That is a part of a collection of posts that spotlight the gear the 200 top-ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) are operating in long-range rifle matches. (Study concerning the Precision Rifle Collection.) This group of rivals represents the perfect precision rifle shooters within the nation.
This text is Half 1 of a 3-part collection the place I’ll give attention to the reloading gear and course of these guys use to load their match ammo. Right here is how I plan to publish this 3 half collection:
Reloading Presses & Dies (this text)
Reloading Powder Scales
Reloading Course of & Every Step Carried out
Subscribe through electronic mail or observe me on Instagram to be the primary to know when that subsequent article is printed.
This text will give attention to the reloading press and reloading dies they use to handload their match ammo, together with sizing dies and presses, in addition to seating dies and presses.
How Lots of The Professionals Load Their Ammo?
After I surveyed these professional shooters, I requested in the event that they handloaded their very own ammo for many of their matches or in the event that they used manufacturing facility ammo or a customized loading service. Listed here are the outcomes of that query:
97% of the shooters stated they handloaded their very own ammo! I’ll share extra about what the opposite 3% use in an upcoming article, however this text may even talk about the reloading presses and dies that these guys use to load their match-grade ammo.
What Is “Good” PRS Match Ammo? What Type of Precision Are We Speaking About?
Consistency is every part with regards to long-range taking pictures! Teams should be comparatively small, and muzzle velocity needs to be very constant.
Many veteran long-range shooters see the muzzle velocity consistency as among the finest indicators of ammo high quality. Most people who find themselves conversant in statistics imagine Commonplace Deviation (SD) is the perfect measurement of muzzle velocity variation. In actual fact, Engleman says this plainly: “Excessive Unfold (ES) will not be a dependable statistical indicator. One of the best indicator of velocity variations is the usual deviation.” He goes on to elucidate, “The true excessive unfold of a inhabitants is about 6 instances the usual deviation.” To study extra about normal deviation and statistics of muzzle velocity, try this text. I actually spent months writing that article in a method that even those that aren’t engineers or math nerds might perceive as a result of I really feel prefer it’s necessary to know as a long-range shooter.
The desk under is from ballistician Bryan Litz’s guide Fashionable Developments in Lengthy Vary Capturing Quantity 2, and it gives a “abstract of what sort of SDs are required to realize sure long-range taking pictures targets on the whole phrases”:
So, an SD of 15 fps ends in roughly 15” of vertical dispersion at 1000 yards. That’s probably sufficient to overlook a goal in a PRS match. A ten fps SD ends in about 10” of vertical dispersion at 1000 yards. Whereas we aren’t sometimes taking pictures targets which might be smaller than 1 MOA at 1000 yards, that assumes you broke the shot completely completely, your goal vary was lifeless nuts on, your ballistic answer was completely calibrated, and the changes in your scope’s elevation turret had been additionally excellent. That’s a number of assumptions, which is why most of us who shoot PRS need our ammo to have single-digit SDs to be thought-about match-worthy. I personally could be okay with ammo that produced an SD of seven or 8 fps or much less, and I don’t suppose that might trigger me to overlook any photographs at a match. Above that, I get uncomfortable. Nevertheless, 5 fps is usually seen because the gold normal amongst critical shooters – and decrease is at all times higher.
For context, the chart under reveals ALL of the SDs reported by this group of top-ranked PRS shooters on my survey. Some cartridges make it simpler to load ammo with decrease SDs. So I additionally offered a extra detailed breakdown of the SD these guys reported by cartridge, which you’ll learn right here.
85% of those shooters are producing ammo that has an SD of seven fps or much less! In actual fact, 66% are reporting an SD of 5 fps or much less! Meaning these guys know easy methods to produce a number of the greatest handloads potential, which might solely have 5” vertical dispersion at 1000 yards!
With regards to group dimension, we aren’t essentially speaking about Benchrest rifle teams – nevertheless it nonetheless needs to be exact. 80% of the top-ranked shooters report that their common 5-shot group dimension is 0.4 MOA or much less, with 60% saying their rifle averages 0.3 MOA or much less!
So nearly all of these shooters say their ammo has an SD of 5 fps or much less, and their rifle shoots teams which might be 0.3 MOA or much less! I hope that offers context for why this group of shooters ought to be thought-about consultants with regards to reloading! So, let’s have a look at what reloading gear they use to provide extraordinarily constant ammo that’s aggressive on the highest ranges.
