Reloading Thread

its a vernier scale, as you move the slider side to side, you will see white lines through the little slits. the white line that lines up the clearest will be your decimal point,

i fucking hate vernier scales.

For what it is, the Lee setup is awesome, but it am so glad I bought the charge master 1500. The RCBS thrower was +/- 0.5gr (fucking huge spread) on 4064. I programmed the CM1500 and it throws 43.5gr of extruded 4064 in ~10 seconds with rarely going over.

Considering a second one to tag team it but not yet.

>>32851067
Thanks. Yeah I'm looking at a digital scale soon, this thing is way too annoying

>>32851121
>4064
What does this mean? I'm still getting used to reloading.

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>>32851161

i just set it and forget it cause i've only been loading .44 mag for a while.

but seriously, fuck vernier anything. anytime i see someone whip one of these out in the shop i die a little inside.

>>32851203

4064 is a type of powder. different formulations, grain structure, etc.

>>32851223
Vernier is a model name, or the name for that type of scale? I thought it was the latter

>>32851241
Oh yeah, that makes sense. I'm using titegroup right now

>>32851312
Titegroup is a pretty good economic powder. Low charge weights let you get more throws out of each pound of powder. Your 2gr loads for 32 means that you get about 3200 rounds out of each can of Titegroup. Whereas the loads is use for 308 give me about 160 rounds out of each can 4064/4895.

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>>32851629
>3200 rounds
Oooh my, now that's some good news. I'll have plenty to work with when I make .32 S&W then. I had guessed it would be economic since I got it from Academy after all. We didn't want to pay the hazmat fee

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>>32851301

its a type of measuring scale, can be used for many things.

>>32851667
Simple math. Powder comes in lb containers (8lb usually available too). There are 7000 grains in a lb. Divide 7000 by whatever charge weight you are using. Therefore you get more bang for your buck (kek) when a type of powder uses less weight than others.

>>32852034
Sweet, Of course, the powder won't last as long when I end up reloading 32 S&W. That uses quite a bit more

>>32851906
Oh, I got used to that system. I do a lot of measurement with outdated equipment.

>>32852034
Dont forget some powder is dirtier than others and if shooting competition different powder has much different snappyness fell. Burn rates and all you know

>>32852457
Okay, I have no way to clean my cases though. what do I do?

>>32851001
>how do you guys seat your bullets
Bullet seating die in my press like 100% of everyone else that reloads?

Also, just got 2k 52gr hollowpoint varmint bullets from Widener's for 8 cents each. Need to gear up for a summer of vaporizing prairie dogs.

>>32851629
>>32851667
2gr seems really fucking high for .32smith, I'm loading 1.8gr of Titegroup behind a 124gr plated bullet for 9mm and while it's a sedate load it's not a powderpuff one.

>>32852571
Get a way to clean your cases.

A Harbor Freight rock tumbler (the one the lids actually seal to) and some stainless steel tumbling pins is a good yet economical way to clean brass. Alternatively, a cheapshit vibratory tumbler like a Frankford Arsenal and lizard litter from petco if you're destitute.

>>32852701
I meant put them into place, you know, before you seat the bullet? I've been having to place them by hand. Is there an automatic mechanism for that?

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What would you guys say the start up cost for reloading 12 gauge slugs is? I like shooting them but fuck paying a dollar around on a poorfag budget is suffering when the vepr goes through them so fast.

>>32852715
Oh nvm, I'll check the manual. I just assumed that 32 smith would use more powder since the general cartridge is bigger. Haven't needed to check the manual since I havent gotten the dies yet

>>32852744
Would you recommend the frankford arsenal tumbler over the harbor freight tumbler? What else is required for cleaning?

>>32852715
>>32852809
I just said 2 gr because that's what his manual said was the low end for titegroup as per the previous thread. Haven't double checked it myself, because I'm at school rn.

>>32852790
You won't want to spend the money on feeders until you have more experience.

>>32852790
The bigger progressives have an optional bullet dropper for that, yeah. On turrets or single stage presses you're pretty well stuck doing it by hand.

>>32852809
well I'll be damned, looks like book max of 2.1gr for .32smith.

I would not recommend going that high though.

