Reloading Thread

Anyone have recommendations for digital scales as far as brand goes? Im not looking for a dispenser just a digital scale.

>>33814393
Go skin a digital fish then

>>33814393
The cheapo frankford arsenal one has suited me pretty well... Checked against our NIST lab balance OK...

>>33814393

Depends on how autistic you are with loads.
Dirt cheap chink scales nowadays are precise enough to suffice for all but benchrest reloading needs, and honestly, benchrest fags are just crazy.
Of course fuddlords will tell you you're gonna get blown up and you need to buy a ~$100 scale for your plinking 9x19 and 5.56 loads, but that's bullshit. Just check them with something of known weight every once in a while.

t. a guy who used $5 scales without blowing himself up for years before he "stepped up" to $70 ones and there was no difference.

Is there a safe and reliable way to seal blank cartridges besides crimping them? Could I put a little wax plug in the end?

>>33814366
Hi there Mr. ATF agent.

starting the honeypot early today?

When you powdercoat bullets do you need a gascheck?

>>33814403
I'm embarrassed that I laughed so hard at this

>>33814753
a drip of hot glue should suffice, thats what they do on military ammo but with some kind of polymer.

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>>33814366
I had gemini-20 digital scale, works pretty good. Any cheapo drug dealer scale from amazon should work.

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>>33817050
depends on the velocity.

>>33818732
30-30 velocities.so probably 2300-2500 fps.

Im planning to do do large scale reloading but Im concerned about case trimming, mainly .223 a, 9mm and .45.
I saw a reloading video with a guy trimming with some kind of trimmer in the head of a power drill. It seems that it was set to a preset depth to cut .223.
Im wondering what kind of tool that was, can i get it for something other then .223 and where do I get one?

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>Noob at reloading
>Make my first .308 loads going by manual's suggested loads for 150gr SPs
>PTR is throwing them all over

I feel like I'm doing it wrong, I made sure the powder weight was consistent and all the bullets were seated properly.

>>33820759
Probably the "world's finest trimmer." I chuck mine up in a drill press and it saves a ton of time. Definitely worth the money if you trim over 50 rounds at a time

>>33820919
If you truly have the powder weights consistent, it may just be erratic extraction because of the ptr' s design. Also, did you crimp or set a pretty heavy neck tension? Auto loaders with violent actions like the ptr will tend to try to push bullets in when feeding, which will change OAL and can affect pressures greatly

>>33821714

WFT is god tier for bulk trimming, but I hate still having to chamfer/deburr afterwards.

>>33821740
Me too, but I'm comfortable watching tv while doing the chamfering/deburring. Pro tip: wear gloves if you're doing >300 or so cases. I always get cramps in my hand and pretty nasty blisters/bruises when I don't wear gloves. Especially on smaller cases like 556/223

>>33821802

That's a no-brainer.
Even with gloves, I once lost all sensitivity in my right thumb for like a month after priming 500 5.56 cases in one go on a cheapo Lee hand primer. Nerve must have been pretty fucked up.

>>33821816
I hate that. Last year around this time I went on a reloading spree. Reloaded about 12,000 rounds and did case prep for every single case I had. Ended up being like 10,000 more cases. This was all before I had a Dillon and was doing it on a rock chucker. My left hand had some pretty nasty blisters all over it, specifically on my fingers.

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>>33821834
>case prep on 20k cases
>12k reloads
>single stage

>>33818776
Anything rifle related you usually need a gas check, I put them on my 30-30 since 30 cal gas checks are basically free, even up here in Canada they're $35 for 1000
>>33820759
Could have been this: https://www.amazon.ca/Lee-Precision-Cutter-Lock-Stud/dp/B000NOQIOU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493642995&sr=8-1&keywords=lee+precision+cutter

>>33817343
>thats what they do on military ammo

He said without crimping. Military blanks are most definitely crimped.

>>33820759
Just a heads up, you will likely never have to trim straight wall cartridges like .45 and 9mm. The case can stretch, but if you keep your bullet seating die at the same depth, you'll still have an acceptable case volume and OAL.

anyone have reloading data on gp90?

>>33814840
This is stupid and so are you.

With that said, how are RCBS (?) Kits? They look pretty comfy or are they junk like i heard Lee's are?

>>33821978
RCBS is solid, definitely worth it. Great tolerances, smooth action.

I wouldn't say Lee is junk though, particularly if your just getting into it/ you want a cheaper progressive.

>>33820919
Thats your fault for reloading ammo for a PTR

>>33822000
Thank you so much! I just ordered a starter kit and im really excited but after a bunch of people told me that lee is trash i was kinda worried.

>>33821834
Is it worth reloading 5.56 on a single stage? I have a rock chucker as well and just got a Aug but I've been hesitant on getting dies because 5.56 isn't expensive to begin with. How much do you end up saving?

