What Are You Doing On The Reloading Bench Today?

216513 Views 3183 Replies 127 Participants Last post by shop tom, 11 d ago

gandog56

Discussion Starter · Oct 26, 2016

Looks like the thread disappeared, so I want to reopen it.

I was bored tonight so I went out to the shed and whipped me up 100 rounds of .454 Casull. I used Nosler 250 grain JHP projectiles and W296 powder. Supposed to give me a muzzle velocity of around 1755 fps.

Reactions: 5

3161 - 3180 of 3184 Posts

runfiverun

· #3,161 · 2 mo ago

i know that load... LOL
only thing i've loaded lately was 2-K shot shells.
don't know why, other than the hulls were in my way.
which then lead me to pulling that machine down, checking all the bushings, and doing a re-set on almost all of the settings.
i'll do the final 1/8-1/4 turn adjustments next time i use it.

Reactions: 1

455rocket

· #3,162 · 2 mo ago

runfiverun said:
i know that load... LOL
only thing i've loaded lately was 2-K shot shells.
don't know why, other than the hulls were in my way.
which then lead me to pulling that machine down, checking all the bushings, and doing a re-set on almost all of the settings.
i'll do the final 1/8-1/4 turn adjustments next time i use it.

Shot shells are another thing I need to get caught up on but I've had so many other projects going on. I have about 4000-5000 AA hulls sitting in the corner, 1000 Winchester 209 primers, 500 Claybuster wads, 4lbs of WST remaining, but only 50 lbs of shot at the moment. The MEC is set up for 1-1/8 oz loads but I'm going to make some 7/8 or 1 oz loads to stretch out my lead a little.

Reactions: 1

runfiverun

· #3,163 · 2 mo ago

i've been shooting 1oz. [by weight] loads sheez,, since the mid 90's.
for a while there i was doing 15/16oz. but getting them to fit the hulls properly meant more wads and junk to buy.
7/8 works good if you keep the speed up.

i settled in on 1 oz. at 1175 fps for about everything except birds over @4lbs. [i've pressed them into service with 7-1/2's a few times with good results though]

Reactions: 3

Moroco Mole

· #3,164 · 2 mo ago

Did not load but did this on my loading bench today.
Cast a couple thousand 358-105

Insect Wood Tool Tobacco Metal

See less See more

Reactions: 4

Moroco Mole

· #3,165 · 2 mo ago

Pre sized close to 1000 of the bullets I cast to ready for powder coating.

Gas Electric blue Automotive lighting Household hardware Automotive tire

See less See more

Reactions: 4

455rocket

· #3,166 · 2 mo ago

I cleaned off my loading bench and re-organized so that I have a little more space for the new turret presses that are coming home soon.

Reactions: 2

BJung

· #3,167 · 2 mo ago

Moroco Mole said:
Pre sized close to 1000 of the bullets I cast to ready for powder coating. View attachment 184992

Why not powder coat first and then size?

Reactions: 2

Moroco Mole

· #3,168 · 2 mo ago

BJung said:
Why not powder coat first and then size?

I will size after I powder coat again.
The mould was casting at a bit over .453. Almost .454.
I have a .452 sizer. My gun shoots best with .452.
I could probably do it in one shot after.
But rather then size them down 3 to 4 thousands at once. Plus these had some very minor flash on some of the bases so Sizing knocked it off.
I split the difference in these, by sizing before, then after I powder coat.

Reactions: 1

Moroco Mole

· #3,169 · 1 mo ago

Blue Light Product Green Kitchen appliance

This.
Powder coating all the 45 acp'
Pic is 3 trays in. Five more to go.
Trying the copper_silica weave baking mats. To bake them on.For the first time.
Boy, wish I had known about them from the start!
Also sizing after I bake.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

Get Out

· #3,170 · 1 mo ago

My reloaders live outside in the garage with covers on them and found rust on the dies and bare metal again. Sprayed WD40 on them and used a toothbrush on the dies and metal. Resprayed the dies and metal and replaced the covers again. I also found out why rust was forming on the reloaders when it shouldn't be. Went outside and the wife was putting wet clothes she was going to hang up on the reloaders. I draped a plastic bag over the reloaders hoping to protect them from moister.

