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Posted: 9/30/2013 3:52:14 PM EDT
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I currently reload using a turret press. While making some ammo tonight I came across a couple of issues which would present a problem if progressive reloading. Note that I am thinking about getting a progressive press for pistol reloading.
After initial sizing, I had a few cases fail the case gauge. One was my brass and I had to resize again to get it to pass. Another was a range pickup which was mixed into my stuff and it wouldn't resize after a few attempts. How do progressive reloaders guard against this w/o gauging each case before moving on to the next step. I had another case (again, a range pickup by accident) which was split all the way down to the head. It passed the case gauge and I didn't notice it until I went to clean primer pockets. I know a lot of folks here don't bother with that step, but in this case it caught a potential problem. In my experience, which is very limited compared to most people here, I always seem to find one or two issues per 100 that I probably wouldn't catch on a progressive press. what steps are taken to mitigate this? Also, any recommendations on a progressive press to be used for pistol only? |
| I use Dillon 55o's and you do run into an issue with a crimped primer pocket or some other minor annoyance. Addressing these on the fly is relatively painless, once you've spent some time with the press it is pretty fast to either set the offender aside or fix it and move on. This is the primary reason I do not own the 650, besides the greater cost of conversions, I treat the 550 like it's a turret press upside down. I can go as fast as I need , or use the press for load development work like you would with your press. A faster machine than what your are using and able to manually reverse or advance. I do load a lot of ammo, but really have no desire for auto progressive loading. As a tinkerer, I am often testing different combinations of components so that I have data for powder I need to use when my favorite is not available. |
Ever since I got spoiled (ruined? ) by dryflash3's bling thread, even pistol is easy to spot: Once when all the pistol brass is deprimed with a Lee universal deprimer on a single station press and dumped into the plastic jar to be in turn dumped into the Thumlers Tumbler. Again when the shiny brass is collated into tubes for the case feeder, I examine the loaded feed tubes looking 40 at a time for a problem case. Again when the case has been charged I examine each for problem powder lever......that process gives me another chance to catch a bad case.
As for rifle, I agree with others. The trimming & case prep is done off the progressive on my outfit. Each case is handled....each case is examined. And I agree with dryflash3. Gauges are the all important last check for quality loads. |
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I have been using a Dillon XL650 for awhile now ..... that's what I recommend
as far as catching bad brass , by the time I SS tumble , watch them come down the case feed tube and around the tool head while loading I usually spot them. I also take my bucket of loaded rounds and place 4-5 rounds in my hand at a time, roll them back and forth to look over brass / bullet / round in general, then I place them in a 50 or 100 rd ammo box primer side up to allow me to visually see the primer is seated well and not upside down ( makes me laugh , atleast one person every match has a miss fire because they just load and dump the rounds in a bag without checking things). I crimp with a Lee factory crimp die, and only case gauge every 15-20 rounds Rifle is all inspected individually before and after loading |
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Quoted: Ever since I got spoiled (ruined? ) by dryflash3's bling thread, even pistol is easy to spot: Once when all the pistol brass is deprimed with a Lee universal deprimer on a single station press and dumped into the plastic jar to be in turn dumped into the Thumlers Tumbler. Again when the shiny brass is collated into tubes for the case feeder, I examine the loaded feed tubes looking 40 at a time for a problem case. Again when the case has been charged I examine each for problem powder lever......that process gives me another chance to catch a bad case.As for rifle, I agree with others. The trimming & case prep is done off the progressive on my outfit. Each case is handled....each case is examined. And I agree with dryflash3. Gauges are the all important last check for quality loads. All I did was post a thread with a couple of pics of my results. |
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Quoted: Ya, but I didn't start it. All I did was post a thread with a couple of pics of my results. That picture should be in the BOTD forum's because its sexy. |
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Quoted:
I use Dillon 55o's and you do run into an issue with a crimped primer pocket or some other minor annoyance. Addressing these on the fly is relatively painless, once you've spent some time with the press it is pretty fast to either set the offender aside or fix it and move on. This is the primary reason I do not own the 650, besides the greater cost of conversions, I treat the 550 like it's a turret press upside down. I can go as fast as I need , or use the press for load development work like you would with your press. A faster machine than what your are using and able to manually reverse or advance. I do load a lot of ammo, but really have no desire for auto progressive loading. As a tinkerer, I am often testing different combinations of components so that I have data for powder I need to use when my favorite is not available. Exactly!!! 
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Quoted:
While making some ammo tonight I came across a couple of issues which would present a problem if progressive reloading. You seem to assume a progressive reloader just blindly reloads. This is not true. It is important to pay continuous attention to what you are doing. Check everything at every step. Turn off the TV! Also, any recommendations on a progressive press to be used for pistol only? I'd recommend a Dillon 550B. |
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