Someone please explain me why can't I successfully reload match accuracy rifle calibers, let's say 308 and 38-55, on a Dillon RL-550B if I use a digital programmable powder scale/dispenser, like a RCBS Chargemaster? Of, course, I'm not going to use progressive reloading, just loading and checking one case at a time. Is there something else that a Dillon machine can't do to reload match grade ammo for rifles and that a single stage press can do?
Reloading rifle ammo on a RL-550B
- Thread starter albog
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I had a 550B and sold it. I used it like a single stage and weighed every charge. Even with Redding competition dies I still had runout. Switched to a Redding Big Boss and the runout stopped.
If you are shooting 300 yards or less out of a service rifle the 550B will work just fine, but if you want ammo that will work at 500-1000 yards go with a single stage.
If you are shooting 300 yards or less out of a service rifle the 550B will work just fine, but if you want ammo that will work at 500-1000 yards go with a single stage.
Thanks, Maynard.
I am planning to shoot up to 300 m, but for accuracy with the TRG-22 (I've got good components - Lapua brass and bullets and Varget powder for that) and for fun with 38-55 and a service rifle in 308. I'm not worried about 38-55 and a service rifle, but the loads for TRG I'd like to be as accurate as possible. Do you think I can do them on 550B? I don't want getting another press mostly due to the space issues. Financially it doesn't matter, the single stage presses are relatively inexpensive.
I am planning to shoot up to 300 m, but for accuracy with the TRG-22 (I've got good components - Lapua brass and bullets and Varget powder for that) and for fun with 38-55 and a service rifle in 308. I'm not worried about 38-55 and a service rifle, but the loads for TRG I'd like to be as accurate as possible. Do you think I can do them on 550B? I don't want getting another press mostly due to the space issues. Financially it doesn't matter, the single stage presses are relatively inexpensive.
You're better off using it as a progressive. The OAL will bounce around more if you use it as a single stage because of the flex in the shell plate. It's not as bad when all the stations are full becuase the force is spread out on all sides of the shell plate.
Or just get a solid single stage press...
Or just get a solid single stage press...
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You mean using it as progressive exactly how I do pistol rounds? I mean, inserting a new case every time I manually index - as opposed to doing 1 case on all 4 stations and then going to the next one?
The main question is, do you think I'll be able to acheive accuracy and consistency for match grade 308 on a 550B, if I do it as you suggest?
The main question is, do you think I'll be able to acheive accuracy and consistency for match grade 308 on a 550B, if I do it as you suggest?
That's how I would if I was loading rifle on a 550. Doing it one case at a time just puts more uneven pressure on the shell plate (the 550 already has too much flex)
I'm not sure how they would compare to loads done on a solid single stage press...
I'm not sure how they would compare to loads done on a solid single stage press...
You can make really good ammo with a 550b. Much better then most people can shoot unless they are using a bench rest, or Remplepod.
Unless you are at a point where you read wind like a gull, or have a very large amount of time you want to spend on the reloading bench, the 550b is the press to get.
The 550b/chargemaster combo is used by many that shoot quite solidly in the f-class matches I have seen. It is pretty much the standard for the service rifle shooters I know. I have been using it for a while, and would be more prone to buying a second 550b then a different press.
Unless you are at a point where you read wind like a gull, or have a very large amount of time you want to spend on the reloading bench, the 550b is the press to get.
The 550b/chargemaster combo is used by many that shoot quite solidly in the f-class matches I have seen. It is pretty much the standard for the service rifle shooters I know. I have been using it for a while, and would be more prone to buying a second 550b then a different press.
Huh?.....I load 45-70 for my Sharps, and my OAL is very, very consistent....And is quite accurate out to 300M...Do some people here actually know what they are talking about?....Or they just pull this stuff out of their A$$?.....
Maynard - this is where I have to disagree with you. I can be just as anal on my 550B as you can be on any single stage press (and then some!), including weighing every charge, with great results out to 1000 yds. The Dillon is rock solid - the difference is in the operation and the peripherals. How I make my Dillon accurate is another matter and it's very similar to how others make single stages accurate - good dies, good set-up and constant measurement.
Bill
Scout,
No argument from me about the 550B being rock solid. I had several problems with mine that wouldn't have been a problem if I was loading pistol or service rifle ammo. Primer seating was an issue as I could not get a feel for seating a primer in the up stroke of the handle. This caused a detonation so I stopped using it after less than 100 rounds. Stick powder (Varget) would only meter +/- .2 grains at best, sometimes as much as +/-.5 gr. But like I said I weigh every charge so even as a single stage press the powder measure was too inconsistent for my requirements. The runout on seated bullets was visually noticeable even with Redding Competition dies. Rotating the round with a bullet seated half way then seating all the way did not solve the problem.
