it a try!!
Actually there are loads of great tips on de-crimping here from everybody, this is just the one I'm going to try first....
I have both a Dillon 650 and a Hornady progressive machines but for rifle I use a single stage RCBS compound press. I load sequentially, meaning I do one operation with many cases at a time and it works very well for me. I have used both progressives with .223 and .308 but now only pistol ammo is done on them. This does not mean that progressive machines are not fine with rifle, it's just that what with the lube on the outside and the extra effort required compared to pistol case resizing, I prefer the single stage. In any case, reloading is both economical and relaxing, go for it.
- Location
- Peace River, Alberta
Probably reload almost 10k out of my Dillion 550b for 223.
Greg
Greg
Hi just curious of your method. I have the same setup and a single stage RCBS. I planned to deprime/fl resize on the ss press then trim and tumble then use the 550b. Do you hand prime and just skip the first station or do you do it all on the 550b? I guess I could leave the die out of the first station and just use it to prime the case? Thanks, just gearing up to try service rifle and or three gun so I plan to shoot volume for practice (500-1k per month) and trying to figure out best method for efficient use of time and accuracy.
Back when I had more time than money I bought my 650.
Now that I have more money than time (ie 2 kids) I have been trying to streamline my reloading process. Alot of this came about during the surplus ammo drought 5-6 yrs ago after buying some horrible Indian 7.62 OFV surplus. I only do this for bottle neck 5.56 and 7.62.
1) Tumble the brass.
2) Lubricate buy putting them in a pail and spraying then with lube. I have used Hornady and RCBS with good results.
3) Decap,Size,Trim. I have a dedicated 650 tool head setup for this.
Station 1 is a Dillon Carbide die setup to almost FL size and decap. This is so that the case will not spin during the next step.
Station 2 Emtpy
Station 3 Dillon 1200 trimmer set up to FL size and trim which is confirmed with a case gauge.
Station 4 Empty
Station 5 My old RCBS sizing die with the body backed out so that only the sizing ball resizes the neck. I have replaced the sizing ball with a Redding carbide so it runs smoother. It also swages the burr on the inside of the neck left behind buy the 1200.
This works like a charm. With the case feeder I bet I do 100 cases in 5 min.
4) Wash. Brass goes into a strainer and washed in the laundry sink. This removes the lube.
5) Dry for couple days over a furnace vent.
6) Reload. I have a second tool head setup like you normally would but with station 1 empty. The 650 runs really smooth with sizing and decapping already done. I can do 100 rnds in 8 min easy.
Every 3rd or so reload I clean the primer pockets between step 5 and 6.
I do at least 1K per run.
GC
Now that I have more money than time (ie 2 kids) I have been trying to streamline my reloading process. Alot of this came about during the surplus ammo drought 5-6 yrs ago after buying some horrible Indian 7.62 OFV surplus. I only do this for bottle neck 5.56 and 7.62.
1) Tumble the brass.
2) Lubricate buy putting them in a pail and spraying then with lube. I have used Hornady and RCBS with good results.
3) Decap,Size,Trim. I have a dedicated 650 tool head setup for this.
Station 1 is a Dillon Carbide die setup to almost FL size and decap. This is so that the case will not spin during the next step.
Station 2 Emtpy
Station 3 Dillon 1200 trimmer set up to FL size and trim which is confirmed with a case gauge.
Station 4 Empty
Station 5 My old RCBS sizing die with the body backed out so that only the sizing ball resizes the neck. I have replaced the sizing ball with a Redding carbide so it runs smoother. It also swages the burr on the inside of the neck left behind buy the 1200.
This works like a charm. With the case feeder I bet I do 100 cases in 5 min.
4) Wash. Brass goes into a strainer and washed in the laundry sink. This removes the lube.
5) Dry for couple days over a furnace vent.
6) Reload. I have a second tool head setup like you normally would but with station 1 empty. The 650 runs really smooth with sizing and decapping already done. I can do 100 rnds in 8 min easy.
Every 3rd or so reload I clean the primer pockets between step 5 and 6.
I do at least 1K per run.
GC
Do you have a specific "econo" recipe for AR plinking? I will end up shooting for CQB but like to hit the 100 yard benches at times as well at my range.
reloading 223 on a Dillon 550. Although the press is great the single best tool is the Giraud power trimmer! I dont know how anyone reloads without one. I am just getting into reloading and can turn out 300+/- rounds per hour at a cautious rate.
reloading is a great way to better understand your gun. The knowledge you gain from reloading is far more valuable than any potential cost savings over buying retail ammo....
There is no better way to learn about bullet structure than to build them yourself. It is a good experience. If you are thinking about it do it. You can always resell your equipment for little to no loss, so the real cost of reloading will absolutely be cheaper than buying retail ammo.
There is no better way to learn about bullet structure than to build them yourself. It is a good experience. If you are thinking about it do it. You can always resell your equipment for little to no loss, so the real cost of reloading will absolutely be cheaper than buying retail ammo.
DaveMachine
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- That one place with a cowboy complex
I've had really good results with BL-C(2) and 69gr Matchkings. Very little load development and I was getting 1.5 MOA ish.
Interesting thread. I load for 5.56 and 7.62 in bulk. Agree with a lot that has been said here. A lot of the loads I use and the methods are very similar to those mentioned here. Also some methods I didn't know about and will have to try.
For what it's worth I would like to mention something that has really saved me a lot of time when doing these calibres in quantity. I highly recommend a 3 way trimmer. I use an RCBS but I believe there are other brands out there. It is a real time saver. You can do 3 jobs in the time it takes to do one. That is huge when you are doing 500-1000 rounds at a time. Just my $.02 worth.
For what it's worth I would like to mention something that has really saved me a lot of time when doing these calibres in quantity. I highly recommend a 3 way trimmer. I use an RCBS but I believe there are other brands out there. It is a real time saver. You can do 3 jobs in the time it takes to do one. That is huge when you are doing 500-1000 rounds at a time. Just my $.02 worth.
I am in and out with all of my .223.
Most of the time, my .223's are being use for somewhat rapid fire, not precision fire, so the allure of cheap factory loads are quite powerful.
That said, I still load several k .223 every year.
Most of the time, my .223's are being use for somewhat rapid fire, not precision fire, so the allure of cheap factory loads are quite powerful.
That said, I still load several k .223 every year.
