What did you do in the reloading room recently?

[walter62]

I think you'd be better served by flipping the wood chunk over, use an appropriate 'spade bit' to fit a T-nut so you can machine screw (1/4" hex bolt) into it from the top.
That way, you're using the actual structure of the wood and compressing it vs. pulling on the wood screw. Or just use a hex bolt on the bottom and the washers/nuts on top.

 

[daekken]

I think you'd be better served by flipping the wood chunk over, use an appropriate 'spade bit' to fit a T-nut so you can machine screw (1/4" hex bolt) into it from the top.
That way, you're using the actual structure of the wood and compressing it vs. pulling on the wood screw. Or just use a hex bolt on the bottom and the washers/nuts on top.

I thought about countersinking into the chunk of wood and using bolts but it seemed like a hassle. My objective was to have nothing protrude below the wood.

With this current setup, the top of the bench isn't screwed into or affected in anyway, and my press is now effectively portable, I can move it along the top of the bench or clamp it to anything else.

 

[walter62]

Both of my suggestions involved a spade bit from the bottom so nothing would protrude nor is the benchtop affected.

What size wood screws did you use (personally I wouldn't trust them for 'big' work')

 

[daekken]

Both of my suggestions involved a spade bit from the bottom so nothing would protrude nor is the benchtop affected.

What size wood screws did you use (personally I wouldn't trust them for 'big' work')

5/16 and I think it 1.75'' long, hex heads.

 

[xtry51]

These are what I'm using. 1/4-20 T-nuts with tines. They flush face with the wood when hammered in.

 

[Jim Poulette]

WAY too much fun at the range this morning. More .44 mag load-dev with Alliant SP - I'll put up a link when ready for those interested.

Putting the data together for the GRT submission. Will be using the 629 (2-5/8") and a 329PD (4-1/8") because you need 2 different barrel lengths for a new propellant submission.

The sun is falling in the sky once again casting longer shadows - so I don't have to use those goofy floopy diffusers.

Ok, time to get back to work. (.......the work that pays the bills......)

 

[ffej ruedorb]

Just some bittersweet 300 Blackout
A while back I bought some first class reloading equipment from a first class gentleman with failing health. A couple weeks ago he lost his battle and at the time of purchase it was sad buying what was suppose to be a hobby of his for decades to come. But now it feels good to pull the handle he pulled and use his equipment and be able to have a reminder of who he was. When ever I see old equipment for sale it has a story to tell and keep alive

 

[pastera]

View attachment 506472View attachment 506473Just some bittersweet 300 Blackout
A while back I bought some first class reloading equipment from a first class gentleman with failing health. A couple weeks ago he lost his battle and at the time of purchase it was sad buying what was suppose to be a hobby of his for decades to come. But now it feels good to pull the handle he pulled and use his equipment and be able to have a reminder of who he was. When ever I see old equipment for sale it has a story to tell and keep alive

Nice - I just ordered a mold and dies to do some 300 blackout for a build I just finished.

 

[ffej ruedorb]

Nice - I just ordered a mold and dies to do some 300 blackout for a build I just finished.

Awesome !! I’d love to know what you got for a mold. I basically just ordered the only one I could get from mihec 311-235hp

I own a Arsenal 145gr Elvis which I’m going to try soon

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

View attachment 506472View attachment 506473Just some bittersweet 300 Blackout
A while back I bought some first class reloading equipment from a first class gentleman with failing health. A couple weeks ago he lost his battle and at the time of purchase it was sad buying what was suppose to be a hobby of his for decades to come. But now it feels good to pull the handle he pulled and use his equipment and be able to have a reminder of who he was. When ever I see old equipment for sale it has a story to tell and keep alive

Sorry for your loss man. He seemed like a great guy who was passionate about reloading for sure.

He’s smiling down watching you make blackout ammo.
Possibly critiquing and tossing in a few safety reminders

How do they shoot?

 

[ffej ruedorb]

Sorry for your loss man. He seemed like a great guy who was passionate about reloading for sure.

He’s smiling down watching you make blackout ammo.
Possibly critiquing and tossing in a few safety reminders

How do they shoot?

150gr shot great with h110
I need to try out some of the 145cast with 1680 or h4198 next. Then Start slinging some of the big lead

 

[daekken]

Just loaded my first 45 ACP, 25 rounds to test.