Reloading Press for Sizing Brass
I particularly requested this group what reloading press they used for resizing brass and what reloading press they used for seating bullets as a result of I wasn’t positive what number of of them would use the identical sort of press for each. The chart under gives a breakdown of what number of of those top-ranked shooters stated they used the identical type of press for each operations and what number of used a special model for sizing than they did for seating:
65% of the professional shooters stated they use the identical sort of press for each sizing and seating, however 35% stated they use a special type of press for seating. We’ll dive into that just a little later on this article, however for now, let’s have a look at what sort of reloading press this group makes use of for resizing their brass for his or her match ammo:
The RCBS Rock Chucker reloading press was the most well-liked sizing press amongst this group, representing 28% of the 200 top-ranked shooters within the PRS. There have been 8 shooters within the prime 25 utilizing an RCBS press for sizing, which meant it was additionally the most well-liked press among the many guys on the very prime, too. The RCBS Rock Chucker press appears to be the commonest reloading press in existence, nevertheless it was fascinating to see these on the very prime of this listing utilizing it to compete on the highest ranges of precision rifle taking pictures. What a praise to RCBS’s timeless and reasonably priced design! Many firms provide a press with the same design or have tried to enhance on it through the years, however the RCBS Rock Chucker continues to be the usual. The road value on the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme press is just $210!
19% of those shooters stated they used a Forster Co-Ax reloading press for sizing, together with 5 among the many prime 25. Invoice Marr at RifleShooter.com says, “The Co-Ax differs from most single-stage presses in two areas: the shell holder and die insert association. In contrast to my outdated Rock Chucker, you don’t have to put money into a collection of various shell holders to work with cartridges; the reversible jaws merely open and shut on commonest instances with out adjustment. Dies merely slide out and in of a notch within the entrance of a Forster press. No extra screwing something down to make sure your settings keep the identical; merely lock the die’s lock ring round its physique, alter the die, and each time you’re taking it out and in of the press, its setting stays precisely the identical. That is my favourite a part of the Co-Ax!”
There was additionally 19% utilizing a Dillon press for sizing, together with 4 of these within the prime 25. Many of the different presses on this listing are single-stage presses, nevertheless it’s probably this group used a Dillon progressive press. Switching cartridges will be complicated (RifleShooter.com refers to switching cartridges on a Dillon 650/750 as “an engineering challenge”! 😉), however as soon as it’s all setup you may crank out some ammo! I might suspect many of those shooters utilizing a Dillon probably have a devoted press for his or her match cartridge that they hardly ever (if ever) swap to do different cartridges. Most of those guys are probably operating the Dillon XL-750, which is an up to date model of the XL-650.
The very best-ranked shooter utilizing a Dillon press for resizing brass was Ken Sanoski, who completed eighth general within the 2023 PRS Open Division season standings. So, I reached out to Ken to ask about what sort of reloading setup he used for his match ammo. Here’s what he advised me:
“So, I take advantage of a Dillon 750 with a Mark 7 Autodrive setup. Truthfully, it most likely isn’t as constant as a single-stage press, however I don’t suppose it makes a distinction. It’s constant sufficient for me! I sometimes measure a number of after I get began to verify it’s between 0.0015” and 0.0025” of shoulder bump – then I overlook about it. I’ve round 24,000 cycles on it processing 6 Dasher brass, and I don’t recall checking the bump since I initially arrange the die. I’m not a lot of a perfectionist with regards to reloading. Truthfully, I hate doing it, and my spouse masses most of my ammo for me. So the automated setup the Autodrive/Dillon provides is ideal for me.” – Ken Sanoski, eighth Place in Open Division Season Rankings
Ken reported that his 6 Dasher has a 5 fps SD and a median 5-shot group of 0.5 MOA. Sanoski is likely one of the easiest rivals on the planet with regards to precision rifle matches – so possibly we must always spend much less time perfecting ammo on the reloading bench and extra time taking pictures! 😉
A setup like Ken talked about with a Dillon 750 + Mark 7 Autodrive combo is priced at $3,963. I’ll add that whereas Ken does use a Dillon progressive press to resize his brass, he makes use of a Okay&M Arbor Press for seating bullets in his match ammo.
