Author Topic: Loading bulk varmint ammo (Read 481 times)

tominboise · « **on:** April 04, 2005, 10:18:22 AM »

I just bought 556 once fired .223 Rem cases. They have been full length sized, trimmed, polished, etc, and are ready to prime, load, and seat the bullet. Is now the time to make the plunge into a RL550? This will be varmint shooting ammo for my .223 bolt gun. The thought of loading all that on my single stage press is a bit depressing...... :roll:

warf73 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2005, 11:08:36 AM »

Go for it.
No time like now to get that RL 550B press.

Use your single stage press for load work up, or the 550. Once you get your load ( charge, OAL) go to town. 556 once fired brass wont last long in the 550.
Don't hold back no time like now to get that 550

Warf

skb2706 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2005, 11:11:42 AM »

I do it all the time....load a large batch in a single stage press. All the hard stuff is already done for you...what would be the advantage of buying a progressive now.
I have set standard loads for each rifle, a process for loading for each and just punch out a hundred or so every night til I get what I want. It is the only way to fly especially if you are loading for two pd shooters for a three or four day weekend.

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2005, 11:54:45 AM »

If you're going to shoot thousands of rounds per year it will be depressing, but if you only do 500 for an annual prairie dog trip, it's not bad at all. I prepare mine in stages: cleaning one day, sizing on another day, washing the lube off another day, etc. I do this over a period of several weeks.

The thing that got me using a progressive was shooting 100 or more rounds per week. I was spending so much time reloading, that I was seriously considering giving up my shooting sport. The progressive became an essential tool for me.

SLAVAGE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2005, 12:17:13 PM »

take the plunge an go for it
but on a side not um if you dident do the trimming an such ide sit at the tv with that in a box an a mic an go though them just to check

vinconco · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2005, 03:33:48 PM »

I've loaded over 500,000 rounds on my 550 and about a third of it rifle ammo. I still have a single stage press bolted on the bench and use it sometimes but the 2 550's do 99.9% of the work. I would NEVER go back. If you buy prepped cases the work will go really FAST. If not, you will still have to prep the cases which is done in a separate operation. With practice you will develop a system that will become more and more efficent.