So, What You Doing On The Bench Today?

[gandog56]

I finished up reloading 500 .45 ACP's. Need to order more .45 230 grain projectiles. Bought a new drawer thingie and have all my brass separated into different drawers by caliber. Got in two boxes of Hornady 250 grain JHP projectiles for some .45 Colt and .454 Casull. Got a pound of BL-C(2) to try out as I saw some and never used it before. Got 325 rounds of Federal Target grade .22 LR ammo while I was at the store.

[Mbaker78]

I did this a couple weeks ago?
161
300 yards, my hand loads.
308 win. 168SMK over IMR4064

[GRUMPA]

Just got back in from the shop.....Machined down some brass for conversions and Hydroformed 100pcs for the 32Rem....from 30-30..

[62chevy]

Was going to do some smelting and ingot creation but got rained out. Tomorrow maybe.

[DaveL]

I'm in the middle of restoring a Type 38 Arisaka 6.5mm Jap "cavalry carbine" that my grandfather in-law brought back and my father in-law sporterized (read almost ruined). Did some small parts bluing and epoxied a crack in the stock, then sprayed it with amber shellac. That's after I scrubbed the rust (from neglect) from the metal and replaced the stock that had big gouges and chunks removed. "Sporterized" don't ya know.
So, I guess I will be needing 6.5mm Jap brass. I'll have to get a post started for the trade page.:)
Don't know if the shooting bench counts, but if it does, ...... 150 rounds of 22LR with a youngster and 20 rounds of 243 rem.
All and all, a good day.
Dave
Thought I'd add a pic of the type 38 Jap.

[DaveL]

Grumpa,
How's that going to work? 32 Rem is rimless and 30-30 is a rimed case?? Did you mean 32 special? And even more interesting, how do you hydroform cases. That's a new one on me and it's very intriguing. Pray tell, Si vou play! :-)

[GRUMPA]

Just click the link(s) for pictures...

The 32Rem... http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=100675&d=1395962456

225Win.... http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=143566&d=1435950318

Both are made from the 30-30 parent case. What I do is knock the shoulder longer through Hydroforming.

The 225 shoulder is .090 longer than the 30-30 so I make what I need and fill the case with water, run it up in the die, insert the plunger, whack it with my brass hammer, and the shear force forces it to shape. The only other way to form them is to fire form them, and I don't own anything in most of the conversions I do....

[gandog56]

Not on the bench today. But I did just order 5K of Wolf primers from Wideners at $16/1000.

[Point-Man]

Have a lot of 40 S&W brass on hand so decided to start reload it. Didn`t really want to start another caliber , but what the heck.Got the dies and powder last week, was waiting on the bullets from X-treme. I like their bullets but it seems to take a long time to receive them. So I`m loading up 250 -180gr 40 cal bullets one at a time on a single stage.

[Mbaker78]

If you're on Facebook, look into sage's reloading supply. He usually has plenty of xtreme bullets on hand and will get them to you pretty much anywhere in CONUS within 2-3 days. You might pay a couple bucks more than direct, but his shipping makes up for it.

[gandog56]

This is a target I shot using Precision Bullets 185 grain coated RNF bullets and HP-38 powder using a Sig Sauer P229. Precision bullets pricing includes shipping.
163

[3jimbo3]

I'm in the middle of processing a couple thousand 223's to get them ready to load.

[3jimbo3]

Not on the bench today. But I did just order 5K of Wolf primers from Wideners at $16/1000.

So how do the would primers do? I've never used them, what do you guys think about them?

[gandog56]

I pull trigger, they go BANG!
164

[gandog56]

Also got a box of .38 158 grain XTP's, and a Redding Taper crimp die for .45 colt.

[lilshaunsdad]

I've been converting .223/5.56 cases to blackout all week. Bought several different projectiles last week. Want to get a bunch made up so I can load Friday or Saturday.

[LEP]

Loading 8x52R Siamese using Trail Boss.

[gandog56]

Loading 8x52R Siamese using Trail Boss.

Hmmm, I think I have some 7.7 Jap somewhere to reload.

[DaveL]

My shooting buddy and I were shooting a Savage 99 in 300 Sav. yesterday that he reloaded for with Russian primers. We shot about 20 rounds. Three or four of them went off as they were suppose to. All the rest took 2 strikes and a couple of them didn't go off at all and none were light strikes. They looked like fired cases after one strike. I have read in many other post that folks are having good luck with Russian primers and I've also read that they are junk. My personal experience is that I will NOT be using unreliable Russian primers. The last thing I want is to hear just a click when I fire at a Whitetail.
JMHO
DaveL

[Shooterontheline]

My shooting buddy and I were shooting a Savage 99 in 300 Sav. yesterday that he reloaded for with Russian primers. We shot about 20 rounds. Three or four of them went off as they were suppose to. All the rest took 2 strikes and a couple of them didn't go off at all and none were light strikes. They looked like fired cases after one strike. I have read in many other post that folks are having good luck with Russian primers and I've also read that they are junk. My personal experience is that I will NOT be using unreliable Russian primers. The last thing I want is to hear just a click when I fire at a Whitetail.
JMHO
DaveL

I primarily shoot with CCI or Winchester primer... However I got a good deal on a load of wolf primers and loaded up a few hundred. I have had a few not make noise when the trigger was pulled. Others that looked like a light strike but would work on the second try. I agree if that trophy whitetail walked into my scope cross hairs I sure wouldn't want to worry about this issue.

[gandog56]

Got back from the range yesterday checking out my new Taurus 66. So I had to deprime a whole lot of .357 magnum and .38 Special cases. Also some 10mm, and 7.62X54R (Never go without taking at least one 10mm or 1 Mosin Nagant. I will run them in the wet rotary tumbler while I am out yard doing yard sales tomorrow. Already have one circled to go to, he says gun and target stuff.

[WarEagleEd]

I finished loading up a very small sample of my first batch of cast .380/9mm bullets (Lyman mold #356242 90 gr. RN). These are the first of my cast bullets that I have ever loaded. Feels pretty good, will feel better if they all go "bang" like they should. Now I've got to size and lube the rest of the boolits from that batch so I can load them.

Ed

[62chevy]

Got 50 308 Win cases ready to load some 168 grain lead boolits I PC'ed a few days ago. Need to fire form them for cat sneeze loads.

[gandog56]

Cleaned and prepped some 7.62X54R and .308 Win.

[Mbaker78]

The last couple days for me have been devoted to trying to work the gremlins out of a GSG 522 that I overpayed for because a coworker was hurting for cash...

[LEP]

Used old nail polish to inhibit 168 grain tracers.

[Mashuga]

Used old nail polish to inhibit 168 grain tracers.

LEP, could you explain how you do that? Is there some specific chemical to look for in the nail polish or ??? I have tried some different things to keep old .308 tracers from lighting and haven't had any luck really. The best I could do is maybe have 25% of them not light up.

[LEP]

The key seems to be a HARD enamel completely filling the tracer pocket-multiple applications needed. I've only used this method on orange tips and found some enamels or nail polishes don't fit the bill. Old header and BBQ paint gave promising results, but I didn't have enough to validate the result effectiveness.

[gandog56]

LEP, could you explain how you do that? Is there some specific chemical to look for in the nail polish or ??? I have tried some different things to keep old .308 tracers from lighting and haven't had any luck really. The best I could do is maybe have 25% of them not light up.

I was actually trying the opposite with some .311 tracer boolets for my Mosins. I never got one to light unless they impacted a hard target. Then I would see a small flash of light.

[62chevy]

Loaded 50 308 Win cat sneeze loads. Now to get to the range and get some plinking in. :cool:

[gandog56]

Sitting there eyeballing all them 7.62X54R empties and that new bottle of Hodgdon BL-C(2) I just decided to buy to try out.

