So, What You Doing On The Bench Today?

[62chevy]

Got tired of always ordering more ground corn cob media because I toss it when it gets black. So yesterday I got in a 40 pound bag of the stuff I ordered online. It is ground up way finer than the usual stuff I buy, so I am sort of hoping it does not stick in the primer flash holes any more. First load is in to see if it still cleans as well, too.

I'd have to change my corn cob after 200 cases. You sure 40 pounds is enough?


I've heard that white rice is good for tumbling, haven't tried it yet, but a 25-40lb bag is fairly cheap at Costco or sams club.

When you get hungry you can always eat the rice, win win. =)

[Mbaker78]

I wouldn't want to eat it after a few tumbling cycles...

[Happyguy]

I picked up 1,300 200 grain Rainier bullets locally, I will be loading 45 ACP this weekend. He was asking $100.00 or trade and when I asked him what he was looking for in trade he wanted small pistol primers, WW231 or 230 grain 45 ACP bullets. Luckily I have 231 so I traded him 5 pounds, the 231 cost me $8.00 a pound when I bought 40 pounds of it so I figure I got the bullets for $40.00.

[Mbaker78]

I haven't been loading long enough to remember prices being that low :/

[Happyguy]

I know, I am, old.

[Mbaker78]

I'm not exactly young, just got into it late.

[62chevy]

I'm not exactly young, just got into it late.

You and me both. :|

[DaveL]

My Dad had me pulling the press handle when I was so young that I barely had the strength to get the shells out of the sizing die. He got a big kick out of it and so did I. Dad's gone now. He died in 2012 at 95 years young.We reloaded together for 50 years. I miss him. And yes, I'm old now too.

[gandog56]

Some of my old cardboard ammo boxes are just falling apart. I am slowly going through them all, and replacing all the all the bad ones with 100 round plastic boxes. Made some 6.5X55 rounds for my Swedish Mauser.

[Mbaker78]

Swapped an apex trigger into my M&P, function tested fine, I'll likely test it out today. I made a world of difference, cut trigger travel time down to maybe a quarter of what it was and weight down by at least half. I only opted for the polymer trigger for the time being, I might eventually upgrade it to an aluminum flat trigger though.

[WarEagleEd]

I expanded the case mouths on some 9mm cases and setup the seating die so I'll be ready to load them up when I get a chance.

[gandog56]

Got a load of .357 mag, .38 special, 9mm, and 7.62X54R out of the wet rotary tumbler and have them drying.

[Happyguy]

Just ordered another 10mm, in an attempt to keep up with gandog, so more 10mm loading.

[gandog56]

I've heard that "dirty Rice" is a real dish (I live pretty close to Cajun Country), but this brings a bad picture to my head.

[gandog56]

And I'm looking for a deal on the new SIG P220 10mm.

[Mbaker78]

I'd like to see S&W make a 10mm M&P...

[WarEagleEd]

I sorted some .30-06 brass that arrived in the mail yesterday. I received as part of a trade I made on this very website.

[62chevy]

I sorted some .30-06 brass that arrived in the mail yesterday. I received as part of a trade I made on this very website.

Made a couple of trades on here too now I have plenty of 308 and 45 acp, I think anyways.

[gandog56]

I didn't do a dang thing on the ol' bench today. I was just feeling plain old downright lazy.;)

[Mbaker78]

Tuesday I deprimed and bulge busted about 1100 pieces of 40s&w and ran it through the wet tumbler. Finally got around to getting it out of the dryer last night and sorting the nickel out from the yellow.

[DaveL]

I just got 50 300 blackouts loaded with those new 220gr Hornady ELDs. 10.9grs of AA1680 with a COL of 2.260". They fit the mag and the chamber with no problems. If they shoot good (no reason they shouldn't) they're going to be my go to sub bullets. I didn't think there was any VLD bullets in 220grs that would fit in the mag but these do. Wu Hu!

[lightman]

Sorted and identified a bunch of ammo that I got in a trade that I will be adding to my collection. Part of the fun of collecting, to me, is researching the ammo that I can't id.

[Happyguy]

Loaded 150 rounds of 6.5 Grendel.

[gandog56]

Just straightening my reloading shed a bit. Spilled a box of loose .22 LR all over.

[Point-Man]

My range has been closed since Aug. of last year for expansion . Before they completed and reopened there was a huge pipeline gas leak. About a month later there was a pipeline explosion with life lost. The range is still closed and work on it has stopped for the time being. Needless to say I haven`t shot or picked up brass since Aug. I have been loading ammo while I wait. At least 200 rounds for every rifle caliber except the .41 swiss and 500 for the handguns. I`m in the process of joining a shooting club. Had to wait for an opening.

[WarEagleEd]

I removed the primers out of about 60 pieces of 30-06 brass.

[Happyguy]

I sorted through a bunch of bullets I received yesterday. Can anyone use cast 25 caliber 114 grain gas checked hollow point bullets, 375 caliber gas checked and non gas checked bullets and 54 caliber maxi balls for black powder.

[WarEagleEd]

Knocked a few more primers out of some .30-06 & .280 Remington cases.

[gandog56]

Mounted my new Lee bench mount priming tool on the bench. Figured while I was out there, might as well roll some more .300 AAC Blackout.

[Mbaker78]

Went yesterday and unloaded some ammo. Also traded for a lee load all II in 12ga, so now I get to learn to load shotgun too.

[gandog56]

Way back when I was young and had my real knees instead of the metal things I have now, I shot skeet almost every other day. I cannot tell you how many boxes of 12 gauge I reloaded using a Lee Load All. Not the easiest press to use but it definitely did the job. The thing it messed up the most seemed to be the crimp.

I think I STILL have a few boxes of that stuff in my shed. But I lost a few of the parts for the thing when I moved down here, and since I am no longer shooting skeet I just tossed the thing. I think I also still have a 25 pound box of bird shot in my shed, and a jug of most of another bag.

[Mbaker78]

I don't think I can load game loads for cheap enough to save any money... I'm getting 100 rounds of 7.5 shot 2-3/4" federal for $22. I'll likely just load bigger stuff like 00 buck and whatnot once I figure out what I'm doing... but I do still need to get my shotgun working right :/

[gandog56]

Rolled out a few more .300 AAC. Finished up all the Armscor 110 grain JRN pills I had doing it.

[Mbaker78]

What are you seating them at to get them to feed?

[WarEagleEd]

Knocked the primers out of some 5.56 range brass and wet-tumbled one load of .30-06 brass.

[WarEagleEd]

I wet-tumbled my last bit of .30-06 brass. I can now load up a batch of M1 Garand-friendly '06 ammo. I will have to admit that before I learned of commercial .30-06 bending op rods on Garands, I did shoot a few boxes of Remington and Korean PMC through it without any ill effects. I don't know if I just got lucky or if the International Harvester Garands generally don't exhibit this behavior (they were made in the early 1950s). I'm not going to take any chances, though, and will load to general M1 "specs." Also, I cleaned some .308 brass that I recovered from the range.

[Mbaker78]

I think it takes a fair number of rounds to bend the op rods on the garand and M14/M1a. But I'm not positive about that

[Point-Man]

Loaded 100 Hornady 168 gr BTHP for my M1A. I will finally become a new member to a new to me shooting club.

[gandog56]

What are you seating them at to get them to feed?
The least possible. They seem to go through OK. Mayne they just like my AR, I don't know.

[gandog56]

Loaded 100 Hornady 168 gr BTHP for my M1A. I will finally become a new member to a new to me shooting club.
I just renewed my range membership. But since I leave Friday for an Alaska cruise I haven't had any time on the bench.

[Mbaker78]

My range membership is only $35/year, but it's by calendar year, so it comes due every January.

[gandog56]

My range membership is only $35/year, but it's by calendar year, so it comes due every January.
Yeah, but is yours a public range that lets all the riff raff in? Mine is a locked gate affair, members can bring 1 guest and that is it. There's always a lane open, no waiting lines.


