View Full Version : .223 on a DIllon 550
mattiooo
03-23-2020, 11:10
I've been reloading pistol only on my Dillon. I've been reloading .223 and .243 on a single stage press. I'd like to move my .223 loading onto the Dillon as well. What I'm unclear about is how the lubed cases are handled. In trying to research this I'm finding mixed information. From all of you doing it on Dillon (or other progressive presses) s it best to:
1) Tumble, lube, size/deprime, tumble, and then business as normal, in two different press setups.
2) Run the lubed cases through the whole process and then remove lube. If so, hand wipe or tumble the loaded rounds?
3) Something else entirely.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Matt
SouthPaw
03-23-2020, 11:17
The Kazoo can lead you in the right direction.
mattiooo
03-23-2020, 11:22
If it's relevant to the choice, I'm full length resizing for AR rounds.
gnihcraes
03-23-2020, 11:38
Lube
Resize
Trim
Deburr
Wet tumble
Swag
Load minus size die.
Twicenthrough press really. A lot of work, but that's how I've done mine.
Sometimes I wet tumble first if dirty brass.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
My process and it works for me. YMMV
1. decap with a Harvey deprimer. This is my first inspection and sorting.
2. dry tumble in lizard bedding for 12+ hours.
3. Swage on a Dillon super swager
4. lube, full length size and trim to length. I use a Giraud which makes trimming easier for me.
5. dry tumble in lizard bedding for half an hour. This removes lube and any loose brass shavings.
6. hand prime
7. store until ready to reload on my 550.
Alternative for large batches and when it was still available:
1. decap with a Harvey deprimer. This is my first inspection and sorting.
2. dry tumble in lizard bedding for 12+ hours.
3. lube and run large amounts of cases through a Dillon 1050 set up for swaging, sizing, and trimming.
4. dry tumble in lizard bedding for half an hour. This removes lube and any loose brass shavings.
5. hand prime
6. store until ready to reload on my 550.
Loading prepped and primed brass makes loading on a 550 very easy. For .223, I leave position one empty. Charge with powder, seat bullets, and crimp bullets. I don't really need a case feeder and I just keep an eye on my powder measure to refill as it get about half empty.
Be safe.
Tim’s simplified process for precision ammo on the 550:
Tumble clean
Anneal
Trim if necessary (yes, I’m trimming fired cases)
Lube
Load
Tumble again for ten minutes
One pull of the handle per loaded round. It’s very fast and I get SD’s in the single digits.
For short range (under 600 yards) ammo.
Tumble brass clean. Spray lube with Hornady One Shot **and** let it dry.
Deprime/FL Resize/Prime.
Powder.
Seat.
Tumble clean for 5-10 minutes.
Normally my once fired brass has already been processed (roll size, swage out primer crimp and trim) but not always.
Done.
mattiooo
03-24-2020, 09:47
Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it. Also, it's not for precision ammo, just practice ammo.
funkymonkey1111
03-24-2020, 09:55
For short range (under 600 yards) ammo.
Tumble brass clean. Spray lube with Hornady One Shot **and** let it dry.
Deprime/FL Resize/Prime.
Powder.
Seat.
Tumble clean for 5-10 minutes.
Normally my once fired brass has already been processed (roll size, swage out primer crimp and trim) but not always.
Done.
do you not trim at all?
what dies are you using?
do you not trim at all?
what dies are you using?
For blasting ammo, I dont normally trim unless I have some spare time. And then it is a Dillon trimmer and I trim back to 1.745 or so. By the time it needs trimming I have already lost it or the primer pocket wont hold a primer anymore.
I really like Dillons carbide FL resize die and Forester micrometer seat dies.
For short range (under 600 yards) ammo.
Tumble brass clean. Spray lube with Hornady One Shot **and** let it dry.
Deprime/FL Resize/Prime.
Powder.
Seat.
Tumble clean for 5-10 minutes.
Normally my once fired brass has already been processed (roll size, swage out primer crimp and trim) but not always.
Done.
I do this, except for the post load tumble. I typically wipe down the brass before I put it into the ammo can.
+1 for either tim or Hoser’s process.
asking for a friend - this would be the same for 300 blk too right?
asking for a friend - this would be the same for 300 blk too right?
Yup.
laportecharlie
03-27-2020, 12:44
I am sure I have loaded north of 50,000 rounds of 223 on a Dillon 550B using the same method that Tim and Hoser described w/o the annealing. Letting the case lube dry before sizing is imperative to avoid stuck cases in the size die.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.