[Weaponologist]

I've been setting up my new CO-AX press and waiting on my Projectiles from a new vendor I met on Face Book. He uses some kind of hard Moly Coating which looks like powder coating to me. I got some 44mag and 45colt RNFP Boolits from him. Hope to get them soon.
I'll probably switch to the Dillon later but because the co-ax is new I just got to load something on it...lol...
165

[WarEagleEd]

Weaponologist, when you get that Dillon let me know. I'll take the Co-Ax off your hands and help you clear up some bench space. :rolleyes:

[Weaponologist]

Hahahaha, Thanks (Ed) .. But you misunderstood me. I have a 550B already. I just can't wait to load something on the Co-Ax so I'll probably start a few loads for my Revolvers on the Co-Ax for now but change over later.. Plus I have the Flush Mount Inline Quick Change system, I can change Presses in a matter on minutes so no wasted space on the bench....lol...
I have just heard so much about the co-ax I had to try it. If it's as great as they say I'll just let my RCBS go to someone later..

166

[gandog56]

Got a big load of .380, 357 SIG, .357 Magnum, 7.62X54R, and .38 special going in the wet rotary tumbler as I type.

[gandog56]

I've been setting up my new CO-AX press and waiting on my Projectiles from a new vendor I met on Face Book. He uses some kind of hard Moly Coating which looks like powder coating to me. I got some 44mag and 45colt RNFP Boolits from him. Hope to get them soon.
I'll probably switch to the Dillon later but because the co-ax is new I just got to load something on it...lol...

I likes powder coated.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/DSCN0099_zpsxxeqoack.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/SANY0186_zps6a89631c.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/Gandog56/SANY0209_zpsbd0b37d3.jpg

[Mbaker78]

I like those blue ones. 10mm?

[GRUMPA]

I'm sure the blue ones are more accurate than the red ones...:p

[gandog56]

I like those blue ones. 10mm?
Which blue ones? The top is 10mm. The bottom one is both 10 mm And .40 cal.

[62chevy]

I'm sure the blue ones are more accurate than the red ones...:p

That's why I got the signal blue, it's not only more accurate but gives a signal just before leaving the barrel.:p

[gandog56]

That's why I got the signal blue, it's not only more accurate but gives a signal just before leaving the barrel.:p

Hmmm, I call them code blues.:rolleyes:

Cause if you get hit by one....

Code Blue" is generally used to indicate a patient requiring resuscitation or in need of immediate medical attention

[Mbaker78]

I meant the lighter blue RFN as opposed to the darker blue TC. Did you powder coat them or buy them that way?

[gandog56]

Nah nah nah, I'm MUCH too lazy to do it myself, and I don't cast.

Finished up processing all the 7.62X54R, .380 ACP, .38 special, .357 magnum, .454 Casull, 357 SIG , and .45 Colt from my last range trip. Completely ready for reloading.

[Mbaker78]

Care to share your source for those 40/10mm?

[62chevy]

168

169


I cast and PC my own boolits.

[Mbaker78]

I've been thinking about getting into casting, and reading a bit about painting and powder coating. Do you gas check the rifle bullets?

[gandog56]

Well, way back when ebay sold once fired cases, I found a seller that was getting a lot of 10mm from a police practice range. After that on another board I got into a group buy for 500 new Starline nickel plated 10mm cases. 40 cal is always easy to find at the range and pick up for free, I have never bought any brass for it. I use the exact same 185 grain Precision Bullets for both calibers.

I also got lucky and bought out somebody's Lapua cases for 7.62X54R. And for a while I had a Lapua distributor selling them for $30/100, and I snarfed up about 600 cases. I loves to find deals on cases.

[Mbaker78]

Well, way back when ebay sold once fired cases, I found a seller that was getting a lot of 10mm from a police practice range. After that on another board I got into a group buy for 500 new Starline nickel plated 10mm cases. 40 cal is always easy to find at the range and pick up for free, I have never bought any brass for it. I use the exact same 185 grain Precision Bullets for both calibers.

I also got lucky and bought out somebody's Lapua cases for 7.62X54R. And for a while I had a Lapua distributor selling them for $30/100, and I snarfed up about 600 cases. I loves to find deals on cases.

Sorry, guess I should've been more specific... I was referring to the PC'd bullets...

[62chevy]

I've been thinking about getting into casting, and reading a bit about painting and powder coating. Do you gas check the rifle bullets?

Think of Powder Coating as another way to lube your lead boolits. Fit still matter as well as gas checks. That said you may be able to go faster before using gas checks and hardness does not matter as much as it used to with standard lubes.

[gandog56]

All I have to do with my last batch of processed brass is separate the .40 cal and 10mm cases by headstamp. They sure do look purdy.

[Mbaker78]

I just chopped down ~1100 223/5.56 for 300aac last night. They'll go in the wet tumbler (without media) for a prewash and to remove any burrs today after work. Let em dry for a day or so and then I start trimming and sizing...

[gandog56]

You do seem to like that caliber!;)

But why no media?

[landcruzr]

Mbaker78,
would you enlighten me on your process of cutting the 223 casings down?
I also like my 300aac, but use my HF mini cut off saw to cut the shoulders then form them in the die...it just seemsto be a tedious process!

[Mbaker78]

You do seem to like that caliber!;)

But why no media?

It's easier to just rinse the brass off, I mainly just want to get rid of any brass dust and shavings from cutting. I'll run a proper batch with media after they've been sized and trimmed to spec.


Mbaker78,
would you enlighten me on your process of cutting the 223 casings down?
I also like my 300aac, but use my HF mini cut off saw to cut the shoulders then form them in the die...it just seemsto be a tedious process!

I use the same process, just crank the music up and chop away. Up until I started wet tumbling, the worst part was the chamfer/deburr... It seems I can skip that step when wet tumbling :D

[landcruzr]

[QUOTEI use the same process, just crank the music up and chop away. Up until I started wet tumbling, the worst part was the chamfer/deburr... It seems I can skip that step when wet tumbling :D[/QUOTE]

So you use the wet tumble with steel and it takes most of the edge off?

[GRUMPA]

[QUOTEI use the same process, just crank the music up and chop away. Up until I started wet tumbling, the worst part was the chamfer/deburr... It seems I can skip that step when wet tumbling :D

So you use the wet tumble with steel and it takes most of the edge off?[/QUOTE]

What it does is remove a lot of the loose brass that is still hanging on after it gets cut. I've done around 750K doing it that way and it really helps keep loose brass out of the dies. Not to mention forming goes a bit easier with real clean cases.

Most guys that form the 300BO use an electric trimmer that mounts on a special die. Dillon came out with a newer beefier version of there older trimmer. I've never used the newer trimmer just the older version and it helps when it only has to trim just a few thousanths off the case....

[Mbaker78]

I'd like to have a rapid trim, but the volume I do leaves it's price point out of my range... I'll have to stick with my Lyman trimmer with power drill adapter...

Though I can still crank about 100 in 45 minutes (the length of a TV show on Netflix) between sizing and trimming.

[Weaponologist]

I loaded my First 45 colt rounds today.
First time with this cal. So looking for that perfect load..
170

[Mbaker78]

Those look like 230gr Speer lead round nose... I have a box that are destined to be run through my 1911 ;)

[Weaponologist]

Your Correct....
My Cimarron OutLaw has a .450 Bore so I can Load .452 Boolits......

[Happyguy]

Started forming 7.62x39 into 6.5 Grendel. David

[LEP]

Sorted and sized over 250 30-30 cases. Sorted another 650 30-30 cartridges (handloads) from an unknown source. Trying to decide to trade them, as is, for components or break them down, myself.

[62chevy]

Nothing. Went to Ohio to see our grand daughter and our two great grand sons 1 and 2 years old. What a joy and what a hand full they are.

[WarEagleEd]

I loaded 32 test rounds of .303 British using Speer 150gr. SP bullets over some OLD IMR 3031 powder.

[gandog56]

Finally got off my butt and opened up my pound of Hodgdon BL-C(2). Made fifty rounds of 7.62X54R and 50 rounds of 30.06. Funny stuff, I don't use ball powders a lot. Not that I don't like them, just never use them much. Reminds me of the old days using Winchester 291 or other making .357 magnum rounds. Them tiny little grains had a way of escaping from my Lee Auto disk measure. Not a problem here with my Hornady automatic scale/dispenser.