>>33822045

Not sure about the US, but you save a lot in Yurop, 50% to 80%, and you get higher quality ammo in the process.
Reloading it on a single stage fucking sucks, though, I have a rock chucker 2 and it was enough of a pain that I got a LNL AP just for 9mm and 5.56

>>33822037
Ya, I have an RCBS kit and my brother has a Lee. I've used both and although the rcbs *feels* a bit nicer in the pulls and what not they both produce the same quality loads.

That and the Lee has those collars that make swapping dies a few second process, much much easier than the rcbs where you have to set the seating die Everytime. That being said it does require checking the depth periodically (like after a few hundred rounds) just to make sure it hasn't moved on you

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Lock n' Load AP master race reporting in.

>>33820919
Try using a lee factory crimp die.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NOWqX0BX6o

It's kind of like a full length resize for the last stage.

Does anyone do their own lead casting? I'm just getting started, and I need to decide how many cavity mold I should use. I'm casting for 7mm mauser in a diameter of .293 if that matters. I can get 3, 4, or 5 cavity molds. Which one should I go for of I'm just casting using a laddle.

>>33821834
You're fucking dedicated, I'll give you that.

>>33814366
I can get more than 10k brass a week for free and I was wondering if it would make sense to start reloading as a business....

>>33817386
You know, seeing something like this makes me want to see if I could digitalize a reload press.

Like a digital readout you see on manual mills.

Using a tablet, you'd adjust how much powder is loaded for different loads, which the press would mechanically control

it'd measure how much of a charge you're making so you have accurate loads

it'd give a measure of the length and weight of bullets to assure consistent groupings and it'd give you a tolerance range you're working with, and tell you if a bullet is too far outside a group you're looking at

It'd show you how many primers you have loaded, and just how much powder you have left, and based upon how large of a charge your making, how many loads you have left, mathematically speaking

Same could apply to the quantity of brass you have loaded for reloading

Et Cetera

I just wonder if I could also get a machine going that measures, trims and polishes brass, in an assembly line fashion. You basically load your brass on a line, computer checks its length and the thickness of the head, to check for possible case rupture, if its good, loads it into the trimmer, before throwing it into the polisher. And you're left to pick out the brass and load into the press, to avoid any ATF fuckery.

It'd be a massive fucking endeavor and cost way fucking more than I'd need to, and I'd also need to make my own sensor equipment, as well as learn C++ because fuck me right, but fuck man, I can't help but get aroused by the idea of going to work for 8 hours, and coming home to a mountain of clean brass that only needs me to pull a lever to crank out a mountain of ammo.

If I could also get the ATF to clear it since technically its not manufacturing Ammunition, you still are, I could probably get kits going and patent the code used. Make some sweet dosh that'd fund my reloading.

>>33822444
The first commandment of reloading is don't let other people shoot your reloads.

>>33822444
It depends on if your above or below board. If your going to do it right then there is a bunch of bullshit you'll need to do like itar and insurance etc...If you just gonna sell shit at gun shows then go for it.

>>33822444
Unless you have an automated press or an ammo manufacturing machine, it is almost impossible to make any money producing ammo for resale unless you are making a snowflake caliber.
If you are somehow getting 10k pieces of brass for free, I would try selling the brass as is or maybe sorted (by caliber if not by brand as well) online. Less paperwork, less liablity and far simpler to do.

>>33822616
People get this backwards. The first commandment is don't fire others reloads.

>>33822592
You could probably use a powder cop and from sensors to display the volume of the charge on a digital display for sure. Hornady makes a control panel for lock n' load that displays various statistics.

>>33822444
Unless you're going to be selling custom match grade ammo in obscure calibers it's probably not going to be worth the time.

Short term, Very Little Profit, Least Effort - Sell the brass as bulk scrap metal.

Medium Term, Medium Profit, Medium Effort - Sell the brass as empties to reloaders.

Long Term, Very Large Profit, Medium Effort - Keep a large stock of the brass and sell it during the next panic. Empty casings will sell like gold. They're one of the few parts of modern guns that can't be made easily. Barrels are also like that.

For Fun - Melt the it down and cast some brass AR-15 lowers. Polish that shit to make it shine.

I want to get some reloading equipment so I can reload my .50 BMG rounds. Would it save me money by reloading in the long run? Or would the time/effort/money spent on equipment and rounds not be worth it?

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>>33822076

>>33822990
Save you a dick ton

>>33821740
And that's why you drop the $350 on a Giraud.

Trim, chamfer, and deburr in one step. And it's faster and more consistent than a WFT.

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>>33822990
Yes you fucking dumbbell, the why reason 95% of people reload is to save money, the other 5% being for accuracy and/or snowflake cartridges.

>>33822037
Lee absolutely IS trash. It'll get you by, but I 100% guarantee you will replace it.

Lyman makes good shit at a price point between Lee and RCBS, and some of their shit is actually significantly better than RCBS. If you're loading in volume the Lyman T-Mag is hands-down the single best turret press made, and if you want a progressive neither Lee nor RCBS make one worth half a shit (and Lyman doesn't make one at all) and you get to choose between Hornady and Dillon.

