JJP161
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Posts posted by JJP161
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This may be a dumb question but can you shoot them at indoor ranges that don't allow lead bullets? It would seem the answer would be yes once you explain them to the range unless I'm missing something? Thanks
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Rainier's were much better for me then Berry's. I use Extremes for local matches, but like everyone else, the Montana Golds are superior in any gun. And they charge for it too......but it makes a huge difference in accuracy.
I went and ordered 500 each of 230 .45, 500 155 .40, and 500 of the 147 grain 9mm from Bayou bullets. I'll chrono them up and report the results here. They look pretty cool anyway. I got the green ones.......
How does Rainier compare to Xtreme? I haven't tried any Xtreme but they certainly seem to be gaining popularity on here after some initially bad reviews?
Please do report back on the Bayou Bullets as I have yet to try any of the "coated" bullets but would certainly be open to them. Thank you
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I will definitely have to try some MGs at the case pricing. How are MG's vs Hornady?
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Get some sample packs from the coated mfrs and give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised !!
I am actually very happy with Berry's and Rainier, my original question was basically if others like myself had found Rainiers to shoot a little more consistent.
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Ok that does make a big difference on price. I may have to check them out. How do they compare with Precision Delta?
Montana Gold all day, every day. You have to buy them by the full case to get the best price. They will eat you up 500 or 1000 at a time!So what jacketed bullets would you recommend
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I haven't tried Xtreme but they seem to be popular on this forum and I have seen multiple references to Berrys be close to jacketed in price but I have never been able to find Zero bullets in stock and Montana Gold seems much higher. I do see Precision Delta jacketed is comparable in price to Berry's but they seem to get very mixed reviews. So what jacketed bullets would you recommend and does anyone have any first hand experience with Precision Delta?
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I have used Power Pistol with a number of loads in .40 S&W with decent results. I found it did not meter consistently through my Lee Classic Turret but have yet to try it in the Dillon 550.
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So far I have loaded a few thousand Berry's Bullets 180 Gr. FP and have had pretty good results with them thus far. For the most part they have been consistent and accurate with the occasional flyer in the group. I have also had really good luck with the Berry's .45 230 Gr RN. With that said recently loaded about 1000 of the .40 S&W Rainier in 180 gr and 165 gr with very good results. In fact they may have been slightly more consistent and accurate than the Berry's. Seems like overall I had less flyers with the Rainiers. Was just curious what experiences everyone else is having with Berry's vs. the Rainiers or any of the other plated bullets. Righ now with pricing and availability plated seems my best choice for plinking and practice.
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Thanks for the information and I just picked up some one shot case lube so I will let you know how that works. I have never used the one shot before do I need to wipe it off after sizing or after I have the rounds completed? Thank you
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My gun will run it fine, accept for the couple at 1.136, mostly I'm just worried about the wide variation in OAL.
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I have searched the forum and read through the responses but still have a quick question in regards to OAL. I will admit I am a smidgen anal on this. So I just started loading .40 on my brand new Dillon 550 ( upgraded from a LCT). I'm loading Berry's 180 gr FP on Blazer Brass with 4.9 of HP-38 @ 1.135. Now I'm finding my OAL from 1.131-1.136. Is that an acceptable OAL variation with Flat Points? Also will the Uniquetek Toolhead Clamp Kit reduce this variation? Thank you
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Thank-you everyone for all the great advice I finally ordered my Dillon 550B this evening, now I can't wait for it to get here.
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Thank-you Bob,
I am definitely going with good lighting and making sure I can see inside every case. Great advice and thank-you.
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Thanks everyone for the great input. After a long time, a lot of research and a lot of emails answered by Mr. Enos, I finally placed my order for a Dillon 550B, starting with .40 S&W and hopefully adding .45 ACP very soon. Now I can't wait to get started. Thanks again everyone.
Joe
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[quote name="benos" post="2256831" timestamp="1412715730
For rifle cases, pause the handle at the bottom for a count of one-thousand-one. If there is powder in the measure, and it is not a stick powder, there will be the right amount of powder in the case.
Thank you very much that makes sense and is an excellent point. Hopefully I will be loading .223 in the next few months so that will be very helpful.
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I formed that habit of looking into each case before turning the shell plate after the upstroke. I bought an Inline Fabrication Skylight for my 550, and now my 650 and the habit still remains....only with much better light. Been through at least 50k on my 550, and not one single squib. Slow is smooth.......you know the rest.
Thats a great idea I am definitely getting a skylight. I have some LEDs on my LCT but just don't get enough light into the cases. Now I have yet to reload .223 but isn't much harder to see in those cases no matter what you do?
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Hey Scotty,
Very nicely done. That looks really good. Do you find that to more consistent with a wider variety of powders over the Lee Pro?
