What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[trickg]

Update, my bench is usable ready. That means not finished but, I became inpatient. Sunday, I had a little time in the evening, I cleared some of the wood working tools away or off to one side, did a quick cleaning and was ready. Unboxed the new Lee Pro-4000 parts, following UL's videos, I spread all of the parts and literature out on an adjacent table. Then began reading all of the directions. I bought the press with .223 dies.
Stepping back from Sunday for a moment, during the table retrofit, I had some E-Z LOK threaded anchors and I installed them into the face of my bench top, almost flush, about 1/16" above surface of the top, "I can grind them level later, if it bothers me.
I have two Lee presses, each has a different base bolt pattern and I'm certain other future purchased presses will as well. In an effort to be interchangeable, I mounted both Lee's onto individual 2"x6"x20" board bases. The bolts securing the press to the 2x6 are counter sunk, into the bottoms of the 2x6's for a flush surface mount to the bench top. Then drilled holes into the 2x6's that correspond to the Split anchors location in the bench top. Now they are easily interchanged, my press's will be located at the same location with every use and other future tools that require a secure footing will be similarly prep'd for same connections. The 2x6 bases also allow me to easily store the unused press(s) on an adjacent shelf.

Back to Sunday evening, Press 4000 is attached to the 2x6 and mounted on the bench. I located the grease areas and greased, handle is spun around to the appropriate operational direction, installed the primer tube and stopped. Back to the books, read read read....
Station 1, run plate up to top of stroke, rotate die down until touching surface, lower plate, advance die down 1/3 turn or so more, tighten quick nut. Done

I picked out a once fired shell, verify size with a digital caliper, shell is a little long, a quick trim with the RCBS trimmer, (need to mount it to a 2x6), use provided grease and I place it onto the press. Pull lever down, my first active pull.. shell is pushed into the plate, goes up, comes down, advances around to each other station, station 2 and 3 are backed out so they don't engage the shell, station 4 is empty, do I need a crimping die for .223's?? 4 pulls until it kicks out at the end. All seems good.
Shell neck diameter check is good,
Fired primer check, not good, its still in place.
Another adjustment of station one... Nope
Two more times around the turret and primer is out.
Grab a second once fired casing and repeat process the case is sized and the primer is out on the first rotation!
Progress is MINE!
Begin to review the small primer set key...
Wife decides my reloading time has expired... no bullets made

That sounds like a good day at the bench, even if you didn't get any cartridges completed - you got everything set up, and that can be a battle enough by itself.

I really like the idea of using the EZ lock anchors on the bench top. I currently have my Lee Challenger single stage mounted on a piece of 1x6 and I C-Clamp it to the bench when I need it, but I think that using EZ Lock anchors at a specified measurement, and then having all part-time tools mounted to 2x6s sounds like a good idea. (the 1x6 pine is a bit too flimsy in hindsight)

On another topic, I stopped processing the 9mm for now. I didn't like the idea of cutting out the primer crimp - it seemed like I needed to remove a bit too much metal before primers would seat without issue. I also didn't like the CH4D primer pocket swage setup. If I had it set to the point where it took care of the pocket, it seemed like it put a bit too much pressure on the rim of the cartridge - I just didn't like it.

I'm not sure which way I'll go - I could get the Dillon Super Swage 600 - that would set me up for life with a solution that some guys rave about.

Or...

I could get the Lee APP press - that has a pretty slick primer pocket swage setup that supports the case base, and it's FAST. It's also roughly the same cost as the Dillon tool, and I could see myself using that press for other things too.

If I do, I could mount it to a 2x6 and bolt it to the bench with the EZ Lock Anchors perhaps?

 

[guzma393]

Rotating my powder supply as of late as "spring cleaning". I'm getting rid of all the one off 1# opened jugs I got lying around after doing some informal ladder tests on them. I been writing all load data on a whiteboard, taking pics and sending them to a cloud.

Since I mainly load for plinking, I chose to load on the lower end of the spectrum to get the most out of a 1# jug.

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[IronDuck]

This. Periodically, I sit at the boob tube with a caliper set to my acceptable length and run cases through it. Long ones go into one coffee can, acceptable go in another. There are many ways and tools to do this with, this is mine.

This is only because I only shoot for plinking these days so average accuracy works for me. If you are target shooting, there are extra steps you need to do.

Sounds good on both points, I will add those to my routine. Also going to replace my caliper. It doesn't read as consistently as I would like.