[gandog56]

I loaded 32 test rounds of .303 British using Speer 150gr. SP bullets over some OLD IMR 3031 powder.
You gots Enfield(s)? I have a No. 4 Mk. 1 and a No. 5 jungle carbine. Think I'll shoot them both next range session.

[DaveL]

A couple of weeks ago I "refreshed" a T38 Jap (see pic). Last night I loaded 100 rounds Of 6.5x50 with 140 grain PRVI FMJ bullets and 31.5 grains of IMR 3031 (Lymans old accuracy load). I'll find out how she shoots this afternoon. This is my first foray with PRVI bullets. Anyone out there have any opinions on the PRVI bullets?

P.S.
I love this string!

[gandog56]

A couple of weeks ago I "refreshed" a T38 Jap (see pic). Last night I loaded 100 rounds Of 6.5x50 with 140 grain PRVI FMJ bullets and 31.5 grains of IMR 3031 (Lymans old accuracy load). I'll find out how she shoots this afternoon. This is my first foray with PRVI bullets. Anyone out there have any opinions on the PRVI bullets?

P.S.
I love this string!

Not real familiar with Prvi bullets. The only ones I have used so far is 208 grain ones for my Steyr M95's. And then, when I went to see how much they were I see Hornady 205 grain ones on sale for about 5 bucks less. Ordered me some more Hornady.

[WarEagleEd]

You gots Enfield(s)? I have a No. 4 Mk. 1 and a No. 5 jungle carbine. Think I'll shoot them both next range session.

I've got one, a Fazakerley No. 4 MK. 1*. It was missing the front sight so I bought a set and now need to go to the range and find which one works best. I have some factory ammo for this purpose, but I figured I would load some rounds and try them out at the same time.

[gandog56]

I've got one, a Fazakerley No. 4 MK. 1*. It was missing the front sight so I bought a set and now need to go to the range and find which one works best. I have some factory ammo for this purpose, but I figured I would load some rounds and try them out at the same time.
When I ordered my No.4 FAZ I ordered the reloading stuff for it the same day. Since I use the same bullets for it as my 19 Mosin Nagants and my Japanese Type 99 Arisaka, I had plenty of bullets already. May have got my first brass for it from here.

[Mbaker78]

I've used .224" 62gr prvi bullets for 223 before, they were what you'd expect. Not the most accurate, but not bad (1.5-2moa), and they were cheap.

[WarEagleEd]

I sized and lubed some 90gr. 9mm cast boolits (for .380 Auto) dropped from Lyman mold #356242, until I ran out of lube. :(


I've used .224" 62gr prvi bullets for 223 before, they were what you'd expect. Not the most accurate, but not bad (1.5-2moa), and they were cheap.

Did you happen to weigh a sample of those .223 bullets to see how consistent they were?

[Mbaker78]

They were within about a grain either way, if I recall.

[gandog56]

Deal of the day. Local reloader was trying to get rid of 17000 Wolf small rifle primers. I got 5000 for 100 bucks, and we met by a LGS near me so no shipping fees.

[gandog56]

Stuff was still sealed and in the box!

[62chevy]

Hard to beat 20 bucks a box or 2 cents a primer. Nowadays that is a smoking deal but a few short years ago it would have been a rip off.

[gandog56]

Went to the range yesterday, so I have 7.62X54R, 8mm Mauser, 7.62X39, .454 Casull, .45 Colt, 6.5X55, 10mm, .40 cal, .38 Spec., and .357 mag to start processing for reloading.

But wouldn't you know my best target of the day was from the only caliber I didn't reload? 20 rounds of .22 LR @ 25 yards.
172

[WarEagleEd]

I loaded up another test batch of ammo, this time it was 7.62 X 54R. I loaded 174 grain Hornady bullets over 37.0 and 37.1 grains of VV N-135 in some PPU cases that I think I got from this site in a trade.

[gandog56]

Finally finished all my case prep. Took every rifle case, trimmed to length and chamfered inside and out. Man I got piles of .38 special brass, and only one box of my favorite 148 grain DEWC boolets. Somehow a .308 Win case got mixed in with my brass, I didn't shoot any.

[gandog56]

Just got in a 5 pound jug of Alliant Blue Dot and a 1 pound jug of Hodgdon BL-C(2).

[WarEagleEd]

I sized and primed some PPU 7.5 Swiss brass (which, once again, I think I got in a trade on this site).

[gandog56]

Whatcha gonna load it with?

[WarEagleEd]

I'm going to load some 155gr. Sierra MatchKings into the cases, hopefully this weekend.

[Mbaker78]

Just had a friend of mine that is a local sheriff deputy drop off his brass from rifle qualification. Looked to be mostly all hornady 223, roughly 750 total, some steel mixed in... I'll update after I've had a chance to sort it.

[rbuck351]

Today I made some 85gr half jacketed bullets for my 7.62x25 using 50BMG primer cups for the half jackets then loaded and fired about 20 to check function. So far so good.

[LEP]

Got out the 24 gauge shot-shell cases and dies to fabricate some 450/577 and realized I don't have a 1-1/4" press. Rats.

[gandog56]

Finally final processed all the brass from my last range trip. Did up lots of 7.62X54R, 7.62X25, 10mm, 9mm, 9mm Mak, .380, .38 special, .357 magnum, and 30.06. All cleaned, polished, sized, etc.

[WarEagleEd]

Finished loading the small batch of 7.5 Swiss.

[gandog56]

What did ya load them with? I also reload them.

[WarEagleEd]

I loaded 155gr. Sierra Match Kings over IMR 3031. These were light loads, between 35.4 and 35.6 grains.

[gandog56]

I try to duplicate the GP11 loads. So I use 168 grain bullets. If I used IMR3031 I would use about 40 grains.

[LEP]

I reload the GP11. Have had excellent results with the 168 gr. HPBTs. Friend of mine won a milsurp match with my GP11 hand loads (he was present during the reload process).

[WarEagleEd]

Which bullet do y'all use?

[LEP]

I had best results with Hornady #2200, 168 gr HPBT. Bulk Prvi 168's also worked very well.

[DaveL]

Loaded 40 rounds of 7.5x54 French MAB ammo. Used 30-06 cases sized and trimmed to 7.5, IMR 3031 and Sierra 150 gr. FMJBT game kings. I'll shoot them in the next few days and post how they worked, if anyone is interested.

[LEP]

Definitely would like to see results. I have 3031 yet to be used and a few French rifles to try it with.

[WarEagleEd]

I sized 25 .44 Magnum cases.

I have a bunch of TulAmmo small rifle primers. I've only fired seven rounds that I loaded with them, but they all went bang. Of course, seven rounds isn't close to enough to declare them trouble free. However, even though they are "KVB-223" primers they have soft cups. Therefore, I have read, aren't a good choice for full power .223/5.56/.300 BLK rounds (wish I had known this before I bought them). The 7 rounds I shot were light loads (14.7 gr. of Lil' Gun for .300 BLK), so no issues experienced.

[DaveL]

WarEagleEd,
My reloading buddy bought a bunch of Tula primers. He has had nothing but problems with them using tried and true NOT overpowered loads. He has had blown primers, primers falling out on ejection and failures to fire. I plan to stick with American made primers to avoid the problems I've seen with my own eyes. Good luck to you with those primers.

[DaveL]

LEP,
OK, I'll post my results when I get a chance to shoot them.

[gandog56]

Gonna load up 250 of my favorite .357 magnum practice ammo, .38 special 148 grain DEWC rounds. (Just got my Dan Wesson back from the gunsmith. Going to bounce it against my Taurus Model 66.)

[Point-Man]

Just finished loading 250 - 40 s&w with 180gr x-treme bullets and 6.6gr power pistol powder.
On a single stage.

[3jimbo3]

Cast 200 9mm.....now I'm trying my hand at powder coating. If I'm not embarrassed with the outcome I'll post pics tomorrow. If I am, you'll have to wait until I get it right.

