So What Did You Do On The Reloading Bench Today?

[will965]

Off work, just had a kidney stone cut out through my back, so I'm gonna fire up the reloader and make some good use of my time!! New loads for my new XDM is the order of the day...gonna load a few hundred I guess, got the fixins, now I got the tiem. Maybe so 44maggies too..

[Univibe]

Today I cleaned some brass --
Reloaded 6.5 Creedmoor 108gr Lapua
Reloaded 223 69grSMK

And my favorite some Ken Waters remakes -- 44special in 44Mag cases. 240gr Remingtons that clock in at 1050fps across my chronograph.

That's what I've been doing lately.   I'm doing 240 grain hardcast SWC over 11 grains of AA5.   There's no light 44 mag load in AA's published data, so I extrapolated from 45 Long Colt data.   I need to chrono these loads to see just what they're doing, but I'm guessing around 1100 fps.    In the big 6.5 inch 629, they are very accurate and pleasant loads to shoot.

[mr.revolverguy]

Yes my data shows your load will be about 1137fps at 23Kpsi

[mr.revolverguy]

Isn't that the reason you shoot is to reload 

[mr.revolverguy]

I performed a confessional and loaded up some rifle rounds.

Every day I see more and more people starting to reload for many different reasons. Naively, most think it is going to save them money. I have been reloading for over two decades and I too thought the exact same thing. I have come to realize and say it a bit differently after 22 years, reloading allows me to practice more than if I were buying factory and the side effect is it calms the savage beast. I find reloading to be a very relaxing hobby. Many times throughout this journey I have actually found myself loading more than I was shooting. Scrounging brass on the range just to reload it, carefully measuring and weighing factory rounds before pulling them apart in awe of the magic I would often find. If you find yourself with these same symptoms you might be a reload-a-holic, Hi I am Mr.Revolverguy and I am a reload-a-holic.

As my therapy session for the week I have decided to share with the group some of my reloading procedures and tools that have made this an absolute joy for me over the years. From day one of adventuring into this hobby of reloading, rifle brass prep was always tedious and just down right boring to me. The right tools can make this as close to enjoyable as shooting as you can possibly get. I know what my dad meant now when he would say, "Son, with the right tools and a creative mind most anything is possible."

I do not show the reloading manuals in this video that I start every session with. I encourage anyone watching this video to never take a load from the Internet and just start loading, that is very dangerous. Remember you are not only capable of hurting yourself following that practice but also the people around you at the range. So always use safe reloading practices which starts with owning at a minimum two loading manuals. Fair warning though, you could end up like me with a bookshelf full of them and comparing loads of yesteryear to loads of today — did I mention I am Mr.Revolverguy and I am a reload-a-holic.

Are you a reload-a-holic?

https://youtu.be/z69hbWG-UIQ

Tools
Tools used in this video — be sure to look around, these tools can be purchased a lot cheaper than advertised by the manufacturers website.

http://www.dayattherange.com
https://www.thereloadersnetwork.com

CTS Engineering – https://www.ctstrimmer.com/

Hornady Brass — https://www.hornady.com/reloading/cartridge-cases#!/

Lapua Scenar Bullet — http://www.lapua.com/en/reloading-components/bullets/scenar

Alliant Reloader 15 Powder — http://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/reloder15.aspx

RCBS Automatic Priming Tool – http://rcbs.com/Products/Priming/Tools/Automatic-Priming-Tool.aspx

Hornady One Shot Case Wax Lube — https://www.hornady.com/reloading/case-care/lubes-and-cleaners/case-lubes

Hornady Digital Caliper — https://www.hornady.com/reloading/precision-measuring/precision-tools-and-gauges/micrometers-and-calipers/digital-caliper

Hornady Sizing Die — https://www.hornady.com/reloading/dies/custom-grade-dies#!/

Redding Competition Dies – https://www.redding-reloading.com/online-catalog/19-competition-bullet-seating-die

Inline Fabrication – https://inlinefabrication.com/

RCBS – RCBS Summit Press – http://rcbs.com/Products/Presses-and-Kits/Single-Stage/Summit-Single-Stage-Reloading-Press.aspx

RCBS 5-0-5 Scale is discontinued — New replacement http://rcbs.com/Products/Powder-Measures-and-Scales/Scales/Mechanical/M500-Mechanical-Scale.aspx

RCBS Chargemaster – http://rcbs.com/Products/Powder-Measures-and-Scales/Powder-Measures/Electronic/ChargeMaster%E2%84%A2-Combo.aspx

Lyman Gen6 — https://www.lymanproducts.com/brands/lyman/scales-measures/gen6-compact-powder-system.html