 

[guzma393]

7 seconds!? I'm literally just pressing the base of the case onto the countersink cutter for a mere moment and I'm left with a very nice but small chamfer on the edge of the primer pocket. I can't imagine that this isn't enough - the crimp is only on the edge of the primer pocket.

Alright, I tested this out on batches of 300 blkout and 223 cases I was brass prepping. Reaming for 1-2 seconds does leave a nice countersink, but the primer goes on really tight that is doesn't quite work on my hand primer. I've also noticed that the degree of crimp applied to primer pockets can vary on mixed headstamp brass, giving me intermittent results when reaming.

I went back to swaging on my rcbs swage die set where the die is bottomed out to a slight overcam to make sure the primer pockets are swaged uniform on all mixed hs brass. I have a NiB frankford arsenal bench swager, but I don't have any space left to get that set up unless I remove a press. I'd probably get that set up on a stand once I need to swage 1k+ cases.

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[trickg]

Alright, I tested this out on batches of 300 blkout and 223 cases I was brass prepping. Reaming for 1-2 seconds does leave a nice countersink, but the primer goes on really tight that is doesn't quite work on my hand primer. I've also noticed that the degree of crimp applied to primer pockets can vary on mixed headstamp brass, giving me intermittent results when reaming.

I went back to swaging on my rcbs swage die set where the die is bottomed out to a slight overcam to make sure the primer pockets are swaged uniform on all mixed hs brass. I have a NiB frankford arsenal bench swager, but I don't have any space left to get that set up unless I remove a press. I'd probably get that set up on a stand once I need to swage 1k+ cases.

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Like you, I found recently that just cutting a slight bevel wasn't enough, (I was getting almost a "crunch" seating some, and some wouldn't seat at all) and I wasn't comfortable cutting deeper than that. I think I'm going to get the Lee APP press - I think it will make quick work of primer pocket swaging, and will be a better solution than cutting the crimp out with a countersink bit.

 

[platekiller]

That sounds like a good day at the bench, even if you didn't get any cartridges completed - you got everything set up, and that can be a battle enough by itself.

I really like the idea of using the EZ lock anchors on the bench top. I currently have my Lee Challenger single stage mounted on a piece of 1x6 and I C-Clamp it to the bench when I need it, but I think that using EZ Lock anchors at a specified measurement, and then having all part-time tools mounted to 2x6s sounds like a good idea. (the 1x6 pine is a bit too flimsy in hindsight)

On another topic, I stopped processing the 9mm for now. I didn't like the idea of cutting out the primer crimp - it seemed like I needed to remove a bit too much metal before primers would seat without issue. I also didn't like the CH4D primer pocket swage setup. If I had it set to the point where it took care of the pocket, it seemed like it put a bit too much pressure on the rim of the cartridge - I just didn't like it.

I'm not sure which way I'll go - I could get the Dillon Super Swage 600 - that would set me up for life with a solution that some guys rave about.

Or...

I could get the Lee APP press - that has a pretty slick primer pocket swage setup that supports the case base, and it's FAST. It's also roughly the same cost as the Dillon tool, and I could see myself using that press for other things too.

If I do, I could mount it to a 2x6 and bolt it to the bench with the EZ Lock Anchors perhaps?

I was at the same point for having to get a swage tool. I went for the app since it’s not strictly for swaging and I can use it for other tasks. I got mine from titan and they shipped same day (Saturday 3/20). I’m still waiting on mid south to send the swage kit (ordered same day) but the seem to be the only place with it in stock.


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[IronDuck]

That sounds like a good day at the bench, even if you didn't get any cartridges completed - you got everything set up, and that can be a battle enough by itself.

I really like the idea of using the EZ lock anchors on the bench top. I currently have my Lee Challenger single stage mounted on a piece of 1x6 and I C-Clamp it to the bench when I need it, but I think that using EZ Lock anchors at a specified measurement, and then having all part-time tools mounted to 2x6s sounds like a good idea. (the 1x6 pine is a bit too flimsy in hindsight)

On another topic, I stopped processing the 9mm for now. I didn't like the idea of cutting out the primer crimp - it seemed like I needed to remove a bit too much metal before primers would seat without issue. I also didn't like the CH4D primer pocket swage setup. If I had it set to the point where it took care of the pocket, it seemed like it put a bit too much pressure on the rim of the cartridge - I just didn't like it.

