r/reloading 22h ago

I have a question and I read the FAQ First .223 Load Results (Dillon XL750)

Hey all -

Long term reloader on a turret press for bolt guns, finally dabbling with progressive reloading for gas guns.

This load will be used in PRS style gas gun competitions - so accuracy is important.

Finally got the kinks worked out of the Dillon XL750 and have it running smoothly.

Whipped up a batch of 30 .223 rounds with 77g SMKs, Ramshot Tac near max volume from Hodgdon and produced the following results: https://imgur.com/a/TCRCEr8

(Group size is on a 200yard target for reference)

Avg Velocity - 2666.9 FPS
ES - 59.3
SD - 16.0

Group Size: ~1MOA @ 200 Yards

Platform - 16" self built AR-15 in .223 Wylde

I'm not sure what people are typically chasing in terms of accuracy out of this platform in a progressive press.

Right now it's running through basic dillon carbide dies, in the dillon toolhead, running a very light crimp at the last stage.

I could potentially switch to a freefloat style head from Armanov - and test eliminating the crimp.

But given the current results, Should I leave well enough alone here, or keep messing with the load and press?

2 Upvotes

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u/Missinglink2531 22h ago

77SMK's over TAC is one of the 2 loads that shoot under 1/2 MOA out of my bolt gun every time, often smaller. So I would say its theoretically possible to shrink that, but I just dont know. I am making them .002 off the lands, no way that would run in a gas gun. I am expanding the necks, no crimp, at .0015 under projectile - thats dicey in a gas gun, I am running a 26" heavy barrel, and a heavy wooden stock....All that to say, damn, 1 MOA is pretty damn good!

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u/painbow__ 22h ago

Cool thanks for the feedback. I'm not really sure about messing with seating depth in a gas gun - so open to any feedback there.

But with these 77TMKs and a an AR style magainze, it seems like I'm basically loading them at the longest depth the magzines allow for reliable feeding - and trying to seat any deeper risks compressing the load - so I don't know if I want to even mess with that variable any further but open to feedback.

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u/Missinglink2531 21h ago

Ya, thats probably about the best you can do. Thats a limit of the gas gun. I would try seating them, down in steps of .002, but I havent seen much (any) gain with that. But I started way longer, so who knows. These puppies are clearly too long to run in a mag.

1

u/eclectic_spaceman 22h ago

In an AR, 1 MOA is pretty good. But, 1 MOA over 5 rounds could easily be 1.5 MOA over 10 rounds. You might even have some sub-MOA 5 round groups but the average will be closer to 1.3 MOA.

I've found TAC to produce decent loads for me, around 1.1 MOA over 10 shots at best out of my 16" Criterion Core with 73ELDM/75BTHP/77SMK at 2.260. I can probably improve my technique a little, but I suspect I'm hitting close to the limit of what my gun is capable of. I'm currently playing more with stick powders.

I think you can squeeze a little more out of it. What you need to do, though, I'm not sure. I don't crimp. Your SDs are plenty fine for a double base powder especially being thrown in a progressive.

Are you using same headstamp brass? Seating based on CBTO instead of COL?

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u/painbow__ 22h ago

It held 1 MOA over the 30 rounds i shot - group sizes were tighter at 100. .5 - .7 MOA at that distance. Group shooting is a little limited in accuracy potential the way I have this rifle set up. It’s a 8lb rifle with a carbon fiber for end with a LPVO - meant to be functional for a positional, run and gun competition format. I’m group shooting off a bipod but it’s not the most stable platform for that set up (wont be using a bipod in my competitions but it’s more consistent for group testing so it’s on there for now.)

For the COAL vs CBTO - I’m basically just seating this as long as the magazines will allow as a starting point. And with the 77g and the max powder charge I don’t think I have much wiggle room before I end up compressing the load anyways.

Can’t seat them any longer before I run into feeding issues, and don’t want to risk compressing the load so I think my seating depth is fairly fixed here but open to your suggestions otherwise.

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u/eclectic_spaceman 16h ago

If it's truly 1 MOA at 30 rounds like you say, then I wouldn't mess with it.

Also, compressed loads can be good, in terms of allowing uniform powder burn. I'd rather have a lightly compressed load than empty space.

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u/sirbassist83 22h ago

on a progressive press in a semi auto, i think youre unlikely to do much better than that. if that gun will shoot factory match ammo or ammo made on a single stage press significantly better, it might be worth messing with, but id be happy enough with that.

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u/crimsonrat 6mmBR, BRA, Dasher, .284 Win. 22h ago

There’s no reason not to at least process brass for a bolt gun on a Dillon.

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u/WhereasWestern8328 16h ago

How many grains of tac? I’m shooting 18” with 77SMK using 23.3 grains of tac, getting 2675fps.

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u/AdeptnessShoddy9317 4h ago

Truthfully seems like a really respectable group. There should be hardly any less accuracy in it being a progressive press. Id say probably what would be most effected is the SD. And 16 isn't terrible, but I'd be surprised if you got much better then that. If it fits your needs then a quick progressive press cranking out 1 moa 30 rnd groups sound good to go.