I am a single stage reloader for now, but am investigating progressive loaders for my match ammo. How do you get the lube off of the cases after running through a progressive press? I tumble mine after sizing in the single stage, but if I use a progressive, I can't do that because I don't want to tumble loaded ammo.

Do you size, then clean, then put in the progressive or do you wipe each case individually? That would seem like a big, big hassle because of the volume.

Also, got any recommendations for presses? I have been looking at Hornady, Dillon, and RCBS.

Fast Ed

quote:

Originally posted by Fast Ed:
I am a single stage reloader for now, but am investigating progressive loaders for my match ammo. How do you get the lube off of the cases after running through a progressive press? I tumble mine after sizing in the single stage, but if I use a progressive, I can't do that because I don't want to tumble loaded ammo.

Do you size, then clean, then put in the progressive or do you wipe each case individually? That would seem like a big, big hassle because of the volume.

Also, got any recommendations for presses? I have been looking at Hornady, Dillon, and RCBS.

Fast Ed

Assuming you're referring to rifle ammo. For match ammo (200-300 stage ammo. For 600+ match ammo i still single load) I size (Bonanza Benchrest dies), clean, clean primer pocket, trim if necessary and then inspect. I use, and recommend, a Dillon 550B. I use a Bonanza Benchrest NS die in station one to iron out any dents from cleaning. It also seams to add some smoothness to the press operation giving more consistant powder charges.

For milspec ammo (5.56, .30 carbine, 7.62x39, '06, 7.62 NATO and 8x57 I lube clean cases with Dillon spray lube and FL size and load completely on the 550B. I then tumble them in a Thumbler tumbler for 15-20 minutes in pitch free saw dust. This cleans the case lube off very nicely. I don't get excited about tumbling (or vibrating for that matter) loaded ammo. I have ridden around for days on end in tanks and APCs with the ammo constantly vibrating (ask anyone who has ridden in an M113 about the vibration) and then shooting it without problem. The military has been doing such for a very long time without problems. This convinced me a long time ago that any worrying about dangers from tumbling or vibrating a short time to clean or remove case lube off the loaded ammo is a non-issue.

Larry Gibson

loading my .223 in the Dillon 650 with a case feeder I dump about 150 clean brass in a card board box and spray them sparingly with spray lube (Lyman...thanks Bartsche) and dump them in the hopper because I use carbide dies and there's very little lube required.

With other rounds I load the case such that there's very little air space in the case and vibro the finished rounds in a vibro tumbler. No trouble once you get over the scare of doing it.

Dillon actually illudes to doing it in a round about way.

I'm weird. I use a Dillon 650 and lube my cases lightly with Imperial sizing wax. After my loading session the
last step before they go into my ammo boxes is I wipe each case with a soft denim rag (old Jeans) and then weigh the round on an electronic scale to check to see that the round is not too light of heavy within reason. This way I have one final check to ensure the power charge is not way over or way under. I also run my finger over the primer to see if it is seated right. Just one old man's way of checking his work while he rubs the lube off
the cases.

I have never put loaded ammo in a tumbler so I can't make any comment about that practice.

I'll prime and charge and seat 223Rem in my RL550, but sizing, cleaning, trimming are done as a seperate operation.

I usually deprime and tumble, the lube and resize, then clean and tumble again, then (finally) load them up.

And I go through this only for loading ammo for my brother's AR15.

I am about to setup another toolhead for depriming and necksizing neck sizing 223Rem for my varmint rig
but I'll load those all with 100% weighed propellant
charges.

I suppose I could do those on the progressive but I doubt it'd be easier than doing them on the O-frame press...

Next time I run low on 30carbine ammo I'll get the conversion to run them off on the RL550
but that'll be a while....


AllanD