Ok guy i just got my Christmas gift lol dillon 650 xl with 308 dies. Now i need to know whats is the best accurate power and everything else i will need for accuracy. I have a ruger precision rifle in 308. I will be shooting 400 yyards+

You need good brass (LC from Everglades Ammo works for me), LR primers, 168 BTHP heads, and a boat load of H4895 powder (35-43 grains YMMV, most sweet spots just north ot 40gr).  Along with a good scale or two (one beam, one digital), a bunch of case prep tools including a trimmer, EGW case gauge and a pullet puller.  Later you may want a more precise case prep tools, but I would wait until you get that sweet load and accuracy under your belt.  Good Shooting and Safe Reloading.  Time to start reading up on reloading if your new to it.  Lyman's Reloading Handbook is a classic.

 

This reason for the case gauge is to make sure you are sizing your brass properly with the re-sizing die on the press

 

H4895 allow you to make reduced power loads as well

https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

Ok guy i just got my Christmas gift lol dillon 650 xl with 308 dies. Now i need to know whats is the best accurate power and everything else i will need for accuracy. I have a ruger precision rifle in 308. I will be shooting 400 yyards+

Where do you have a 400+ yard range in NJ? How do you like the Ruger Precision? I've been thinking of one in a 6.5 CM.

 

Powder accuracy is dependent on your rifle. I would try to go through some reloading manuals for the bullets you're interested and see what powders they used. Then go to some of the powder manufacturer website and find their recipes for those bullets. Once you do you should have a good idea of what powders and primers give you what bullet velocity. OCW load development will have you believe what works well for the manufacturers should also work well for you.

Congrats on your XL 650. Its a great machine. Go slow and remember if you make one mistake on one of your rounds then it has a domino effect on the rest of the cases in circulation. One mistake becomes five mistakes very easily with the pull of the handle.

 

If you are going to use the powder measure for charging your cases then I would use a powder that meters accurately in that device. A powder like IMR XBR 8028 would be a good choice. Powders like Varget and RL15 are great for 308 too but they meter inconsistently in a Dillon powder measure.

If u want to squeeze the most accuracy out of a cartridge you should be using a single stage press. Wish I had a 650xl for pistol. But a progressive press isn't nearly as consistent.

If u want to squeeze the most accuracy out of a cartridge you should be using a single stage press. Wish I had a 650xl for pistol. But a progressive press isn't nearly as consistent.

You will probably get some arguments from progressive owners with that remark, but I couldn't agree more.

For doing volume reloads for action shooting or practice, they work just fine.

For doing precision loads, especially when adding tasks like case trimming/deburring/etc., the single stage is king.

You will probably get some arguments from progressive owners with that remark, but I couldn't agree more.

For doing volume reloads for action shooting or practice, they work just fine.

For doing precision loads, especially when adding tasks like case trimming/deburring/etc., the single stage is king.

 

David Tubb and John Whidden : two of the most accomplished rifle shooters in history reload on Dillon progressive machines but they weigh their charges individually on a separate scale.

It would be interesting to see their set ups. It's not easy to get consistency with a progressive that a match shooter would want. I also wonder what benefits there is to using a progressive for rifle. With the case prep it kills the speed a progressive offers right off the bat.

It would be interesting to see their set ups. It's not easy to get consistency with a progressive that a match shooter would want. I also wonder what benefits there is to using a progressive for rifle. With the case prep it kills the speed a progressive offers right off the bat.

 

I know Whidden uses (and sells) a floating toolhead for the Dillon 550 and XL650 that will reduce bullet runout and theoretically improve accuracy.

 

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/product/floating-dillon-toolheads/

It would be interesting to see their set ups. It's not easy to get consistency with a progressive that a match shooter would want. I also wonder what benefits there is to using a progressive for rifle. With the case prep it kills the speed a progressive offers right off the bat.

I quite often do my rifle ammo on a single stage but I've also done it progressively and it saves time. I use one tool head with the sizing die. I throw a lot of cases in the case feeder lubed and size them. It's quicker than inserting and removing a cas after each stroke. I wash my rifle brass after sizing. I trim and then throw them back in the case feeder and now it primes powders, seats and crimps. It's two stages but it does save time. I bulk 5.56 hat way for basic loads.

Do you use two different tool heads?

Yes I do. Not necessary but a time saver so I don't have to set the others up repeatedly.

I would love to have a set up like that to pump out 5.56. You can do almost everything on the press now with all the different attachments. If you got the time and patience to really dial in a progressive for match ammo, more power to ya.

David Tubb and John Whidden : two of the most accomplished rifle shooters in history reload on Dillon progressive machines but they weigh their charges individually on a separate scale.

That may be the case, but in this context, we are responding to a person that does not have the decades of experience in reloading, the requirement of hundreds of rounds of weekly practice ammo, the customized toolheads and thousands of tweaks needed to produce such accuracy.

Out-of-the-box, and especially with a novice reloader, there is little doubt in my mind that single-stage presses will produce more consistent ammo.

In regards to your reference to these two world-class shooters, I agree. Their progressive presses and technique are definitely capable of producing ammo that is more consistent than someone such as myself can produce using a single-stage.

It's a ruger precision not an AR --  Single stage press is KING for accurate loads

 

Way too much deviation in a 650 -- at least in my 650 -- for accuracy loads to my liking

 

My 650 is pistol only -- to me that is where it shines

 

I make bulk 556 on my hornady progressive but I size on my rock chucker

 

Honestly, the only thing I do on the progressive for rifle is powder charge, seat bullet and crimp all else is hand operation one at a time

 

This is just 55 grain plinking ammo -- Accuracy ammo for the 243 - 22/250 - 300 win mag - all are single stage operations

 

If I had a ruger precision I'd be making ammo 1 round at a time -- all perfect

 

I would have to think that those who are making competition rifle ammo on a dillon 650 have tweaked their machines with custom parts 

 

No way, In my opinion, would a 650 be good for precision ammo for a rifle like that Ruger

 

Good thing is they hold their value well -- If you decide to really get serious and make perfect ammo that dillon will sell just fine -- or keep it for high volume pistol rounds...

The only problems I've had with my dillion 550B is flake or long extruded powders, the ball powders meter great.

The only problems I've had with my dillion 550B is flake or long extruded powders, the ball powders meter great.

That is common for most powder measures regardless of the brand.

The only problems I've had with my dillion 550B is flake or long extruded powders, the ball powders meter great.

 

For flake powders try taking the powder baffle out and never let the hopper go below half full

 

This works great for me loading promo, a flake powder I use in 38 special, 45 acp, 9mm, and 38 super

 

no powder baffle works in both the dillon 650 and the Hornady LNL powder measures