 

[pastera]

Awesome !! I’d love to know what you got for a mold. I basically just ordered the only one I could get from mihec 311-235hp

I own a Arsenal 145gr Elvis which I’m going to try soon

Just a Lee 230g
I already have a Lyman 311467 180g loverin design that is great in 30-06.

I don't even have brass - a little embarrassing to have bought/built two guns this month without having a single round of ammo for either one.
One gun with ammo or two very expensive metal clubs? I know which choice i made

 

[mac1911]

Just a Lee 230g
I already have a Lyman 311467 180g loverin design that is great in 30-06.

I don't even have brass - a little embarrassing to have bought/built two guns this month without having a single round of ammo for either one.
One gun with ammo or two very expensive metal clubs? I know which choice i made

The 300 brass is easy to make

 

[Knob Creek]

My reloading room is also my guitar room. Moving things around for a new gun safe being delivered next week.

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

My reloading room is also my guitar room. Moving things around for a new gun safe being delivered next week.

I didn’t know you played guitar.

 

[daekken]

45 rounds of 8mm Mauser done. Been reloading like a fiend since the new bench was installed.

Planning to hit the range on Friday to try those test 45 ACP and also test out the new parts kit I had built. Might also load up some .223 for my AUG and/or 5.56 AK.

 

[meh]

Having settled on the light WST loads for the 200 grain RNFP bullets I have in 45ACP and 44M, I calculated that I will have over 1000 grains of WST left after I'm done loading them. I don't plan to repurchase either those bullets or that powder after they are gone, so I decided to work up some light 9mm 125 grain Zero JHPC loads over WST, if only to save my other pistol powders for other cartridges.

There's scant published 9mm data for WST available (just a little bit, such as in the 4th edition Hornady loading manual), but people have played with it, and some people use it. I was planning on using the same COAL as Hornady uses with its HAP bullets, just so I'm certain the rounds will work in all my 9mm guns. That turns out to be shorter than what most people seem to be using, so I couldn't just steal somebody else's load and work up to that.

WST is about 14% bulkier than Bullseye. In 9mm the theory with WST is that you can fill the case, and as long as you don't compress the load, it should at least be safe, more or less. That worked out to about 4.0 grains at the 1.069" OAL that I was using with these bullets. So I loaded up some at 3.4 grains, 3.6, 3.8, and 4.0 grains yesterday and shot them today. The LC9s was up in the rotation, so that's what I shot them in. They were very light feeling. I didn't chrono them, but I'm guessing they weren't going very fast for 9mm. Primers were all rounded. Cases weren't sooty. There were no malfunctions. I need to look at them under magnification tonight to be sure, but my quick impression was that the primer strikes were showing variable depth in the 4.0 grain set. The powder does have a reputation for being spikey at the upper end in 9mm. I only loaded 1 round at 3.4 grains, but I loaded 7 at 3.6 grains, and I didn't get any malfunctions in my LC9s with any of those, so I'm thinking 3.6 grains will be fine. I guess I'll load up another 25 at 3.6 grains and run them to be sure. Then after I've run out of 200 grain bullets for my 44M and 45C loads, I'll just load 9mm until the WST is gone for good.

 

[xtry51]

Little range report. I shot about 170 of my "possible squib" 9mm bin (2k rounds) and had 2 squibs. Easily removed with an aluminum rod and a small hammer. It seems there are not as many as I feared and the ammo is shooting well aside from that.

 

[BarnBuilder]

Purchased my second Dillon 650 from a NES member getting out of reloading recently. I got it set up to reload 223/5.56 along with 300 BLK.
You got to love it when machinery runs correctly and efficiently. Especially making ammo

Just finished 500 rds. 223

Mixed HS
55 gr FMJBT
25 gr H335
Col 2.20

 

[quinnjalan]

2 years since we moved and I finally got my sorting, wet tumbling table back together. Granted we renovated the entire house in the meantime, but I was itching for a while to get this done. I use a Dillon CV750 with a 5 gallon bucket bolted on, with the yellow, blue, black (.380 aluminum tray in the bottom) sorter trays with 5 gallon bucket top sections as spacers to sort. It’s hooked up a foot pedal, so toss in a bunch, stomp on the peddle and it rattles away. Loud enough where headphones are required, but it’s faster than hand sorting. I deprime on a separate press, then wet tumble, then separate the stainless media, roll size and finally load. I know I could cut out all the middle steps but it’s a hobby and I enjoy the process.

 

[Jim Poulette]

I have to get one of those tumble sifters. I'm sick of using my hands while wearing a freakin' mask.