[62chevy]

Cast 200 9mm.....now I'm trying my hand at powder coating. If I'm not embarrassed with the outcome I'll post pics tomorrow. If I am, you'll have to wait until I get it right.

Oh boy do I know that feeling, LOL.

[WarEagleEd]

I managed to load 25 rounds of .44 Magnum this evening. I loaded 240 gr. LSWC bullets over mostly W231, but a few I loaded over some Red Dot. These are pretty low velocity rounds (should all be under 1000 fps), trying to develop a good plinking load.

[gandog56]

That reminds me, I have some .44 special to load up. That's my low recoil .44 magnum gun practice load.

[LEP]

Self explanatory, I think.
176

[rbuck351]

LEP Ok, I'm a little slow, what are they 25/20? Need something to compare size with.

[62chevy]

LEP Ok, I'm a little slow, what are they 25/20? Need something to compare size with.

Me too and the neck looks to long for 30 30 and the body to short.

[LEP]

Sorry, thought the propane bottle was a good size reference. Those are Martini 450/577 cases being formed from 24 gauge brass shot shells.

[rbuck351]

Well the proportions are close to 25/20 but wow was I off on size. Good job, they look great.

[gandog56]

It's raining, I have nothing else to do, so I just gathered up all my 10mm and 40 cal empties and put them in the wet rotary tumbler. When they are clean I will size them all, run them through my Lee bulgebuster set up. and sort 'em all by headstamp. No need to reload any yet, I have a ton already done. But just found a box of .38 158 grain copper plated HP's, and I do have some .357 mag brass ready....hmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Point-Man]

Its wet here to. Decided to get back to my 7.7x58 Arisaka. Gave up on the 30-06 HXP 77 brass to convert. I have hundreds of 270 and no rifle to use it in. Started with 150 but lost 4 because I trimmed them to short in the first cut . The 20 in the back are from a previous batch.

[gandog56]

Does that mean I should stop saving you all my HXP 77 brass? If you are converting .270 to 7.7 I have some nickel plated 270 you could convert that may help you in keeping them separate from your regular .270.

[Point-Man]

Thanks gandog56 looks like I`m good on the 7.7 . I have hundreds of 270 once fired and I gave my son the only 270 rifle I had.I also have hundreds of 30-06 I could use. The 270`s work good to make 8mm or 7.7. I paint the head stamp of the 7.7 yellow and the 8mm green. I have accumulated a good many .303s , but always on the lookout for more. I just haven`t broke down and bought any 8x56r yet. Thinking about converting 8x56r berdan brass to use 209 shot shell primers .

[DaveL]

LEP,
I finally got to shoot the 7.5 loads. You were interested in the results, here they are. I loaded 40 grs. of IMR 3031 with 150 gr. Sierra FMJ GameKings using reformed 30-06 mil. match brass. My Crony showed an average of 2630 fps. The primers were flattened but with no cratering. I've read that 2500 fps is what the MAS 36 should shoot at. I'm going to reduce the load down a grain or two to try to get 2500 fps. and less flattening of the primers. At this range session I wasn't shooting for accuracy, I was more interested in whether or not the '06 cases would fit, function and extract correctly. Everything worked well. They extracted just fine (I read that '06 cases weren't the best choice because of a smaller rim dia) except they do bulge quite a bit at the base. I haven't ran any of the fired cases through my sizing die yet but I expect that the case life may be limited and case head separations will happen more often. But it's still better than around a buck a round for new brass. The groups were averaging 1 1/2 to 2 inches but as I said that wasn't the main concern.
It may be a while before I get a chance to go further with this load work-up but I will post any further results I come up with when I do get the chance.
HTH,
Dave

[LEP]

Dave, thanks for the info. I'll probably have to adjust since I'll be using Mas Berdan cases, but charging them with the 3031 sounds like a plan.
Personally, I would have fire formed those cases with other than full power loads which may give some misleading over pressure signs. That's just me, tho:)

[gandog56]

I just broke down and bourght a couple hundred new Prvi Partzan cases of 5X56R from Graf and Sons to start, so I am good there. I also broke down and bought 100 7.7 Jap cases from them when I got my Arisaka........which reminds me. I haven't shot that bad bay lately....hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Mbaker78]

I haven't done anything on the bench for over a week as I just got back from the Caribbean. I took the wife on a 7 night cruise for our 15th anniversary.

I'm ready to get back to the bench though...

[DaveL]

LEP,
I used to think the way you do about fire forming with reduced loads and have no problem with anyone who uses that method. But over the 45 years I've been reloading, I've done quite a bit of case forming for hard to find and wildcat cartridges. Like 458 win. to 416 Taylor, '06 to 7.7 jap, '06 to 8mm mauser, '06 to 7.5 French, 223 to 300 Blackout and a few more. When I started fire forming years ago, I used corn starch with cardboard wads with a small charge of fast pistol powder and no bullet to fire form reformed cases. That's what everyone said at the time was the way to go. Well, I wasn't satisfied with the results as the cases didn't fully form and the gun was a real mess to clean up. Not enough pressure I guess. So I went to starting loads with light for caliber bullets. That worked good but it meant I had to buy bullets I would not normally shoot in that caliber, which is not an option with 416 Taylor for instance. The 416 normally fires a 400 gr. bullet and the lightest bullet for it is 350grs. and they are just as expensive as the 400s, just over $1.00 each. Not to mention 50 to 70 grains of powder per case. Pretty expensive fire forming. So I went to full power loads with die formed cases and saw no difference in crony data, pressure signs, or accuracy with those cases as opposed to already fire formed cases. No difference. So now I go right to full power loads to form cases and haven't look back since. In doing that, I can get started on working up an accuracy load at the same time and not use twice the amount of $1.00 apiece bullets and lots of powder.
JMHO
Dave

[LEP]

Dave, wasn't sure, but I don't waste powder on other than loaded ammo, either. All I wanted to make clear was that blowing a .470 case to .480 may give misleading indications on your brass. A fully formed case would have grabbed the chamber wall better and not exerted excessive force to the rear, possibly giving the flattened primer indicator.
Otherwise, no problem with your method. I'm guessing you will neck size the brass and go for it:)
Personally, I use cast bullet loads for converted cases. It tends not to destroy those precious cases, give me an indicator of the rifle shoot-ability, and gives me problem indicators without destroying anything. Plus, the components are cheaper:)

[WarEagleEd]

I sized and primed 25 40 S&W cases. I wanted to do more, but it was all I had time to do.

[gandog56]

I have more .40 cal empties laying around than any other caliber.

[62chevy]

I have more .40 cal empties laying around than any other caliber.

For me it's 9mm. The Wife keeps picking them up even when I tell her not to. Thank God too because some times they are 380s.

[gandog56]

I am going to try some Jagemann 10mm brass. Ordered 100 cases today. Never seen or heard of this manufacturer before.
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[WarEagleEd]

I have more .40 cal empties laying around than any other caliber.

I have maybe 200-250 pieces of .40 S&W. I seem to have more .45 ACP than any other pistol case. .380 Auto is a distant second (~500 cases).

A lot of .40 S&W I leave on the ground at the range because they have been fired in a Glock. It seems that a fair number will end up having the "Glock bulge," and I don't have a push-through sizing die.

I've never heard of Jagemann brass. You'll have to give us a report when you receive them.

[DaveL]

LEP,
I've got some more data on the 7.5 French for you. I full length sized the once fired cases (from '06) and reduced the powder charge from 40 grs. to 39 grs. of 3031. The Crony gave a 2540 fps. average, there was no sign of excess pressure and the groups tightened up a little. I'm happy with this load.
By the way, I full length sized them because I wanted to see if they would bulge at the base as much on the second reload. They only had about a 1/4 of the bulging they did on the first load. So I think neck sizing from now on will be the ticket.
Dave

[LEP]

Dave, good deal! Glad to hear it. 39 grains gives me a starting point, but my cases will be Prvi or Berdan primed military. Good to know the pressure signs went away, also.