>>32852895
No I would not. The HF and steel pins is definitely the way to go.
You need:
>the tumbler
>stainless steel tumbling pins
>tap water
>(optional) lemi-shine, 2 drops per batch

>>32852895
Not the same guy, but in my opinion, it doesn't really matter (unless you're doing some autistic-tier match rounds) anything that will get the carbon off is fine. You don't really need them to be sparkling. But a little bit of comet powder in walnut shells works wonders in a vibratory tumbler after about 2 hrs.

>>32852808
American reloading has 200 primed hulls cheap...under 80 bucks delivered. Add a Lee key drive slug mold for 30 and a Lee loadall for 55 and you are good to go.

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seating die

>>32852936
That should be 2000

>>32852916
So as it turns out .32 smith is actually a weaker cartridge than .32 auto? that's interesting.

So all I need is some water outside of the two main pieces and I'm good to go? I thought rust would be an issue

>>32852931
Good, I really need to clean mine since, as it turns out, AP-MBP's are notorious for leaving a massive streak across the casing

>>32852916
Those bullet stoppers are super expensive btw (like $400 for a Dillon one if my memory serves me correctly) for that much, I just place them by hand even in a Dillon 650xl.

Yeah, I recommend he sticks to the minimum load unless it won't cycle.

>>32852955
Dear lord what uses 32 grains?

>>32852978
Wtf is going to rust?

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>>32852993
Oh yeah, brass doesn't rust.

>>32852978
Try this instead. Mix 2 cups vineger 2 cups water 1 spoonful lemishine and 3 drops dishsoap. Put in plastic container with brass and shake every 5 minutes for 15 minutes. Rinse with water. Cut pH using baking soda. If any carbon is left in pockets, clean with brush. This may save you buying tumbler right away.

>>32852988
Most centerfire rifle rounds.

I mean fuck, I've used 80gr of H1000 in .300wm before and it's no monster on case capacity.

>>32853076
Eeeh, I might just get a HF tumbler. Quicker, simpler, and more effective.

>>32852988
.50 AE

>>32852571
You need to buy a tumbler

>>32853911
Yep, on it

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Lee scale sucks dongs...

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>>32853110
Get the rock tumbler... It's gud...

>>32854077
You gotta make do with what you have
>>32854096
Will just any old tumbler work?

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>>32854124
Stainless steel pin wet tumbling is the best. Vibratory tumblers are mediocre...

Developing a .223 varmint load for the Speer 52gr Varminter.

I've shot this bullet before but it's been years. Would like to use either Varget or H322. Preferably Varget, as it's cheaper and gives better velocity for the pressure, and minute-of-prairie-dog is good enough.

Hodgdon's website is being dildos on my computer for some reason and not even showing .223rem as a viable caliber under either pistol or rifle so had to look it up on my phone. They list a 50gr Speer softpoint at between 26.5 and 27.5gr of Varget, or the 53gr flat-base Sierra Matchking at between 24.0 and 27.0gr. I'm thinking of starting at 26.0gr and working up from there, not really "reduce by 10%" but this is a powder and caliber I'm very familiar with.

Anyone have any suggestions?

>>32854124
>will just any old tumbler work?
Rotary tumblers are the only ones that work with stainless media. Since the drum will be mostly water, it has to be water tight. HF's is, and all the major reloading companies recommend Thumler which is (but also $200 jesus christ), and a bunch of smaller amazon ones that don't hold enough to dick with are. I haven't found a high capacity one other than the Thumler and HF that are gasketed.

>>32854782
Could it be possible to make one? If I have an electric motor, a container that can seal water, and the pins- that would make a tumbler, right?

>>32854831
I suppose? What kind of RPM does the motor spin at? Rotary tumblers are slooooooooowwwww.

>>32854901
I guess however fast it needs to be? I might just get a HF tumbler like previously mentioned

>>32854761
What I normally do when my bullet weight isn't listed is pick a powder then pick the lowest powder charge that is in the range of the next highest and next lowest bullet weights. Double interpolation isn't perfect, but it generally works. Then you can work your load up from there.

>>32855245
Will probably do that.

I ran both listed loads through Quickload, and both are significantly over Pmax with the .223 SAAMI spec but a little under Pmax with 5.56 NATO/CIP spec. I mainly use LC brass and all my rifles are .223wylde chambers but that's really pushing my luck I think.

>>32851001
Anyone have a recomendation for a good reloading scale?

>>32855302
Hmmmmmm if quickload says they're over P_max I would maybe stay away. Have any physical loadbooks you can use? I would check mine, but I'm not in town right now.