The Space 419 Zero Press had 18% of those shooters utilizing it general, together with 2 among the many prime 25. The Space 419 Zero Press was designed as a zero-compromise reloading software. It’s a turret-based reloading press that the producer claims: “When indexing the turret, repeatability variance of the system might be lower than .0005″. I gained’t go into all the small print, however the design is fairly insane. However, zero compromises led to a price ticket of $1,275 – which makes it the most costly single-stage press by a protracted shot.
7% of those top-ranked PRS shooters stated they used a Hornady reloading press for sizing, however none of these had been within the prime 25. Hornady makes a number of totally different sorts of presses, from a basic, single-stage press that’s much like the RCBS Rock Chucker to a complicated progressive press. Sadly, I didn’t ask these guys what mannequin they had been utilizing.
Redding reloading presses had 5% represented general, with 2 within the prime 25. Redding is an especially fashionable die producer, so it’s not shocking to see a number of of those professional shooters utilizing a Redding press. Redding makes a number of forms of presses. The Redding T-7 Turret Press is a very fashionable possibility and was what Space 419 workers had been utilizing for years earlier than they developed the Space 419 Zero Press. The blokes at Space 419 are very massive on tooling, and the Redding T7 press is what made them such massive followers of a turret press design. So in case you can’t swing the $1275 for the Space 419 Zero, the $395 Redding T-7 Turret Press may be a fantastic various. One other fashionable possibility is the Redding Huge Boss II Single-Stage press for $295, which is mainly an improved model of the RCBS Rock Chucker. Final 12 months, I interviewed two-time PRS Champion Austin Orgain and requested about his reloading setup and course of. Orgain makes use of a Redding Huge Boss 2 Press with the Inline Fabrication Case Ejection System (his setup proven under). Examine Austin Orgain’s full reloading setup and course of.
Lee had 2% general however had 2 within the prime 25! A type of within the prime 10 utilizing a Lee press was Austin Buschman, who lately gained his 2nd IPRF World Championship. Buschman was additionally the 2022 PRS Champion. Final 12 months, I interviewed Buschman about his full reloading setup (proven under), and he defined it intimately, together with why he beloved his Lee 4-Gap Basic Turret Press. Truthfully, Buschman’s complete strategy to reloading was fascinating, and you may learn that right here.
The MEC Marksman Reloading Press, German-Made Präzipress, Mark 7 Industrial Reloading Press, and Frankford Arsenal all had 1% of those shooters, however none of these had been within the prime 25. One shooter who was utilizing the Frankford Arsenal particularly stated it was the “Frankford Arsenal M-Press Coaxial,” which seems to be like the same design to the Forster CoAx.
Professional Tip: Inline Fabrication’s Case Ejection system is an adjunct that may be added to most reloading presses, and it’ll successfully double your throughput when sizing brass. This method ejects your instances from the press for you, permitting you to depart your proper hand on the press lever and your left hand devoted to feeding brass. The ejector components for many presses are round $40, or you might purchase a package that features a mounting system with bins for $60. I’d say it may be the perfect cash I’ve ever spent on reloading gear! I actually gained’t personal a single-stage press that doesn’t have an possibility for this accent as a result of it’s a game-changer.
In addition they make the reloading press stands known as the Ultramount that you simply see in most of the images on this article, which get the press nearer to eye degree. Truthfully, they make a ton of nice equipment for these of us that reload. They’re of no affiliation to PRB, and I don’t even know the fellows – however I purchase a number of their stuff! 😉
Greatest Sizing Dies
Earlier than we dive into the sizing dies, I’ll say that 94% of those top-ranked shooters full-length dimension their brass each time. There are different precision rifle disciplines that may solely neck-size their brass, however needless to say all of those matches are in area situations (not indoors and even off a bench on a sq. vary). Many matches can get fairly dusty, so having ammo that has ample clearance to chamber reliably is likely one of the highest priorities. I plan to offer a extra detailed breakdown in an upcoming article, which is able to give attention to their reloading course of, however I assumed that was price mentioning right here, too.
Now let’s have a look at what model of sizing die these top-ranked shooters are utilizing for his or her match ammo:
There was a staggering 43% of those top-ranked PRS shooters utilizing a Quick Motion Customs (SAC) modular sizing die, together with 50% of these within the prime 10 and 52% of the highest 25!
