What have you done in the reloading room today

[IALoder]

Sized, trimmed, and flared 20 pcs 44 Mag brass to "confirm" my 2400/240XTP load on my Redhawk and my wife's 99/44. Then did a little bit of cleaning up

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Pretty good amount of Hornaday, RP, and PMC for my 6x45 project.

Do you have a thread on this project? It has piqued my interest.

 

[AJC1]

Do you have a thread on this project? It has piqued my interest.

Not yet... I'm waiting on a barrel. I have the rest... I may create an observations thread when it all comes togther... I jumped on the winter sale for xcaliber customs... I'm hoping it comes sooner than later.

 

[thump_rrr]

Started to get my automated Magma Master Caster back up and running.
I designed the automation myself and I haven't run the caster in 2 years.
Needless to say nothing went according to plan.
I destroyed a proximity sensor right off the bat.
Luckily I had another one sitting in my garage.
I let the whole thing cool off while having supper
I replace the proximity sensor but couldn't figure out how the sprue plate made contact with the sensor.
Warm everything back up and I'm messing with the air pressure because something isn't right and wham.
The sprue plate hits the proximity sensor again.
The handle on the right side of the caster came loose and slid out of place.
This in turn allowed the handle to bypass the stop and rotate past 90 degrees hitting the sensor.
I'll grab a couple more sensors tomorrow and try again.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Not yet... I'm waiting on a barrel. I have the rest... I may create an observations thread when it all comes togther... I jumped on the winter sale for xcaliber cystoms... I'm hoping it comes sooner than later.

Now you've got me pondering. I'm off for a look-see regards a 6x45 barrel for a Savage m10....

 

[AJC1]

I

Now you've got me pondering. I'm off for a look-see regards a 6x45 barrel for a Savage m10....

It would be kinda awesome to have a project buddy.

 

[Riomouse911]

I was asked by a friend to assemble some .38 Spl wadcutter loads for a very clean S&W Model 52-2 he bought. He hadn’t found any .38 WC loads, so he reached out.

I put together roughly 100 2.8 gr Bullseye and 148 gr lead DEWC loads, seated flush for the Model 52-2.

I then loaded just over 100 plated DEWC over the same 2.8 gr Bullseye for my use. (I seat my loads with about 1/10” of the bullet nose peeking out.)



Stay safe.

 

[King Medallion]

Loaded the last of my 45/60 brass. Time for some shooting or casting weather, or both!

 

[igotta40]

Prepping approximately 150 cases of 308 Win

 

[Pottimus]

PC'd most of what I cast last week, which wasn't a lot. When I get the right top punch I think these will go through the Lubrisizer, instead of coating.

 

[Charlie98]

Technically, M2 Ball, Caliber .30 is not sporting ammunition spec .30-06Spg. The Garand was designed around the M2, not SAAMI specifications for sporting ammunition.

Correct, but in this day of SAAMI spec, everyone looks there for loading specifications. Of course, M1 and M2 ball predates SAAMI. Federal used to load (may still) a .30-06 Springfield load 'for the M1 Garand,' they don't call it M2 Ball, but S&B does. Most of this is downloaded .30-06 SAAMI spec ammo, understandably so. It somewhat mirrors the .223 vs 5.56mm differences, but for a different reason. Someone like Slamfire could explain it probably better than I.

Back when I first got my M1a, I picked up some of the Hornady Superformance factory ammo. I'm not really sure why I did, but, anyway... The M1a has an oprod similar to the Garand, but much shorter... a better design to eliminate, among other things, broken oprods. I fired 3 rounds of that Superformance ammo in the M1a, said "Holy, (poop!!!)" unloaded the rifle, put that ammo back in the box, and buried it at the bottom of the range bag. The recoil impluse of those rounds, and the way the bolt was slamming back under recoil, was... uh... impressive. Assuming their Superformance ammos uses Superformance powder (or their factory blend of it....) that powder ranks slower, even, than H4831! That experience taught me to mind my manners when handloading for either of those rifle actions. Both the M1 and M1a have a window of powders that are generally regarded as appropriate for the gas systems of those rifles, not necessarily the respective cartridges. It's always my recommendation to stick with those powders.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Had to work yesterday morning and then had a church workday as well as
a business meeting to oversee/chair… and today is church activity all day(99% of Sundays are) but last night I had a few minutes to work on coming up with a good way to “stare and compare” between these two. Interesting, the Sierra manual I have has no info on this bullet(.308, 115gr varminter); the 110 is there, but not 115. I’ll reduce a bit from my 110 vmax load and see where we go. Now to find some more Benchmark…

Love your priorities!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Of course, M1 and M2 ball predates SAAMI.

Yes and no. Rather, correct; but with clarification.

This being the “What did you do…?” thread and me not wanting to hijack it, I went to the books in what passes for my reloading room: M1906 - introduced 1906, replaced 1925 by M1 Ball, reintroduced as M2 Ball in 1938. SAAMI - established 1926.

So, M1 and M1906 predate SAAMI, M2 does not but, since M2 is the same as M1906, it does.

This is precisely why picking loading data for milspec weapons requires research.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I was asked by a friend to assemble some .38 Spl wadcutter loads for a very clean S&W Model 52-2 he bought. He hadn’t found any .38 WC loads, so he reached out.

I put together roughly 100 2.8 gr Bullseye and 148 gr lead DEWC loads, seated flush for the Model 52-2. View attachment 1195402

I then loaded just over 100 plated DEWC over the same 2.8 gr Bullseye for my use. (I seat my loads with about 1/10” of the bullet nose peeking out.)

View attachment 1195403

Stay safe.

Have to confess I've never seen reloaded WCs. And if I weren't a reloader I wouldn't even know to ask what the seating stem looks like?

