M14 Forum

1911A1Guy

I started reloading a few years ago. I only reload pistol cartridges and have done thousands. It's not precision loading. It's bulk loading on a Dillon 550.

I'm looking to start loading .308/7.62 for plinking/cqb type stuff.

Does anyone here load .308/7.62 on a 550? How have your results been?

I'm also looking for load recommendations (brass, powder, bullet, primer, OAL). The rifle is an M1A SOCOM 16.

Thanks!

BSalty

I have loaded 308 for my bolt gun on my 550 with great results. I just got my SOCOM 16 and am waiting for my order of bullets to arrive from Wideners (man they must be backed up) to start working a load for this gun.

I have also done a lot of 30.06 on that press with astounding accuracy results as well.

I will be waiting to see what others are loading for this rifle myself. Hoping to keep the same powder as I use in the rest of my rifle loads. Ramshot TAC.

Bamban

Whenever I am too lazy to use the Wilson Benchrest die I'll crank my LR ammo on the 550B. It has been modified with a case activated Redding BR powder measure though. The Dillon powder measure is not good enough for accurate and consistent throws.

panther308

I have loaded THOUSANDS OF .308 on my 550 with excellent results, as far as a load it's going to depend on the gun but using a 168 SMK or Nosler CC 168 out of a Std M1A at 40.5-41.0 g of IMR 4895 with a OGL of 2.260" I can keep it under 2" at 100yrds

Cool Change

I have and they were mostly OK but a word of caution, only use boat tail bullets. I loaded some nosler flat base bullets and when seating the bullets it pressed the neck down which bulged the shoulder slightly. Didn't notice it Until I loaded 100 rounds and took them to the range as it wasn't very pronounced but they wouldn't chamber so I checked them with calipers and found the problem. I am thinking of running them back through the sizing die with the de-cap removed. Do you think it would be safe to do so?

All the boat tails were fine.

30Caliber

No, don't squeeze them again. Pull them or shoot them. I've never had problems with flat base bullets. I get the bulge with pistol stuff, but not rifles.

I charge my cases with a separate measure, but mostly because it's easier to get it dialed in when it's not riding on the press. That and I prep and prime the brass long before I load them.

10mmShooter

I load my .308 rounds on my Dillon 650, I prime, charge and seat the bullets on the 650. I resize on my BBII single stage.

nicholst55

I size on my Rockchucker, trim if needed, and then do everything else on the 550B. I could probably get away with sizing on the 550B, but have read enough tales of the shellplate flexing to not want to. I don't know if sizing on the 550B would actually cause any problems, but my method gives me peace of mind.

My understanding is that some of the 'big' teams load their ammo on Dillon machines - the U.S. Palma Team and others.

I like to shoot my M14

I finished up some on my Hornay progressive a few months ago and can't tell the difference between those and the one's I've loaded on my single stage. I resize on a single stage and I do like to prime all the brass first and make sure the primers are fully seated before adding the powder and bullet. Just makes me feel more comfortable that way and I hate pulling loads. For my practice loads lately I've been using 39.5 grains of IMR 4895 with hornady blemished 150 grain FMJ bullets with a COL of 2.780 and CCI #34 primers on mixed LC, SBS, CBB, PMJ brass. It by no means pushes the limits of the rifle or round but it's a nice mid-range load that is more accurate than me and functions the rifle just like it should. Hope it helps.

NE450N02

I have loaded 308 and 223 ammo in a Dillon RL 300 [yes 300 not a typo].
I also load most all of my handgun ammo on a Star Progressive Loader, so I have used a progressive loader quite a bit.

Here is how I do the rifle calibres.

I somewhat prepped the brass ahead of time. I trimmed it before sizing and made sure it would be within spec after sizing.

Also you need to develop a load that is reliable and accurate, and NOT finiky with a little variation in powder charge.

For instance lets say your gun shoots good with 40 gr of powder and with 41 grains of powder, both loads hit in ot very near the same place. Then I would test with 40.5 gr and see how it shot with some 40 and some 41 grain loads.

Then by setting your measure at 40.5, what ever minor variations in the individual powder charges, should not effect the accuracy/reliability of your progressive loaded ammo.

However I will say that minor differences in powder charges will start to show up at distances past 600 yards and especially so at 1000 yards, where differences in velocity, effect not necessarialy the close range accuracy of a load, but the long range trajectory, causing noticeable verticle stringing.

KYShooter

Brass is sized and trimmed separately but primed, charged, and bullet seated on my 550B. With IMR-4895, loads are consistent enough to shoot 300yd cleans with good X counts.

charlesPOSTLEwade

I have loaded upwards of 50-55K of assorted calibers on my 550b including 7.62x51. It works for just fine. High Quality consistent Rounds are produced

1911A1Guy

This is great info. I still have a lot to read before I get started on working up loads. IMR-4895 looks to be the powder of choice.

I still need to procure brass. I may buy loaded rounds and start reloading that brass after the initial firing.

Thanks!

Ivan1GFP

I resize on the Dillon 550B and use their spray lube. I don't finish the round there because I like to clean out primer pockets before putting in new primer. I don't know that it really helps, but I tend to weigh powder charges and then seat with a Forster / Bonanza Benchrest Die.

Strange thing is that from checking with a RCBS Precision Mic, the Dillon sizes more consistently than the RCBS Rock Chucker. It also handles spent primers better.

YMMV.
- Ivan.

charlesPOSTLEwade

I am with you there . I resize Tumble the Nasty Gooey Dillon Lube off. Then Deprime & prime in one step.