Grendel on progressive press?

[Mav714]

I'm curious if anyone is reloading the Grendel on a progressive press? I have a Dillon 550 and thinking of reloading on it. Up till now I use my Rock Chucker single stage.
I'm using 8208 powder 90% of the time. Not sure how accurate the Dillion will throw loads with that type of powder.
Any help I'd apreciste. Ty.

[BigStickSmoker]

Mav

I am using the 550B and have no issues beyond when the operator makes a boo boo. I am using the same powder. My experience is that the Dillon measures this as accurately as any of the other powders and calibers I use in it. Rarely is there 1/10th of a grain +/-.

Hope my experience gives you some confidence to give it a go.

Best Regards

[davidj]

+1 for the Dillon 550B

[Jakal]

No problems here either with the 6.5 Grendel. Run several different bullet and powder combos. AR-Comp, CFE, TAC, and 8208. All powders throw well.

Only issues I have run across are with long extruded powders like 4198 and the 300blk with H110, need the AK powder funnel for the 300blk.

[diddlyv]

I do not have a progressive press, I do use a turret. My problem with progressive presses is cases have to be trimmed after sizing and not sure how that happens with a progressive unless one starts with a bucket of sized and trimmed brass to use in place of the piece just sized. I know there are some trimmers that work on progressives but I am much to frugal. Frugal hell just plain cheap.

If the trim problem is solved the progressive should work just fine.

[Lightning8]

I do not have a progressive press, I do use a turret. My problem with progressive presses is cases have to be trimmed after sizing and not sure how that happens with a progressive unless one starts with a bucket of sized and trimmed brass to use in place of the piece just sized. I know there are some trimmers that work on progressives but I am much to frugal. Frugal hell just plain cheap.

If the trim problem is solved the progressive should work just fine.

I trim before I load on the progressive - I know multiple high volume shooters who do that especially 223 and 308. RLTW.

[Fredman]

550B way to go.
If I'm load developing, I'll load one round at a time and set up a powder funnel for my chargemaster. After that, load and shoot!

[PA_Allen]

Another option that I recommend is "semi-progressive" loading. I first resize all my brass either on the progressive or single stage press depending on caliber. Then wet tumble to remove case lube inside and out, trim if necessary etc. once all the brass prep is done then use the progressive press to prime, powder charge, seat and/or crimp all in one operation. Works great with my Hornady LNL progressive.
- PA

[Lightning8]

Yes - had a high volume rifle competitor friend who had a 550 set up as a "2 step" process. He had one 550 head with a universal deprimer and a Dillon electric trimmer - he ran a large volume of 223 through the deprime and trip process. Then he set up the 550 press to load the "processed" 223 brass.

[rwh]

The max case length on a grendel is 1.526 and the trim length from AA is 1.516. I've never trimmed a grendel case and only a handful ever got to 1.520 in length. Trimming grendel brass is sort of optional. I don't think it's a factor in whether to load with a progressive press.

[Texas]

+1 for Dillion, and their warranty is second to none

[kymountainman]

For what it's worth .... my 2 cents.

I load 90% of the time with a XL650 with a little twist. I use a Lee Auto-Drum powder measure strapped to the top! I load everything from 9mm to 6.5-284 on the 650 and the standard Dillon powder drop wasn't cutting it with certain powders. Stick powders were hit and miss and often resulted in cut powder and as much as .5 grains off. With ball powder it was a complete crap shoot.

Since switching to the Lee Auto Drum I have had zero issues and 100% Accurate drops on everything from W231 and WC844 (Milsurp H335) to H4831. Even when the hopper gets low it still measures accurately until the last charge is dropped!

Your mileage may vary, but the Lee Auto Drum was the best $40 I've ever spent!