[gandog56]

I have maybe 200-250 pieces of .40 S&W. I seem to have more .45 ACP than any other pistol case. .380 Auto is a distant second (~500 cases).

A lot of .40 S&W I leave on the ground at the range because they have been fired in a Glock. It seems that a fair number will end up having the "Glock bulge," and I don't have a push-through sizing die.

I've never heard of Jagemann brass. You'll have to give us a report when you receive them.

Yeah, a Bulgebuster set up is vital when I have so much used .40 cal and 10mm brass. I also do it to my .45 ACP cal brass.

[Mashuga]

When you folks use the Bulge Buster, do you use it on empty cases or loaded ammo?

[Mbaker78]

I've only used it on fired, unsized cases. But the directions say you can use it on loaded ammo.

[gandog56]

Got my new Jagemann 10mm brass in today and went ahead and slightly belled them all, but didn't reload them. I just ordered some Nosler 180 grain 10/.40 cal bullets on sale today so I will wait until that order comes in to reload them with. Meanwhile them bastages sent me 101 cases, not 100. :rolleyes:

[gandog56]

So, I am in the midst of building me a new reloading shed/man cave in the back yard. And while my trusty Lee Challenger "O" press has given me over thirty years of good serrvice, I just bought a Lee Auto Indexing Turret press. But you can bet BOTH presses will be on the bench, once I build the bench of course. Right now I have the foundation poured, the walls up, the roof shingled, and a small loft built. I have an electric cable run from the house to a small breaker box in the shed.I still need to get her wired for electricity, put in the LED lighting I just bought, wire it, put up walls, build a bench, and buy me an air conditioner for her. It will be my own little 10X10 world. Need to figure what kind of music system I want to put in her.

[LEP]

Bench got taken over.
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[gandog56]

Got a new Lee Auto Indexing Turret press to mount on the used bench I just bought I am putting into the new reloading shed/Man cave I am building in the back yard. Of course, my 35+ year old Lee Challenger O press will be mounted right next to it.

[62chevy]

Bench got taken over.
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It got taken for a good cause too. :cool:

[gandog56]

Got to the point where I guess putting up drywall is the next step in my new reloading shed/mancave I'm building, We have electricity going to it, but we need the drywall in place to set all the receptacles and light switch up. Still trying to figure out what I will be putting in the loft it has. My general contractor little brother has to work all week though, he can only start again this weekend on my project.
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[WarEagleEd]

We have electricity going to it

Is your power line running to the shed buried in the ground?

[Mbaker78]

I was wondering the same thing. Sadly I was also wondering why a fuse box as opposed to a breaker box.

But cool idea for a man cave.

[Mbaker78]

Loaded up a test group of 45acp with xtreme 225gr TC and 5.0gr HP-38. So much cleaner than autocomp or longshot...

Also loaded up 150 rounds of 300aac with 125gr Speer TNT and lilgun, one of my preferred loads for my rifle, curious to see how it will perform in my 10.5" pistol.

[gandog56]

Is your power line running to the shed buried in the ground?

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[gandog56]

I was wondering the same thing. Sadly I was also wondering why a fuse box as opposed to a breaker box.

But cool idea for a man cave.

It is a breaker box. Two 15 amp breakers. Goes through a 30 amp breaker at the house.

[gandog56]

Spent another day on the new shed. Took out the barn type double doors, and put in a window and a regular door. Now instead of a door bad guy can just crobar out, I have a steel door with lock and a dead bolt so he would have to work a lot harder to get in.

[WarEagleEd]

That answers my question.

Thread applicable content: I knocked the primers out of 36 pieces of .45 ACP brass. Not much, but it was something.

[gandog56]

We had a big storm go through Mobile, and I noticed some wet floor behind my new reloading shed/man cave in front of its double barn type doors. SO I slightly modifed it to a regular type door, and put a window in that the future air conditioner wil go in. I bet it won't leak now!

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[WarEagleEd]

I starting cutting down some commercial and military .223/5.56 brass to convert into .300 Blackout cases.

[gandog56]

Transferred all my dies and all my powder to my new reloading shed. Still trying to figure out what kind of shelving I want to put in for all the rest.

[62chevy]

Going to make some more 45 acp rounds but may have to put it off till Friday.

[Mbaker78]

Getting a few hundred more 223/5.56 deprimer and swaged to be cut into 300aac. Got a decent price on 500 hornady 150gr FMJBT, $98 shipped...

Submitted my form 1 to the ATF to convert my pistol into a SBR, so I'm going to have to feed that.

[gandog56]

Going to be sizing, trimming to length, chamfering and final polishing some .223 I shot off from my new AR15 last week. Also some 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R. Stll trying to find some decent cheap shelving to finish up my new reloading shed/man cave. Ordered a Lee shell plate to mount on my bench so I can switch the two presses I have out and only take up space of one on the bench.

[DaveL]

I traded some 7.62 LC match cases to Happyguy for some 45 Auto Rim cases and he threw in some hollow base bullets to get my new to me 1924 Enfield (Webley) 455 revolver shooting. (By the way, Happyguy is a GREAT trading partner!) It has turned into quite a project. Turns out that the guy that "shaved" the cylinder did it with a hand grinder of some kind. The face of the cyl. was uneven and the gun wouldn't close with the AR cases in the cyl.. Luckily he didn't grind deep enough, so I disassembled it and finished it on my lathe.
So I then went on to reload some rounds for it. I loaded 6 rounds with the 250 grain bullets that Happyguy sent me with a light load of 3 grains of good old Bullseye to check function. Everything went good except the load was to lite to expand the hollow base bullets and accuracy was not so great. So I've upped the powder charge to 3.5 grains of Bullseye. I'll get to shooting them when the weather warms up again here in VT. and let you know how things turn out.
Also, if someone here has an original Webley or Enfield 455 I would sure like to know what the gap between the rear of the cartridge and the frame measures. I've got mine turned down so the gap is .003 (3 thousands). which seems a bit tight but the gun closes now. I sure would appreciate that measurement if someone could take the time to measure it.
Dave

Posted my Question on another forum and got my answer. If interested, here's the thread.
http://www.jouster.com/forums/showthread.php?57781-455-Enfield-revolver-measurement-needed

[gandog56]

Ordered some shelves for the reloading shed. Once I get them assembled and all my reloaded ammo and supplies transferred I'm done.

[LEP]

Fixing to load up over 200 Yugo 8x57 cases that were pulled down. Already primed-that's good.

[62chevy]

Fiddled with a new Lyman multi tool from Midway. Removed the crimp from a couple of cases and clean the pockets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool

[gandog56]

Sorted through by manufacturer about 1000 .44 special cases and sized them.

[Mbaker78]

Fiddled with a new Lyman multi tool from Midway. Removed the crimp from a couple of cases and clean the pockets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/135615/lyman-case-prep-multi-tool

I have the same tool, works great.

[gandog56]

Mounted my new Lee Auto indexing press to the bench. Ran some 45 ACP and 45 Colt cases through the wet rotary tumbler.

[WarEagleEd]

Finished cutting down a batch of .223/5.56 brass, which are destined to become .300 Blackout cases.

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[gandog56]

Cleaned, trimmed to length, and chamfered inside and out a batch of .223/5.56 cases. Processing some 7.62X39 brass.

[gandog56]

Finally decided to break in my new Lee Turret press. Loaded up 100 .44 specials, sorted through some more brass for further processing. Separated out some 7.62X39 cases by manufacturer.

[Mbaker78]

Spent some time on the unloading bench today, tested some loads for the Grendel and got some much needed group therapy.

Scored about 30lbs of mixed brass while I was there, looks like common pistol brass, so once I get it sorted I'll update my trades.

Shot a roughly half inch group at 100y with one of my test sets for the Grendel, then landed a first shot hit on the military silhouette at 300y. I definitely like the Grendel so far.

[LEP]

Received 5 pounds of cfe223. Where to start? I don't shoot 223!

[gandog56]

You seem to shoot a lot if the weird ones instead.
That reminds me, need to sight in my new AR scope and carrying handle.