Reactions: 3

runfiverun

· #3,171 · 1 mo ago

i'd replace the wife, or drape the plastic bag over her if she tried something like that.

Reactions: 5

455rocket

· #3,172 · 1 mo ago (Edited)

Prepped 250 pieces of once fired 9mm that I found in a bag stuffed under my bench, that should get me to about 1000-1200 pieces ready to load. I bet they've been lost under there for 5 or 6 years stuffed under a pile of various other pieces and parts. I picked up a pound of Titegroup powder to try with the X-treame bullets I got a deal on. (500 for $45)

I've got the spot on my bench cleaned off and going to try getting out to pick up my new to me press this next week and get it set up.

Reactions: 1

blaster

· #3,173 · 1 mo ago

a few days ago I loaded up 362 pieces of .40 S&W brass with my 175 gr. cast & powder coated bullets and 7.5 gr of Long Shot.

Reactions: 3

455rocket

· #3,174 · 1 mo ago

Finally got the bench rearranged and the new (to me) press set up and nearly ready to go. She's been used hard but is still in pretty good shape, just needs a little TLC and I'll have her purring like a kitten soon. I moved the single stage press down the bench and put the MEC shot shell equipment on it's own top now.

Engineering Machine Wood Motor vehicle Electrical wiring

See less See more

Reactions: 3

455rocket

· #3,175 · 29 d ago

I had to download the manual for the "new to me" press and try to figure out why I couldn't get it to cycle smoothly. I figured out that it wasn't set up correctly, was missing a few parts and just needed taken apart and cleaned lubed and put back together. I had to call Hornady and order the pieces that were missing / worn so it's on hold until they show up at my house.
My buddy gave me a 50 cal ammo box full of 9mm brass that needed prepped for re-loading. I think that I tumbled, sized, de-primed, sonic cleaned and sorted by headstamp on 3000 pieces today across my single stage press, and don't feel like I made a dent in the pile.

Reactions: 3

runfiverun

· #3,176 · 29 d ago

that hornady has a lot of thingamabobbies on it.

Reactions: 2

BigEd63

· #3,177 · 24 d ago (Edited)

I'm currently in the middle, or close, 🙄 to re-resizing 500 .308win cases I bought from Bass Pro that was allegedly processed and "ready to load" by Top Brass...🐂💩😡.
Not if it's going to be used in a tight chambered bolt action or a semi auto like my DMR type AR-10. So I'm running them all through my SB sizer die.
I will say that Hornady Unique Case Lube works great for this and initial.300BO sizing.

Well back to the salt mines.😛

Reactions: 2

455rocket

· #3,178 · 24 d ago

I got all my parts to put the press together and it seems to cycle nicely now, but still having some feeding issues with the case feeder. Tried some modifications to the feeder but it still wants to spit 9mm brass out the top and feed about 50% of them upside down.

As Ed said, back to the salt mines....

Reactions: 1

BigEd63

· #3,179 · 23 d ago (Edited)

3

Well after doing other things today and finishing out that first bag of.308win late last night I am working up the gumption to start on the second bag of this stuff.
I shouldn't really complain as the other 500 cases I had bought uncleaned and totally unprocessed were a nightmare to get cleaned.
I just had hoped modern machinery could handle SB resizing on a production scale but I guess not.

Font Transparency Metal Rectangle Pattern

Oh and this project would have been more of a royal PIA than it is without this stuff:

Plant Font Tree Circle Gas

I'll be trying to find out how to order this stuff by the case from now on. Below is how much remains in that little container after sizing and forming approximately 250 and 150 .308win and 5.56 to .300BO cases respectively.

Ingredient Food Dish Cuisine Recipe

See less See more

Reactions: 4

455rocket

· #3,180 · 22 d ago

I think that I've got the case feeder figured out with a little home-grown engineering. Added a piece of 1/4" tube to keep the brass from stacking up in the bowl, and a business card/aluminum tape flipper to keep the brass from flipping and feeding upside down. Baby steps, but I'm nearly ready to fire it up and see how it all goes.

Reactions: 1

3161 - 3180 of 3184 Posts