I'm such a snob!:rolleyes:

[Point-Man]

I just renewed my range membership. But since I leave Friday for an Alaska cruise I haven't had any time on the bench.

Enjoy your cruise, you lucky dog.

[Mbaker78]

Yeah, but is yours a public range that lets all the riff raff in? Mine is a locked gate affair, members can bring 1 guest and that is it. There's always a lane open, no waiting lines.


I'm such a snob!:rolleyes:

No, we get all kinds of riffraff... it makes for some fun opportunities though, like when they refuse to put in ear pro (they're too tough to need it) so everyone starts shooting the loudest gun they have.

[Happyguy]

Since I am a senior citizen, my club charges me $25,00 a year, private, members only.

Swaged some 10 mm, 44 and 30 caliber bullets. Using 9mm cases for the 10 and 30 jackets since there are so many of them. Also using 5.7x28 for 30 jackets.

[Mbaker78]

What kind of .30 bullets are you swaging?

[Hostile79]

It depends on the load you are running through your garands. I have seen some guys suggest that any 150 grain load will not damage your op rod. I skeptical of that guidance. I believe guys typically damage their op rods quickly when they shoot heavy 180 grain plus bullets through their m1s. You can always pickup an adjusting gas plug for the m1 for like $30-60.

[Happyguy]

anywhere from 150 to 200 grains. I am working on one of 125 for the 300 blackout.

[Point-Man]

Loaded 100 Hornady 168 gr BTHP for my M1A. I will finally become a new member to a new to me shooting club.
http://www.brocksgap.com/news/2015/08/02/default/aerial-tour-of-the-range/

[Mbaker78]

anywhere from 150 to 200 grains. I am working on one of 125 for the 300 blackout.

What is your cost to produce them? Is it actually cost effective to make them as opposed to buying surplus bullets? And are we talking about solid lead or jacketed?

[Happyguy]

They are jacketed with lead cores. I don't count my time as it is therapeutic. The cases I pick up off of the ground or trade for. They are all flat base bullets but the 175 grain bullet from 5.7x28 cases will keep up with the manufactured match bullets any day. The cost comes in the initial purchase of the dies, lead die for making uniform cores, core mold and the boat tail die if you want to go that direction. I kept my eyes open ad did some trading and bought dies when I could find a good deal. It is surprising how most people don't know what they have when they buy an estate sale. I have 22 commercial jackets for anything from 45 grain up to 77 grain that I bought from estate sales for very little. I found about 1,000 lead cores and 30 caliber jackets for $50.00 to make 150 grain bullets. I bought a complete set of 22 caliber dies to make jackets from expended 22 cases, the de rimmer, core uniformer, core seating and point forming die for $45.00. The expensive dies, for me anyway were the 40/10 die, 38 caliber die, 44 dies and 308 dies. I just look for soft lead whenever I am someplace new.

[Mbaker78]

I bet the 200gr would make really good subs for blackout as well. Have you found any options for the 6.5 family?

[Happyguy]

There are. One of the swagers in in WA uses 22 mag cases to make 120 grain 6.5, I am just not set up for 6.5 yet.

[WarEagleEd]

I finished removing the primers from a small batch of LC 5.56 brass I scrounged from the range several weeks ago. They will one day become .300 Blackout brass, or, at least, that is the plan.

[Happyguy]

And that is a good plan.

[Mbaker78]

I loaded up almost 400 40cal federal Hi-Shoks that I got in trade. Then pulled a bunch of loaded ammo that was either bad or unknown (found at the range). My junk powder jar is getting pretty full ;)

[WarEagleEd]

I removed the primers from some 9mm and .220 Swift brass

[DaveL]

I've been reloading for my AR rifle (20" barrel 1in8 twist) in 6mmx45. I found a great load for 75 gr. and 85 gr. bullets (one hole 5 shot groups at 100 yards), but I'm having a hard time finding a load with 90 gr. bullets. I'm on my 4th load workup with no joy. I started with the slowest powder in the list and I'm working my way up with progressively faster powders. The groups are getting better as I use faster powders, but still not good.

[Mbaker78]

I had debated switching my 5.56 over to 6x45, is it that much better than 5.56?

[gandog56]

Ordered 3 boxes of .30 cal 110 grain spirepoints for .300 AAC.

[gandog56]

I loaded up almost 400 40cal federal Hi-Shoks that I got in trade. Then pulled a bunch of loaded ammo that was either bad or unknown (found at the range). My junk powder jar is getting pretty full ;)
Junk powder makes darned good fertilizer.

[gandog56]

I loaded up almost 400 40cal federal Hi-Shoks that I got in trade. Then pulled a bunch of loaded ammo that was either bad or unknown (found at the range). My junk powder jar is getting pretty full ;)
Junk powder makes darned good fertilizer.

[Mbaker78]

I'll probably just toss the whole jar on a bonfire some night when I've been drinking ;)

[WarEagleEd]

Junk powder makes darned good fertilizer.

That's what I was thinking. Gunpowder is high in nitrogen.

[Happyguy]

A great but short bon fire when lit in a coffee can at night, make sure your neighbors know so that they don't call the fire department.

[Mbaker78]

I was joking, I doubt I'll throw it in a fire, there's a lot of pistol/shotgun powder in there. I just need to find some flowers to put it on that the dogs can't get to.

[gandog56]

I was joking, I doubt I'll throw it in a fire, there's a lot of pistol/shotgun powder in there. I just need to find some flowers to put it on that the dogs can't get to.
Whassamatter, you don't like hot dogs? :rolleyes:

[Mbaker78]

I thought it was bad for them :/

[Happyguy]

loaded a couple hundred 32 ACP, a couple 100 25 ACP, 300 6.8 SPC and some 6.5 Creedmoor. For Father's Day my youngest daughter sent me 200 new 44 cases and 25 new 458 Lott cases.

[gandog56]

Got in 3 boxes of some Hornady .30 cal 110 grainers for my .300 AAC. Ordered some more Flitz media additive and NuFinish I use in my vibratory tumbler to put a final polish on.

[Mbaker78]

Went to the range with a coworker who went through ammo like he had a sponsor, and doesn't reload, so I'll be sorting through the 350+ rounds that he shot plus the 150+ that I shot. Mostly 9mm and 5.56.

[Happyguy]

Those are the friends to have.

[Mbaker78]

Sorted through all of the brass, deprived the stuff I'm keeping, ended up with 4 loads worth to tumble. Chopped down the 5.56 that's acceptable for blackout, keeping the rest for 223 now that I have a 10.5" upper to feed.

[gandog56]

My nephew is like that. Of course he also seems to expect ME to pay for all the ammunition we go through since I reload and he does not.


Hmmm. he is living with his mama while he goes to college. I bet she would be libtard upset at me if I gave him like a reloading starter kit for his birthday.

[gandog56]

Yeah, I have a rule when I scarf up free .223/5.56 cases at the range. I keep all the .223 as .223, and use all the 5.56 for .300 AAC conversions.

[Mbaker78]

Some 5.56 stuff is no good for blackout, the walls are too thick. The main ones I keep for 223 are GECO, wolf, and PPU. They'll lock a round in the chamber every time if you try to use them for conversions.

[Mbaker78]

My nephew is like that. Of course he also seems to expect ME to pay for all the ammunition we go through since I reload and he does not.

My dad is the same way. I just went out there today and we went through 325 rounds of my ammo ;)

[Happyguy]

Cutting 9mm FC brass to .7 and making 155 grain 10 mm bullets.

[gandog56]

Yeah? Because I just bought me a box of 250 Nosler 155 gr. .400" JHP's. Maybe I could get you to send me a couple of your bullets to try to talk myself into learning how to make them??

[Happyguy]

I can do that and check your PM.

[gandog56]

I can do that and check your PM.

Yeah, you were right about one thing, there was no notice I had a message. But when I tried to reply and hit the reply button, it just went to a blank white screen. I don't know if it replied to you or not.

[gandog56]

I can do that and check your PM.
There was one, asking me if I received a messagge. I answered, hit the reply button, and all of a sudden I had a white screen. Don't know if I answered you or not.

