38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
Awesome. Happy to hear it.
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What did you do in the reloading room recently?
- Thread starter DW357
- Start date
allen-1
NES Member
I use an EGW gauge checker, and run my thumb over the top of the rounds when they're in the gauge to make sure no primer(s) sticking up.
Made 2k 9mm FMJ, to re-stock after all the shooting I didn’t do.
I also cleaned out a bunch of reloading stuff I don’t use, and put it in the stickied reloading components trade thread in this sub-forum. (Hint, hint)
I also cleaned out a bunch of reloading stuff I don’t use, and put it in the stickied reloading components trade thread in this sub-forum. (Hint, hint)
Thank you both for the info, I'll note to dumpster Fiocchi, & I agree that I think checking every round is excessive since feeling the primer would have tipped me off that the case wasn't going to work. I also now know to trash the brass when I have that much difficulty seating the primer.
Thanks fellas!
That’s odd. Fiocchi doesn't give me issues.
It was only these two particular cases, but I thought it was odd that the same issue presented itself twice & were with Fiocchi brass exclusively. However, there was definitely other Fiocchi cases that didn't have any issues. I'm just not seasoned enough at this yet to process idiosyncrasies or determine consistent trends.
There was a list of "Bad Headstamps" floating around the interwebs a few years ago.
Mostly had to do with primer pockets and the cases loading what looked like lopsided or non-concentric.
I don't think it mattered what caliber (for handgun) , they were just bad across the board.
Heres a partial list-
Of course its all subjective, but you'll find some common ones listed as bad depending on what websites come back in a search engine.
Mostly had to do with primer pockets and the cases loading what looked like lopsided or non-concentric.
I don't think it mattered what caliber (for handgun) , they were just bad across the board.
Heres a partial list-
Good and Bad Brass for 9mm Reloading
Im a new in reloading and i knew some good headstamps, aside from winchester, R.P, Speer, CBC, FC, starline what other Head stamps are good? How about MFS, GFL, PPU, S&B, are they good for reloading?
forums.brianenos.com
Of course its all subjective, but you'll find some common ones listed as bad depending on what websites come back in a search engine.
My son is in the basement making up some more 357 mag 
He made 100 rounds the other night and shot 50 of them at the club with his friend the next morning. He wants to take his girlfriend to the range Saturday.....on his own he said "to build up some stock ill only shoot half what load up". Chip off the old block he is!!!
He made 100 rounds the other night and shot 50 of them at the club with his friend the next morning. He wants to take his girlfriend to the range Saturday.....on his own he said "to build up some stock ill only shoot half what load up". Chip off the old block he is!!!
headednorth
NES Member
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Meh. I'm not sure it's a good idea to generalize too much. Amerc brass might be bad across the board, some others, too, but with the big brands my experience is that certain head stamp can be problematic in some calibers while in others simply not at all so. The priming tool can matter. The primers can matter. The brass batch probably matters with some head stamps. I hear all the time about how bad S&B is supposed to be, but I've loaded maybe a 1500 of them and all I've ever noticed was that the primer took a little bit more force going in, same to seat a bullet. No biggie at all. OTOH, I have a baggie of CBC 9mm cases that look great but gave me fits to prime last time I loaded them. No clue. 44 Magnum CBC brass loads just fine in every respect, 357 magnum as well, though both are on the thin side. Loaded a bunch of Win 9mm cases with no problem, then recently had the pleasure of mashing primers into several of them and decided not to use those again. I'll bet somebody's got a a bucket full of CBCs and WINs that never gave them any problems at all.
I always wondered what that guy looked like. He always sounded cartoonish to me. Like a skinflint Mr Magoo.
pastera
NES Member
Toilet rings work well but smoke pretty badly - outdoor only level of smoke.
funny , you never really know what someone will look like by voice. I did not expect fortunecookie to be asian decent , never thought to deep into his youtube name.
Thats said. I tried toilet bowl ring was for bullet lube. Then ones I tried had a dirty unrefined smell similar to differential fluid. It smoke like a SOB.
EddieZoom
NES Member
Cleaning up odds & ends, came across some early failed attempts at loading 223. Good opportunity to figure out how the Hornady Cam Lock Bullet Puller works (I bought it awhile ago but never used it). In summary, it works well.