[Happyguy]

Loaded some 50 Beowulf and then went to the range and shot them. Came home and loaded some more and now I can hear then calling. Maybe it is the 6.5 Grendel calling, no it is the 458 Lott, wait the 458 WM or maybe the 585 Nayti. Maybe I will just turn off my hearing aid and a good night to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gandog56]

Still trying to get my new reloading shed/Mancave set up the way I want it. Ordered a new Lee bench plate so I can swap out my Lee Turret Press with my Lee Challenger Press. Sometimes one is better than the other. For instance I cannot use my RCBS swaging dies with the turret press. I would rather use the Challenger when I am depriming cases in prep for wet rotary tumbling. Sometimes the Auto Indexing is NOT wanted.

[gandog56]

Plan on going to the range tomorrow. So went through all my 6.5X57 brass ans I loaded up a bunch. I haven't shot my Swedish Mauser in a while. Going to sight in a new scope on my AR, and on my Saiga .223. Then we'll see which is more accurate, AR or AK. Plan to blow through a whole bunch of .223/5.56.

[gandog56]

Came back from range yesterday. Was too tired to do much then, just got all the brass in my shed. This morning wet rotary tumbled a load of 6.5X57 brass. Broke me Lee decapper pin on my Universal decapper in Speer 357 SIG brass....AGAIN! (Darn Speer for puttting them tiny little flash holes in their 357 SIG brass anyways!) Odered a third party replacement, where the pin is tapered and rounded on the tip, maybe that will stop it from happening again. Had no decapper to decap all my .223/5.56 brass. (Which I had a ton of) Drying the 6.5X57 brass tonight and will sized and trim them tomorrow. Got another load of 10mm and .40 cal in the tumbler too. Man my Swedish Mauser is fun to shoot. Shot a LOT of rounds and my poor shoulder wasn't crying after like it does when I break out the Mosin Nagants and Steyr M95's.

[Mbaker78]

You should look into the frankford Arsenal hand depriming tool. I have one and it's good for depriming while watching TV or whatever, and it uses the same pins as the Lee universal decapper

[DukeInFlorida]

I had called Speer a few years ago, and they told me that they were buying the 357 Sig brass from lapua. Lapua is known for small primer flash holes.

Standard knock out pins are .047 diameter. You need something smaller, like .042 to solve the issue.


Came back from range yesterday. Was too tired to do much then, just got all the brass in my shed. This morning wet rotary tumbled a load of 6.5X57 brass. Broke me Lee decapper pin on my Universal decapper in Speer 357 SIG brass....AGAIN! (Darn Speer for puttting them tiny little flash holes in their 357 SIG brass anyways!) Odered a third party replacement, where the pin is tapered and rounded on the tip, maybe that will stop it from happening again. Had no decapper to decap all my .223/5.56 brass. (Which I had a ton of) Drying the 6.5X57 brass tonight and will sized and trim them tomorrow. Got another load of 10mm and .40 cal in the tumbler too. Man my Swedish Mauser is fun to shoot. Shot a LOT of rounds and my poor shoulder wasn't crying after like it does when I break out the Mosin Nagants and Steyr M95's.

[gandog56]

I am tring some decapping pins from somebody called VGI. They fit the Lee universal decapper die and they are slightly tapered with a rounded end so they might work better. Ebay sells them but I can find NOTHING on the company (VGI) that sells them. We shall see if they work any better.

[gandog56]

Huge pile of .223/5.56 being processed. Still finding cases I had stashed all over the house and trying to get them all in the new mancave.

[Mbaker78]

I have seen aftermarket decapping pins made by a company called "squirrel daddy" sold on amazon. I haven't used them yet though.

[gandog56]

Feeling too lazy today to do any reloading. But thinking of going to the range Monday or Tuesday and get me a new pile of empties. Maybe make it Mauser day.

[Mbaker78]

Mauser Monday!

[62chevy]

Feeling too lazy today to do any reloading. But thinking of going to the range Monday or Tuesday and get me a new pile of empties. Maybe make it Mauser day.

Now that is a man with a plan, good one too.

[gandog56]

Mauser Monday!

Nah, has to be Tuesday. Remembered I have to go to Biloxi for a CAT scan Monday.

[gandog56]

I did make it to the range today. Fired 8mm, 7.5 Swiss, 10mm, .357 mag, .38 spec.,.22, .308, .40 cal, and 357 SIG. Got all the dirty brass deporimed, have the first load in the wet rotary tumbler. Out of my 4 8mm Mausers, my K98 and one of my Yugo M48's are the most accurate.

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[gandog56]

Take out the first load from the wet rotary, and put in the second, all the 10mm and .40 cal.

[gandog56]

Decided to sort of clean up my empty cases. They were just piled up in a corner. Sorted through them all by caliber and headstamp. Labled the drawers and segregated them by caliber. Got way too may .40 cal and 9mm.

[packnrat]

nust got this delivered by the brown truck.
hope to start using it this week.

l224



sorry i do not know why the photo is on its side.

[gandog56]

Making an Excel sheet for my Lee Auto Disk powder measure. I got the riser kit so I can use 2 disks at once and get 5 times the weight charges. Been a very long time since I worked with Excel, coming up with the formulas was crazy. Anyways I am taking each slot on each disk, throwing ten charges with it, and averaging the weight of the ten throws to figure out what each hole throws for the powder I am using. I do this for all the 6 holes in the four disks. Then I input them on the data base. Then I take each hole dimension, add the average powder charges one at a time, (eg, .30 + .30, .30 + .32) Put that formula on the sheet. Once I enter all the 24 single charge accuracies, I don't actually have to do it with every disk and every combination to figure out what the charge will be. So with every powder I input the 24, I have what should be correct throws for 185 different combinations, everything from .3 cc to 3.4 cc. So far I have done it for Blue Dot, Titegroup and HP-38. I still have to do the 24 initial charges for Red Dot, Unique, 800X, and HP4895

[62chevy]

Making an Excel sheet for my Lee Auto Disk powder measure. I got the riser kit so I can use 2 disks at once and get 5 times the weight charges. Been a very long time since I worked with Excel, coming up with the formulas was crazy. Anyways I am taking each slot on each disk, throwing ten charges with it, and averaging the weight of the ten throws to figure out what each hole throws for the powder I am using. I do this for all the 6 holes in the four disks. Then I input them on the data base. Then I take each hole dimension, add the average powder charges one at a time, (eg, .30 + .30, .30 + .32) Put that formula on the sheet. Once I enter all the 24 single charge accuracies, I don't actually have to do it with every disk and every combination to figure out what the charge will be. So with every powder I input the 24, I have what should be correct throws for 185 different combinations, everything from .3 cc to 3.4 cc. So far I have done it for Blue Dot, Titegroup and HP-38. I still have to do the 24 initial charges for Red Dot, Unique, 800X, and HP4895

That's a great idea !!! Now to find the time to just do it, maybe this winter. :(

[WarEagleEd]

Making an Excel sheet for my Lee Auto Disk powder measure.

Excel is great to use for tracking/recording reloading information. I use it a lot, though I don't think that any of my formulas are as complex as yours.

[WebMonkey]

I sized/gas checked lubed 100 c309-170-f bullets today.

[Mbaker78]

I chopped down yet another ~300 5.56 for 300aac. Deprimed all of my brass from the last range trip, going to run a load through the tumbler tomorrow.

[packnrat]

today i am building the bench
it is 10 feet long and plywood only comes in 8 foot lengths.
so there is a "patch" on one end,
no problem seeing there is another layer layed the other way. a d that is above the org top and frame work. all screwed to the wall.
very stable. it will replace my temp table that has been in use for years ( off n on).

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Woman-mistaken-for-transgender-harassed-in-7471666.php

oops ment to install photos of new bench.
insted a deal where that hate law back east turned bad.
sorry bout that.
not sure why my photos refuse to show up?

[packnrat]

try again.

still a fail i do not know what i am doing wrong as i can not post any photos. can not even get them off the phone or computer hard drive.

.