SAC dies have a really distinctive die design. PRS Champ and two-time IPRF World Champion Austin Buschman says this about them: “I like that the SAC die sizes simply the right quantity all the best way all the way down to the bottom of the case,” Austin stated. Totally different manufacturers of dies fluctuate when it comes to how a lot they dimension the case nearer to the bottom. SAC explains, “Our modular sizing dies sizes extra on the base and fewer on the shoulder in comparison with conventional resizing dies.”
Buschman: “The SAC sizing dies even have a neck/shoulder bushing, which looks as if a cool thought.” A die bushing means that you can fine-tune or customise how a lot it sizes the neck of the case. Most different bushing dies, like Redding or Whidden, solely have a bushing that sizes the neck. Usually, which means the neck bushing doesn’t dimension 10% of the best way to the neck/shoulder junction. However, the SAC die bushing sizes the neck and shoulder with one integral bushing, so it sizes 100% of the neck.
Austin Buschman full-length sizes his brass utilizing this SAC die and bumps the case shoulder again 0.003” each time he reloads a case. Buschman: “I shoot a number of dusty, soiled matches in Oklahoma, and in case you get just a little little bit of mud in your chamber and your brass isn’t sized fairly a bit, you simply can’t at all times shut the chamber on it.” With regards to reloading ammo, Austin’s highest precedence is reliability. (Examine Austin Buschman’s full reloading course of and gear.)
SAC modular sizing dies are priced at $295.
17% of those execs use Redding sizing dies, together with 4 within the prime 25. The Redding Full-Size Bushing Sizing Die (proven subsequent to the SAC die within the diagram above) was the gold normal for sizing dies amongst aggressive PRS shooters for the longest time. Whereas new manufacturers and designs have entered the market over the previous 3 years, it’s not shocking to see Redding nonetheless well-represented. These Redding full-length dies have a road value of round $82.
11% had been utilizing Bullet Central Micron Precision bushing sizing dies, together with 3 within the prime 25. That is one other comparatively new design. Two-time PRS Champion Austin Orgain advised me that he’s used a number of totally different sorts of dies through the years however stated he’s lately began utilizing the Micron Precision Bushing Sizing Dies from Bullet Central. Orgain: “I’ve been actually liking these dies. They appear very well constructed and are good dies. I’ll use these to decap and full-length dimension a case in a single operation.” (Learn extra about Orgain’s reloading gear and course of, together with extra on these Micron Bushing Sizing dies.)
Micron Precision Bushing Sizing Dies from Bullet Central are priced at $275.
These 3 manufacturers (Quick Motion Customs modular sizing dies, Redding dies, and Bullet Central’s Micron Precision dies) symbolize what 71% of those top-ranked shooters had been utilizing. Behind these, there have been a number of shooters utilizing these different manufacturers of sizing dies:
Greatest Reloading Press for Seating
Let’s transfer on to the reloading gear they use to seat their bullets. I particularly requested what press they use for seating bullets as a result of I used to be curious what number of shooters had been utilizing an arbor press.
What’s an arbor press? An arbor reloading press is a specialised software used primarily by Benchrest and long-range shooters to seat bullets with excessive consistency and accuracy. In contrast to conventional reloading presses, arbor presses use a easy “arbor” (or lever) mechanism, making use of exact downward stress straight on the die. In comparison with conventional reloading presses, an arbor press setup is easy and minimalistic, which many imagine reduces the potential for error and helps produce extra uniform rounds.
The chart under reveals what reloading press these guys stated they had been utilizing to seat the bullets of their match ammo:
20% had been utilizing an RCBS Rock Chucker reloading press for seating bullets, together with 2 within the prime 25. It’s just a little fascinating to see that 28% of those shooters use an RCBS press for sizing, however 8% much less are used for seating. After I analyzed the 8% who stated they used an RCBS press for sizing however a special press for seating, it seems to be like most of these switched to one of many arbor presses for seating (i.e., Okay&M, Sinclair, Luman, LE Wilson, AMP, or twenty first Century).
Solely 2% behind RCBS was the Forster Co-Ax reloading press, which 18% of those shooters had been utilizing, together with 8 within the prime 25. That makes them the most well-liked reloading press for seating amongst these on the very prime of the leaderboard.
17% had been utilizing the Space 419 Zero Press for seating bullets, together with 2 within the prime 25.