>>32855356
I like a hornady balance, but it really comes down to preference as long as it's a good company. I'd stay away from Lee, though

>>32855370
None that have that bullet, I normally don't use Speer and it seems like only Speer publishes data for most of their shit.

>>32855377
I just returned a hornady auto measure cause it broke the first day I used it.

I'd like to stay away from their poor quality control.

>>32855468
Can't speak to that, my Hornsby balance is from the 80s and has been tested with calibrated weights

>>32855437
I'm guessing you've checked if Speer has online data?

>>32855581
Yep.

And of course not, how else would they sell reloading manuals at $70 a pop and hardcover only?

>>32855610
But of course

Whats the best general reloading manual, lyman? Id buy hornandy or sierra but i think they only list data for their bullets.

I mostly just want to do milsurp. Ive got just about everything but a manual and powder/brass/bullets

>>32856279
Lyman is a good one, yeah.

>>32856279
>>32858117
Alternatively, if it's just a couple calibers, buy the "definitive guide to reloading [caliber]" books for them. Particularly with milsurp they're extremely well developed and time-proven loads, and there's tips and tricks in those not found in other manuals.

>>32856279
Lyman is good, it's the only one I own so I can't attest to others.

It covers rifle reloading, so you should be set with it.

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>>32851001
how does this happen

>>32858178
You not paying attention

Crimped primer pocket you didn't ream/didn't ream right (unlikely with .45)

Lee press

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LIVE DAMMIT

Anyway, anybody else have a humongous stash of reloading supplies left over from the ammo shortages?

>>32860316
Yes. Probably 50 lbs of powder and tens of thousands of all assorted primers and tens of thousands of assorted bullets

>>32860401
I'm sitting on about 110lbs of powder and over 200k primers
>most of which is shotshell stuff tho
I legit couldn't find any Green Dot for like 2 years so when I finally found some I bought 48lbs of it.

Been reloading pistol cartridges and just got into loading .223/.308. Really not looking forward to lubing up the bullets, but gonna have to do it so what's the easiest way? Also do I clean off the lube after it goes through the full length sizer or even later? I bough a 4 die set for the .308

>>32851067
>vernier scales.

Oh please, it's not that bad.
Every tool I use for F35 parts has the vernier scale on it.

Usually takes new hires 2-3 days to use it properly.
New hires with no previous job experience as well.

>>32860780
Guess you like green dot, mine is a lot more variety. Probably 18 different powders

>>32860316
dat bench grinder right next to 25lbs of powder!

Oh sweet! I found this for sale on Midway http://www.midwayusa.com/product/711534/hornady-m-2-case-tumbler-110-volt
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/992327/hornady-lock-n-load-sonic-cleaner-ultrasonic-case-cleaner-110-volt
Are these two good?
BTW will acetone work just as well if I just put them in a bath of that?

>>32861988
acetone in a sonic cleaner?

>>32862258
No, just straight up acetone. My father's two cents. He's kind of... inventive with things.

>>32863307
it will degrease but why fuck around with something that will irritate your lungs and may catch on fire when there are better cleaners. someone posted the perfect solution above. that will also remove carbon and leave your brass shiny.

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>>32863424
Just how my father works, I'll look at doing the solution and post results on this thread if not the other when I have the casings. My issue now is that I'm finding minute ridges on my cases. They're just deep enough to feel, but you can barely make it out visually

>>32863561
clean your die.

>>32863850
Like just use the lubrication and paper towel? I got an RCBS carbide set

>>32863931
use a degreaser and a few cleaning patches.

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I got a big question. How do you find your cases after firing? Every time i shoot, I have to play a game of find-it to get my casings and frankly, it's quite annoying. I tried using a tarp but the ejection of my casings go all over the place and bounce off the tarp

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>>32864852
just nut up and get some kneepads m8
in norway we have a running gag about 45 acp shooters in competitions spending more time looking for their brass than they do looking down the sights

>>32864852
I shoot a revolver.

For semi-autos, I don't bother reloading 9mm.

>>32865150
Oh my god that's me. But sometimes I come back with more than I shot.

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>>32865182
coming back with more than you shot feels gud
especially if its the same brand

>>32865169
sometimes i find Norma 38 special brass at my local range. when i find the dude that keeps throwing them out into the snow i'm going to give him a piece of my mind

>>32861903
It's not plugged in and a victim of nearest horizontal surface syndrome.

And that's closer to 80lbs of powder, half the shelf got cut out of the pic.

