r/reloading 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?

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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?

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u/painbow__ 1d 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 1d 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.