What did you do in the reloading room today?

Louder than you expected?

That's the thing it wasn't much louder than norma. Now I was wearing ear pro so that cut down a lot of it lol.

But federal brass for the 6.8 don't like hot loads and I think that was my fourth load on the brass and I was warned about the primer pockets when I got into reloading for the 6.8
 
Wet tumbled some 460 S&W brass, along with some 44mag and 45acp. Since I don't shoot a lot of 460, it is nice to be able to finish filling up the drum with 44 and 45acp so that I have a full load.
 
Spent two hours trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Son has started shooting an AR, which means a new caliber to load. I am too cheap to buy new brass like Starline, so working on the ammo his grand parents gave him for his birthday - all Federal 5.56. So reaming primer cups to remove crimp, resizing, triming to length, and chamfering.

Started showing my son how to do it. That did not last too long, so I only did 100 to see if it is worth doing the rest. Probably is not, but will know Saturday.
 
Spent two hours trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Son has started shooting an AR, which means a new caliber to load. I am too cheap to buy new brass like Starline, so working on the ammo his grand parents gave him for his birthday - all Federal 5.56. So reaming primer cups to remove crimp, resizing, triming to length, and chamfering.

Started showing my son how to do it. That did not last too long, so I only did 100 to see if it is worth doing the rest. Probably is not, but will know Saturday.
After learning how to reload on several pistol calibers, my first bottle-neck rifle caliber reloads were .223. It was a bit of a shock having to do all the crimp removal and trimming. Compared to pistol, the initial brass prep for bottle-neck rifle brass is a lot of labor, as you have found out.

I actually prefer finding LC brass that has crimped primer pockets, as having to remove the crimp means that the brass is only once-fired. But, once the crimp is removed, you never have to do that again.
 
Spent two hours trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Son has started shooting an AR, which means a new caliber to load. I am too cheap to buy new brass like Starline, so working on the ammo his grand parents gave him for his birthday - all Federal 5.56. So reaming primer cups to remove crimp, resizing, triming to length, and chamfering.

Started showing my son how to do it. That did not last too long, so I only did 100 to see if it is worth doing the rest. Probably is not, but will know Saturday.
Once they're all loaded, lay a dozen or so in your hand at a time and swipe 'em with a fat tip sharpie, makes sorting your prepped brass from the range stuff that needs prepping 5X easier/quicker.

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Compared to pistol, the initial brass prep for bottle-neck rifle brass is a lot of labor, as you have found out.

I have loaded 243 and 7.65 x 54R, but this is my first foray into military rounds and as you noted, I am a "Kinetic Learner" (unfortunate but true). In the future I will purchase .223 ammunition that is not crimped (I hope).
 
Thanks good idea and will do.
I was at a match and a fellow noticed and asked about it, I said I hate removing crimps. Pretty sure by hos reaction he was gonna adopt the practice. I store on clips which lets me mark them quick and minimize coloring my hand.

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I started marking the brass with a sharpie some time back. Also, if I have a case that I know I want to discard after shooting, I mark them a different way so it is easy for me to identify it and throw it in the scrap bucket.
 
I FINALLY finished setting my press up last night. RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme (that is no longer going to be for sale since I finally got off my ass). I really like the ejection system from Inline Fab. Really sped up the process having them kick out automatically.

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They are sooo pretty!

How does the CFE223 compare to H335? Are they nearly equivalent and do you notice a difference with CFE?
Honestly don't know man. I'm just getting into rifle loading. Haven't loaded a single round as of yet but I should be ready by next weekend. I've loaded pistol for a few years on my Dillon but nothing for rifle.

I have heard really good things about CFE223. I bought CFE223, Varget, TAC, AR-Comp, and BLC-2 to start out with on .223. The H4350 is for the 6.5CM!
 
but I should be ready by next weekend.