>>32864852
Brass catchers, concrete-floored shooting bays, or chalk it up as lost. Generally not worth digging around in the grass unless it's particularly rare brass.

>>32861809
I fucking love green dot. Does 12ga, 20ga, and 28ga field loads and 12 and 20ga target loads quite well.
>I shoot a loooooot of skeet
An 8lb jug of green dot lasts me about 2 months.

>>32867091
Oh, also, I have a pretty good powder selection
>Red Dot
>Green Dot
>Blue Dot
>Steel
>Extra Lite
>Alliant 410
>H110
>W296
>BLC 2
>Varget
>H322
>H335
>H4831
>H4895
>H1000
>800X
>Titegroup
>Retumbo
>IMR 7828 SSC
>IMR 4227
>RL7
>RL10x
>RL15
>RL17
>RL19

>>32865416
.32 ACP. I don't have the money to keep buying new cartridges

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>>32865416
I did find that concrete is best. My issue is that where the concrete is that I shoot, it has metal framework right where you would be looking at the target. The building in question

Anyone have any experience with automation? Iv seen some pictures of the Camdex machines but found out there are others based on reloading presses and other styles.

Im curious about what experience anyone may have on the subject. I want something good, reliable, preferably something I can do maintenance myself on and not spend Camdex levels of money.

Also, Canadafag.

>>32869225
Buy a Square D, an arduino and hit up McMaster-Carr.

>>32868863

Houston area?

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>>32869267
Nope, East NC. This is out on our country property. to help you pinpoint where in East NC I'm near, C130's are a common sight above me

Alright, I'm heading out to try my reloaded ammunition in the 1903 now. Hopefully I get results as good as my AP-MBP

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>>32870028
Dangit, forgot picture

>>32870028
Lemme know how it goes

>>32864852
make your buddy stand right beside you to block those ejected cases.

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>>32870693
I did something similar. but my 1903 just flings them over it and across the room. I lost five casings today

>>32870534
The 1903 shot perfectly with the reloaded ammunition. I am finding traces of what I can only presume to be byproducts of the powder, yellow beads of sorts

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>>32872150
Forgot picture again

>>32872150
Hmm can't think of what the yellow beads might be. Got a picture of them?

>>32872372
Maybe If I find it in the gun, my thought was burned sulfur because the color matches

>>32872575
Perhaps. It may be copper residue, too. From the bullet jacket

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>>32873075
It's not shiny though. It looked similar to http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/cef3c7e14fe6459a5f51b34e3f58639a296d9078.jpg
but in a bead. again I think it may be sulfur

>>32873222
Cooper doesn't actually have to be shiny. Or copper colored for that matter. But I also can't see what you're talking about, so ill defer to you. I would worry about it, but I've never had that with titegroup.

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>>32873535
I think it may be from all the dirty cases. Keep in mind I haven't cleaned them. now I just put an order in for my next round to start reloading. 32 S&W. I'm having a bit of trouble finding bullets. Apparently the popular way is to get a cast and make them yourself, but I would like to just stick with the basics. I'm looking at a 312 diameter 100 gr flat tipped copper plated bullet right now, I'm pretty sure that will work, allbeit a minute bit heavier than the 98 grain lead only bullets that come with the non-reloaded cartridges.

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about to set up and do some FL sizing on my 6.5-284 cases tonight. I should probably also load about another 500 9mm but I might save that for tomorrow since I have a couple hundred cases to size and prime tonight and I'm lazy.

>>32873595
lee makes a cheap 2 bullet die. slug your barrel and buy the appropriate bullet sizer from lee. find an old cast iron pot and a ladle and make thousands in a day. if you want them to look pretty, you can buy a pound of powder coat and cook them.

>>32873652
Oh my, that's quite the reloading setup you got there

>>32873770
Okay, what do you mean by two bullet die? I already got a three die set coming in if that's what you mean. as for slugging a barrel, I have no clue how to do that

>>32873805
*mold

>>32873790
yeah, it's nice. the dillon is devoted to keeping up with my pistol competition needs so I just crank 'em out by the 500 or 1000 over there in 9mm with bulk bullets from montana gold. these days, the single stage is solely for loading 6.5-284 but once my M25 comes in it will also be for loading .308

>>32873984
Yeah, I didn't want to get into the mold business. I'm still learning this stuff so buying the bullets will be fine for me

>>32852715
Wut? Hodgdon lists data for 9mm 124gr 3.6-4.1gr titegroup. Your charge is way under. Shoot slowly, you are at risk of getting squibs

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>>32852988
Big boy toys

>>32861274
You dont lube the bullets unless you are casting lead bullets...

