cwall64

What trimmer were/are you using? I was using a LE Wilson hand trimmer. So, comparing flat cut with trimmer to trimmer plus VLD chamfer by hand. I was getting a lot of bullet shavings without the chamfer.So, I went with the Giruad and use it for 223, 308, 6.5 Creedmoor, etc..

I notice a big difference in accuracy in a RRA LAR-15 Vatmint gun between chamfering or not. So I went the Giruad path.

I haven't loaded any 55 grain bullets with N140, but for the 60 - 77 grain Seirra, Hornady, and Nolsers it has been the best for me. I tried, and had high hopes for, 8208 XBR - but my gun did not like it. Benchmark has also worked well for my gun (20", 1:10", bull barrel).

I have been looking at the Glock G40 also. Good reports on the from the 10mm-firearms forum, but personally I am waiting for them to be out a little longer.

Starline for new brass (and I order directly from Starline http://www.starlinebrass.com/ normally in lots of 1,000), http://monmouthreloading.com/ for once fired brass.

yes, LongShot is a great powder too, I completely forgot about all the containers sitting in my closet! I started out with LongShot, BE-86, & 800X- they all have worked well for me in 10mm.

I am getting great results on the Sierra 77 grain MKs with N140. Average velocity was 2650 fps with 24.1 grains (out of a 20" bull barrel RRA Varmint AR). I have been using N140 on the heavier bullets. I have the Noslers on order, but they haven't gotten in yet... I did do the workup, but Sierra manual was right for my rifle and around 24.0 grains was the accuracy mark. N140 has also worked well for the 68/69 and 75 grain bullets.

My experience was leave a message and they call you back and ask for CC and shipping address, pretty quick delivery.

I bought this one in the last month and since have run 500 rounds through it, very happy with purchase. Then again it is the only one I have used besides a hand turn RCBS.

I am not the best at keeping good records and there are normally al lot of yellow stickies on my targets and notes on the back... I have been using the computer USB attachment for the chronograph, but I just got the BT adapter and use the phone to keep the records - very nice! it also allowed me to print out the results nicely, then I cut out the largest and taped them onto the blank space and scan them back it! I have attached a workup and now I can put one copy in a binder and the digital one in a cloud storage like Dropbox, iCloud, etc.

I noticed in the Hornady and Nosler manuals they do have a few loads labeled 5.56 (versus the rest labeled .223 Rem). In the Hornady loads seem to be a little hotter than the same bullet in the 223 load section.

I had a similar issue with Federal large pistol primers and some of my spare pickup tubes. It was suggested I call Dillon support and talk to them about it. I never did as I had 3 or 4 tubes that worked fine...

How many cases are you able to tumble in the Harbor Freight? I only bought the Franklin wet tumbler because I wanted to do roughly 1,000 .223s at a time (I was tired of 200 - 300 in my 30 year old Lyman 1200 Pro!). Wet tumbling for me is a lot of extra work, so I am also looking for a large capacity dry tumbler...

They replaced my first one that would not thread into the powder bar, the one they sent had the same issue. I told them the replacement had the same issue, so they said they would send another one when a new run came in. I received it a month or so later and never installed it... The UniqeTek one just works, so I had already ordered a second one of theirs! To be honest, it might be cheaper to just get several different powder bars and leave them adjusted for specific powder and caliber!

I have been very pleased with AA #9 and Hornady HAPs or XTPs in 180 grain. With the midrange of Accurates data (http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/) I was able to get an average of 1275 FPS out of a Glock 20 with a KKM drop in barrel. Going closer to their max load I was getting over 1300 FPS, but I really was just looking for 1250 FPS, so I worke my loads down a little for more manageable recoil...

I have always used RCBS dies in single stage and turret presses. Then when I purchased my 650 from Brian he recommended against using them due to the sizing die being squared off on the carbide ring versus the bevel on the Dillon dies. I bought the Dillon and they are nice dies. On several calibers I have bought the Redding Competition Pro dies (ones with micrometer seating die) and they are very nice. They are probably not needed, but it sure is nice to be able to dial in the bullet seating versus trying to adjust a normal seating die! I just recently bought a Foster's micrometer seating die for .223 and it is also very nice and a little cheaper than the comparable Redding. They all work, if they don't return them, just depends on features you think you would like...

I do both! Wet tumbling is just extra work to me, so range pickup brass gets wet tumbled and inspected when depriming prior to tumbling. After that it just depends on how dirty it gets, normally it gets dry tumbled for a couple of loads...

I like your approach! I was reading somewhere else where it was recommended to take the difference between min and max load, divide by 4, round down that number to the tenths of a grain and then start with min and work up by the number you arrived at. This allows you to take 4 larger equal steps (5 test loads) and once you find a good large step, work within that range to narrow down your "perfect" load... This is for an AR-15 platform, but gun is garrenteed 3/4 MOA at 100 yards - Hornady Match 75 grain BTHP ammo did much better than that in reality (5 shots touching/one big hole @ 100 yards) in the first time out. If I can match the performance of that ammo i'll be extremely happy!

I noticed that the other day too. But, I didn't know if it was with 10 - 20 year old ones I found in a cabinet at hunting cabin or new ones from Academy (I mixed them up by mistake)!

It has been a while since I worked up any rifle loads (20 - 30 years) and was curious as to what steps (in grains/tenths of grains) most used to step up the loads in testing? With pistol loads I have typically used 0.2 grain increments. I am still kicking myself for buying an AR, but having fun shooting it, so I thought I would start loading for it...

I ask Brian before buying my 650 about using my existing RCBS dies, and here are his comments:

Found out he is local to me, so I think Giraud it is!

So, not to hijack the thread, but for a novice can you describe the differences in the two? Just looking at the product and the videos they look to be extremely similar in design (or maybe I am clueless). I myself am in the same boat. I am also wondering if it isn't best just to go all in and get the Dillon 1500 and die...

I have the GR-x in carbide and run 10mm and 40 S&W through it, I never tried the Lee, I tend to gravitate to Redding and RCBS dies if I have a choice. Redding does make the GR-x in a non-carbide version for a good bit less - truth be told I could have gotten it as I tend to use Hornady One Shot pretty liberally on range pickup brass anyway!

I gently push them out with a universal de-capper in a single stage press and reuse if anvil is still in it. Safety glasses over my prescription glasses...