What did you do in the reloading room today?

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07-16-2015, 08:05
muddywings

I guess I can add something to this thread finally!
Was hoping to make it to the range yesterday but work sucks and got out late so I set up my 223 toolhead on the Dillon. Got the swagging rod set (I think), primer seating to the right depth, powder drop at 25gr of Varget, bullet seating die OAL at 2.220 (hornady 55gr FMJBT). Figure I'll make 10 each at 25, 25.5, 26 then head to the range and see what happens.
I put the specs above so people can tell me where I'm going wrong here as a noob. Probably need to bribe a local pro with some beer to double check my work but wanted to give it a shot on my own.

ETA: already sized and trimmed brass so I left the carbide sizing die off.
07-16-2015, 11:13
Zombie Steve

Betcha a beer that 25 grains shoots the best group.
07-16-2015, 15:31
Slapps74

What did you do in the reloading room today?

Where did you come up with the 2.220 OAL? I bet zombie is pretty close on that 25 grains projection. My AR chamber gauges at 2.235 and I load 24.5 grains of H335 for sub MOA groups @ 100 yards with a 14.5" barrel. 26.5 grains was blowing primers out!
07-16-2015, 17:12
asmo

Wait, who doesn't just load to 2.26/mag length OAL on a 5.56 round?

I'm being serious - I always load to 2.26 when doing 5.56/223 - regardless of the semi-auto its going into. Bench rest is a different story.
07-16-2015, 18:43
Hoser

Trying to turn 4,000 pcs of 5.56 brass into 300 Whisper/Blackout brass for a buddy before Friday afternoon.
07-16-2015, 19:44
DenverGP

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmo

Wait, who doesn't just load to 2.26/mag length OAL on a 5.56 round?

I'm being serious - I always load to 2.26 when doing 5.56/223 - regardless of the semi-auto its going into. Bench rest is a different story.

I've only recently started loading 223, but I seated the bullets to the middle of the cannelure. Came out to right around 2.220
07-16-2015, 21:02
asmo

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverGP

I've only recently started loading 223, but I seated the bullets to the middle of the cannelure. Came out to right around 2.220

I wasn't implying you were doing anything bad. I'm just trying to make sure that *I'm* not doing something I shouldn't.
07-16-2015, 21:50
zimagold

Sorting 5700 pieces of 556 range brass. 1700 tumbled today.

I load 556 55gr FMJ to 2.220 overall length. Just depends on projectile.

What kind of throw variation are you getting with Varget metering in the Dillon? I haven't had good luck with volume measures and Varget in the past. Load H335 for bulk 55gr loads.
07-16-2015, 23:45
Great-Kazoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slapps74

Where did you come up with the 2.220 OAL? I bet zombie is pretty close on that 25 grains projection. My AR chamber gauges at 2.235 and I load 24.5 grains of H335 for sub MOA groups @ 100 yards with a 14.5" barrel. 26.5 grains was blowing primers out!

Load data from Alliant, Western, Hornady, #49, Speer??? I don't go over 24.5 - 25 with TAC, Xterminator or TAC. It's close enough for prairie dogs
07-17-2015, 08:23
muddywings

What did you do in the reloading room today?

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmo

Wait, who doesn't just load to 2.26/mag length OAL on a 5.56 round?

I'm being serious - I always load to 2.26 when doing 5.56/223 - regardless of the semi-auto its going into. Bench rest is a different story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverGP

I've only recently started loading 223, but I seated the bullets to the middle of the cannelure. Came out to right around 2.220

Agree with DenverGP-I have just a smidge of cannelure showing (not that the cannelure ring is very large)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimagold

Sorting 5700 pieces of 556 range brass. 1700 tumbled today.

I load 556 55gr FMJ to 2.220 overall length. Just depends on projectile.

What kind of throw variation are you getting with Varget metering in the Dillon? I haven't had good luck with volume measures and Varget in the past. Load H335 for bulk 55gr loads.

I've only done a dozen or so test drops to adjust it. It's coming out from 24.9-25.1ish with Varget

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great-Kazoo

Load data from Alliant, Western, Hornady, #49, Speer??? I don't go over 24.5 - 25 with TAC, Xterminator or TAC. It's close enough for prairie dogs

The rounds I plan on loading with this setup will be blaster/hoser rounds. If I want a set up precision rounds, I'll go up with a better bullet and fine tune them more but I agree, all I need is "close enough" with these.

ETA: I don't know crap about reloading so I could be speaking out of my butt