What did do today on your loading bench !

texas30cal · March 28, 2014

What do you use to trim? I recently got the Lyman ez trim I think is what they call it. It uses interchangeable mandrel/cutters, chuck the mandrel/cutter in lathe or drill and there is a quick change holder for the cases, makes it waayyy faster than the old rcbs trimmer, bc it uses the fixed length mandrel/cutter there is no checking they have to be the same every time.

NoFail · March 28, 2014

I use the, I use this http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html

Love it

mineralman55 · March 28, 2014

What do you use to trim? I recently got the Lyman ez trim I think is what they call it. It uses interchangeable mandrel/cutters, chuck the mandrel/cutter in lathe or drill and there is a quick change holder for the cases, makes it waayyy faster than the old rcbs trimmer, bc it uses the fixed length mandrel/cutter there is no checking they have to be the same every time.

I have a Lyman Universal Case Trimmer mini lathe (that's what it is) except I also got the adapter shaft to run it off a drill or electric screwdriver. I built a little jig to hold the lathe and a carriage to hold the drill. I love the universal case holder on the Lyman. It is ingenious. When I get moving I can do 6-10 cases a minute.

Edited March 31, 2014 by mineralman55

392heminut · March 28, 2014

I use the, I use this http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html
Love it

I use one of those for 5.56 and love it!

planeflyer21 · March 28, 2014

Sized and deprimed about 1200 9mm cases.

98Z5V · March 30, 2014

Converted more 300BLK this morning. Just did 30 of them, from start to finish.

Once-fired LC 5.56 brass from brass to loaded 300BLK. Went with trim-to length of 1.363", 15.9gr H110, primed with CCI 400s, Hornady 150gr FMJ boat tails. COAL 2.105".

Going out to shoot them in a few. Will also get rid of the rest of the 220gr PNW subs. Dawm Marie is going to shoot hers. Later today is reloading all of it again.

NoFail · March 30, 2014

I use one of those for 5.56 and love it!

I just realized they have a gen 2...

http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft%202.html

98Z5V · March 31, 2014

Hey, I will say this for you guys converting 5.56 brass to 300BLK - there are steps you need to hit, every time.

1) Cut (in whatever manner) the 5.56 brass at or right below the shoulder.

2) Do not final-size it yet.

3) Chamfer it in and out, so it doesn't tear up your 300BLK sizing die. You don't want rough-cut edges going through your die.

4) Once it's resized to 300BLK, THEN you trim to the proper trim length. Max length is 1.368". Trim-to length is 1.363".

If you cut your 5.56 brass at the shoulder, then trim it down to 1.363", it's gonna be to short once you resize/reform it. That process drops a few thou off the overall brass length...

Now, those damn PNW 220 subs shot fine, EVERYTIME, through Dawn Marie's 14.5" carbine-gassed BLK barrel today... The damn things won't cycle reliably through my 16" carbine-gassed BLK, but they do in hers... :rant2:

sketch · March 31, 2014

First attempt at .45 acp: de cap / sized / pocket reem. Found that some Speer and blazer brass primer pockets are small pistol size? Then after that I went to adjust trimmer and dropped micro set screw on concret and called it quits ;) also loaded 200 -223.

mineralman55 · March 31, 2014

The current batch of 308 cases had exceptionally dirty/sooty primer holes, so I got an RCBS brush to clean them out. I put it into a battery-powered hand drill, and did 500 cases in about 50 minutes. The bristle end could have a little more flare in it to get deeper into the corners, or perhaps be slightly larger in diameter, but it worked well. And for $8 this was a handy little device.

392heminut · March 31, 2014

Now, those damn PNW 220 subs shot fine, EVERYTIME, through Dawn Marie's 14.5" carbine-gassed BLK barrel today... The damn things won't cycle reliably through my 16" carbine-gassed BLK, but they do in hers... :rant2:

Different sized gas ports in the barrels?

sketch · March 31, 2014

The current batch of 308 cases had exceptionally dirty/sooty primer holes, so I got an RCBS brush to clean them out. I put it into a battery-powered hand drill, and did 500 cases in about 50 minutes. The bristle end could have a little more flare in it to get deeper into the corners, or perhaps be slightly larger in diameter, but it worked well. And for $8 this was a handy little device.

That's what I use I find after fighting to clear the edges on a hundred or so rnds my fingers are done. There is another option that looks like a flat head screwdriver I'm gonna give it a try when I find it.

mineralman55 · April 1, 2014

That's what I use I find after fighting to clear the edges on a hundred or so rnds my fingers are done. There is another option that looks like a flat head screwdriver I'm gonna give it a try when I find it.

I tried that one. The scrapers are quite small and really don't do a good job cleaning out the pockets. but it is inexpensive, so you might get better results out of it.

shibiwan · April 1, 2014

I tried that one. The scrapers are quite small and really don't do a good job cleaning out the pockets. but it is inexpensive, so you might get better results out of it.

The scrapers do pretty well. I got one of these:

I mount the scrapers in my drill press and run the cartridges through them one by one. Seems to do a good job.

98Z5V · April 2, 2014

^^^ That's my favorite reloading tool, right there. <thumbsup>

sketch · April 2, 2014

Primed and expanded 300/.45 powder and lead tomorrow :)

unforgiven · April 2, 2014

Not sure if this is a good deal.This: http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=DU78281&trk_msg=HFCC9G9OKQLK1CP3SJV4EGKS20&trk_contact=PJKDAN3I4E1BPT61NGE32SC4TK&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.natchezss.com%2fproduct.cfm%3fcontentID%3dproductDetail%26prodID%3dDU78281&utm_campaign=Apr_02_2014_Barnes_IMR&utm_content=Apr_02_2014_Barnes_IMR#q%3Drifle%2520powders

planeflyer21 · April 2, 2014

Sized and deprimed about 650-700 .45ACP, tumbled the 9mm and .45 brass now.

NoFail · April 2, 2014

Hmmm I think it is not too bad these days relatively. But the haz mat fee sux. What cartridge are you gonna use it for?

Not sure if this is a good deal.This: http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=DU78281&trk_msg=HFCC9G9OKQLK1CP3SJV4EGKS20&trk_contact=PJKDAN3I4E1BPT61NGE32SC4TK&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f%2fwww.natchezss.com%2fproduct.cfm%3fcontentID%3dproductDetail%26prodID%3dDU78281&utm_campaign=Apr_02_2014_Barnes_IMR&utm_content=Apr_02_2014_Barnes_IMR#q%3Drifle%20powders