 

[DustyRusty]

A steel bookcase for more space.
Reloading supplies & tools.

 

[IWAC]

Last night, spent about a half hour cleaning up some 357 Maximum brass I bought to make snake/rat loads. I mis read the instructions on how to resize them in a .222 Remington die so they would fit my 357 magnum cylinder. Trimmed them all to 1.580", the COAL length of .357 rounds, then chamfered the inside and outside to remove the trimming jaggeds, then tried all in my 357 case length gauge...sort of a "plunk test".
Not a "full" 357 Maximum load out, but more than Speer shot cups hold in the 357.
Will use Cereal box over powder loads, and probably .32 cal. gas checks would work for the over shot one, but, they cost too darn much, so. probably more cereal box, waterproofed/secured with Carpenter's glue.
Whilst at it, reviewed the Speer load requirements. They all seem a bit hot to me, and in smaller print, they say a lower charge of powder "may" result in "better" patterns. Hmmmm... I'll probably drop their recommendations a grain, and see what's what.
Unfortunately, the range I have a pass to forbids shot loads. Owell...maybe I can talk some sweetness to my public range personnel, and set a target at ~10 feet from the bench.
Anyhoo, while I was at it, discovered I had a bottle full of Trail Boss I'll probably never use, and 300+ Berry's non-cannelure 125 gr plated boolits...ditto. I'm going to see if I can trade straight across for an unopened can of Unique, or another equivalent powder.

 

[allisd17]

I have been slowly taking down my stash of dud/rusted German 8mm Mauser ammo, dating from 1933-1945. I re-home the bullets (and powder when possible) into new brass. Don't want to let perfectly good components go to waste

 

[AJC1]

Spent a few hours sorting dad's brass which for the most part has been mixed headstamp. Ran into a large container like the 223 mixed brass was in marked 30-30 FC. Well it was full to the top with federal 30-30 only. I guess that takes a huge lead in which headstamp I have the most of in 30-30.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Anyhoo, while I was at it, discovered I had a bottle full of Trail Boss I'll probably never use, and 300+ Berry's non-cannelure 125 gr plated boolits...ditto. I'm going to see if I can trade straight across for an unopened can of Unique, or another equivalent powder.

Right now that bottle of Trail Boss will probably bring 3x what a bottle of Unique would cost.

Think carefully about the trade.

 

[AK Hunter]

You all are going to think I'm crazy but I haven't been shooting much because it been cold here but with spring coming I have been trying to get the pleasure boat going again. Last fall the fuse block when out because it was cheaply made & wouldn't hold the fuses tight, so they shook out of proper contact then the boat would die. So I have bought a new fuse block & I have to figure out how to wire it in my reloading shop because it's too cold outside.
How many others use their reloading shop for small jobs that pop up?

 

[IWAC]

You all are going to think I'm crazy but I haven't been shooting much because it been cold here but with spring coming I have been trying to get the pleasure boat going again. Last fall the fuse block when out because it was cheaply made & wouldn't hold the fuses tight, so they shook out of proper contact then the boat would die. So I have bought a new fuse block & I have to figure out how to wire it in my reloading shop because it's too cold outside.
How many others use their reloading shop for small jobs that pop up?

SMART!

 

[usaral63]

Just a few .243's for that old rebuilt A bolt of mine, plus a very few .32 Remingtons (split neck territory with Graf's stuff).

 

[IWAC]

I was asked by a friend to assemble some .38 Spl wadcutter loads for a very clean S&W Model 52-2 he bought. He hadn’t found any .38 WC loads, so he reached out.

I put together roughly 100 2.8 gr Bullseye and 148 gr lead DEWC loads, seated flush for the Model 52-2. View attachment 1195402

I then loaded just over 100 plated DEWC over the same 2.8 gr Bullseye for my use. (I seat my loads with about 1/10” of the bullet nose peeking out.)

View attachment 1195403

Stay safe.

How do you find the plated DEWCs shoot? I'm thinking of using ~3 gr. HP 38 for a wadcutter load. The 2.7-2.8 gr. Bullseye load has been a standard for longer than I've been alive, but I've never been able to develop a fondness for Bullseye, and...it's like hens' teeth locally!

 

[Riomouse911]

How do you find the plated DEWCs shoot? I'm thinking of using ~3 gr. HP 38 for a wadcutter load. The 2.7-2.8 gr. Bullseye load has been a standard for longer than I've been alive, but I've never been able to develop a fondness for Bullseye, and...it's like hens' teeth locally!

I like them. I am not going to place at Camp Perry in this lifetime, so I can’t tell if they are more accurate (or not) than lead-lube WC’s in my mitts. The only suggestions I have to start are to put a slightly larger flare in the case mouth so you don’t catch the thin plating on the mouth when seating (it will scrape it off), and just a light roll (or taper crimp) should be used so the plating isn’t cut. (It will separate in flight if its cut, learned both the hard way myself).

I started shooting a lot with plated DEWC mainly because I shoot indoors, and creating a fog of lead-lube WC smoke doesn’t endear me to shooters in other lanes. (Especially the newer ones only used to shooting fmj ammo in their new autos. )

HP-38, AA#2 and IMR Target (discontinued) are powders I have used to make really good target WC loads for a long time. I still have 3-4 pounds of BE still on my shelf, so I liked the ol’ standby load for the Model 52 my buddy asked me to load for. (I also used up the last 100-ish from a 500-bullet box of lead-lube DEWC, just to get the box off my shelf. )

(IMR Target is GREAT in .44 Special, too bad it’s gone!)

Good luck finding a good load!

Stay safe.

 

[IALoder]

Loaded up the 20 44 Mag test loads I prepped yesterday with 2400/240 XTP's. Then cleaned/wiped down the bench AGAIN, because someone spilled some 2400....