What have you done in the reloading room today

Last night was an unmitigated disaster in the reloading room. In short, every little thing that could go awry did. Dropped live primers, bullets dumping out of the bullet feeder tube, powder spilling, split case mouths...I was lucky to get 48 rounds of .380 loaded. There are a lot of holes in my bulletproof system. Single stage may have been slow and aggravating, but the results were better. I suppose it's getting used to a new press and system. But it didn't go like my mind had it figured out to be.
 
I haven't done much lately. I did sort out a quart cup of mixed range brass with a half dozen wheelweights in it that my running buddy brought to me the other day. The wheelweights were rescued off of an exit ramp! I'm glad he got them before the Condors ate them! I deprimed the brass and the wheelweights went into "too be smelted" bucket.
 
fotog54 said:
Loaded up 100 .45ACP using the Servicios Aventuras Small Pistol Primers I bought from the Norma site about a month ago. I've already tested the primers in my .38 special revolvers without any issues. I plan on getting to the range tomorrow and test them out with my G21 and S&W 1911 to see if they go "bang".

Edited to add that I'm reloading .45 and .38 special on my Dillon SDB.

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Follow up that the SA SPP went bang without a problem.

I did have a problem with my S&W 1911 failing to set off some old reloads of 45ACP with the S & B LPP primers. Took 2-3 hits to get them go off. I've ordered a heavier mainspring for the 1911!
 
Loaded 30 rounds of 338 Lapua.
IMG_9202.jpeg
Trying to clean up whatever has been hanging arond on my loading bench for a while now.
I was given a bunch of 460 S&W ammo and dies when I purchased a 460V pistol.
I would never shoot someone else's reloads so I pulled everything apart.
Now I'm trying to identify the bullets. All are 300gr .452"
IMG_9203.jpeg
The JSP'sare Sierra Sports Master.
The middle ones look like Hornady XTP-MAG.
Trying to identify the ones on the left.
IMG_9204.jpeg
 
Checking over my notes for 357 I didn't find any data for my 154 noe and shooters world heavy pistol. I did some testing with some everglades jacketed. I made two test lots of 50, one in federal brass the other in Winchester.... I plan to run a batch in the 4" pistol and the other batch in one of the two carbines... real world test results aren't exactly abounding... 20240326_141904.jpg
 
Moved/shuffled a few things around to facilitate the new progressive. The blizzard in the West is delaying its arrival. Have all my bolts ready and waiting to fasten it down.
Have the 308 brass all completely prepped. Might try to slip down and prime it. I’m honestly tired enough(shoulder kept me up most of the night) I don’t have much ambition.
 
JmacD said:
Moved/shuffled a few things around to facilitate the new progressive. The blizzard in the West is delaying its arrival. Have all my bolts ready and waiting to fasten it down.
Have the 308 brass all completely prepped. Might try to slip down and prime it. I’m honestly tired enough(shoulder kept me up most of the night) I don’t have much ambition.
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Does your new press not prime as part of its progressive features? I really like the idea of a progressive press with the case trimmer.... how handy...
 
Well I think I'm gonna sit my fat self down and load up some 40s. Like this 4.8gr Zip/Xtreme 165 plated combo quite a bit in my old M&P. 100 should do for the weekend. I've got plenty of .44spc and .45 Colt loaded, so while I got the small punch in the press I'll set up at the end of tonight's run for .38s tomorrow night
 
AJC1 said:
Does your new press not prime as part of its progressive features? I really like the idea of a progressive press with the case trimmer.... how handy...
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Ya. But, I like doing my rifle stuff single stage at this point. Will that change? Dunno. lol. I’m thinking about setting up a mark seven style trimmer(can’t remember the name… trim express maybe?) on with another single stage I have laying around, or putting it on my progressive at times.

For now, I’m starting on the progressive with my “volume” cartridge; 9mm predictably. Probably expand/prime,drop,cop,seat,crimp… a PTX die is in the future. But one must save pennies to make dollars.

ETA: I went and looked it up. I like this one: https://www.lymanproducts.com/power-trim-xpress
 
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Played a bit with settings on the turret. Hoping I can dial things in a bit better. I have two new Lee bullet feeders coming later this week, thinking things might run a tad smoother with bigger cases and powder charges. I'm not overly impressed with the RCBS bullet feeder die. It's very touchy and can easily dump a tube full of bullets all over the floor if not set up just perfect, plus it requires you to bellmouth pistol cases .030 over case diameter (!!!!!). I think that's what split the one case. I think I need to fine-tune my technique.
 
Starting to figure this thing out a bit.
#1, I drilled a hole in the poly tube and fabricated a pull-pin from a large paper clip. This allows all the bullets to sit on top of the pin until the tube is inserted and you're ready to feed the die.
#2 When you pull the pin, have your hand under the die ready to catch bullets because depending on how many are stacked, it will drop between 2 to 5 out the bottom of the die when the stack drops.
#3 No way you could fill this tube up full. Too much weight even with these little 100 grainers. I'll have to be content filling the tube about half way and refilling every 20 or so rounds. It's really not a very good design IMHO.

EDIT: Actually, I found I could fill the tube. Just have to insert a short length of dowel rod to rest against the pin as I pull it so the bullets don't drop down onto the plastic collet. Slowly remove the dowel, no lost bullets and a full tube. Where there's a will, there's a way.
 

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