Progressive press due order

Hey all,

I currently reload all of my match 45 on a single stage; however, I have a Hornady progressive I use for plinking ammo. I have been doing more shooting than I can handle loading for and am contemplating starting to use the progressive for match ammo as well. I was just curious as to how you reloaders have your die order. I currently deprime, clean primer pocket, sonic clean brass, size, expand, powder, bullet seat, and crimp. On the progressive I only have 5 spots and 2 are tied up by the powder cop and bullet seater. Just curious as to your stages. Thanks for your opinions.

Sorry, the title should say die order, not due order.

On Dillon i deprime/size  then sonic clean.  then i run run back through the deprime size, prime it, expand/powder, bullet seat, crimp.

dillon 550 has room for 4 dies.

1)resize/deprime,  prime, 2) bell case/powder, 3) lock out die, 4) seat bullet 5) taper crimp
this on a horndy LNL. I clean the brass first, have shot thousands of rounds and found no need to  deprime before cleaning or clean primer pockets

I should clarify, the two spots are filled by powder cop and a bullet feeder, not seater.

If you're intent on using the bullet feeder then you aren't left with a lot of options-

1. Size/Deprime
2. Powder Measure/Expand (PTX Universal expander)
3. Bullet Feeder
4. Bullet Seater
5. Crimp Die

Alternatively, without the bullet feeder, you could-

1. Size/Deprime
2. Expander Die
3. Powder Measure
4. Bullet Seater
5. Crimp Die

or 

1. Size/Deprime
2. Powder Measure/Expand (PTX Universal expander)
3. Powder Check Die (Lockout or Cop)
4. Bullet Seater
5. Crimp Die

DavidR wrote:1)resize/deprime,  prime, 2) bell case/powder, 3) lock out die, 4) seat bullet 5) taper crimp
this on a horndy LNL. I clean the brass first, have shot thousands of rounds and found no need to  deprime before cleaning or clean primer pockets

I think I start cleaning without depriming.

It's pistol ammo, not sniper rifle competition stuff.

I just tumble my brass, then run it through the Dillon as:

Size/decap
Expand/charge
Seat/crimp

My "grade 2" cast bullets fired one-handed over a sandbag to check zero at 50 yards went into about 3 inches, and that was WITH probably a 2-inch wobble for three of the six shots.

True, I've never had any handloads hold the X-ring at 50 yards. Strange how many brands of mass-produced .22 ammo can hold the X at 50...

Maybe I'll do more than segregate brass by headstamp. Just got what I want to start weighing the bullets last week.

I have found segregating by headstamp has helped . especially those s&b and Magtech cases. federal and starline seem to match up well. .38 special.

Oh, the .45 runs through a different machine, same thing, my only prep is tumbling.

Size/decrimp
Expand/prime
Charge
Seat/crimp

Similar results, but I have to stick with the Grade 1 bullets to get 2.5-inch or better at 50 yards. Case neck tension on that one is pretty light. I think the Grade 2 bullets go 4 inches at 50...out of the right gun. Turns out I wasted a lot of ammo testing time with one .45 that was too loose in the barrel/bushing/slide system to do better than...4 to 5 inches at 50 with any type of bullet or ammo.

Jwhelan939 wrote:I should clarify, the two spots are filled by  powder cop and a bullet feeder, not seater.

I would do away with the bullet feeder, replace with the seater and hand set your bullets, the goal is accuracy not speed.