[gandog56]

Went and got me a new carry gun. Decided I wanted a bit more fire power than my .380 ACP. So I got me a brand new Walther PPS LE. So today I go out to the reloading shed and see what I have loaded up in 9mm Luger. I know I have some 115 grainers and some 124 grainers, but I need to see if there are any hollowpoints in that mess.

About the gun, it's a bit heavier than my Ruger LCP, but it is way skinny. They gave me three mags with it, A flush sitting one that holds 6 rounds, a medium floorplate on that just extends a tiny bit below the magwell that holds 7 rounds, and a large floorplate one that holds 8 rounds. Unlike most guns that have mags extending below the magwell, I like the feel of the large one. Probably have to get me a few more of them.
273

[Mbaker78]

I'm thinking about a M&P shield 45 as a new carry pistol. I need something easier to conceal than my current beretta PX4sc

[Happyguy]

I received it but I had been in CA.

[tsubaki]

Ready for chronograph.
Each loaded to about 1080fps.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/2017-06-29%2019.56.49_zpsdw6ildqk.jpg

[gandog56]

Ready for chronograph.
Each loaded to about 1080fps.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/2017-06-29%2019.56.49_zpsdw6ildqk.jpg
Dat's a heavy bullet! What is the twist rate in the rifles you are going to be shooting them in?

[tsubaki]

The 300AAC has a 1:8" and the .308WIN has a 1:10".
The bullet is 1.420" in length so stability might be close in the 1:10".
Testing for velocity and function first. Expansion and accuracy tests will come next.

[tsubaki]

I just did Berger's stability formula. Even at a 1080fps muzzle velocity the bullet is adequately stable in a 1:10" twist.

[Mbaker78]

I just saw that same picture on Facebook earlier, can't remember which group though ;)

*edit* found it, 300aac blackout discussion group ;)

[tsubaki]

I have it scattered out in several different forums in order to get the most information and interest possible.
It is surprising just how few people reload for this cartridge and use heavier than 120gr for the 300AAC.
Data finally became comparable when publishing Lyman's 50th Edition and their AR Handbook. That also was the inspiration for trying this bullet in the .308.
Currently there are only a few bullet makers designing projectiles for 300AAC within its capable velocity range.
Sierra has a 135gr #2124 originally advertised to perform well on small deer to large predators.
Makers Bullets has their T-Rex line averaging at over $0.76 per projectile.
These Nosler's at $0.51 each are at the threshold of my spending interests.

[Mbaker78]

My basic load for the blackout is a 150gr FMJ and lil'gun. My home defense load is a significantly hotter charge of lil'gun under a 150gr ballistic silvertip, running about 1900fps at the muzzle.

So far for subs I've worked up a 240gr cast, powder coated bullet over IMR4227 that's right at 1000fps. I just got a box of 220gr Amax at cabelas for $24, the box was dented but the inside bag is still sealed. I don't expect them to expand at subsonic velocities, but they'll be pretty ;)

[gandog56]

Have to go out to my shed today. Somebody on another gun message board needs .308 so I want to see if I have any spare to swap with him. Still waiting to see if my Pneumonia is all cleared up so I can finally get my butt to the gun range. Speaking of, in my shed yesterday I found a bag of empties I completely forgot about from a prior range trip. Had some 7.62X54R, 7mm Mauser, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt cases.

[lightman]

Just sorting, polishing and storing the brass I have collected since winter. Got both Dillons running with corncob and the "Big Dawg" is doing its thang with stainless. Updating my trades.

[gandog56]

Waiting to receive some more plastic ammo boxes as I am slowly replacing 10-15 year old cardboard ones.

[tsubaki]

This is from the shooting bench today using the Nosler #30181:
The 308 was loaded with 15.0gr of IMR-3031.
Average velocity was 930fps.
Firearm was a Remington 750 Carbine.
They would not cycle.
This was 2 rounds.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1604/13750646/24755939/413456659.jpg

[tsubaki]

Some more with the Nosler #30181:
This is the 300AAC pushed with 11.5gr of AA1680 at 1195fps from a 16" barrel with a pistol length gas system and 1:8" twist.
Everything cycled great but this is only 5 rounds.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1604/13750646/24755939/413456658.jpg

[tsubaki]

gandog was on to something worrying about them being able to stabilize.
I may try increasing the velocity to see if they straighten out.
I was able to accomplish that with some long bullets in a .223 and a slow twist

[Mbaker78]

Finally spent some time at the bench the last couple days... deprimed, and swaged as needed, a mess of blackout and 223 brass from the last couple range trips. Blackout has been tumbled, 223 is in there now. Sized and trimmed a few hundred Grendel brass, they're in the wet tumbler now.

Loaded up a test set of blackout subs using IMR4227 and hornady 220gr ELD-X. I probably won't buy them again because I'll probably never get them at the price I got them for this time. Dented box at cabelas, no damage, interior bag still sealed... $24/100

Maybe after lunch I'll size and trim the blackout brass so that all of the 30cal stuff can go in the wet tumbler next.

[gandog56]

I finally did use up that Armscor 110 grain RN stuff. I found a way to make them fit in my .300 AAC. But I will never buy them again!

[Mbaker78]

I tried 10 of them and the OAL was all wrong, they didn't feed worth a crap... I might give them another... shot... once I've loaded up the last of the 240gr cast subs.

[gandog56]

Got in a shipment of 50 new PPU 7.5 Swiss brass and 250 coated 250 grain .45 bullets. I never tried coated bullets for .45 Colt before, figured I would give them a shot. (pun intended!;)) I will make some of both calibers. Also have a follow up doctor visit tomorrow. Figure if he says my pneumonia is all cleared up I will go shooting Friday. Got a new Walther 9mm to try out and want to get in some more BP pistol time. Also want to shoot my last batch of repaired 6.5mm Mauser reloads. (I had some bad brass, had to disassemble a whole bunch of rounds that would not chamber). Pulled all the bullets from the ammo that would not chamber and remade them using other brass that did.

[WarEagleEd]

I bought another PACT digital scale, this time with the dispenser, off of another forum. It arrived yesterday, but I didn't have any time to fool with it. This evening I powered up the new-to-me scale and my old one. I wanted to check the two against each to see if they agree. The following are the results that I recorded:




Old Scale
New Scale


New 20 gram check weight
308.5 gr.
308.6 gr.


Old 20 gram check weight
308.5 gr.
308.5 gr.


Chrome powder pan
161.7 gr.
161.7 gr.


Brass tone powder pan
126.4 gr.
126.4 gr.


Red plastic powder pan
124.2 gr.
124.2 gr.



I'm confident in the precision and accuracy of the new-to-me scale. I would like to weigh some lighter objects to see if they continue to agree or not. I may finally get to charging the 9mm cases I prepped a few months ago. Then it will be on to M1 Garand .30-06 loads.

[Mbaker78]

After loading up 125 rounds for the Grendel yesterday I was actually thinking about getting an automatic powder dispenser. Throwing low and trickling up to goal weight is pretty time consuming. Are they usually accurate to within 0.1gr? How long do they take to weight out a charge of ~28gr and ~45gr? And is it really worth the extra money, as I only trickle for 2 rifles currently.

[gandog56]

125? That is a coincidence. I just got in 100 125 grain .308" projectiles I am going to try on my .300 AAC next time I reload a bunch. I have been using 110 grain bullets.

[Mbaker78]

100 for the match, 25 as a test set (123 nosler custom competition, IMR8208XBR, CCI BR-4, hornady brass)

I didn't do horribly at the match either. Out of 4 targets I got best target on one, second place overall for AR class. There were only 4 shooters in AR class, but oh well.

[gandog56]

I had one once. It plugged along for a few years until suddenly it wouldn't zero right. Sadly, I went and invested in a new Hornady Auto load Scale/dispenser. But later I was online, and somebody said they had the very same problem. He said he found a way to force a reset of everything that I didn't know about and never heard before. So I tried it, dang thing started working perfect again. I ended up selling it on ebay to recoup some of the money I had just spent on the Hornady. Kept the Hornady because it dispensed the charges just a little bit faster. But if I knew that little fix, I never would have bought the Hornady. Fortunately I kept the Pact because I was considering sending it to the mfr. to repair it.

