Zach Yeager is a member of the Pro-Staff Shooting Team for Douglas Barrels

I’ll start this blog by saying that the methods I describe here are not the only way to load excellent performing ammunition, but they are the methods that I have found give the highest ratio of performance to time spent in the reloading room.  The ammunition reloaded with this process consistently delivers single digit ES/SD in my 6 Dasher PRS rifle.

Starting with new brass, I will check the length and trim if necessary.  Cases necks are then I.D. and O.D. chamfered.  I will then lubricate each neck with some Redding Powdered graphite.  After the graphite is applied, each case gets lubed with imperial sizing wax (do not apply to the shoulder).  The cases are now ready for sizing.

Press Setup:  I run a split process in which I prep all of the cases, then measure the powder and charge them.  My main press is a stock Dillon 650 with a case feeder.  I have a de-capping die in station 1, full length sizing die sans expander ball in station 2, and a mandrel expander in station 4.  I can run 100 cases through this process in under ten minutes.  The sized and primed cases will now be put into my HComp Designs loading blocks for charging.  These aluminum blocks hold 100 rounds and have a unique feature that allows me to mark the case heads of my brass in seconds.

Weighing Powder:  I use an A&D FX120 scale equipped with a MacDonald AutoTrickler V3 that sits on a bench separate from my presses.  This allows me to measure powder quickly and accurately to +/- .02 grains.  I’ll charge ten cases and then begin seating bullets while I wait for the powder thrower.

Bullet Seating:  I use a Lee Classic Turret Press equipped with a seating die to finish off the rounds.  I really like the ease of swapping tool heads on the Lee and you can’t beat the price.  Now that the rounds are loaded, they go back into the tray.  After loading I wipe each case off with a rag soaked in acetone.  This quickly removes the wax and any other residue on the cases.  The final step in my reloading process is to mark all of the case heads in the HComp tray and transfer them to cases and load into my pack.