Lube cases
size cases
Trim/chamfer/deburr
prime
powder
bullet seat
tumble in walnut to remove lube(or just wipe off with rag)

Trimming is a fucking bitch, especially with high volume rifle cartridges. Look into the WFT trimmer. worth every penny. Makes trimming brass easy and actually enjoyable.

>>32863561
It looks like you are crimping the cases into the bullet. You dont actually crimp for a straightwall auto cartridges. You only want to remove any belling you added to the cases to seat the bullet. The round headspaces off of the case rim so you dont want that digging into the bullet. Actually crimping into the bullet will reduce neck tension.

>>32873652
I have a similar setup, but it's not nearly as pretty as that

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reporting for dooty

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Lee poor power!
Picked up a crap ton of 9mm brass today for whatever reason... I have like a five gallon bucket full that I really don't want to sort already.
My 3.8gr titegroup and long OAL loads were piddling out of my M&P straight into my face so I went up to 4.0gr and 1.140" Accuracy was really good though...

>>32867111
how many lbs of powder can one have without requiring a battery?

>>32874976
Careful mixing that old fashioned with reloading

>>32875084
It's only one and I'm milking it until I finish

Has anyone ever shot a ladder test with a pistol?

>>32875207
Ok good. Just don't want any anons getting kilt.

>>32875218
I have for .44 magnum before out of a 10 5/8 in model 29

>>32875218
Is that even possible? I would think you would have to use a ransom rest and maybe a scope...

>>32875288
>>32875218
Scratch that. I misunderstood what a ladder test was. I used a different method of load development

>>32875288
did it turn out the way you wanted it to?

>>32875307
I hadn't really thought that deep into it. I have a lead sled but no ransom rest. I figured I would use the same concepts to the best ability I could.

>>32875359
I didn't do a true ladder test. I more worked until the velocity I wanted then found the best group of loads ±.2gr. in increments of .1gr. Then worked on seating depth.

It turned out fairly well I thought. I shot at 75yds from a rest. Got it down to .5-.75" 5 shot groups

>>32852715
>>32851667
>loading 2gr
Jesus...I'm doing ~90gr for some of my stuff; not even getting 100 rounds per pound.

>>32875455
Wait 'til you get into the big stuff.
Some of mine takes ~2 gr some takes 7,000.

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>>32875484
>some takes 7,000.

What in the sam hell takes a pound of powder per shot?

>>32875427
nice work. what distance for those groups?

>>32875057
General fire code says 20 pounds in containers stored however. Anything over 20 needs to be stored in a 1"(nominal) thick wooden box with a maximum of 50lb per residence. If you need over 50lb on hand, you can store the rest in outbuildings or at a friend or family's home.

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>>32875614
A few things.
This actually takes more as the primer also has 200 gr of powder in it.

>>32875711
what is that? Recoil-less grenade? Carl-Gustov? its cool whatever it is.

>>32875685
50yds. I know it seems improbably but it is a 10 5/8 barrel model specifically design for silhouette shooting. Also, from a rest when those groups where shot

>>32875913
thats awesome.

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the worst thing about reloading for precision rifle is brass prep after the first firing. results from ~140 cases lubed, sized, and cleaned off.

>>32875427
work on the seating depth??? With revolver bullets, you crimp in the crimp groove. bullet determines the seating depth, not you.

>>32852936

This retard also forgot to mention the absolutely essential equipment you'll need to buy such as a lead melting pot and other shit like a fucking micrometer and powder scale.

>>32852936

You're the worst kind of faggot that only gives half of the answer to a question.

>>32875057
Less than I have.

>>32874331
Yes I know it's a light load. I've chrono'd it and I'm in no danger of getting squibs, still pushing 900fps.

>>32876044
Yes, you can play with the seating depth on revolver rounds so long as you don't go beyond COAL max and protrude from the cylinder.

Just like you can with rifle bullets that have a cannelure--it's a guide, not a mandate, on where to crimp.

>>32876044

>>32876306 is correct. Cannelures are more of a suggestion as long as you don't go past min and max lengths. Also not all .44 bullets have a cannelure

>Dillon 550
>Dillon 1050
>RCBS 10/10 scale from 80's
AMA