>>33822990
I know it's a bit strange considering .50 BMG is a military cartridge and all, but in the civilian market it really is a snowflake cartridge.

>>33822045
I'm saving close to 12 cents a round over the cheapest bulk reman and about 14 cents a round compared to the cheapest bulk factory-new.

That being said I would rather smash my dick with a hammer than load 5.56 on a single-stage with the volumes I shoot.

>>33822045
I was making the 5.56 for about 15¢ a pop all said and done because I bought in bulk. So worth it to me. I'm still shooting that ammo, too.
>>33821844
>>33822392
I had just graduated college and had a couple of weeks of free time before my job began. Now my system is that immediately after I clean cases, I do the case prep (size, trim, deburr, clean primer pocket, uniform flash hole, etc). All of my cases are immediately ready to load when I want to and i only have to case prep like 200 cases at a time. I like it better

>>33823092
>$350

Nah, I'm good. I like quality equipment, but I don't shoot enough to warrant shelling out that much for a trimmer.

>>33822990

Absolutely, reloading .50 BMG saves you huge amounts of money. The only better candidates for reloading are obscure cartridges long out of production.

>>33823116
That's just about what I expected, thanks Anon

>>33823135
No problem.

Right now there's several places you can get 55gr FMJBT's for 6 cents each shipped.

Add in all the free brass that's LITERALLY EVERYWHERE because 5.56, 2.5-3 cent primers, and anywhere from 5 to 7 cents per in powder (assuming buying 8lb jugs locally at ~$180 a jug or buying 4x8lb jugs online at $160 a jug and eating hazmat/shipping) and you're looking at 14-16 cents a round.

>>33823112
Lmao, it's only Snowflake in California
>Barrett .416

>>33823083
>>33823095
>>33823112
>>33823131
Ok, guess i'll go do some research. Thanks guys

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I got me an $80 Lee press from Bass Pro with a gift card my employer gave me.
Aside from dies and cartridge parts what else do I need? Plan on starting with .45LC.
Also noticed bullets only come in base diameter rather than specifying what caliber it should be for. I know this is incredibly obvious, but I had no idea prior to looking into it. Is it safe to just throw any .45 cal bullet on a .45LC case?
booty always related

>>33823353
This is where research comes into play. You have to know your particular firearm/ caliber to determine what bullet you should use. That being said, so long as you follow the manuals most things will be safe.

>>33823353
You will need a powder scale and reloading manual at the very least, a funnel and powder measure help tremendously.

The reloading manual will have information on basics of reloading (I have seen way too many threads devolve into handholding a new reloader). In addition to providing how to, it also will have a load section to it where you will get the powder wieght to bullet wieght information you need.

As for bullet diameter, you need nominal .452 diameter jacketed bullets and .454 for lead cast. Not all .45 cal bullets are the same and some are .450 - .455. Too small and you get poor accuracy, too big and you get way too high pressures.

>>33823353
Bullet weight/ type is the important part. Recommend reading up on that

>>33814403
Fuck that's so stupid lol

>>33822990
Bruh, I know a guy reloading .50 BMG for honest to got, a 1.75$.

He buys AP Incendiary Bullets for .75 CENTS a piece.

Casings last fucking forever too. He can get 10 to 15 good loads out of a single casing before its safer to dispose of it. And if you know where to look, you can find Brass for dirt cheap.

You're mainly paying for powder, honestly.

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>>33823353
>what else do I need?

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>>33823385
>>33823424
>>33823432
Thank you kindly, don't want to be spoonfed, so it sounds like a good manual is my next step.

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>>33822990
I have been reloading .50 BMG for a few years now. Estimate that I have reloaded about 800-900 cartridges so far for personal use, and have shot about 200 of my reloads. I use an RCBS Ammo Master II press, which I also use for .338 lapua, thanks to an RCBS standard shellholder conversion part.

I shoot mine out of a suppressed Barrett M107A1. The gun has inherently abyssal accuracy, so I just reload for savings, over anything else.

My "cheap" reloads cost me about $1.45 each, not counting brass at all. My brass comes from new factory ammo that other people shoot through it. I only reload Lake City brass.

1) Surplus pulled M8 API bullets - about $0.35 each.
2) CCI #35 primers - about $0.35 each
3) 225gr Hodgdon US869 power - about $0.75

The M8 API bullets are very inexpensive, about $0.35-0.40ea in bulk. They cost less than any other type, including FMJ. They just need to be sized first, which can be done with a $20 Lee bullet sizing kit and minimal effort.

pic related are .50 BMG reloads using 882gr M48 "spotter-tracer" bullets.

I'm not a robot

>>33823678
Also try watching YouTube videos. Almost every major gun channel has at least one video on how to reload ammo. If you think casting may become a thing look into fortunecookie45lc.