Reloading for an AR

[pastprime]

Do any of you reload for your AR's? If so what press or setup do you use?

I have done some on a Lee turret press but am thinking about a Dillon 550. Any suggestions or input would be appreciated.

[Q-gunner2]

What caliber?

[ninner]

I use a Lyman turret press but it doesent really matter almost any of them will get the job done. If your new to reloading I would get a single stage to start with I use one for sizing it gives a little more leverage than the turret press.

BTW the Dillon is a great choice if you want to spend the money,

[pastprime]

I have reloaded about 20 years off and on. I had a Dillon Square Deal and it was OK as a press for pistol cartridges. Their customer support was the best I have ever experienced for any product.

I will be loading .223 by the way for my SAR-3 and my AR.

The Lee is OK and produces a fine cartridge when it works, but I have had to have one press replaced, and a couple of parts replaced. And yesterday another part failed and I have to order that. I chose Lee because of the price, but its not really worth it if I have to keep replacing parts as often as I have. This is reality for me; not a Lee Precison bashing.

Just looking for recommendations from those of you who reload say 500-1000 rounds a month.

Thanks for the input.

[COYOTE3]

I load all my .223 on a Dillon 550. Great machine. The Dillon powder measure is a little finicky about trying to drop large powder kernels into a .223 case, but ball and small grain powders work great.

[pastprime]

So, the H-335 and the like are consistant but the stick power line IMR is less consistant, right?

That is what I have found with most any power measure. The finer, the better, especially for a smaller case.

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am trying to find anyone who has had a problem with the Dillon 550 or who has found something better for the same money. After the experience with the Lee stuff, I am want to be a little more careful when I spend the money.

[Wyon8ve]

I've been using a RL550 for about 13 years now. I reload everything up to and including .30-338 on it.

The powder throw does have a problem passing extruded (or "stick") powder into the narrow neck of a .223 cartridge. But, as you pointed out, almost all powder throws do. That's kind of unfortunate since I get the most accurate (but not fastest) loads using IMR powder in the .223.

However, for mass loadings for my ARs I've settled on WC844 and the military 62 grain bullet with the steel penetrator (available from IMI). I load between a grain or half a grain under the military loading for 855 and lose about 100 fps over the listed spec. doing so. But, I don't find shiny spots on the cartridges where the extractor connects either. For my bolt action guns, where I use Sierra bullets, I've had the best luck with good old W748 and it measures just fine. I do use a Redding competition seating die with the varmint loads, however.

[pastprime]

Thanks for the reply. My computer was hit by lightening last week and I could not reply.

What you said pretty well sums up what all of the other people have said about the RL550. I have no reason to not get one so I will write the check pretty soon. Thanks for the input.