What did you do at your reloading bench today?

85MikeTPI · Dec 22, 2020

https://www.mdshooters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=302491&stc=1&d=1608679143

Primed my last 1000 300blackout cases, that I cut and formed this past Spring

floatingboy · Dec 22, 2020

Worked on building the bench itself! Trying to decide if I'm going to mount the Lee APP directly to the desk or if I'll buy the mount that NOE makes for the APP.

davsco · Dec 22, 2020

finally actually fully loaded my first rounds! .40 and .223.

PowPow · Dec 23, 2020

floatingboy said:
Worked on building the bench itself! Trying to decide if I'm going to mount the Lee APP directly to the desk or if I'll buy the mount that NOE makes for the APP.

OR, you could consider a Quick Change Mount System from Inline Fabrication.

https://inlinefabrication.com/collections/quick-change-press-mounting-system

There are many of us on this forum who use these. Dan makes great products.

Melnic · Dec 23, 2020

Knocked off 100 subsonic 300BLK before starting remote working

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John from MD · Dec 23, 2020

Nice job and in my favorite color.

erwos · Dec 23, 2020

Are those 217s?

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Melnic · Dec 23, 2020

Those are the Lee 230grain boat tails but I Gas Check them. With all the free scrap lead its only about 10 cents a round. It will go to 12cents a round once I"m paying $50/1000 primers if they ever become easier to get

lazarus · Dec 23, 2020

floatingboy said:
Worked on building the bench itself! Trying to decide if I'm going to mount the Lee APP directly to the desk or if I'll buy the mount that NOE makes for the APP.

Let me know how you like it. I just saw a couple videos the other day.

Very much thinking of getting one for case prep. If I can deprime and size in one step AND case feed AND auto index...

Just drop cases and and pull the handle as fast as I can. I like taking my time priming and loading. But the case prep stages I could take or leave.

I’ve been using a Lyman T-Mag so far and like it. But doesn’t make case prep faster. Not that it is particularly slow, but seems like a Lee APP would at least double my speed on that step. If not more.

And if running a ton for pistols, looks like I could swap dies and expand the case mouth too for a bunch.

I am getting to the place with my reloading where I am not working up a load and needing to load 15-25 rounds. I’ve got a couple or a few loads for most calibers (still need to work up loads for a couple calibers and some bullets).

So now that I am getting in to more of “load up 100 rounds” halving the 15 minutes or so it takes to run 100 .45acp through the sizing die doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

JohnC · Dec 24, 2020

Recently picked up a 1884 Springfield Trapdoor (production date of May ish 1889). First time getting into black powder cartridges, and this is really fun! 45-70 blackpowder is a fun round to shoot, as long as you swab the bore every few shots.

I've learned that many of the low pressure smokeless loads (reduced H4895, Varget, etc) are safe with no pressure signs. BUT not accurate whatsoever and leave a significant amount of unburned powder in the chamber/barrel. Pass on these. Might try some Accurate 5744 if I can find it.

What I've been doing is taking some 405gr .459 projectiles (BHN 15) off Midway, melting the smokeless lube off of it and then doing some pan-lubing with SPG lube. These projectiles are good, albeit some are out of spec weight wise. I also have a lee casting set up, but haven't really jumped into that just yet. Can't seem to find the right mold I want, either the 405gr or 510gr.

Last weekend I did a ladder test using a drop tube and slightly compressed GOEX 3F load with .460 sized .030 inch wad.

55gr produced a seemingly impossible group at 50 yards (1 inch with all 5 shots touching) and every other load up to 65 grains (2.5gr increments) was 4-5 inches. Made some more to test this weekend.

I think I enjoy working up loads more than just going out and blasting. The process is enjoyable

GunBum · Dec 24, 2020

JohnC said:
Recently picked up a 1884 Springfield Trapdoor (production date of May ish 1889). First time getting into black powder cartridges, and this is really fun! 45-70 blackpowder is a fun round to shoot, as long as you swab the bore every few shots.

I've learned that many of the low pressure smokeless loads (reduced H4895, Varget, etc) are safe with no pressure signs. BUT not accurate whatsoever and leave a significant amount of unburned powder in the chamber/barrel. Pass on these. Might try some Accurate 5744 if I can find it.