[WarEagleEd]

I loaded 78 rounds of 9mm this evening. I took the opportunity to try out the PACT digital dispenser and scale. The system worked like it was supposed to (I verified that the guy I bought it from didn't sell me a dud). The setup process was not hard or terribly time-consuming. It was a whole lot less tedious not having to trickle up to the correct powder charge, too. I'm not certain that it was quicker than a traditional powder measure. I will test the two for speed at some other time, this was a trial run to verify functionality of the unit and for me to learn how to use it.


Are they usually accurate to within 0.1gr?

That is what PACT claims. I checked the very first charge and then the other charges it dispensed ever-so-often (maybe 5 or 6 more times) with my Lyman M5 single beam scale and they were dead on all but once. That one time the charge from the PACT unit read slightly high on the M5 scale.

I'll check how it works for heavier charges of powder whenever I am able to load up some M1 .30-06 loads (could be next weekend, could be September, who knows).

[Tsquared]

I have been working on an annealing machine. I have gotten the mechanicals and electronic controls straitened out now I am working on the brass hopper. I still need to work on the the torch holder. I am basically copying some of the designs I have seen on youtube.

[gandog56]

Loaded 50 7.5X55 Swiss with 150 grain FMJBT projectiles. Received 2 boxes of 1000 Winchester large rifle primers. Went in and straightened out my shed some more and replaced more cardboard ammo boxes with hinged plastic ones. Got in a new Hornady 9th edition reloading manual I picked up on sale for $9.99. Got my Ruger Mark IV bottom back from a Ruger recall, with a free magazine because I had to send it in. (They also paid the shipping both ways) Something about they sent out a batch of pistols that the safeties could fail if you fired it standing on your head or something.

[gandog56]

Loaded 50 rounds of 6.5X55 (Swedish Mauser). Put a Hornady 129 grain JSP projectile in them with some H4895 powder. Hmmm, first Swiss, then Swede. Maybe I'll make some 7.7 Jap today. I'm all international all of a sudden.:rolleyes:

[gandog56]

Got a new Hornady bullet puller. Tired of always breaking out the impact hammer. Got some Hornady .45 230 grain XTP and some .45 300 Grain XTP. Got some Berry's 124 grain plated HP for my 9mm and .357 SIG

[Mbaker78]

Just got in 1000 hornady .224" 55gr FMJBT, I have a test batch loaded up for 223 with ramshot TAC and CCI SR primers. Next time I make it to the range I'll see if they're acceptable and load some of them up.

[Point-Man]

Converted 60 pcs. of 7.5x55 swiss Berdan to boxer. Loaded 10 and went to the range to compare them to GP11 surplus and some of my other boxer reloads.

[gandog56]

Converted 60 pcs. of 7.5x55 swiss Berdan to boxer.

HOW? I have a buttload of loaded Berdan primed 7.5 Swiss.

[Point-Man]

I deprime them with the hydraulic method. Takes about two minutes to do ten. I swage them with a RCBS swage die to flatten the anvil.I then drill them with a bit like the one used to center drill for door hinges.I drill just enough to find center of the primer pocket. Then I drill the flash hole with a # 48 drill bit (.074)

[Point-Man]

I deprime them with the hydraulic method. Takes about two minutes to do ten. I swage them with a RCBS swage die to flatten the anvil.I then drill them with a bit like the one used to center drill for door hinges.I drill just enough to find center of the primer pocket. Then I drill the flash hole with a # 48 drill bit (.074)

[gandog56]

I keep being worried about the two OLD off center flash holes. Even if they get metal swaged over to cover them. Seems like that would leave two potential little weak sites pointing in the wrong direction that can blow out.

[WarEagleEd]

I sorted through a small amount of range brass I scrounged last time I went to the range (about a month ago). I also recently order some dies from Midway USA.

[Mbaker78]

Got a new 45 shield today, ordered a set of tritium/fiber optic sights and a new holster shell for it. It'll be my new daily carry pistol.

[gandog56]

My new is a Walther PPS M2 LE. And oh yeah, I just got me a new 10mm carbine. Tried to upload pictures but that doesn't seem to be working tonight.
https://image.ibb.co/i6YgUk/Walther_PPS_M2_LE.jpg
https://image.ibb.co/k3Yqda/GEDC0050.jpg
288

[WarEagleEd]

I sized a whole 20 .30-06 cases. That's right, 20...

[gandog56]

Hmmm, that's less than 3 clips on my M1 Garands....;)

[WarEagleEd]

I sized 55 more .30-06 cases this evening.

gandog56, these cases will hopefully find themselves nestled in M1 clips in the near future.

[WarEagleEd]

I primed the 75 cases that I recently resized.

[gandog56]

Cleaning the brass I got with a trade from Jander9 in the wet rotary tumbler. I'll be sizing, trimming, and chamfering all the rifle cases today.

[Mbaker78]

I really need to spend a lot of time on the bench... so much brass to prep, so much ammo to load...

[gandog56]

You need an M1? I MIGHT be interested in selling one. PM me.

[Mbaker78]

Lol, PM sent ;)

[WarEagleEd]

I chamfered and deburred the case mouths on those .30-06 cases. Hopefully I can reload them tomorrow or Monday. I also picked up some 155 gr. Hornady A-max bullets from Academy Sports to try in both an M1 and a .300 BO MSR.

Ed

[WarEagleEd]

I finally did complete loading those .30-06 cases (which I got in a trade on this very forum). I loaded 64 with Varget and 168 gr. Hornady A-max bullets, and 11 cases with 155 gr. Hornady A-max bullets. I want to load some more of the 155 grain bullets, but I need to prep more cases. Once again, I used my recently acquired PACT digital scale and dispenser. Once I started loading, I checked three powder charges with my beam scale and they agreed. After they were all loaded I didn't have enough room in my MTM R-60 case to hold them all. So I went by Academy Sports today and picked up a Plano 1230-50. I really didn't want the Plano box because it is made in China, but the only other place in town that might have the MTM case was out of the way and there was no guarantee that they would have an R-60, though they do carry MTM products. I do like that the Plano case has a real hinge, not a live one like is on the MTM case and which will fail at some point in time. But the squares within that hold each round are large, bigger than in the MTM R-60, though they are supposed to fit the same rounds. The rounds rattle around and are not conducive to being stored point down.

Ed

[gandog56]

Sorted all my 10mm, .49 cal, and 357 SIG cases I just got done cleaning and sizing by brand and bagged them up. Ordered me a new Lee Load-All 12 gauge reloader set from eBay. Guess I will be needing some Shotgun Primers, wads, and hulls. I have a couple bags of bird shot.

[gandog56]

I finally did complete loading those .30-06 cases (which I got in a trade on this very forum). I loaded 64 with Varget and 168 gr. Hornady A-max bullets, and 11 cases with 155 gr. Hornady A-max bullets. I want to load some more of the 155 grain bullets, but I need to prep more cases. Once again, I used my recently acquired PACT digital scale and dispenser. Once I started loading, I checked three powder charges with my beam scale and they agreed. After they were all loaded I didn't have enough room in my MTM R-60 case to hold them all. So I went by Academy Sports today and picked up a Plano 1230-50. I really didn't want the Plano box because it is made in China, but the only other place in town that might have the MTM case was out of the way and there was no guarantee that they would have an R-60, though they do carry MTM products. I do like that the Plano case has a real hinge, not a live one like is on the MTM case and which will fail at some point in time. But the squares within that hold each round are large, bigger than in the MTM R-60, though they are supposed to fit the same rounds. The rounds rattle around and are not conducive to being stored point down.

Ed

You need some 30.06 cases?

[gandog56]

Just got done ordering a whole mess of shotshell reloading stuff, Hulls, wads, primers, boxes, everything but the shot, because I already have like 50 pounds of like #8. 50 pounds of shot I haven't touched in like 20 frigging years. Got 2 pounds of Hodgdon Clays, was going to try that instead of the Red Dot I used to use. See if it's any cleaner burning.

