Loading .223 on an XL650 (or any progressive)

tmorone · May 17, 2012, 12:59 PM

Hi everyone,

So I've been loading various pistol cartridges for quite a while and have finally decided to step into doing .223 and maybe .308 later on down the road but I'm concerned about one step.

I've got a Dillon XL650 and a RCBS Turret press, so I'd like to use the Dillon since it's super fast...but... case trimming is where I get hung up.

Do any of you load .223 (for AR's) on an XL650 and how do you trim the brass? Since once it hits the size deprime station on the progressive press the newly sized brass is immediately primed on the downstroke. My only thought is to deprime and size the brass on the turret press, then trim it, then just move on over to the Dillon for priming/powder/seating.

Really hope I'm making a mountain out of a molehill- what do you all do?

eldorendo · May 17, 2012, 02:11 PM

I use the RCBS X die, which generally prevents the need to trim, after the initial trim.

snuffy · May 17, 2012, 03:36 PM

I only load .223 on my 650 that DON'T need to be trimmed. That means sorting the cases before loading, then only loading those that can be loaded WITHOUT being trimmed.

Those that DO need trimming, get sized in a single stage, then trimmed. Loading those, I eliminate the size die, or back it way out so it only passes the sizer button into the case a bit.

Sent by hammer and chisel on a stone tablet!

tmorone · May 17, 2012, 06:57 PM

Thanks for the info guys. I'd never heard of that RCBS die until today but it sounds like a good option.

I'm thinking I'll just resize them on the turret press, trim if necessary, then store them until I have enough to make it worth setting up the Dillon.

Thanks again!

CherokeeT · May 17, 2012, 07:03 PM

I do all the case prep on single stage, trim separately with a Giraud, then go to the progressive.

zippy13 · May 17, 2012, 09:20 PM

Like the others, with .223s I trim and prep separately.

Eazmo · May 17, 2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Like the others, with .223s I trim and prep separately.

Yuppers same here!

Vance · May 17, 2012, 11:36 PM

I am going to use the RCBS X-Die. All this sizing and trimming on a different press first is for the birds.

Edward429451 · May 18, 2012, 06:35 AM

De-priming throws trash all over the place, so I do depriming and other brass prep on a single stage and then load it on my 550B. No trash, no sticky cases or anything not sparkly clean goes into the Dillon.

jmorris · May 18, 2012, 08:32 AM

I load 223 on a 650 and a 1050. Size/deprime and trim on the 650 and load on the 1050.

Jimro · May 19, 2012, 07:52 AM

I resize a batch, then trim a batch to min length (just got a possom hollow trimmer that really speeds up the trimming part). By trimming to min I expect to get my 4 reloads from the brass without need to resize and trim as separate operations again.

Jimro

May 17, 2012, 12:59 PM	#1
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	Loading .223 on an XL650 (or any progressive) Hi everyone, So I've been loading various pistol cartridges for quite a while and have finally decided to step into doing .223 and maybe .308 later on down the road but I'm concerned about one step. I've got a Dillon XL650 and a RCBS Turret press, so I'd like to use the Dillon since it's super fast...but... case trimming is where I get hung up. Do any of you load .223 (for AR's) on an XL650 and how do you trim the brass? Since once it hits the size deprime station on the progressive press the newly sized brass is immediately primed on the downstroke. My only thought is to deprime and size the brass on the turret press, then trim it, then just move on over to the Dillon for priming/powder/seating. Really hope I'm making a mountain out of a molehill- what do you all do?

May 17, 2012, 03:36 PM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	I only load .223 on my 650 that DON'T need to be trimmed. That means sorting the cases before loading, then only loading those that can be loaded WITHOUT being trimmed. Those that DO need trimming, get sized in a single stage, then trimmed. Loading those, I eliminate the size die, or back it way out so it only passes the sizer button into the case a bit. Sent by hammer and chisel on a stone tablet! __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

May 17, 2012, 07:03 PM	#5
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I do all the case prep on single stage, trim separately with a Giraud, then go to the progressive. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

May 19, 2012, 07:52 AM	#11
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	I resize a batch, then trim a batch to min length (just got a possom hollow trimmer that really speeds up the trimming part). By trimming to min I expect to get my 4 reloads from the brass without need to resize and trim as separate operations again. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

May 17, 2012, 02:11 PM	#2
eldorendo Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2012 Posts: 239	I use the RCBS X die, which generally prevents the need to trim, after the initial trim.

May 17, 2012, 06:57 PM	#4
tmorone Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 221	Thanks for the info guys. I'd never heard of that RCBS die until today but it sounds like a good option. I'm thinking I'll just resize them on the turret press, trim if necessary, then store them until I have enough to make it worth setting up the Dillon. Thanks again!

May 17, 2012, 09:20 PM	#6
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Like the others, with .223s I trim and prep separately.

May 17, 2012, 11:36 PM	#8
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	I am going to use the RCBS X-Die. All this sizing and trimming on a different press first is for the birds.

May 18, 2012, 06:35 AM	#9
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	De-priming throws trash all over the place, so I do depriming and other brass prep on a single stage and then load it on my 550B. No trash, no sticky cases or anything not sparkly clean goes into the Dillon.

May 18, 2012, 08:32 AM	#10
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	I load 223 on a 650 and a 1050. Size/deprime and trim on the 650 and load on the 1050.