.50 BMG equipment

[SnkBit]

I'm looking to start purchasing equipment to load for my .50. Especially interested in press and dies at the moment. What are you guys that are loading precision big bore using and why? I'm not afraid to buy the good stuff, I have quite an elaborate reloading room already.

 

[culater]

Go to Dillon press and start thier. I have not uesd it but looks like it right up your alley

 

[SnkBit]

I have several Dillon presses and they are first rate but not my go to for precision long range ammo. I know the 50 poses a few unique issues as well so I'm really looking to hear from guys that compete with it first hand.

 

[samnev]

A few years back I bought the RCBS 50cal kit which consisted of the big 50 cal press and all dies. Was very happy with the setup.

 

[Hoser]

I am using an RCBS AmmoMaster press and CH4D bushing and inline seat dies for my bolt gun. The M2 primer seat die is a work of art.

Semi auto ammo gets run through CH4D small base resize and RCBS taper crimp.

 

[SnkBit]

Thanks Hoser, that's exactly the kind of info I was hoping to hear.

 

[biffj]

I've also been using the RCBS Ammomaster for years and really like it. For the 50 I use the RCBS dies as they are accurate enough for my open sighted bolt action 50. Apparently its good enough to shoot 2in groups at 400 yds in the right hands too......just not my hands. A friend fired a couple groups with the AMAX bullets that were loaded very carefully on the press. In addition to the 50 cal uses for the ammomaster I also use it to load 20mm ammo for my Solothurn anti-tank rifle, priming other small artillery rounds and as the full length sizing press for the 338 lapu mag and other rifle rounds. I like the primer disposal setup they have where the fired primers are dropped down the center of the ram and into a bin clamped onto the upright for the die plate. Unlike most of the loading presses that toss fired primers all over the floor this one is really sweet.
So the ammomaster is pretty versatile and its excellent for the 50 as well.
I looked at the dillon 50 press but its a lot more money and I don't see much advantage unless you're loading bulk.

Frank

 

[Strykervet]

I use a Dillon press but it's because I also load for an M2HB. With the .50, the Dillon press works pretty well, it's solid and not made like their other presses (I have a 650 I use for M855 and other milspec ammo --super serious shit gets the digital scales and the single stage). I'm still impressed with the accuracy obtainable from the Dillon press vs. the very little you have to fuck with it to keep it working. It's been awesome. You want a damn strong ram for sizing .50 brass, it's not easy. I had a CH4D make me a custom decapping die so I could do that process prior to sizing MG brass. That shit needs A LOT of sizing and don't be afraid to overcam that press, they're made for it. If you only shoot a bolt gun, a single stage would suffice and I'd use higher end brass for that too. When I get basic load data down (actually taking these beasts out to shoot can be a production) I'll buy nice brass for the bolt gun and use all this M2 brass for the M2. FWIW, military ball .50 brass is very uniform, but dirty and needs a lot of sizing, still, it's some of the best surplus brass and THE best MG brass I've ever used.

I actually wouldn't mind having the Ammomaster... It's a damn nice single stage press. Too bad Forster doesn't make one. There used to be a super nice .50 press, but I can't recall who made it. Maybe call CH4D and ask them? There are lots of used presses out there and people get into and out of .50 all the time, so if patient you'll find stuff cheaper. M2 (don't confuse M2 with M2HB, M2's dies are more suited for bolt guns IMO/E) I don't think makes dies anymore for .50, I called to have some made a while back and he was gonna make an exception for me. This could have been temporary, he still has a site up; maybe he does it when he wants to now?. Those are the best .50 dies, period. He'll make the die from your fire formed brass. Others can make nice stuff too and CH4D makes by far the most .50 "stuff" but M2 is/was the watermark. I have all CH4D dies myself and with powerful press and couple bumps on the cam stroke I get the brass sized to the Wilson gauge (it's fully resized to milspec, again, it's hard shit to size!). CH4D makes a press top primer/swager tool also that I employ; if you use one just make sure to adjust it right or it'll bend the piss out of the rims. Doesn't take much to swage .50 brass actually, a depth gauge or your calipers are best for setting up.

Oh yeah, if you aren't doing tons of brass like I am (literally; if you wanna crash course I could use the help --shit, you can use my gear if you help!) then you NEED sizing wax. It's the ONLY way to go. Even if you use spray lanolin, you'll run into some that need more lube. Without sufficient lube, you can't size this brass, it's too much work. Imperial Wax, that's it. That stuff makes sizing .50 MUCH easier and goes easier on the brass.