What I've been doing is taking some 405gr .459 projectiles (BHN 15) off Midway, melting the smokeless lube off of it and then doing some pan-lubing with SPG lube. These projectiles are good, albeit some are out of spec weight wise. I also have a lee casting set up, but haven't really jumped into that just yet. Can't seem to find the right mold I want, either the 405gr or 510gr.

Last weekend I did a ladder test using a drop tube and slightly compressed GOEX 3F load with .460 sized .030 inch wad.

55gr produced a seemingly impossible group at 50 yards (1 inch with all 5 shots touching) and every other load up to 65 grains (2.5gr increments) was 4-5 inches. Made some more to test this weekend.

I think I enjoy working up loads more than just going out and blasting. The process is enjoyable

A case full of Trail Boss shoots well with 405 grain cast bullets. Similar performance to black powder with less smoke and easier cleanup.
Other than that, 3031 is the second best smokeless powder for Trapdoor safe .45-70 loads (personal opinion...)

Neither is as good or fun as a black powder load.

JohnC · Dec 24, 2020

GunBum said:
A case full of Trail Boss shoots well with 405 grain cast bullets. Similar performance to black powder with less smoke and easier cleanup.
Other than that, 3031 is the second best smokeless powder for Trapdoor safe .45-70 loads (personal opinion...)

Neither is as good or fun as a black powder load.

Absolutely, I like the smell and look of black powder shooting. Not a huge deal swabbing the barrel with some pre-treated patches every few shots.

I read that Trailboss is good for cowboy action loads, but the amount of pressure generated is very high for the low-ish velocity you get. I also read that the pressure spike is much more rapid compared to black or other smokeless options. 3031 will be tested when I can find it!

85MikeTPI · Dec 24, 2020

Replicated 500 of the Remington Hog Hammer 300bo rounds using surplus Barnes 130gr TSX projectiles, H110, and Rem 7-1/2s. $0.25 cpr

My 16” AAC carbines shoot these 1MOA at 400yds

https://www.mdshooters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=302680&stc=1&d=1608828946

https://www.mdshooters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=302679&stc=1&d=1608828946

https://www.mdshooters.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=302678&stc=1&d=1608828946

Speed3 · Dec 24, 2020

My new press arrived, now to set up the new dies and play with it. Ill need to confirm 100 yard zero and then see if I notice any difference at distance.

PowPow · Dec 24, 2020

Speed3 said:
My new press arrived, now to set up the new dies and play with it. Ill need to confirm 100 yard zero and then see if I notice any difference at distance.

How are you liking that Autotrickler? Is that a v3?

Speed3 · Dec 24, 2020

PowPow said:
How are you liking that Autotrickler? Is that a v3?

TBH I've only tested it, not ran actual charges through it. Its pretty fast, like 8-10 seconds to throw 39ish gr of powder. Yes its a V3, ill let you know more when I actually use the thing.

Still waiting on my adapter for the 6mmARC girrard trimmer.

RuralRifleGuy · Dec 26, 2020

Sorted all of my 223 brass into "LC/Federal" and "Others" categories
Installed an Inline Fabrication flush mount (as a bench-top mount using their shim)
Installed IF bases on all of my presses and tools
Decapped the small amount of once fired brass that still had primers in them on the AP and the Partner presses to see how sturdy the mount is
Broke the decapping pin on my new universal decapping die after 54 rounds
Finished up the remaining 30 cases with the Mighty Armory decapping die I bought on a whim

I learned that my "bench" (desk) is actually sturdy enough to support the Hornady AP and won't tip over while in use. I also learned that S&B primers are tough SOB's that don't like to leave their brass without a fight.

Speed3 · Dec 26, 2020

I'm looking hard at the online fab mounts, are they sturdy? Any issues?

RuralRifleGuy · Dec 26, 2020

Speed3 said:
I'm looking hard at the online fab mounts, are they sturdy? Any issues?

The flush/bench mount is sturdy from my very limited experience but based on how thick the metal is I'm sure the other mounts are just as sturdy as long as they are properly secured to the bench. I'm already planning on buying the elevated quick change plates for it so I can go from bench to 4" or 7.5" heights.

Kirkster · Dec 27, 2020

PowPow said:
How are you liking that Autotrickler? Is that a v3?

Love my v3 AutoTrickler. About 9 sec a charge, 95% spot on what I set it to and the others are within .02 grains.

What did you do at your reloading bench today?

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