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Thanks everyone for the great replies, when I first read those posts I couldn't believe that was acceptable and seemed like no big deal to the poster. I really enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting and I always visually check the case before placing the bullet as I don't ever want a squib or a double charge. I figure the first time I destroy a gun or injure myself or worse than the reloading will no longer be fun. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything here before I drank the blue Koolaid.
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I was reading a few a threads on here and another forum in reference to the 550B. A few posters made references to a 1-2% squib ratio which seems really high and unacceptable to me. Now thus far I have only loaded on a Lee Classic Turet press but I have about 12,000 rounds on there and I've only had 2 squibs, both on my very first batch ever and was just my error. So with that said is it a common occurrence to have squibs or a double charge on a 550B? Thank you
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Hey Clipper,
Thanks for the feedback and yes I have held up for awhile on this because I was so torn between the LNL and Dillon and due to the cost. I will certainly keep my LCT and use it regularly and start off slowly with the caliber conversions. You do certainly have some great kids.
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Hi freakshow.
That is exactly the kind of feedback that really helps me. Thank you for taking the time to give me a detailed response and it makes perfect sense when you lay it out that way.
It sounds like the 550 will definitey work out great and put me on the right path. I don't think I will adding a casefeeder anytime soon but if I do only for pistol rounds.
Now if I can only find powder. It seems like I find a pound here and there but rarely of my go to powder so I am always working up new loads. At least I will have experience with a wide variety of powders.
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I used to load on a LCT and upgraded to a 550 at the time (2006). World of difference. It's a steep learning curve on the Dillon, you'll pick it up in the first few sessions. The manual index isn't as bad as some complain about, you just have to find a cadence to maximize speed. The LCT isn't a press for a 500rd loading session. I think it's better suited to small runs like 100rds of something you don't shoot a lot of. I loaded a lot of 10mm on my LCT when I had it.
The Dillon powder measure is much more consistent than the Lee. When I had the 550 and currently with my 1050, using W231 or similar shaped powder, I'm on the dot every time. Set it for 4.9gr and it's always 4.9gr.
Once you learn the way of the 550 you will get more accurate and better quality ammunition than the Lee, but it will take a bit of time to get to that point. With anything new, you just need to put your time in.
Thank you for posting that is very helpful to hear about your experiences in going from the LCT to the 550. I really like my LCT and it has been a really nice machine so far just much better suited to working up loads or making runs of a hundred here and there. I'm to the point where I need to produce more ammo in the time I have to reload. My biggest hang up that has drawn me to consider the Hornady LNL or just not to chnge has been the manual index of the 550 but it truly sounds like a non issue when you get used to it.
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If you are using a Precision Lee measure you might try replacing it with a Lee Pro measure. The Pro has a few upgrades, especially the wiper. It's only about $41.00 cost.
Hey Steve,
I am using the Lee Pro and it does work great on certain powders but I still just don't hit the volume of reloads I am looking for.
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I have been reloading for about 3 years with a Lee Classic Turret Press. Right now I load about 300-500 rounds of .40 S&W and .45 ACP a month and plan to add 9mm and .223 to that mix. I do actually enjoy reloading and I reload to so I can shoot more to keep my skills sharp (LEO) and do some competitions here and there. I want to be able to shoot more and while I am happy with my LCT it can give me some annoying variances on powder drops and OAL. As example if I am loading 4.9 of W231 I get anywhere from 4.7-5.1. As for OAL if I am set for 1.225 I will probably end up with 1.220-1.229. So while not bad it can get the OCD fired up. So anyways my real question is will I actually produce more consistent and more accurate ammo with the 550B over my LCT? Thank-you
Joe
The variation in powder drop is concerning. Based on Hodgon's site, starting and max load charges have a difference of 0.4 grains for many of their W231 9mm loads. That is ALL of your margin. Add to that COL margin of 0.009" in certain calibers may not be significant.
I load 9mm on a 550B and get variations of 0.1 grains of powder and COL of 0.002" even with shotgun powder. It took time and effort to dial it in just right.
If you want a blue press, my advice is to keep an eye out for people wanting to get out of reloading and pick up a used one. With prices of factory ammo dropping, the financial benefits are not as appealing which may cause some to dump their presses.
Good Luck.
That is precisely my concern on some of my powder drops. Especially with some powders that can be really bad. Take for example the new CFE pistol, I haven't dialed a load in I really like with it just yet but for the most part it has only a 1 grain range. Now it meters great and very consistent but right now with the lack of pistol powder you have load what you can find. Might be W231 or maybe be power pistol. You go with what you find.
My Reloding ritual...
in 10mm/40 Caliber
Posted
Thanks for posting the video, picked up a few good ideas.