[Tsquared]

I picked up a variety of 9mm and 45 Bayou coated bullets and I have worked up the loads for them. I just need to get to the range with my crony.

[WarEagleEd]

You need some 30.06 cases?

I'm good at the moment, thanks.

[lightman]

Not much at the bench lately. Been slowly sorting 20 buckets of wheelweights, close to 2800#. I'm about 2/3 of the way through. Trying to do a bucket everytime I sit down. Thats about as long as the old back can take it. These are from a fellow casters stash and I'm finding very few non lead weights. I have found a few like I''ve never seen though. Plan to go back after more, probably next month.

[Mbaker78]

Finally got some time in at the bench, sized and trimmed about 150 300aac, 30 308win, 350 223/5.56. I'm going to try my luck wet tumbling them all together without pins, see how much mating I have between the 22 and 30 cal cases. Shouldn't be too bad without media.

[gandog56]

Got in a whole pile of shotshell primers, wads, hulls, new ammo boxes for 12 guage. Trying to get what I need to mount it on my Lee Bench Plate System so I only have one press on my bench at a time.

[62chevy]

Got in a whole pile of shotshell primers, wads, hulls, new ammo boxes for 12 guage. Trying to get what I need to mount it on my Lee Bench Plate System so I only have one press on my bench at a time.

Love my Lee bench plate, helps keep stuff neat and organized. And if you believe I'm really organized theres this bridge ....

[gandog56]

Right now, I have two presses mounted for that thing. Looks like it will soon be three.

[Mbaker78]

I have 3 presses on mounting plates for mine. I couldn't see paying money for a mounting system when I have a bunch of 3/4" plywood laying around.

[62chevy]

If I would have had some plywood I would have done that too but no place to put it and cut it it was easier to get the bench plate from Lee.

[Mbaker78]

I definitely understand that, and it's probably a bit more sturdy than plywood. But I had plenty of scraps.

[WarEagleEd]

I made some empties at the range today. I also found some empty 7.62 X 51 and .243 Winchester cases.

Of course, the less fun part of going to the range is that the guns have to be cleaned, which I haven't done yet.

Ed

[gandog56]

I made some empties at the range today. I also found some empty 7.62 X 51 and .243 Winchester cases.

Of course, the less fun part of going to the range is that the guns have to be cleaned, which I haven't done yet.

Ed

Yeah, that do tend to get tiresome, especially if I was out under the sun a few hours frying at the range. But, when I shoot my misurp ammo in my Mosin Nagants, I really do not have the choice to put it off till later.

[gandog56]

Put a load of cases through the wet rotary tumbler and they are drying off. Got some .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Magnum, .44 Special, and .223.

[lightman]

Seems like my life has been all about sorting as of late. Me and a buddy bought 20 buckets of wheelweights. I've slowly been going through them.We have the option to go back for more, and plan to. Oh Boy! I also came into several tubs of used reloading gear, including a bunch of loaded ammo and brass. I've been pulling down the reloaded stuff (don't trust unknown reloaders loads) and sorting through mixed brass. Sort of feel like a quality control inspector! :)

Been pulling bullets, depriming cases with live primers, tumbling brass, ect for 3 or 4 days now. Keeps me off of the streets, I guess!

[62chevy]

Been pulling bullets, depriming cases with live primers, tumbling brass, ect for 3 or 4 days now. Keeps me off of the streets, I guess!

And the wife knows right where you are too. :cool:

[lightman]

For sure! And she has let me know that she is tired of stuff being on the kitchen counter and in the sink!

[gandog56]

For sure! And she has let me know that she is tired of stuff being on the kitchen counter and in the sink!

One of the reasons I built my reloading shed, so I am out of momma's hair.

[lightman]

I enjoyed following the progress of your shed. I have a dedicated room in the house but I use the bar area in the kitchen sometimes for sorting, drying brass, ect. She only fusses when it goes on for days and days!

[Point-Man]

Just finished converting and loading (113pc ) 41 Swiss for my 78-81 vetterli.

[WarEagleEd]

I knocked the primers out of a small batch of .45 ACP range brass.

[DukeInFlorida]

Just collected 142 pieces of 6.5X50 Japanese brass, to be used in the recent gift of a Type 38 Arisaka rifle. My very elderly buddy was among the first boots on the ground in Hiroshima after the end of the war. They had collected up all of the guns and swords, and as the Navy was getting the sailors and officers back on the boats for the ride home, they formed a line, and were offered a sword, pistol, or rifle as a war souvenir. And, I placed an order at castboolits for a 140 grain 6.5 MM five cavity mold. Can't wait for that to come in so I can assemble some of these and try the rifle out.

[Mbaker78]

Sorted through the brass from my last couple range trips. Pulled the trigger on a 458 socom barrel and handguard. Just need a bolt carrier group, gas system and charging handle and it'll be functional. So I guess I should try to get some brass and bullets for that.

Finished sorting through the roughly 1200 .224 soft points I got in trade. Most of them are 62gr, mixed about 60/40 between flat base and boat tail. A couple hundred 64gr flat base too. A handful of mixed FMJ, solid copper, and steel core too. Not too bad for brass that I didn't even need.

[WarEagleEd]

I set up the Forster case trimmer and had enough time to trim 10 .30-06 cases. Maybe I can take care of more than that tomorrow.

[Hostile79]

299I got the new lights up in my reloading room. I had a friend help me wire it so I can turn it on via a light switch. The lighting makes a big difference."!

298298

[gandog56]

Just got in a load of 8mm cases from a trade with Pacomdiver, so I will be decapping them and running them through the wet rotary tomorrow.

[lightman]

Have not been in the loading room much since deer season opened. Things are piling up though! There is a big tub of range brass to sort through and about 6 more buckets of wheelweights to sort. Then there is going to be a couple of days smelting! Since retirement, I have learned to save some of this stuff for the slow winter months!

[Mbaker78]

Sized and trimmed about 375 pieces of 223 over the last few days. up next is some 300aac brass, then I'll be on to the 458 socom brass ;)

[lightman]

Tumbling the brass that I sorted last night. Prolly sort more wheel weighs while the tumblers are running. Look for some additions to my trades in the next few days!

[gandog56]

Going to trim to length a pile of 8mm Mauser brass and final polish them today.

[lightman]

Finally finished sorting the last bucket of a 5600# batch of wheel weights! WHEW! May just grab a beer and leave the brass sorting for another day!

[gandog56]

Polished up a batch of brass and nickel plated .223 cases.

[WarEagleEd]

I sized, trimmed, and primed some more .30-06 brass.

[Mbaker78]

Loaded up a test batch of 458 socom, finished building the upper for it... hopefully I'll be able to actually shoot it sometime soon.

[lightman]

Sorted some more brass and added some stuff to my trades.

[WarEagleEd]

I primed a few more .30-06 brass with my Lee Autoprime XR hand primer whilst watching TV. However, the lever on the Autoprime kept sticking in the "primer ram up/compressed grip" position (if that makes any sense). I took it apart, cleaned it , and hit it with some dry lube. Testing it, without seating any primers, it seemed to work better. I didn't test it by seating any primers because I had no more brass ready to prime.


Loaded up a test batch of 458 socom, finished building the upper for it... hopefully I'll be able to actually shoot it sometime soon.

You probably don't have to load too many of those at a time. I imagine the recoil will keep you from firing a lot of rounds through it.

[Mbaker78]

The recoil wasn't too bad in the lower end of the charge range (32-33gr IMR4227), but up at the top end (33.5 and 34gr) it was stout enough to actually fold the front sight back down with each round fired... I think I'll be going with 32.5gr. And I didn't realize it until the other day, but IMR4227 kinda stinks compared to some of the other powders I use.

Just got in 500 240gr 308 bullets, going to try to get a good load for the blackout with 1680. Never used it before, but it's supposed to be great for blackout.