I use the Dillon auto trimmer too, you'll need a way to trim the brass and the route you go will largely depend on the amount of work you have to do or time you have to do it. Auto trimmers are awesome if you plan on sizing/trimming. Then for loading I use the primer, powder dump, seating and crimping dies. For more accurate handloads, I'd dump the load in an RCBS pan and then use the auto-trickle feature to zero it and then just dump it down a funnel on the press. The Dillon .50 press is pretty user friendly.

Good luck!

 

[mdmp5]

For a few years, out of curiosity, I’ve looked for a video showing the Dillon bfr press in action. To this day, I’ve found absolutely zero. In fact, the only one I’ve seen is from the shot show back in 2010 when they unveiled it. Also, I’ve not heard of anyone who actually owns this thing until the post above. It almost had me thinking that they either d/c’d it or it never existed. I’m sure the price tag for everything doesn’t help, but we are talking about an arena where guys will drop 5k on a scope because it says S&B on it.

 

[Danattherock]

I have $3500 worth of brand new 50 BMG reloading gear. Press, dies, 20 boxes of Amax, 350+ brass case, tons. All unused. Sold my 50 after getting stocked up for 50 bmg 1000 yard matches. Message me if interested and I can send full list, everything but the rifle, literally. Trying to let it go cheap in one lump, $2000. Otherwise will break it up and sell in pieces, but trying to avoid the hassle.

 

[Strykervet]

For a few years, out of curiosity, I’ve looked for a video showing the Dillon bfr press in action. To this day, I’ve found absolutely zero. In fact, the only one I’ve seen is from the shot show back in 2010 when they unveiled it. Also, I’ve not heard of anyone who actually owns this thing until the post above. It almost had me thinking that they either d/c’d it or it never existed. I’m sure the price tag for everything doesn’t help, but we are talking about an arena where guys will drop 5k on a scope because it says S&B on it.

(No Females Allowed, Marca Registrada 2017)

That's EXACTLY why I bought it! Shit, you oughta be an FBI profiler! Even if you get it wrong, they'll give you a comedy job on Amazon Prime.

Trust me, I own one, Dillon is the only one that makes it and it has a limited use. So you won't see 'em hardly anywhere. There may be better, but damn, they are COSTLY. Not worth it, IMO. The Dillon is the best for the price, and oh, they're supposed to be coming out with inserts so you can use it with other rounds. I'm hoping magnums. With that solid ram, there's no way the brass is going in any straighter or less straight vs. a single stage. It's manually indexed, you have to turn it. Think of it like a single stage press that can do 4 things at once. It's not fast like a true progressive, but it's faster than a single stage by far. Your dies will be more important. CH4D is a lifesaver here, cheaper and they work well.

If your press can size and trim at the same time and do it with perfect results, why not? Not worth it unless you have thousands of pieces to trim, but the auto trimmer is really nice. And when loading, there is little pressure the press has to exert. The ram is HUGE. Just the press weighs around 100lbs. It's no joke. If you think you can't load accurate ammo on one of these presses, you are delusional. In addition, accurate ammo can be loaded on the 650 type presses as well --the Dillon powder dumps are by far the most accurate in the industry, period, and if you want more control just replace it with a funnel and use the digital scale.

The Dillon 50 gives you more freedom to work with, it's just a 4 head press and rotating shell holder. You can prime on press or off, use a Hornady powder dump or you can use that dump, then dump that into a digital press and tweak as necessary, or dump into pan, trickle then into case. Up to you. For belt ammo, I get it within tolerance. For bolt gun ammo, I weigh each load.

Using a progressive press to me used to mean cheating or cheaper ammo. I was wrong. There are some things you have to do different, but they still speed everything else up.

And FWIW, the Dillon 50 is totally unlike any press they've ever built. If you get one, you'll need a DAMN strong place to mount it. If you can bolt it STRONGLY to your floor using their stand, that's the best way, believe me. I put one on my bench and without some extra work and reinforcing, the down stroke was literally enough to rip it out of the bench (this was no weak bench to start with!). I forget how much force it can deliver, but it's a LOT. I imagine the RCBS will have a pretty tough ram on it and require a strong base too.

 

[biffj]

Yes, the RCBS needs a strong bench too. My only complaint with the press is the aluminum base and the fact that it breaks after a bit of use. I ran mine for about 6 or 7 years before it broke and its done about 5 years since then. The good thing is that RCBS replaces them for nothing. I just called and a new one was in my mailbox 3 days later....no questions asked.