Leezway
NES Member
I too have the Hornady cam lock puller with the 9mm collet and it’s ok, it seems to work better on Jacketed bullets and ok on some copper plated, doesn’t seem grip the Polycoated without damaging the coating, but It also depends on the bullet shape, some shapes it just doesn’t grip it without damaging the bullet head. If you are not concerned about saving the bullet heads then this is your tool. I find myself going back to the kinetic hammer/remover. JMO
38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
Collet pullers suck with pistol bullets. Hammer is the way to go!
Started loading some .50bmg AP last night and continued on this morning.
Using IVI brass that was rifle fired, sized and trimmed to 3.90 inches.
CCI #35 primers
210 grains of WC-860 pulldown powder.
695 grain black tip AP projos.
I also loaded a few @ 215 grains.
Keeping my loads light to preserve the brass.
Will be testing them this weekend @ 100 yds.
Using IVI brass that was rifle fired, sized and trimmed to 3.90 inches.
CCI #35 primers
210 grains of WC-860 pulldown powder.
695 grain black tip AP projos.
I also loaded a few @ 215 grains.
Keeping my loads light to preserve the brass.
Will be testing them this weekend @ 100 yds.
May god have mercy on whatever you shoot that at.
EddieZoom
NES Member
Yeah, it worked like a champ for 223. For pistol i would still use the kinetic smasher.
pastera
NES Member
Same issue here - zero leading even with 357 mag loading but you would think it was black powder.
pastera
NES Member
Pulled bullets usually go in the melt bin so side cutters work the fastest.
38ExtraSpecial
NES Member
Good point.
I haven't reloaded in over twenty years and yesterday after making trips locally I found out the hard way getting supplies won't be easy, especially living in Mass.
It's not just Mass. Getting primers is as hard or harder than getting ammo.
Powder isn’t too hard to get. But yes primers are very tough to get especially SPP. What calibers you looking to reload?
So do you have a press but no components or?
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EddieZoom
NES Member
You are in for a shock.
You need to look and look often , seems right now vendors have min on primers.
My friend was able to tool up and get loading through covid. Press and tools where picked up in july and the chase for components was on.
He was able to scrounge brass 380,45 and 30-30
Bullets where next, he came across some coated bullets for 45 and 30/30 and bought them all. They seem well made, no name on the box. Paid .15 cents each.
Now powder, well I gave him some powder for the 30-30 loads.
he then scored on one of midways no hazmat deals ordered 3k of each sp,lp,LR,SR and a few lbs of various powders.
He just got a order over black friday weekend that had free hazmat and 10% off and picked up 6-8lb jugs of powder. Even scored varget. Which was a surprise for me, it was also at "normal " prices.
My friend was able to tool up and get loading through covid. Press and tools where picked up in july and the chase for components was on.
He was able to scrounge brass 380,45 and 30-30
Bullets where next, he came across some coated bullets for 45 and 30/30 and bought them all. They seem well made, no name on the box. Paid .15 cents each.
Now powder, well I gave him some powder for the 30-30 loads.
he then scored on one of midways no hazmat deals ordered 3k of each sp,lp,LR,SR and a few lbs of various powders.
He just got a order over black friday weekend that had free hazmat and 10% off and picked up 6-8lb jugs of powder. Even scored varget. Which was a surprise for me, it was also at "normal " prices.
gerrycaruso
NES Member
I put the Armanov roller bearing on the Dillon 650 and it indexes much more smoothly. I tried it out loading some .45acp and .45/70 with Kings coated bullets and it works great. I'd recommend this upgrade to anyone who uses a 650 but the shipping was more than the cost of the part. My daughter ordered it because she gets free shipping from amazon.
Do you have a part number or link? Also, I see on amazon there is some neat stuff from them, but its pretty expensive
steve8140
NES Member
Some must have upgrades for the Dillon 650 in my opinion are the primer shut off switch, roller bearing and the softer spring and ball that go under the shell plate. These parts are made by Snowshooz on eBay.
They also make a case feed disconnect but I didn’t get it since there’s easier ways to do that without spending money.
They also make a case feed disconnect but I didn’t get it since there’s easier ways to do that without spending money.