[lightman]

Still sorting brass. Starting on 9 mm today. Plan to sort by head stamp, wash, resize, tumble and store away. This may take a few days!

[Mbaker78]

100 pieces of socom in the tumbler, then a size and retumble and they'll be ready to load. But today's priority is assembling an AR pistol for a friend ;)

[gandog56]

Oh dear. Setting up a meet. Guy has an EAA Witness that shoots both 10mm and .40 cal S&W he wants to sell. Just what I need, ANOTHER 10mm. Good thing I have LOTS of 10mm and .40 cal cases to load!

[WarEagleEd]

I sized some more .30-06 brass. You might think I've sized enough .30-06 recently to last a lifetime, but the batches have been small (I did 30 this afternoon).

I noticed that this die seems to be scratching the cases a lot. I have used two different case lubes and still get the scratches. They are only cosmetic, it would seem, but am wondering if this is common when sizing rifle brass, as the overwhelming majority of loading I have done has been for pistols.

301

[WarEagleEd]

I trimmed and primed some .30-06 brass. I also had a chance to try out the MEC 600 that I bought off of ebay a couple of years ago. I deprimed and sized a few Rio red 16-gauge hulls and then primed them with Nobel Sport 209 primers. The primer holes are slightly larger on the Rio hulls and American made 209 primers will be a loose fit. I decided to try the Nobel Sport primers because they are made in Italy and I figured (based off of some quick Google research) that they would fit. Much to my delight, they do.

[gandog56]

I sized some more .30-06 brass. You might think I've sized enough .30-06 recently to last a lifetime, but the batches have been small (I did 30 this afternoon).

I noticed that this die seems to be scratching the cases a lot. I have used two different case lubes and still get the scratches. They are only cosmetic, it would seem, but am wondering if this is common when sizing rifle brass, as the overwhelming majority of loading I have done has been for pistols.

301
I am wondering if you have some grit pasted in your dies in old lube. Have you tried cleaning out your dies? I keep a can of brake cleaner aerosol handy and flush all my dies out every once in a while. Try that and see if the scratching disappears. Make sure you spray a light coating of some type of oil after the brake cleaner dries though to keep the dies from rusting.

[lightman]

What gangdog said. You can also used a bore mop with some polishing compound on it and spin it with a drill. You can even do the drill thing with some 1200 grit emory cloth, maybe with a little light oil on it. Go slow and careful although it will take a lot of polishing to change the dimensions of a hardened die.

[lightman]

Still processing pistol brass. Do 9mm's breed when stored together? I started by depriming them, washing them, resizing them, tumbling them and lastly sorting and storing them. I'm finished with the resizing but I've got about a days worth on deck waiting on their turn in the tumbler. Prolly start on 40's in the next few days, so expect to hear more of the same oh same oh!

[lightman]

Hopefully I'll finish tumbling my 9mm brass, get it dried and stored away. Probably start resizing something else, either 40's or 45's.

[gandog56]

Ordered a couple more 14 round mags for my new EAA Witness 10mm. Loaded up the three 10mm mags and the two .40 cal mags that came with it. Got 5 more 50 round plastic boxes for rifles to help me get rid of all my paper boxes. Installed a new brass catcher thingie on my 10mm carbine so I quit losing some of my 10mm cases as it tend to send them into low Earth orbit. It attaches to the rail so I had to move my red dot scope back a bit to get it positioned right over the ejection port. Which probably means I will need to sight the scope back in.

[Mbaker78]

If it's the Caldwell brass catcher, you can move the attachment point forward or backward. I have an attachment for each of my ARs and I love it.

[gandog56]

It is the Caldwell. It was made for an AR I guess, and I will use it on that too, but I was so hoping that it would fit on my TNW 10mm carbine. .223/5.56 brass is plentiful and free for the taking at my range, 10mm isn't. I NEVER recover all my 10mm and I have nowhere near as many of them as I do .223/5.56 cases laying around my shed. Also will help on my .300 AAC upper. I need to see if I can get like two more of the bases so It would be good to go on 3 rifles without having to detach and reattach the base every time.

[lightman]

Finishing up processing my 9mm's. The last batch is in the tumbler and the 2nd from last batch is drying. I'll start on the 40's after Christmas.

[Mbaker78]

I mainly got it for the 6.5 Grendel, but I use it on all of them... especially the 458 socom I just finished... that brass is expensive...

[HARDSHOOTER]

Do you have any federal hs 45acp for trade?

[Mbaker78]

Do you have any federal hs 45acp for trade?

Feel free to start your own trade thread in the proper area. Be sure to list what you have to trade.

[WarEagleEd]

I got out the Dillon Super Swage 600, swapped it from 5.56 to .30 caliber (it was my first time to swap over and use it for .30 cal brass), and removed the crimps from some 12-15 year old PMC (Korean) .30-06 brass. This brass, which has a commercial headstamp and came in a commercial box, has crimped-in primers. The Dillon removed a nice ring of brass from the primer pocket. Some of the swaged away brass can be seen in the picture below.

302

I need to swage some more .30-06 brass, then I may attach the .45 ACP adapter and start swaging my horde of military WCC head stamped .45 brass.

Merry Christmas!

Ed

[Mbaker78]

I had a habit of overswaging when I had a 600, I sold it and got a CH4D set, and it boogered up the rims... so I just started chucking a crimp reamer in a drill and taking the crimp out that way. I’ve actually tried to over ream and it won’t do it.

[62chevy]

Went in there and said Merry Christmas see ya next year.

[Pacomdiver]

Mbaker,
use the rcbs primer pocket swager, havent touched my dillon super swager since i got the rcbs, the dillon had to be adjusted for each different headstamp, which was a pain in the ass.

by the way, i did my first batch of brass in stainless media last night (really dark, almost black and crappy looking) it was Lake city 556 and converted it to 300 b/o then put it in the stainless media for 6 hours with lemi shine, all i can say is "WOW", im a believer now, the brass looks brand new, only bad part is checking to make sure the media is out of each case as they sometimes bridge in the neck

[lightman]

Well, Christmas is over so I started dragging out all of my 40 S&W's today. Been resizing all morning with the first few hundred in the tumbler. I prolly have a few weeks worth and You guys will prolly get tired of the samo samo. My goal for the winter is to get all of my pistol brass and my high volume rifle brass resized, tumbled and stored away or ready to load. I'm hopelessly behind!

[WarEagleEd]

I swaged some more .30-06. Once I size and load this batch, that will be it for my current inventory, it will all be loaded up. I also tumbled a load of .45 ACP brass. However, my HF dual barrel tumbler was not running correctly. It would rotate a bit then hang up for a few seconds and then start rotating again. The brass didn't turn out quite as shiny, but it was still clean. I will need to check the drive belt tension and see if the pulleys have worked loose. If anyone has a Lortone 33R (I think that is the model) or a Thumler's Tumbler model B he doesn't mind parting with, contact me.

Ed

[Mbaker78]

I usually only run in stainless for 1.5-2 hours. 6 hours is way overkill.

[Happyguy]

Just finished building an AR in 6.5 Creedmoor and started loading for it. Just starting building an AR in 10mm. You can run the stainless for 2 hours. I am still using steel shot as I have had several trades with pins stuck in the bottom of the cases sideways and causing the decapping pins to break.

[Mbaker78]

I pretty much just stopped using pins at all... the primer pockets can stay dirty, for all I care...

I’d like to build a pistol caliber upper for my SBR, but I’d need to find a magazine block that’s easily removable and still reliable...

[Happyguy]

My first 10mm build I used a Hahn block and I was very happy with it. The person that I sold the carbine to still uses it and has had no issues. I went with a Glock magazine lower this time as Grease Gun magazines are hard to find at a reasonable price.

[Mbaker78]

I’ve looked at that one. Did you use the top or bottom load version?

[Happyguy]

I believe that I used the top mounting as I was afraid the bottom mounting would drop out.