 

[meh]

I have to get one of those tumble sifters. I'm sick of using my hands while wearing a freakin' mask.

I've never had a dry tumbler. The mask is to reduce lead exposure?

 

[EddieZoom]

2 years since we moved and I finally got my sorting, wet tumbling table back together. Granted we renovated the entire house in the meantime, but I was itching for a while to get this done. I use a Dillon CV750 with a 5 gallon bucket bolted on, with the yellow, blue, black (.380 aluminum tray in the bottom) sorter trays with 5 gallon bucket top sections as spacers to sort. It’s hooked up a foot pedal, so toss in a bunch, stomp on the peddle and it rattles away. Loud enough where headphones are required, but it’s faster than hand sorting. I deprime on a separate press, then wet tumble, then separate the stainless media, roll size and finally load. I know I could cut out all the middle steps but it’s a hobby and I enjoy the process.

How about some more pics of the brass sorter contraption u describe ? Sounds cool.

 

[Jim Poulette]

I've never had a dry tumbler. The mask is to reduce lead exposure?

Not the tumbler - the hand crank sifter. I'm using a bucket and strainer. Yeah, the dust & residule primer crap gets bad when you're "sifting by hand".

I'm going to order one today !

 

[gerrycaruso]

loaded some Lyman 429215 with 2400. I'll try them out of an N frame .44 Special tomorrow.

 

[meh]

Not the tumbler - the hand crank sifter. I'm using a bucket and strainer. Yeah, the dust & residule primer crap gets bad when you're "sifting by hand".

I'm going to order one today !

I understood. I have one for removing the stainless steel pins after wet tumbling. I was just making sure that the reason for the mask was to limit lead exposure when dealing with the output of dry tumbling. Avoiding lead exposure was the main reason I chose wet tumbling in the first place.

 

[quinnjalan]

How about some more pics of the brass sorter contraption u describe ? Sounds cool.

I found the idea online but made a few improvements. Look at the photos and ask questions if you need more information.

1. Remove the bowl from the brass tumbler and bolt on a bucket. I used an old tile grout bucket, not a 5 gallon, but a 5 gallon will work.
2. Cut the top rim off 2 other 5 gallon buckets. If you use Home Depot buckets just cut off 1.75” or just below the second rim. Theses will be used as spacers.
3. Cut the bottom out of the black sorter and rivet in the .380 aluminum case sorter plate. Sold separately but a must have.
4. Rivet the 5 gallon rim tops spacers onto the tops of the black and blue sorter.
5. Drill a bunch of 5/16” holes in the bottom of one of the buckets you cut the rim off and use it for catching all the .22, .380. I added a few drawer pulls I had laying around so I could remove it easier. The other bucket bottom will catch any dirt the falls through. Doing this prevents stuff from gathering in the bottom of the bucket you bolted onto the tumbler….another must have.

I’ll be happy to demonstrate if anyone wants to come visit me in Harvard MA. Happy sorting!

 

[EddieZoom]

I found the idea online but made a few improvements. Look at the photos and ask questions if you need more information.

1. Remove the bowl from the brass tumbler and bolt on a bucket. I used an old tile grout bucket, not a 5 gallon, but a 5 gallon will work.
2. Cut the top rim off 2 other 5 gallon buckets. If you use Home Depot buckets just cut off 1.75” or just below the second rim. Theses will be used as spacers.
3. Cut the bottom out of the black sorter and rivet in the .380 aluminum case sorter plate. Sold separately but a must have.
4. Rivet the 5 gallon rim tops spacers onto the tops of the black and blue sorter.
5. Drill a bunch of 5/16” holes in the bottom of one of the buckets you cut the rim off and use it for catching all the .22, .380. I added a few drawer pulls I had laying around so I could remove it easier. The other bucket bottom will catch any dirt the falls through. Doing this prevents stuff from gathering in the bottom of the bucket you bolted onto the tumbler….another must have.

I’ll be happy to demonstrate if anyone wants to come visit me in Harvard MA. Happy sorting!

Thanks for these pics....nicely done !!!

 

[gerrycaruso]

I shot the .44 spl loads this morning. 5 grains of HP38 was mild and accurate but 13 grains of 2400 was better. More potent and most rounds in one big hole. I'll try 14 and 15 grains of 2400 tomorrow. I know they're above max. but .44 special data tends to be mild and the N frame is a big strong gun. 13 grains gave very good accuracy and cases fell out of the cylinder.