[gandog56]

So far I have Blue Dot, BL-C(2), H4895, and Titegroup done on my spreadsheet. Still have Red Dot, 800X, H414, and Unique to go.

[gandog56]

today i am building the bench
it is 10 feet long and plywood only comes in 8 foot lengths.
so there is a "patch" on one end,
no problem seeing there is another layer layed the other way. a d that is above the org top and frame work. all screwed to the wall.
very stable. it will replace my temp table that has been in use for years ( off n on).

http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Woman-mistaken-for-transgender-harassed-in-7471666.php

oops ment to install photos of new bench.
insted a deal where that hate law back east turned bad.
sorry bout that.
not sure why my photos refuse to show up?

I was way too lazy to actually build one. I went on Craigslist and found a premade Production Basics bench for sale. I thought I paid way too much for it ($160), then I went to their website and saw what they were charging for one. Whoooeee! Just the little file cabinent drawer option that this bench has was like $180. Not to mention the florescent light and second shelf options. New the stuff would have cost me $1130. And he threw in a vice for free.
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[packnrat]

i do not even have that much money into my bench.
but how do you get photos to show up?
i can get them to work on this and a couple other web sites.

[gandog56]

You hit the little picture frame icon at the top of your post and it will put in a drop down box asking you on your computer or an internet URL. Choose the appropriate one, e.g. the picture is in your computer's hard drive, pick the from computer tag. Click on browse, and navigate it to where your picture is stored on your hard drive, click on the picture then click open. Click on the upload files, and the picure should upload to your post. The second method is to use something like photobucket and get a URL for it so that it is online. Then you click on the other tab from URL and input your url of the pictures.

[packnrat]

photos of new reloading bench.

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hooray got them here... but on there sides?

[gandog56]

I went with a power strip in the back. I don't want cords hanging off the front of the bench. I am klutzy and that would be asking for trouble.

[WebMonkey]

today i'll be grinding my teeth at my own stupidity.
i case lubed a small tub of .308 win cases, picked one up and ran it through the universal decapper.

pop goes the pin. a berdan style case. why did i assume it was boxer primed?
:)
'monkey

[packnrat]

today i'll be grinding my teeth at my own stupidity.
i case lubed a small tub of .308 win cases, picked one up and ran it through the universal decapper.

pop goes the pin. a berdan style case. why did i assume it was boxer primed?
:)
'monkey

do not feel so bad. i am a brass hound and i pick up almost everything.
found a whole bunch of 308, most were boxer, but sad some were berdan.
so now i look before placing them in my pickup bag.
then there are the spiders living in some cases.

[WebMonkey]

231

salvaged my day after all.
trying to work up a 100 yard or less deer load for the .308

[gandog56]

Finished up two more powders on my spreadsheet. Found that my 800X positively sucks trying to use the Lee Autodisk. Never could get consistent weights so I left it off my sheets. Only have one more pistol powder to go. Guess to use up the rest of the 800X I will have to hand weigh each charge. Not so bad when I have an auto dispensing scale, sucks, but there it is.

[gandog56]

Finished my last powder up on my spreadsheet. Now have double disk readings fo H4895, H414, BL-C(2), Blue Dot, Red Dot, Titegroup, HP-38, and Unique. Got in a new 8 Pound Jug of Red Dot. so my .45's and .38 special cases won't be wanting, even if she who must not be named gets elected.

[gandog56]

So shoot me. Today I installed a brand new card reader on my computer. So the first thing I was doining, was seeing what was on some of the various memory cards I had laying around, which I couldn't do before as the old card reader I had quit on me a while ago. So what do I find on one of them, my old spreadsheetsthat I made copies of before my last computer's hard drive went and gave up the ghost on my old computer. I thought I lost them all as I did not remember making copies. Oh well, I added a couple powders from the old ones (Tite wad, HS6, and W231) to the new ones. I also used a scale with better resolution on the new one, so the old powders I redid were probably a bit more accurate this time. Now have multiple copies on different types of memory.

[WarEagleEd]

Formed some .300BLK from some LC 5.56 & Fiocchi .223 range brass. Practiced annealing with a few of them, too.

Ed

[packnrat]

lets see how these photos of my loading bench comes out.
a brand new hornady ammo plant (waiting on a couple parts shipped separate) and my old tried and true rockchucker with a piggyback. still working on the bench.

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233234


.

[Mbaker78]

I started laying out an OCW work up for the Grendel with 120gr bullets and TAC. Looks like it'll be another week before I can try them out though...

In the meantime I have about 300 223/5.56 that have been cut and cleaned, just need to size and trim them for 300aac and that should last me a while.

[gandog56]

Rolled out 20 7.7 Jap and 50 8mm Mauser today. Was trying to organize my reloaded ammo shelves a bit better.

[gandog56]

Loaded all the 8mm Mauser cases I had left, though that wasn't many. Still labelling everything on my ammo shelves so it is clearer what ammo is on what shelf.

[packnrat]

not the bench, but a attic style fan in the garage to try and help cool it down during the summer heat.
then back to the .223. and after a whole lot of .40, then on to the 9mm. (at least a couple - three thousand rounds of each).

[gandog56]

not the bench, but a attic style fan in the garage to try and help cool it down during the summer heat.
then back to the .223. and after a whole lot of .40, then on to the 9mm. (at least a couple - three thousand rounds of each).

Problem with installing a fan to battle the heat is YOU have to battle the heat to install it!

[Mbaker78]

That's why you should install them in the winter/fall.

[packnrat]

just need to connect the wires. took the day off (100F today) and went to reno. (89F) about 350 miles round trip. dropped a bunch of cash on primers and powder.
still a good amount of snow up top. but little real run off coming out of the 8K foot stuff. up higher it will flow down to the lakes for our drinking water.
monday do the wires. then start up on more reloading.
and need to start cleaning the brass i picked up last week. got a good 30 pounds to get the dirt off of.

[gandog56]

That's why you should install them in the winter/fall.

Yeah, but that seems to be one of those jobs you never even think about it till it actually needs to be done.

[gandog56]

I added H4198 powder to my Auto Disks spreadsheet. Ordered some .300 AAC Blackout reloading dies.

[packnrat]

Yeah, but that seems to be one of those jobs you never even think about it till it actually needs to be done.

or the time to get it done. seeing as i am off work right now i have plenty of time, not much cash (then why a reno trip?---no i do not gamble---). so i am able to get some small items done around here. as i have lifting/weight restrictions on right now.

but new day and off to get more done.


.

[Mbaker78]

Lifting/weight restrictions suck. I have a 25lb restriction for the rest of my days after having a big chunk of my L4/5 disk removed a few years ago. It's worst when people see a big strong young (38, so relatively young) man and assume he can help with whatever lifting... So I look like a jerk when my wife has to get the 40lb bag of dog food while I'm just standing there...

I also have to try to keep weight down on my range bags and gun cases, because I won't let anyone help me load/unload the car when I go to the range.

[packnrat]

I have been very very lucky in my life all the things that have happened to me. but worst was getting my leg crushed decades back, and this neck surgery.
at 57 i just hope i can keep on being a problem to other for at least three more decades. :-)
but then if i knew the day of my death i would rack up all my cc'ds. and lots of over drafts at the bank.
new guns and tons of ammo. and a couple other things.

then maybe some would be at my funeral if for no other reason than to make sure it is me in the box. banks have this bad habit of wanting to get paid back.


.

[gandog56]

Figuring out what to do with my WAY too many .270 Win reloads. Guess when I go and test out my new .300 AAC Blackout upper I'll drag the old Savage 110 out too. Haven't shot it in a while.

[62chevy]

I was going to load some 308 Win. but at the last minute this morning My Wife decided I needed to take her all over town. The problem is town is an hour away and of course you know how that goes.

[gandog56]

Got in my .300 AAC Blackout dies. Need to get some lighter bullets as the only .308" ones I have are 150 and 175 grain ones.Need to get a different powder for them, trying to decide which one. I am leaning towards some Win 296 as I could also use that for my .357 mag, .44 mag, and .454 Casull loads.