[rodnocker1]

Well, I haven't posted in a while although I do check in everyday.
About 2 weeks ago, I finished priming 6,000 pcs of Winchester .223 to get ready to reload. I've got a GSI loader for .223 but just haven't gotten around to setting it up, so I have that to look forward to.
I've also been finding alot of 6.5 Creedmoor brass at the range and said that when I found enough, that I was gonna get a 6.5 upper for my AR10.....then a friend of mine told me about Savage's $100.00 rebate. So instead of the $500.00 upper, I ended up getting an Axis 2 heavy barrel in 6.5 (like I needed another caliber to reload for, lol). With TT+L, out the door was $430.00 and the $100.00 off brings it down to $330.00. So I ordered a set of dies and after they came in last week, I've been prepping and priming 300 pcs of 6.5 Creedmore.

As a side note, I REALLY need to start a trade post. I've got more brass than I'll ever need. I've decided to just use Winchester brass, so everything else is gonna be up.

[Mbaker78]

I’m getting tired of my eldest son taking my wife’s car, so I have a tentative deal to trade off my 6.5 Grendel AR for a truck for him. So I guess I’ll not be loading that caliber anymore. I’d rather not get rid of the rifle, but money is too tight for a new vehicle, so here I am.

Oh well, I have a few connections now that if I wanted to build a new one in the future I could do so for a lot less...

[Pacomdiver]

mbaker,
i ran them for 6 hours because they were so badly tarnished, they were black and ive run them in regular media and they didnt take any of the black off

i built a yellowjacket 9mm stengun mag lower for my olympic upper

[Mbaker78]

I don’t really want to build a dedicated lower. I’d like to be able to readily convert an existing lower back and forth with a buffer swap and install/removing the mag block.

The hahn bottom load is looking like the one I’ll likely go with if I do build one. I’d like to keep the last round bolt hold open if possible.

[lightman]

Well, the Holidays are over and the last of the visiting duck hunters are leaving today. At least for a week! So I'm back to processing pistol brass. Put the first load in the tumbler an hour ago. What with the 38's, 357's, 40's and 45's I'll be a month, but its too cold to do anything else.

[WarEagleEd]

[L]ike I needed another caliber to reload for, lol.


I have said this myself a few times.

Today, I purchased a Lortone 33B tumbler from good 'ol eBay. It has two, three-pound barrels like my HF tumbler. Nice thing about the Lortone is that I can get parts for it should something break. Once it comes in I will be able to resume tumbling my .45 ACP stash. Of course, while I was looking around eBay I came across military surplus entrenching tools at a decent price. It was one of those "Buy-it-nows" where you could also make an offer. I did. Seller accepted. I saved about $2.50 each on two. Now, I'll have one for the truck and one for the car.

[gandog56]

Got a new brasscatcher for my TNW 10mm carbine, Figured the base, which is a tiny small thing, will fit on any picatinney rail. Emailed the company and asked them if I could buy just the base, because I have two other rifles I think will work with the thing. They sent me to a page on Midway USA, which sold them. Just got the two bases in and need to hook them all up to the other two rifles so I'll have one bag that will catch 10mm, 300 AAC, and .223/5.56 brass. No more chasing it all down at the range! Got a new LONG 1 piece cleaning rod. My old one won't really go all the way through in some of my old Mosin Nagant rifles. Got 4 boxes of copper jacketed .22 mag cartridges in.The jug I had in my shed to fill my wet rotary tumbler was leaky, so I replaced the jug. Cold cold snap down here. Glad I got the old space heater running in my shed.

[Mbaker78]

I found a handful of the bases in the bargain cave at cabelas for $8, I would’ve gotten them had I not just gotten a couple from amazon for $12 each :(

[Pacomdiver]

i have a mag adapter for the sten mags that worked pretty good till i got the yellow jacket lower finished , but its for an olympic pattern upper, it doesnt have the extractor on it, the mag catch holds it in and theres a tab out the back to release the sten mags. i dont need to swap lowers, i dont have a shortage, LOL they breed like rabbits

[Mbaker78]

I’m hoping to use it on my SBR lower with a 10-12” barrel. I don’t feel like making a pistol lower at this time. I guess I could go with a 16” barrel :/

[lightman]

Moving lead and smelting stuff around in the shop, getting ready to start processing the 30+ buckets of wheel weights that are sitting in the floor in front of my work table. Probably going to fire it up after lunch and start melting some solder and maybe some of the odd stuff. Its going to be cold tomorrow but the cabin fever is getting bad!

[gandog56]

Probably going to fire it up after lunch and start melting some solder and maybe some of the odd stuff. Its going to be cold tomorrow but the cabin fever is getting bad!

Which is why there is a space heater in my reloading shed!;)

[WarEagleEd]

I used the Lortone 33B tumbler for the first time today. I used it to tumble some .45 ACP military headstamp brass. It did a good job, getting them clean as expected. Yesterday, I cleaned a couple of guns I took to the range about two weeks ago. I would have cleaned them before now but I've been sick with a sinus infection. Better late then never, I guess.

[lightman]

Samo samo, still processing pistol brass. Resizing and tumbling 500 at a time, taking breaks while the tumbler is running to play on the computer. I think I'm at the bottom of the 40's! Yahoo!

[SafetyJoe]

Finished sorting by head stamp all the cleaned and deprimed 14,025 pieces of 45 acp LPP brass I have for trading. Here's the setup I used.

https://imgur.com/a/5gRpc

https://i.imgur.com/iVYM9xk.jpg

[lightman]

Nice set up! I use a similar method except that I stack them in ammo trays. That lets me keep a running count. When the tray gets full I make a note then dump them in hospital bowels. I don't have near your volume. If I was in business I would consider buying a digital scale that counts.

[SafetyJoe]

I don't count them. I just weigh them to determine the number. For 45 acp there's 12.8 lbs per 1000.


Nice set up! I use a similar method except that I stack them in ammo trays. That lets me keep a running count. When the tray gets full I make a note then dump them in hospital bowels. I don't have near your volume. If I was in business I would consider buying a digital scale that counts.

[lightman]

The weather warmed up some and I'm taking a break from processing pistol brass to melt lead. I have around 5600# of sorted wheel weights to melt. Hopefully by spring I'll have lead ready to cast and brass ready to load. Thats the plan anyway!

[SafetyJoe]

I cast my own lead bullets too, but gave up on sorting wheel weights. I just throw everything in the cast iron pot and skim off the ones that don't melt which will be the steel and zinc ones. I know the zinc ones can melt if the temp gets high enough, but I process the lead ingots fast enough and that's never happened yet.


The weather warmed up some and I'm taking a break from processing pistol brass to melt lead. I have around 5600# of sorted wheel weights to melt. Hopefully by spring I'll have lead ready to cast and brass ready to load. Thats the plan anyway!

[lightman]

Started smelting the 30+ buckets of wheel weights yesterday. Kind of got off to a slow start. I welded some wind screens on my burner and I went too far. They chocked off too much air and with that and the 30º temps it took a while to get molten lead. My melt times went from 20 minutes or so to over an hour. The first batch netted 357 1# ingots of stick on weights and the 2nd batch netted over 250 ingots from clip on weights.

First thing today I'll cut a bunch of vents in the wind screen and start another pot. The pot holds between 350 and 400# of lead.

[lightman]

Well, cutting up the wind screens really helped. We did 3 batches today, about 1050#. It was still a little slow because we had a couple of odd batches that was slower than normal to melt. A few 40 and 50 pound chunks and a bunch of odd shaped stuff that did not make good contact with the sides of the pot. The last batch was about an hour from cold pot to empty pot and netted 342 1# ingots. All thats left now is clip on weights. Hoping to get back on it around the end of the week.

[Mbaker78]

That’s a lot of lead...

[WarEagleEd]

I went to a gun show today and found and purchased 1 pound of Accurate 1680 (for which I have been looking for 3 years) and one box each of CCI No. 34 & No. 41 primers. After I got home I sorted my most recently tumbled batch of .45 ACP brass.

[Mbaker78]

My local cabelas has had 1680 pretty regularly for the last year or so. I finally picked up a pound to try out, still haven’t even opened the container yet though.

