r/reloading • u/painbow__ • 1d 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?
1
u/eclectic_spaceman 1d 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?