What did you do in the reloading room recently?

BarnBuilder said:
What I shoot I then usually reload x2, but I was pressed for time so only 100 rds reloaded. My 100 yd range is only 30' from my walkout basement door. So picking up brass is no big deal to keep the range clean. My reloading room/gun room is half the size of my basement.
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Nice! If i had a space like that I most likely have loaded all my inventory by now!
 
Set up my 550 again to reload some 44 mag. It has been serving to hold my RT1500 trimmer and a Sinclair Intl. mandrel die for a long time. I had to go look for the rest of the parts
to put it back together so i could use it as a reloader again. Took a while to get used to it again. Made 100 rounds with 240gr LSWC. Used the Dillon dies and 550 conversion I picked up from here on the forum that just arrived today, thanks to Shotgunwilly870! :D
 
xtry51 said:
Loaded 400rds of 9mm defense ammo. 3 hours because I do a lot more inspection. 100rds to go tomorrow then I'm going to reload all the pistol mags in the house with this ammo.
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Similar going on here, just not self defense loads. 400 rounds of a planned 500 of RMR 9mm FMJRN over 5.5 grains of Alliant BE 86.

Currently taking a coffee and cigar break (nowhere near my reloading table), and I'll finish the final 100.
 
Made 385 rounds of 44 mag this evening. Going to finish some 30/06 tomorrow and switch the 650 to 9mm.

Blast shields over the 650 and 550 cause ya never know... IMG_2588.JPG IMG_2587.JPG IMG_2590.JPG Low ceiling so I was able to make a platform between the
benches for the 650, but the 550 is on a higher bench. Needed to be able to put primers into the tube so the white board is movable. I have read and seen pics of what happens when
a tube full of primers goes off...and I have radiant heat tubes above the machines... :rolleyes: IMG_2589.JPG
 
going to start a test run of x39 this afternoon and see if i can't get out tomorrow and see if they function with just running them through the FL sizer instead of a small base die. never have i ever seen a brass 7.62x39 case before never mind actually holding one in my hand. it's not natural, they should be steel and berdan primed! [laugh]
i figure 15 - 20 should be enough. i don't want to spend an evening pulling a bunch apart to run them through the small base sizing die if they don't extract.
 
greencobra said:
going to start a test run of x39 this afternoon and see if i can't get out tomorrow and see if they function with just running them through the FL sizer instead of a small base die. never have i ever seen a brass 7.62x39 case before never mind actually holding one in my hand. it's not natural, they should be steel and berdan primed! [laugh]
i figure 15 - 20 should be enough. i don't want to spend an evening pulling a bunch apart to run them through the small base sizing die if they don't extract.
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You need to shoot at a gentleman's club where sophisticated shooters use Winchester and other brass-cased, boxer-primed Mini Thirty ammo. This way you can augment your brass supply.

You should be able to chamber a sized case and simply extract it manually to see if there is any excessive binding. If the case does not stick in the chamber, run them through the reloading process...
 
The sized case should chamber and extract like a good factory round. If it passes this test, you can determine that the case is good to be primed, charged and topped with your favorite bullet. This way you don't have to tear down any rounds that end up being out of spec.

Good luck; I've got to step away for awhile.

In essence, you're using your rifle's chamber in lieu of a head space case gauge. You will hand chamber the round partially, as it won't feed very well from the magazine without a bullet to guide it properly. Bring the bolt forward once the case mouth is aligned with the chamber, allowing the rim to slip behind the extractor and send it home.
You could also drop the case into the chamber and close the bolt forcing the extractor to pop over the rim, but many don't like to do this continuously. I doubt it will hurt your SKS or AK.
It might be easier just to make a dummy round and test chamber that, just like you would a live round, and see what happens. If the bolt goes into full battery and extraction is easy, you're pretty much there. No need to roll twenty rounds and find they are not GTG.
If your sized case is still too large a diameter, it won't allow the bolt to close fully or you will wedge the case into the chamber so tightly, you'll have to drive it out with a rod from the muzzle, as pounding the bolt handle will likely result in the extractor slipping back over the rim, leaving the case stuck in the chamber.
 
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You'll want to check overall length on your cases after resizing as the case grows each time you fire it. The max length for 7.62x39 is 1.528" with a nominal trim length of 1.518. Anything down to 1.508 will be fine if you start trimming.

If the case is too long it can cause a number of issues. Failure to go into battery, FTE, increased peak pressure due to high neck tension if it does close the bolt, etc. The most dangerous is really you risk firing out of battery as a bolt may partially close but not fully seat.
 
TrashcanDan said:
So if .40 has a case length of .850"
And 10mm has a case length of .992"..............

And I took some 10mm brass and cut it down to .920-.925"......
Would it be .40 super or 10mm special?
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I don't know but I just recently found out that .41 special is a real thing.
 
Got my Lee 223 dies today and got enough powder, primers, and 55gr heads to get started. Going to swap the Lee lock rings for Dillon ones I have in my spare parts kit...probably not really needed but it'll make me feel like I'm dressing up the Lee dies a little ;-)

My first swing at reloading for rifle on the 550....good times.

Never stop learning.
 

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