I just finished my first 50 .223 for the chronograph tomorrow and made a note to myself to purchase the curved jaws that a member mentioned on another thread (remember, the ones that I had not found a need for?). Well I have now. My meat hooks cannot manipulate that little bitty bullet on top of the little bitty case neck in that small a space.
 
I just finished my first 50 .223 for the chronograph tomorrow and made a note to myself to purchase the curved jaws that a member mentioned on another thread (remember, the ones that I had not found a need for?). Well I have now. My meat hooks cannot manipulate that little bitty bullet on top of the little bitty case neck in that small a space.
Good to know. I will grab a set as well. I need to get a light and a couple other things anyway. Thanks for the heads up! I have HUGE hands so I know if it's a problem for some, it's definitely going to be a problem for me!
 
Finally decided to quit trying new powders and use up some of the powders I have on hand. Been on never ending experimentation mode for too long and have 20+ different partial pounds of powder to use up.

Just loaded up the last of my IMR PB, only took about 225 rounds to knock it out. Great powder for coated lead in several calibers, has been discontinued though.
 
Finally decided to quit trying new powders and use up some of the powders I have on hand. Been on never ending experimentation mode for too long and have 20+ different partial pounds of powder to use up.

Just loaded up the last of my IMR PB, only took about 225 rounds to knock it out. Great powder for coated lead in several calibers, has been discontinued though.
I've been in that mode lately, too. I've got over 30 pistol powders, I still have a few I have not broken the seal on yet. I've been working up loads in multiple calibers for so long now, it will be nice to whittle down to a few good recipes and just stock up on those components.

I tried PB and did not care too much for it. It wasn't bad in 40 and 45, but there were other powders that just worked better.

If I could only have one pistol powder, it would probably be BE86. IMHO, it is ideal in 380, 9, 38spl, and 40, works well enough in 45acp, and is a great plinking round in 357 and 44 mag. In some ways it is like Unique, but meters better.
 
I've been in that mode lately, too. I've got over 30 pistol powders, I still have a few I have not broken the seal on yet. I've been working up loads in multiple calibers for so long now, it will be nice to whittle down to a few good recipes and just stock up on those components.

I tried PB and did not care too much for it. It wasn't bad in 40 and 45, but there were other powders that just worked better.

If I could only have one pistol powder, it would probably be BE86. IMHO, it is ideal in 380, 9, 38spl, and 40, works well enough in 45acp, and is a great plinking round in 357 and 44 mag. In some ways it is like Unique, but meters better.

BE-86 is one I have never tried. I think the next powder I try is going to be Alliant Sport Pistol, have heard some really good reports on it. However it may be a long while before I get around to it. Not counting the bulk powders I stock up for loading 9 major, Ive got about 20 partials to work on. Guess I need to start loading more .45 since the charges are often higher.:D
 
Found out 4 drums full of wet tumbled 9mm brass in a Frankford Arsenal tumbler fills a 5 gal. bucket to within about 3 inches of the top. Just reinforces my switch to wet tumbling as a much faster, much better way to clean brass. I don't use pins, just brass, armor all wash n wax, and some citric acid and let it run for about 30 mins. Took maybe a total of 30 minutes of hands on work over the course of Sunday evening and Ive got enough clean brass to last a decent while.
 
Found out 4 drums full of wet tumbled 9mm brass in a Frankford Arsenal tumbler fills a 5 gal. bucket to within about 3 inches of the top. Just reinforces my switch to wet tumbling as a much faster, much better way to clean brass. I don't use pins, just brass, armor all wash n wax, and some citric acid and let it run for about 30 mins. Took maybe a total of 30 minutes of hands on work over the course of Sunday evening and Ive got enough clean brass to last a decent while.
Yeah, not having the pins in there would save some time.
 
Added a Mr Bullet Feeder to my press and loaded 600 round getting it dialed in. It was missing a ball bearing and kept dropping 2 or 3 bullets at a time. It took me 100 rounds to figure that out but thankfully they included 3 extra ball bearings. I loaded the other 500 just to make sure it was working 100%.
 
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