[DaveL]

Gandog56,
When I did my load workup for my 300 AAC I tried 5 or 6 different powders. Long story short, I now use AA1680 for all bullet weights. I tried 110, 125, 150, 180, 200 and 220 grain bullets. most 110 grainers are varmint bullets. The 125 seem to be the best for a hunting application (deer). The 150s were ok but quite slow. I couldn't get any 180s to shoot very well. Large groups were the norm with 3 different 180 gr. bullets. 200 and 220 grain bullet both work very well for subsonic loads. I settled for 125 gr. Barns bullets and AA1680 for a hunting load and Nosler 220 gr. and AA1680 for a subsonic load.
The Lyman AR15 loading manual is great. It has data for most of the new AR calibers (no 6mmx45 though). It's on sale at Midway right now for $9.99.
HTH
DaveL

[gandog56]

Since I am only punching holes in paper with it I do not feel any need for speed. I got 200 Armscor 110 grain bullets though. So I am going to try that with the H4198 since I have that in hand.

[Mbaker78]

I've had good results with hornady 150gr FMJBT and win296/H110, but now I'm using lilgun as I got a good deal on a few pounds of it.

[gandog56]

Oh well, I have a 4 pound jug of Win 296 on the way. That and the H4891 will have to do. I got 200 Armscor 110 grain bullets to load, and 240 cases waiting. 150 grain .308" bullets I have up the ying yang, so the first loads will be 110 and 150 grains.

[gandog56]

Deprimed, wet rotary tumbled, sized, trimmed to length, chamfered inside and out, and swaged out crimped primer pocket if needed .303 Brit, .308, .300 AAC, and 7.62X25 cases for reloading later. Cleaned some 9mm. Deprimed some 10mm, .45 ACP, and .454 Casull cases for later tumbling when I get enough to do a load.

[Dmpatter37]

What am I doing..., a first..., stuck case, and sheared the pin holder bolt head right off..., think I'm done for the night now.

[SafetyJoe]

What am I doing..., a first..., stuck case, and sheared the pin holder bolt head right off..., think I'm done for the night now.

If it's a lee die you can just use a punch and hammer to bang it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylp3fsYrEVw

[Dmpatter37]

Right, only the collet still has enough pressure on the pin that it doesn't want to come out..., that and I can't find my 3/16" punch. I'll be back in business tomorrow.

[LEP]

Converted 30-30 cases to 25-35 for a friend of mine.

[gandog56]

Just got in about 300 .223/5.56 cases. Trying to decide how many to convert to .300 AAC Blackout.

[packnrat]

loaded up another 500 rounds of.223
almost out of bullets need to order more.
must have another 5000+ (and growing) empty's to work.
and need to buy some powder for my 43 mauser.

[Happyguy]

Loaded up some 6.5x55 Swede.

[Mbaker78]

Just got in about 300 .223/5.56 cases. Trying to decide how many to convert to .300 AAC Blackout.

All of 'em...

[gandog56]

All of 'em...

Nah!, I do still have my Saiga .223 and the 5.56 upper.;)

[Mbaker78]

I'm debating rebuilding a 5.56 upper... I already have a barrel, BCG, and upper receiver. But the barrel I have is just too heavy for what I want...

[gandog56]

Was going to go to the range yesterday and make me a whole lot more empties. But looked at the weather radar and saw a big old thunderstorm headed right for it. Since it sits about minus 5 foot elevation, and the road to it tends to flood out, I didn't go. Oh well, still have to finish processing some Norinco brass I acquired.

[LEP]

Helping the next door neighbor with 300 Win Mag loads. He has dies and brass, but no press or components. Need to find good loads for a Rem 700 w/28" barrel.

[gandog56]

Gave up on anybody here willing to trade me some 8mm cases. Converted about 50 Greek HXP 30.06 cases to 8mm. Doing final polish them and on some more I did not convert, but sized.

[gandog56]

Then I looked at all the HXP brass stamped with a 77 date stamp, and said, I have enough 30.06 empties, and very few 7.7 Jap empties. So I converted all the 77's to 7.7.

[Mbaker78]

Then I looked at all the HXP brass stamped with a 77 date stamp, and said, I have enough 30.06 empties, and very few 7.7 Jap empties. So I converted all the 77's to 7.7.

You're welcome ;)

I spent some time at the unloading bench yesterday, hammered out some good data for the 308 and the Grendel. Collected some brass from a guy up there that I don't need so it'll be listed in my trades once I get it sorted and counted.

On a side note, does anyone have need for 12ga hulls?

[gandog56]

You're welcome ;)
On a side note, does anyone have need for 12ga hulls?

Bummer dude, I used to shoot skeet. But with my two knee replacements I pretty much can't stand there and do it any more. I sold off my Lee Load all and one of my shotguns. I still have boxes of 12 gauge cartridges I reloaded 10-12 years ago and my Mossberg pump. I think I still have a couple boxes with PAPER cartridges.

[Mbaker78]

Finished my 5.56 upper, again. So I guess now I will have to start splitting my brass between 5.56 and 300aac...

[gandog56]

Got my jig in to cut 5.56/.223 cases for .300 AAC, though I haven't done any yet, and probably won't until I get some more projectiles for them.

[gandog56]

Finished my 5.56 upper, again. So I guess now I will have to start splitting my brass between 5.56 and 300aac...
I figure I will use all my 5.56 brass for .300 AAC since no calibers are marked on the headstamps, and keep all my .223 cases for my 5.56 upper.

[Mbaker78]

I'll probably just make 300aac as I need them now, I have well over 1000 cases between the loaded and empties...

[gandog56]

Just got a mess of converted .300 AAC from Happyguy. (Thanks again, dude!) He took the 5.56 I gave him, and apparently thought it wasn't enough to convert, so he threw in a few of his OWN cases.

What a guy, he refused any offers of recompense I tried about three times to give him.

[LEP]

Yep, he's a great guy. Sometimes I feel unworthy.

[gandog56]

I agree, he also gets his brass he sends me even shinier than I can do, even though I use a rotary tumbler. The very first time I ever traded brass with him, I swore it was NEW unfired brass. Anyways last night I took my labelmaker and organized all my Lee die sets with ID tags on the sides, so I can stack them and still see where the set I need is.(RCBS dies don't need that) Still trimming a large stash of Norinco .223 cases from a prior swap. I have gone through about 4 batteries of my cordless drill doing it so far, I keep recharging them.

[62chevy]

Nothing haven't even been to the range in two months due to illness. :(

[gandog56]

Nothing haven't even been to the range in two months due to illness. :(
I've had about two months of friggin' rain.

Anyways FINALLY got done trimming up all my Norinco .223 brass. Now I am just trying to find me a day with no thunderstorms, doctor appointments, and chores around the house that need to get done to get my butt to the range and blast away some of my huge stash of alreaded reloaded ammo. Thinking it's time to go British and fire off some .303 Brit. I had bought like 440 Greek HXP milsurp .303 because it was all boxer primed. .303 went from few empties to a possible big empties pile.

[gandog56]

Just got back from thew range. Must have brought back 10 pounds or more of brass. Scarfed up some free weirdo stuff the guy next to me was shooting, like 6.5 Grendels, and something I haven't even identified yet, a whole pile of .308 Wins and 5.56/.223. Haven't counted any yet. Need to start sorting and depriming before the wet rotary tomorrow. Maybe I'll have some trade bait and some more to convert to .300 AAC.

[Mbaker78]

I'm sure either happyguy or myself would be interested in the Grendel brass ;)

[gandog56]

Like I said, I have no numbers yet. I will be sorting and numbering this afternoon after I go out checking yard sales this morning.

[Happyguy]

50 Beowulf, 300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel. 6.5x55 and 45 ACP, probably a total of 2,200 rounds, 800 of the 45 ACP and 500 of the 300 Blackout. Cleaning the 50 Beowulf that I received from MBaker, thanks again.

[Mbaker78]

They were already sized and wet tumbled... But I'll admit, my process doesn't get them nearly as shiny as yours does ;)