I'm not sure which way I'll go - I could get the Dillon Super Swage 600 - that would set me up for life with a solution that some guys rave about.

Or...

I could get the Lee APP press - that has a pretty slick primer pocket swage setup that supports the case base, and it's FAST. It's also roughly the same cost as the Dillon tool, and I could see myself using that press for other things too.

If I do, I could mount it to a 2x6 and bolt it to the bench with the EZ Lock Anchors perhaps?

I just used scrap sections of 2x6's for my current press attachments. If it works well and the elevation feels good after I have made a hundred rounds or so, I will replace the current boards with something nicer. I was thinking about putting sleeves in the 2x6 to EZ lok bolt holes, keep the wood from ever getting compressed or worn, but that's down the road a ways. I still have shelves to add, the cross board at the bottom of the bench needs to be upgraded, just the short time I was working Sunday putting my foot on it I could tell it would not last long but before that,
I'm anxious to get those first rounds loaded and sent down range!

 

[teratos]

I have a rather small workspace. Assembling my Mini-lathe. Upgrading to a 16” bed, all metal gears, and got a DRO kit for it. Quick change tool heads are inbound. Gotta paint the bed to match the lathe before final assembly. Replacing ball bearings with angled roller bearings. Lapping some moving parts for smooth motion. Hope to be done by next week.

I intend to make large volume suppressors. 1.5 - 2” inside diameter. Probably play with reflex designs. You just can’t buy them, really. So I gotta build them myself.

 

[Todd S]

I have a rather small workspace. Assembling my Mini-lathe. Upgrading to a 16” bed, all metal gears, and got a DRO kit for it. Quick change tool heads are inbound. Gotta paint the bed to match the lathe before final assembly. Replacing ball bearings with angled roller bearings. Lapping some moving parts for smooth motion. Hope to be done by next week.

I intend to make large volume suppressors. 1.5 - 2” inside diameter. Probably play with reflex designs. You just can’t buy them, really. So I gotta build them myself.

What model lathe did you get?


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[teratos]

What model lathe did you get?


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Grizzly 8688.

 

[Todd S]

Grizzly 8688.

That’s sweet!


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[teratos]

That’s sweet!


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Thanks! Got many of the upgrades available on

www.Littlemachineshop.com

Did the same for my mini mill. If you spend some time on them, they can be good machines.

 

[John from MD]

Thanks! Got many of the upgrades available on

www.Littlemachineshop.com

Did the same for my mini mill. If you spend some time on them, they can be good machines.

Are you sure you went to medical school and not trade school?

 

[Todd S]

Thanks! Got many of the upgrades available on

www.Littlemachineshop.com

Did the same for my mini mill. If you spend some time on them, they can be good machines.

A lathe is on my wishlist, but I need to smelt 19 cat litter buckets of wheel weights first. They are sitting in the spot I want to build a bench in the garage.


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[teratos]

Are you sure you went to medical school and not trade school?

LOL. I really enjoy learning these skills. Wait until I get a welder!!

 

[teratos]

A lathe is on my wishlist, but I need to smelt 19 cat litter buckets of wheel weights first. They are sitting in the spot I want to build a bench in the garage.


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Check out https://littlemachineshop.com

Consider buying one of their lathes, as they do a lot of the upgrades on theirs already.

 

[Rockzilla]

LOL. I really enjoy learning these skills. Wait until I get a welder!!

oh no. Welder...Nice.
Nice little lathe you got there also.
Need to build yourself a "machine shop"

have to wait here until the move to S.C
one less thing to move. Picked out a Mill
and TIG welder, other half says got to wait.
so...


-Rock

 

[teratos]

oh no. Welder...Nice.
Nice little lathe you got there also.
Need to build yourself a "machine shop"

have to wait here until the move to S.C
one less thing to move. Picked out a Mill
and TIG welder, other half says got to wait.
so...


-Rock

Working on the machine shop. Can do a lot with a mill and lathe. Hope you get set up soon!

 

[guzma393]

Loaded 300+ 38 spl. 60 percent are 125 grain plated fp's and the other 40 are 105 grain swc powder coated casts.

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[Melnic]

Frankford Arsenal vib cleaner came in to replace the broken one.
This one is not nearly as loud as the old one. I can actually keep it on while I'm in the room but not on conference calls.
Does not seem to clean as fast. seems like I need to leave it running 2x as long.