[gmerkt]

My project:  Loaded 10mm Auto cartridges with 155 gr. pure zinc bullets from Mid-South Shooters Supply.  Data:

155 gr. pure zinc bullet RNFP
6.9 gr. Vihtavuori 3N37
WW LP primer
Starline brass
OAL 1.265
Muzzle velocity 1078
Previously fired in Ruger SR1911

These 155 gr. bullets inasmuch as they made of zinc are significantly longer than equivalent weight bullets in lead or jacketed lead.  Therefore, powder selection is important because a fluffy or bulky powder might result in a compressed load (which I never personally like).   This was a comfortable, smooth, mild load.  Obviously not for hunting but surely suitable for targets of another sort.  No residue of any kind left in the bbl. after firing.

I much prefer the 10mm Auto over .40 S&W.  Why?  Because the .40 is more limited in capability.  The 10, you can load it down and make it behave like a .40, or go right up the power ladder to some pretty stout loads.  The 10 is way more versatile.

The zinc bullets are part of my exploration of alternative projectile materials.  Non toxic shot is already required by the feds for hunting migratory birds.  Many states have their own restrictions on lead shot for other hunting purposes.  California already has a lead bullet ban in some areas, non-lead ammunition for all hunting will be required there beginning July 1, 2019.  A number of states recommend non-toxic bullets for hunting.  We can see what's coming.  So I'm checking out the alternatives, such as copper solids, frangible bullets, and even these zinc bullets.  Which were fairly inexpensive at $10 the hundred.   

[slayer61]

Couple hundred rounds of Montana Gold 180 JHP over 9.2 grains of Longshot. Then the phone rang and family "stuff" interrupted the rest of the weekend.

[Rooster41]

mr.revolverguy I am in the same boat as you. Im a reloadaholic. I started with the notion of saving money. Yes I am gaining more ammo for the same amount of money I would spend on factory. Still a savings in my mind. Also I started to save money on calibers I already had, 270, 243 and 357 Mag. That has evolved into, "I can load for it so why not?" This brings me to a total of 8 handgun and 9 rifle calibers that I load for. Been toying with the idea of adding 22TCM to the mix and loading for the bolt rifle I have.  I also find myself loading more than shooting. Working two jobs tends to cut into range time. I do get to the range, just not that often. Some of the calibers I have loaded, I know have more than I will probably ever shoot. For instance 35 Remington. I have about 400 loaded rounds ready to go. I probably shot 20 rounds this year. My dad's house burnt down last October. He lost some of his gun but we were able to recover ammo. I have more 30-06, 243 Win and 308 ammo than I think I will use. Maybe next year when my schedule changes and I have longer stretches of time off I will get to the range more often. I would like to get out once a week like I used to before switching full time jobs.

Now I do most of my loading in the winter. I have a list going on what needs to be loaded this winter. 44 Mag I am down to 60 rounds. Hopefully 59 rounds on Monday (deer hunting). 41 Mag 50 rounds. I need to work on 7.62x39. I have some Hornady soft points and Speer Gold Dot bullets to work with. 450 Bushmaster this is a beast and I am looking forward to working with this round. 10mm as I m really low on this now. 700 180gr XTP waiting to be stuffed in a case. I haven't shot much 9mm in the past couple of years but this year that changed when I got a Glock 43 and XDM. Now I need to load for that to. Hopefully NOAA was right an we will have a mild winter her in MN so I can get to the range and test some of these rounds out.

[sqlbullet]

If you are afflicted by the "If I can load for it, why not?" bug, don't start casting your own bullets!

[The_Shadow]

My bench is about to get busy, just purchased the 10mm nickel brass from Jeffrey and those HST bullets, so when that stuff gets here, I have several projects to run.  

[gadabout]

Loaded up some 155g XTP I had laying around I think for a friend that was using them in 40 cal but I loaded in 10mm using 9.0g Power Pistol. Alliant had it in the 10g area but I thought that was a little high. There site has been raising there levels lately but I don't like it that hot.  Craig

[SoCal147]

Not much really ...
Cleaned up my branch. Sorted all the brass and bullets. Set up my Star sizer/luber. Set the pot up with lead standing by. Secured loading bench to the wall. And finally cleaned top to bottom. Still more to go but hey ... it's a start

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[Ten2six]

200 rounds of 10mm today, 165 gr. fmj from Everglades with 10gr. of Power Pistol. Max load per Alliant's website. Should be about 1300 plus FPS. My usual load is 9.6 but with the new Springfield xdm in hand I thought I start with some S&B factory then some Sig Sauer and finish with full power loads. With any luck I'll get to the range this week.