I want to start shooting long range with my .308, out to 1000 yds. Would like t o know if anyone uses a progressive press to load for 1000yd shooing? Or should I just stick with my o-ring press?

Military snipers use ammo that was loaded on a machine and do fine with it.

The Arizona junior highpower rifle team was featured in Dillon's Blue Press several years ago. All of their practice and match ammunition, at the time of the article/advertisement, was being loaded on two Dillon progressives. It worked for them, they generally do quite well in their matches. I would say the critical factor will be the powder you use and the measure that you meter it with.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Brass:
I want to start shooting long range with my .308, out to 1000 yds. Would like t o know if anyone uses a progressive press to load for 1000yd shooing? Or should I just stick with my o-ring press?

I shoot .308 match and I would be hesitant to use "metered" powder drops especially with stick powders. I use a Dillon XL650 and simply bypass the powder drop and when it swings my way, drop a scaled measure before the bullet seat. So yes you can use a progressive machine but my advice would to scale your powder. I have tested this and the powder drop is quite accurate but I have witnessed slight elevation issues and my croney confirmed it. Not terribly bad but enough not to trust it at a match.

What's an o-ring press?

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
What's an o-ring press?

I think he may be referring to a standard 1-up press and the o-rings may be those embedded in the die nuts?

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:
What's an o-ring press?

Single stage press, O style or C style or H style.
I don;t see why ammo loaded on certain progressives wouldn't be just as accurate as ammo loadedon a ss. The powder drop is an issue on any prgressive w/ stick powders, but switch to a ball powder & they meter fine.
I load all my pistol ammo on a prgressive, but rarely need more than 40rds at a pop for the long guns.

been using a dillon 550 for years to load mainly .223 for competition. with the right powder (i use n-133) the loads are the same out to 600 yds as the single stage press loaded rounds. and it's easy to convert to acp and 38 stuff that i burn TON'S of.

As long as you are using a powder that meters consistently and accurately there should be no difference. If you feel you have to trickle every load it may not be your cup o tea but with my shooting abilities (IHMSA pistol and high power rifle) it never made any difference

I'm kinda crazy about ensuring the amount of powder us equal. I'm about to make the plunge to a progressive and will do as already mentioned; bypass the powder drop and fill her up w. an alreasdy metered amount of powder.

I used to have the best time sitting down next to my bench rest shooting buddy at the range and quickly firing a 1/2" 5-shot group with progressively loaded ammo. Sure his groups were much smaller, but after weighing, sorting, polishing, neck turning, primer pocket truing, fooling around with the wind shield for his electronic scale, dealing with the arbor press, triple checking the custom made bullets, etc., etc. he didn't have any time left for fun.

I would load my rounds on a progressive and purposely shoot the group with 5 different brands of brass. It would drive him nuts. But I was off hunting so he had to stew alone.

Eventually I sufficiently corrupted him and he quit competition benchrest for other shooting games and more hunting.

Blacktailer is right, make sure the powder meters well. That was the biggest change I had to make when messing with the progressive.

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:
I'm kinda crazy about ensuring the amount of powder us equal. I'm about to make the plunge to a progressive and will do as already mentioned; bypass the powder drop and fill her up w. an alreasdy metered amount of powder.

If you are going to load like that, no sense spending for the progressive IMO. IF anything has to come off the press, you negate the advantage of the progressive. If you want higher volumn, then maybe a Lee Classic turret?

My 308 short range ammo, out to 300 yards, I dump the powder and seat the bullet on a Dillion 550B.

Sometimes I use the same stuff at 600 yards and I really don't see a difference in score compared to the weighed charges.

However, most of my long range ammo is maximum loads, so I have to weigh the powder.

It is still faster to seat the bullet with my Dillion than to use a single stage press.

Several comparisons have shown that accurately thrown charges are more accurate than trickled and weighed charges. If you use goggle, you can find them. Also, if you use node/ ladder testing, you will find that a charge in a .308 sized case can vary by as much as .2 grains and not cause the group to open up.

Consistent volume is more important than actual weight.

Many top shooters reload on a progressive press.

I read a couple of years ago that David Tubbs loads his match ammo on a Dillon.

I use Lyman turret presses and an RCBS load master combo for my precision loads.

Thank you for the replies.

You can by an adapter from Dillon and use your favorite br powder measure to drop your powder. You just have to do it manually on that station and you don’t have to take the case out of the machine.
Bill

1. Use ball powder.

2. Have the dillon powder funnel opened up to allow better flow.

I do.
With neck sizer bushing and benchrest seater dies and Lapua brass I'm able to run ammo off my Hdy LNL that beats 1/2 moa in .204, 223 and 6br with quite a few "billfold" groups as well.
The LNL measure throws benchmark very consistently and it's what I use on all 3 rounds.

My Rifles can't distinguish between Rock Chucker or my Dillon's .

Edge goes too my Dillon's because it's far more fun emptying the brass than filling it !.

some fellow by the name of david tubbs uses a dillon

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:
I'm kinda crazy about ensuring the amount of powder us equal. I'm about to make the plunge to a progressive and will do as already mentioned; bypass the powder drop and fill her up w. an alreasdy metered amount of powder.

If you are going to load like that, no sense spending for the progressive IMO. IF anything has to come off the press, you negate the advantage of the progressive. If you want higher volumn, then maybe a Lee Classic turret?

Main reason for me is to have the speed available for pistol ammo and carbine ammo for 44mag and upcoming 500 S&W lever rifle. I don't think I could ever totally give up my classic "O" press for bolt action rifle loads.

Shoulda been a bit clearer

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:
I'm kinda crazy about ensuring the amount of powder us equal. I'm about to make the plunge to a progressive and will do as already mentioned; bypass the powder drop and fill her up w. an alreasdy metered amount of powder.

If you are going to load like that, no sense spending for the progressive IMO. IF anything has to come off the press, you negate the advantage of the progressive. If you want higher volumn, then maybe a Lee Classic turret?

Main reason for me is to have the speed available for pistol ammo and carbine ammo for 44mag and upcoming 500 S&W lever rifle. I don't think I could ever totally give up my classic "O" press for bolt action rifle loads.

Shoulda been a bit clearer

Well like I said before.
You can by an adapter from Dillon and use your favorite bench rest powder measure (the good ones are wonderfulley accurat) to drop your powder. You just have to do it manually on the powder station and you don’t have to take the case out of the machine.
Bill