I haven't delved into doing my own 3d printing at all and doubt that I will. Cool technology though.
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What did you do in the reloading room recently?
- Thread starter DW357
- Start date
I haven't delved into doing my own 3d printing at all and doubt that I will. Cool technology though.
pastera
NES Member
First prototype done - works fine but could use a few fixes to make it easier to use (and my models are complete hack job, back of the envelope crap right now)
Mounted it to a caffeine supply canister because they seem to breed around my house - The cover keeps dropped cases from mixing with sorted cases
A few changes need to be made before I can release the files
I need to create some empty 357 to do more testing - now I know why I should procrastinate and not reload all of my cases
Mounted it to a caffeine supply canister because they seem to breed around my house - The cover keeps dropped cases from mixing with sorted cases
A few changes need to be made before I can release the files
Bevel the walls on the slide to make it easier to get a case on properly
Create a rim slot on both sides so the cases don't need to be oriented
Add positive retention and alignment features on the mounting stand
I need to create some empty 357 to do more testing - now I know why I should procrastinate and not reload all of my cases
take a chunk of lead , place primer on said lead and smack it with a hammer, Magnum primers hurt your ears more.....oh and do all the safety stuff before testing.
Knob Creek
NES Member
Locked the door because my grandkids are coming over.
EddieZoom
NES Member
It's always the simple ideas that prove to be the best ;-)
I grab a handful and stand them up on my bench. Easy to spot the outliers by sighting across the tops...
pastera
NES Member
D
Deleted member 67409
You're going to have two FALs to feed, going to need to add a zero or two to the .308 collection
I do have three more family-size coffee cans worth of tumbled brass...You're going to have two FALs to feed, going to need to add a zero or two to the .308 collection
Finally got the reloading area set back up after the move. Started today with prepping 100 pieces if .223 brass (clean, size, deburr flashhole, and primed). Maybe tomorrow I can charge and seat some cases. Going to try a new ladder with Hornady 68gr BTHP and Varget. Haven't used these projectiles before.
houdini
NES Member
9mm
If you don't mind steel-cased ammo, I see TSUSA has Red Army .308 for $6 a box!
pastera
NES Member
Tested a 9mm/380ACP ramp sorter - concept works but needs some tuning. 38/357 is much easier with the larger case length difference.
Have been having issues with leading in my MP9c with HiTek coated bullets, changed from WIN-231 to CFE Pistol and barrel was clean and shiny after 50. With 231 the same bullets leaded up the barrel badly in 10-20 rounds.
Installed an Apex trigger in my MP9c with the help of the NES cat. Can definitely recommend the Apex kit (minus feline assistance).
He's mad that he couldn't sit on my work surface.
Done:
Have been having issues with leading in my MP9c with HiTek coated bullets, changed from WIN-231 to CFE Pistol and barrel was clean and shiny after 50. With 231 the same bullets leaded up the barrel badly in 10-20 rounds.
Installed an Apex trigger in my MP9c with the help of the NES cat. Can definitely recommend the Apex kit (minus feline assistance).
He's mad that he couldn't sit on my work surface.
Done:
ugh, looks like the testing of those 68gr BTHP are going to have to wait. I had to order a new Hornady seating stem that doesnt deform the bullets.
Interesting. I use Hornady dies for 223 and never ran into this before. I also use Hornady bullets. Hmm. I think if you called Hornady they would probably send you a new stem or new die for free.
The 223 die set I have is the Hornady Custom Grade FL set. I did some googling and apparently Hornady recommends their ELD stem for the 68gr BTHPs. I never had any issues loading 55gr FMJ with this set.
I ended up ordering a new stem that should arrive in on Thursday, hopefully that will help.
I ended up ordering a new stem that should arrive in on Thursday, hopefully that will help.
Tried loading 10 rounds of 357 with Sierra #8350 170 grain FMJ, 13.6 grains of Alliant 2400, CCI500, in PPU range pickup brass trimmed to 1.280". Ran three through my 6" S&W 586 dash zero, over the chronograph this afternoon, average 1333 fps. Tried the rest on the 100 yard range. Went 5 for 6 on the 12"x16" plate, and put the last one on the 12" gong.
The gun jumps back pretty good with those...
The gun jumps back pretty good with those...
pastera
NES Member
This is why I 3d print my own - no marks and perfect fit on any bullet.
I got the new seating stem in, and wow. Night and day fitment. If anyone has trouble with the hornady die with ELD, VLD or some other heavy match bullet, try their ELD stem.
If you ever come across the "Hotshot" brand 6.5x55mm ( I think that's what it was called; Igman, I believe), you may find the flash holes so tiny that the decap pin will get stuck and pull out of the stem.