Frank

 

[mdmp5]

(No Females Allowed, Marca Registrada 2017)

That's EXACTLY why I bought it! Shit, you oughta be an FBI profiler! Even if you get it wrong, they'll give you a comedy job on Amazon Prime.

Trust me, I own one, Dillon is the only one that makes it and it has a limited use. So you won't see 'em hardly anywhere. There may be better, but damn, they are COSTLY. Not worth it, IMO. The Dillon is the best for the price, and oh, they're supposed to be coming out with inserts so you can use it with other rounds. I'm hoping magnums. With that solid ram, there's no way the brass is going in any straighter or less straight vs. a single stage. It's manually indexed, you have to turn it. Think of it like a single stage press that can do 4 things at once. It's not fast like a true progressive, but it's faster than a single stage by far. Your dies will be more important. CH4D is a lifesaver here, cheaper and they work well.

If your press can size and trim at the same time and do it with perfect results, why not? Not worth it unless you have thousands of pieces to trim, but the auto trimmer is really nice. And when loading, there is little pressure the press has to exert. The ram is HUGE. Just the press weighs around 100lbs. It's no joke. If you think you can't load accurate ammo on one of these presses, you are delusional. In addition, accurate ammo can be loaded on the 650 type presses as well --the Dillon powder dumps are by far the most accurate in the industry, period, and if you want more control just replace it with a funnel and use the digital scale.

The Dillon 50 gives you more freedom to work with, it's just a 4 head press and rotating shell holder. You can prime on press or off, use a Hornady powder dump or you can use that dump, then dump that into a digital press and tweak as necessary, or dump into pan, trickle then into case. Up to you. For belt ammo, I get it within tolerance. For bolt gun ammo, I weigh each load.

Using a progressive press to me used to mean cheating or cheaper ammo. I was wrong. There are some things you have to do different, but they still speed everything else up.

And FWIW, the Dillon 50 is totally unlike any press they've ever built. If you get one, you'll need a DAMN strong place to mount it. If you can bolt it STRONGLY to your floor using their stand, that's the best way, believe me. I put one on my bench and without some extra work and reinforcing, the down stroke was literally enough to rip it out of the bench (this was no weak bench to start with!). I forget how much force it can deliver, but it's a LOT. I imagine the RCBS will have a pretty tough ram on it and require a strong base too.

Just for the record, at no time was I doubting your claim. I was just pointing out that I have never met anyone who had it since its inception, and you were the first.

 

[Strykervet]

Oh, I wasn't being a dick, I'm sorry if I came off that way. I'm a bit of brash individual as a matter of course. But no, not trying to fling shit your way at all.

The BFR press is a bit, well, odd. It doesn't do much for bolt gun loaders that the single stage can't do other than speed some things up, but when loading more than 1k rounds, it's value really shines. I'd have to say that the BFR vs. single stage: neither give up much to the other due to the huge rams they all use. The base ensures all brass receives equal pressure at the tool head, and the adj. shell holder does just that --holds them in the indexed position. They have about as much play as does a shell holder for a single stage, FWIW.

But since most .50's are seldom shot bolt guns, I guess this press doesn't sell much. I'm just glad they make it because all the other nice press makers are long gone out of business. There used to be some damn nice gear out there, especially the custom reloading gear. About all the custom reloading gear you can find today are dies and there's not really a way around that in many cases, we need custom die makers. But we've figured out how to live without custom press makers. Or just lost the respect for them. There are some fine ones still around, costly and hard to find. But there's one that puts the BFR to shame, I can't recall what it's called or who made it, but it was nice and there aren't too many of them.

 

[Strykervet]

Yes, the RCBS needs a strong bench too. My only complaint with the press is the aluminum base and the fact that it breaks after a bit of use. I ran mine for about 6 or 7 years before it broke and its done about 5 years since then. The good thing is that RCBS replaces them for nothing. I just called and a new one was in my mailbox 3 days later....no questions asked.

Frank

I can see the Dillon .50 press breaking the table, no problem if it's not reinforced, but I seriously doubt it would break itself. The Dillon piece is 100lbs. of cast iron and steel. I'd be shocked if it ever cracked. On the other hand, wouldn't be surprised to pull the lever one day and have it come undone from the bench despite a solid mounting solution. I really wish I could have used their stand but I have hardened pebble concrete and drilling small holes is hard enough, anchors for that would likely crack my floor.