My thoughts are that the 550 may measure ball powder much more consistently and smaller charges may have less error. In the end I figured out the 550 was more bother than a single stage for my ammo requirments and expectations.
No argument from me about the 550B being rock solid. I had several problems with mine that wouldn't have been a problem if I was loading pistol or service rifle ammo. Primer seating was an issue as I could not get a feel for seating a primer in the up stroke of the handle. This caused a detonation so I stopped using it after less than 100 rounds. Stick powder (Varget) would only meter +/- .2 grains at best, sometimes as much as +/-.5 gr. But like I said I weigh every charge so even as a single stage press the powder measure was too inconsistent for my requirements. The runout on seated bullets was visually noticeable even with Redding Competition dies. Rotating the round with a bullet seated half way then seating all the way did not solve the problem.
My thoughts are that the 550 may measure ball powder much more consistently and smaller charges may have less error. In the end I figured out the 550 was more bother than a single stage for my ammo requirments and expectations.
BP and smokeless reloads....Using my 550 like a single stage....If some people are having problems, then I suggest that it`s you, not the 550 press....
Do you load them one at a time like the OP suggested or progressively
I can`t recalled if I have ever heard of a primer detonation on a 550, and certainly other Dillon 550 users I`ve talked to have never heard of such a thing....Even people who other types of press`s question this claim...Primers can be crushed and won`t detonate, unless the primer was defective in the first place....NO properly built press has the power to slam a primer so hard that it detonates...Don`t blame the 550....
It happened twice in the first 100 rounds. I phoned Dillon directly and they told me not to use Federal 210M primers. Since that was not an option (had 3000 of them) I went back to my old priming method using a Lee auto prime.
Now at the time, I was a very inexperienced reloader with maybe only 5000-6000 rounds under my belt on a single stage. Using the 550 as a single stage was slower than just a plain single stage. The ammo that I produced on it was not as good as what I can make on the single stage. I don`t know too many fullbore target rifle shooters or F Class shooters that use a progressive.
Hi, just wondering, how much pressure you applied when it detonated and what may have caused it? Was the primer seated properly to begin with? So no problems with pistol or service rifle ammo. What were you trying to load? I have a batch of 1x fired Win and Federal 223 brass that I plan to reload in the future.
I loaded ~4k of 9mm with my Dillon 650 already. Started off with 1x fired 9mm brass and it required some force to get them in snug (it goes in without much force but needs extra kick at the end to seat below flush). 2nd time fired much easier. But last batch I did, 2 primers didn't seat right and I applied a little extra force (no where near force I was using before) and felt a crunch. These were either F-P or F-C brass. I have zero problems with Win. It was crushed b/c primer went in 45 degrees. Glad nothing serious happened, but I'll remember next time. I'm using CCI #500.
Maynard - I originally bought my 550B quite a few years back when I shot IPSC and Service Rifle, and I presently use it for F-Class F-TR (now you know one!). I've crunched a lot of primers over the years, mostly due to sloppy removal of crimps in military brass, poor set-up of the primer feed and/or a dirty machine, and even used enough force to make a primer detonate (which made me rethink how I removed the crimp, plus safety glasses).
My only point here is that a progressive press like the 550B can make quality long range ammunition. I agree that you can't do so by using the same principles as pistol reloading, with dumped powder charges and range brass - I needed to look at quality brass, tool head clamp kits, weighing each charge, Redding Bushing dies, etc. And it works - I'm very satisfied with the set-up (which still has three operations going on each stroke!) and the results (doing pretty well in F-TR out West) with my Dillon.
Bill
My only point here is that a progressive press like the 550B can make quality long range ammunition. I agree that you can't do so by using the same principles as pistol reloading, with dumped powder charges and range brass - I needed to look at quality brass, tool head clamp kits, weighing each charge, Redding Bushing dies, etc. And it works - I'm very satisfied with the set-up (which still has three operations going on each stroke!) and the results (doing pretty well in F-TR out West) with my Dillon.
Bill
+1 about the Federal primers....They don`t feed well in the Dillon feed tubes and I always use Winchester primers...They strike the right balance between soft(Federal) and hard(CCI) primers...In the untold 10`s of thousand of rounds loaded, I have only had about 5-6 Win primers go click, instead of bang....S&B primers are also very reliable....