11% had been utilizing a Dillon press to seat bullets, together with 1 within the prime 25.
8% had been utilizing a Okay&M Arbor Press to seat bullets, together with 4 within the prime 25. That makes the Okay&M Arbor Press the most well-liked arbor press amongst this group. A type of shooters was within the prime 10 (#8 Ken Sanoski).
One fascinating observe from my interview final 12 months with Austin Orgain is that he stated he had been switching between seating bullets on a few totally different presses: a Okay&M Precision Arbor Press and a Forster Co-Ax Reloading Press: “I’ve been utilizing a Wilson bullet seating die with my arbor press for my 25 GT ammo, which is what I’ve been operating these days at competitions. For my 6 Dasher, I typically load it on an arbor press and typically seat my bullets utilizing a Forster Coax. You may really feel the seating stress so much simpler with an arbor press – however I can’t say that I’ve observed any distinction when it comes to accuracy or consistency from the ammo I seated with an arbor press or my Forster Co-Ax.”
7% had been utilizing a twenty first Century Capturing Arbor Press, together with 1 within the prime 25.
The manufacturers above represented what 80% of those pro-level shooters had been utilizing, however the remaining shooters had been unfold over a number of different presses:
Based mostly on all of that information, it seems to be like round 20% of those shooters use an arbor press to seat their bullets. There are additionally only a few who use a progressive press. The overwhelming majority use a single-stage reloading press to seat their bullets.
Greatest Reloading Seating Dies
26% of those top-ranked shooters had been operating a Quick Motion Customs seating die to make their match ammo, together with 4 within the prime 25. Meaning Quick Motion Customs dies had been the most well-liked sizing AND seating die!
SAC named this “The” Seating Die. You should be fairly assured to call a product that! Here’s what they are saying:
“The” Seating Die is designed to be the ONLY bullet seating die you’ll ever want for a household of cartridge our bodies. Think about having the ability to simply and exactly having the ability to seat bullets from a 22 Creedmoor, 6 BR, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 308 Winchester, all with the identical die. Or a 6.5 SAUM, 28 Nosler, and a 300 RUM with the identical die. “The” Seating Die might be your one-stop store for a household of cartridges.
Mainly, you should purchase one seating die that may match a number of cartridges with the identical physique diameter. Every die comes with a number of totally different stems and spacers which you can combine and match to seat bullets for any of the cartridges in that household. Listed here are two examples of fashionable seating die sorts together with the cartridges the identical die may very well be used for:
SAC’s “The” Seating Die features a Mitutoyo micrometer to finely alter your bullet seating depth. Mitutoyo is seen by many as one of many premier producers with regards to precision instruments. SAC leverages a number of technical methods to make sure the die has a really concentric and true meeting.
SAC’s seating die is priced at $375.
The 2nd hottest model of seating dies utilized by these professional shooters was Redding seating dies at 18%, together with 2 within the prime 25. Whereas I didn’t ask what particular mannequin they used, I’d guess just about all of them had been utilizing a Redding Competitors seating die, which has a built-in micrometer to make nice and exact changes to bullet seating depth. Redding Competitors Seater Dies have a road value from $158 to $245, which varies from cartridge to cartridge based mostly on recognition.
15% had been utilizing an LE Wilson Bullet Seater die, together with 6 within the prime 25 – making it the most well-liked seating die amongst these within the prime 25. Two of these shooters had been truly within the prime 10. That is the most well-liked die that’s used with an arbor press and is taken into account by many because the gold normal for seating bullets on an arbor press.
13% had been utilizing Forster seating dies, together with 5 within the prime 25.
11% had been utilizing RCBS seating dies, however none of these had been within the prime 25.
The manufacturers above symbolize what 83% of those shooters had been utilizing, and the remaining 17% had been unfold over a wide range of manufacturers of seating dies:
Coming Up Subsequent
If you happen to loved this content material, I’ve already pushed dozens of articles similar to it! Take a look at the opposite “What The Professionals Use” articles which have already been printed this 12 months.
As talked about, this was Half 1 of a 3-part collection the place I’ll give attention to the reloading gear and course of these guys use to load their match ammo. Keep tuned for the following 2 installments, which might be printed very quickly:
Reloading Presses & Dies (this text)
Reloading Powder Scales
Reloading Course of & Every Step Carried out
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