It's usable brass, but you may want to drill the flash holes, so the pin won't bind next reload session.
Good to know, thanks. I've got 80 rds of PPU (plain) and 20 rounds of PPU match to start for brass (factory ammo I'll shoot first).
For those of you who load 6.5x55 Swede, what powders do you like? In my Hornady manual I'm only really seeing Varget out of the ones I regularly buy. I haven't checked my Vihta manual yet but the powders I bought were generally for heavier cals.
Some quick Googling seems to overwhelming indicate Reloder 22 and IMR 4350, but I have no experience with either. What do you guys recommend?
For reference the first stack of bullets I bought are 140gr BT bonded soft points. Interestingly, the PPU "Match" ammo has a 19 gr lighter bullet (120 vs. 139) than their "non-match" 6.5 Swede.
Some quick Googling seems to overwhelming indicate Reloder 22 and IMR 4350, but I have no experience with either. What do you guys recommend?
For reference the first stack of bullets I bought are 140gr BT bonded soft points. Interestingly, the PPU "Match" ammo has a 19 gr lighter bullet (120 vs. 139) than their "non-match" 6.5 Swede.
I've been shooting many reduced cast/coated bullet loads, so generally any pistol powder that I have on hand.
For jacketed, It's pretty much whatever suitable powders that I have available. Hodgdon 380. 414, 4350, Hybrid 100V, 4831, IMR 4064, 4831 4350 and Ramshot Hunter all work, too. Can't say I have a favorite.
For economy sake, IMR 4064 gives 4% less velocity with 27% less powder than H1000 in the 140g, so one pound of IMR 4064 gives you 49 more rounds per pound, if that matters to you.
Lately, I've been using WC-844 (similar to H335) in 100g jacketed loads.
For jacketed, It's pretty much whatever suitable powders that I have available. Hodgdon 380. 414, 4350, Hybrid 100V, 4831, IMR 4064, 4831 4350 and Ramshot Hunter all work, too. Can't say I have a favorite.
For economy sake, IMR 4064 gives 4% less velocity with 27% less powder than H1000 in the 140g, so one pound of IMR 4064 gives you 49 more rounds per pound, if that matters to you.
Lately, I've been using WC-844 (similar to H335) in 100g jacketed loads.
D
Deleted member 67409
VV's online, published load data explicitly suggests against using their load data for M1896 Swedish Mausers, so YMMV. I also looked up Norma and their most commonly suggested powder is Norma 203-B. The first Norma cartridge looks like its for round nosed, old mil-spec style 6.5x55:
https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/rifle-reloading/?cartridge=70
6,5x55 Swedish Mauser - Reloading Data | Norma
I checked my 2019 Vihta manual and it has that disclaimer, but in a separate 6.5 SKAN section which appears to be for modern rifles chambered for 6.5x55. There's a section labeled "6.5x55 Swedish Mauser" which is not "bundled" with it, so that's a bit interesting. I do have some Vihta loads in my Hornady manual but not for powders I have.
D
Deleted member 67409
VV's online manual for both 6.5x55 SWE and 6.5x55 SKAN indicate that the max pressure for their published loads is the CIP standard of 55,110 psi, or 380 megapascals. The Swedish Mausers were proof tested at 65,992 psi or 455 megapascals according to Wikipedia.
What does your Hornady manual list for the max pressure? I'm willing to bet its either the 55k for CIP or 51k for SAAMI and that most if not all manuals use these commercial pressures as their standards.
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Hornady manual doesn't list max pressure, but the rifle they used for load development is an 1896 Mauser, so the data must be safe. The intro section on the cartridge is entirely about the m96 and m38. IMR 4350 is the first listed powder for 140gr, and the most popular I can find online for 6.5x55, so that might be something to grab a pound of.
The Vihta manual has a section called "6.5x55 Swedish Mauser" with no disclaimer. There is a separate entry called "6.5x55 SE / SKAN" which has the disclaimer listed. They are treated as different cartridges, so the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser data I presume would be fine. They only list a test barrel, not a rifle like Hornady does. Looking at some of the loads side by side, they are fairly close, sometimes the Hornady manual has a higher min load, sometimes Vihta, although Vihta tends to skew higher than the Hornady manual which doesn't surprise me as the Hornady manual in general seems to be fairly conservative versus what I tend to see people post online.
Hodgdon's site had a Varget load if I recall, so I might start with that I don't have any of the Hornady manual powders for 140gr.
one-eyed Jack
Manufacturer
I need to pack up the Dillon 550 and all the components and get them to Little Jack so that he can roll his own to shoot in the Tommy gun and Grease Gun. I can't keep up with him. Jack.