[WarEagleEd]

I stopped at a Cabela's in North Georgia in the Summer of 2015 and didn't find any. I did find it online, but didn't want to pay the hazmat fee.

I sorted more .45 ACP WCC headstamp brass and knocked the primers out of some .45-70 cases and a few more .30-06 cases.

[Mbaker78]

If you buy it online and pick it up at the store you can avoid the hazmat. I’m only about 40 minutes from a cabelas, so it’s not a huge deal for me.

[gandog56]

Mebbe.....but there ain't no Cabela's near me. But, I have two different places that run gunshows quarterly in town on two seaparate places. If I run low I can just go to one of them. But really, I am pretty stocked up on everthing. This is because I wait for one of the online places to have sales where they waive the hazmat fees. Sooner or later one of them does it and I usually go bam, and order a few more jugs.

[Mbaker78]

I try to cash in on grafs $20 hazmat on occasion ;)

[WarEagleEd]

I piddled around in the garage, knocked primers out of some .30-06 brass, running a flash hole uniformer in some different .30-06 cases, and cleaning some NOS Bair dies I recently bought off of Gun Broker.

[WarEagleEd]

I'm ran some .45 ACP and .45-70 brass through the tumbler today.

303

[Mbaker78]

I need to spend less time playing video games on my days off and more time reloading ;)

[gandog56]

Sold my Saiga AK .223. It was sort of a redundant gun after I had swapped a pistol with a guy for an AR. I actually liked the Saiga a bit better, it was very accurate. But I like I can switch uppers and fire 300 AAC Blackout and shoot two calibers out of the same lower. Also I can shoot both .223 and 5.54 with the AR, could only shoot .223 from the Saiga.

[gandog56]

Still on the process of replacing all my cardboard boxes of reloads to plastic boxes. Some of my cardboard has been used and opened so many times they are getting pretty ratty. I get like 10 new plastic boxes a week and start transferring reloads. Was .45 ACP turn's yesterday.

[gandog56]

Replaced more .45 reloads from cardboard boxes to plastic. Started on some 9mm to do the same. Got 2 pounds of Hodgdon Clays powder for when I reload some 12 gauge shotshells, though I still need to mount the Lee Load-All press on a wood base.

[Pacomdiver]

WarEagle, too bad your so far away, a local guy i bought some stuff off of has 3 1lb containers of the 1680

[WarEagleEd]

WarEagle, too bad your so far away, a local guy i bought some stuff off of has 3 1lb containers of the 1680

That IS too bad, 1680 is scare around here.

I sorted the brass in my photo above. That was all I had time for this weekend.

[gandog56]

I have been a little too busy spending all my free time working on me and my brother's boat and trailer to get ready for fishing. So far we've, replaced a cracked axle and rusted out leaf spring on the trailer, and we've replaced all the rollers and the boat support wood and reupholstered the wood. WE put in two LED taillights and totally rewired everything. We afro engineered some PVC pipe to create new boat guides. We bought a trashed out Mass Tracker boat and cannibalized the 70 horse motor on it for the 30 horse we had on our boat. Stole the speedometer, tachometer, and voltmeter and cut new holes and installed them on the dash. We put in new switches and fuseblocks and a cigarette lighter in the dash to connect a Q-Beam we had for night fishing. We rewired ALL electrical. Acid washed the boat to get all the old stains out. Replaced most of the brasswork. Replaced the bow and stern lights. Rebuilt the carbs on the 70 horse. Put in 4 strips of LED lighting for the boat interior and installed an LED dash light for the console. Finally took the boat out on the river yesterday, she hauls now. Hit the gas and you head snaps back. Ran it full out, hit about 40 going with the wind, and like 35 going against it. That's a little better than the 7-9 we were getting on the 30. Still need to put in a new sending unit for the speedometer and maybe get a second battery to run all the new lighting when we go night fishing at the oil rigs.

[lightman]

Back to processing brass after taking a few days off! Finished up the 40's and started on the 45's yesterday. Found more small primer stuff than I remembered.:mad: Probably work on 45's all week and hopefully get back smelting wheel weights Friday and Saturday.

[Hostile79]

I just got done loading 6,000 223/556. I have been working on that off and on since November. Man I'm glad that's done. I'm moving onto 9mm. I have around 6500 bullets but only 1500 primers so hopefully I can catch a good sale on 5,000 primers soon.

[Mbaker78]

I have around 6500 bullets but only 1500 primers so hopefully I can catch a good sale on 5,000 primers soon.

Grafs has 5000ct UNIS GINEX small pistol primers on sale for $109.99 plus $27 for shipping and hazmat. I’ve never used them before though, so I have no idea if they’re any good.

[SafetyJoe]

Cabelas has the S&B primers on sale now for $23.79 I used over 10,000 of them last year and never had any problems.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/SELLIER-BELLOT-PRIMERS-BRICK/2002898.uts


I just got done loading 6,000 223/556. I have been working on that off and on since November. Man I'm glad that's done. I'm moving onto 9mm. I have around 6500 bullets but only 1500 primers so hopefully I can catch a good sale on 5,000 primers soon.

[Mbaker78]

I picked up 2 boxes of the S&B small rifle primers, only used them on test loads so far but they seemed to work well.

Finally sat down and sized all 150 of my 458 socom cases, they’ll go in the wet tumbler with a few hundred 45acp cases tomorrow.

[Hostile79]

Thanks for the information SafetyJoe. I ordered 5k S&B small pistol primers. They are on back order so I'm hoping I get them soon.

[SafetyJoe]

You're welcome


Thanks for the information SafetyJoe. I ordered 5k S&B small pistol primers. They are on back order so I'm hoping I get them soon.

[lightman]

Today will be a smelting day. Have 8 or 10 more buckets of wheel weights to melt into ingots. Hopefully will finish today but will probably be tomorrow getting everything put away.

[lightman]

Today will be another smelting day. Down to 2 batches left to do, a small batch of clip on weights and a small batch of stick on's. Will be glad to get this out of my shop floor! Looks like we have close to 2 thirty gallon barrels of clips!

[lightman]

Finished smelting yesterday! :) Got the burner and all of the gear stored away and the floor cleaned up. Yeah!!! I thought that I had every single piece of scrap lead that I owned cast into ingots but I found 2 weights under the burner while cleaning up. Oh well, gotta leave a few for seed! Next week, on to bigger and better things!

[WarEagleEd]

I read a few articles in Handloader Magazine and removed the primers in some LC .30-06 brass.

[Mbaker78]

Loaded up the last 153 of my 223 FMJ, primed all of my socom brass. I think later I’ll load up the rest of the 223 that I have prepped with some 64gr soft points that I got in a mixed lot of .224 bullets.

[WarEagleEd]

I went to the range today and shot all of my 9mm reloads. They were pretty mild loads consisting of 4.4 - 4.6 grains of W231 under a 115 grain FMJ bullet. These were the most consistent of all my reloads that I have shot over a chronograph (which really isn't all that many). I shot 8 strings and the standard deviation for each was 12, 7, 12, 16, 17, 10, 11, & 14. String #2 was the aforementioned Speer FMJ over 4.5 grains of W231 loaded in RP range brass with CCI 500 primers. COL was ~1.135 in.

I did a little brass scrounging and while I didn't bring in a large haul I did find some .45 Long Colt brass, which I have never found before. That was pretty cool. At some point I will be putting it up for trade, but I don't have any brass shortages at the moment, so I will wait a little while.

Ed

[gandog56]

Got a load of 10mm, .40 cal, and a few rifle cases in the wet rotary right now.

[gandog56]

I did a little brass scrounging and while I didn't bring in a large haul I did find some .45 Long Colt brass, which I have never found before. That was pretty cool. At some point I will be putting it up for trade, but I don't have any brass shortages at the moment, so I will wait a little while.

Ed
Reminds me of when I went to the range one day and looked in front of me on the pistol range. Looks like somebody was trying out a .454 Casull, because I scrounged 59 .454, and 45 .45 Colt cases. Was thinking it must be nice to afford to buy factory ammo and just throw the empties away.