Ghost

Thanks guys. I thought that might be the case, but I wanted to check with folks that had actually shot a C model before I put the cash on the counter.

Decided on a new G23 for concealed carry and have been checking the prices. Is there any use in getting a compensated barrel on the G23? Having never shot either model 23, I have no way to compare. What do you guys think?

I size riflle brass on a separate tool head, so station one is empty. I do have a fired case in each of the other stations, except for the crimp station which has a completed round to be crimped. How do I seat bullets accurately on a progressive if I am to expect a .020" variation in OAL? With a heavy charge I am afraid of too much pressure. Do I just give up loading accurate rifle ammo on a progressive or load it but never go above the minimum charge of powder? Or is it the bullets?

I am loading 223 on an XL650. I was having trouble with OAL using some cheap bullets from IMI. OAL varied long or short by as much as .015", so I bought some 55 grain FMJBT from Winchester figuring they would do better. Set up OAL at 2.215 with cases in each station and started cranking. You guessed it---OAL varies by +.005" to minus .010". I am using a light load of 23 grains so it shouldn't make much difference, but I want to work up to a max load. I can't figure out what is going on. The bench is rock solid, nothing slips and the only consistent thing is that no two cartridge OAL's are the same. I have been using Dillon's dies and changed to a Lee seating die thinking that might make a difference. Can someone explain to me what is happening and how to correct it? Thanks!

I have a Dillon XL650 and have been reloading 223 and 40 S&W about a year. I don't have anyone I know that reloads and I haven't been able to find the answer to some questions that I have. BTW, I have had ZERO problems with the 650! It has worked perfectly right out of the box. I want to do this right. I searched the forums before deciding to ask you guys with more experience. 1. How do you clean up spilled powder? Load manuals say not to vacuum it up with a vacuum cleaner. My reload room is a carpeted bedroom turned office and load room so sweeping with a broom won't work. 2. When working up loads, how critical is it to stay with the exact components listed for the load? For instance, Speer says the loads are only for Speer bullets and that pressures and velocities won't be the same with other bullets. Is this just marketing or am I getting into dangerous areas as far as pressure using other bullets, like Berry's? We practice with what we carry (165 grain JHP) and Speer is expensive. 3. I want to work up a load with a softer recoil for the 40s&w. How do you reduce recoil without significantly reducing the charge? I want to stay with the bullet we carry (165 grain JHP) for practice. 4. This last one is really driving me up a wall. I bought some bulk 62 grain rifle bullets from a place that will go nameless in Johnson City, TN. I set up my dies with no problem. I set the bullet seat to seat with an OAL of 2.260". It was dead on. I ran five bullets through and the OAL varied from 2.250 (the first one) to 2.270. I reset the seating die again. Both times I used cases or a loaded round in each station to set the die. Again, the seating die is set to 2.260" on the test round. The lock rings are all tight. I run more bullets through and not a one measures 2.260". If I change to a major manufacturer's bullets, there is no problem and there is no problem loading pistol. What is wrong here? Can I fire what I have loaded and more importantly, can I load the remainder of the 1,000 I have left or just throw them away? Measuring and re-seating a 1,000 rounds on a 650 would mean doing each one seperately and that's no fun. Thanks for the help guys. I know these are questions you experienced shooters probably can't believe someone is asking, but I want to learn and like I said, I want to do it right.

I reload 223 on my XL650 in addition to multiple pistol calibers. The only thing I would add to what everyone else has said is don't forget to lube your cases before sizing them. It doesn't take much, but is absolutely necessary, even with the carbide die. I use Dillon's dies and have had no problems at all. I do use a seperate tool head with just the deprime/sizing die in it and process all the brass I'm going to load at one time. Then I clean it, swap tool heads, and run it through for the finished rounds. Have fun!