What did you do at your reloading bench today?

Rockzilla · Jan 31, 2024

After doing some searching for pics found some of these.
Some notes stated: loose pockets, too much reaming of the crimp or swaging, over pressure loads ( hot loads ) soft brass, some suggested primer pocket uniform tools so that the primer sits flat in the pocket in some cases reduces it.
On the note of swaging it works best with the same headstamps, as the differences in composition of the brass, some brass is softer than others or vise / versa.

-Rock

Uncle Duke · Jan 31, 2024

Rockzilla said:
View attachment 452305 View attachment 452309

After doing some searching for pics found some of these.
Some notes stated: loose pockets, too much reaming of the crimp or swaging, over pressure loads ( hot loads ) soft brass, some suggested primer pocket uniform tools so that the primer sits flat in the pocket in some cases reduces it.
On the note of swaging it works best with the same headstamps, as the differences in composition of the brass, some brass is softer than others or vise / versa.

-Rock View attachment 452311

Good one Rock!

trickg · Feb 1, 2024

Uncle Duke said:
Good one Rock!

What Rock posted is exactly what's going on with mine. I don't think it hurts things functionally provided it doesn't get much worse. I've noticed blackening around some of my primers where the gas burned through, and invariably it's always those staked ones.

My loading shouldn't be too hot - I follow the manuals and never load max pressures, so I don't think that's what's causing it.

The good news is that the bolt face on that gun's action - Bighorn Origin - can be replaced, and quite easily - but it sucks that I'm going to have to do it because they aren't exactly cheap.

Rockzilla · Feb 1, 2024

If you don't mind please list some of the headstanps that are the culprits, would be interested to see em. Most of my primer pocket "blow by" is with Federal brass, so it gets tossed, the pockets get loose in just one reloading if that. The rest whether PMC, TW, LC with crimps no issues, nor WW, RP of various years (decades) only Federal, now I dont reload hardly any Hornady brass, flows too much.
YMMV

Anyway sorry to go off topic in this thread.

-Rock

85MikeTPI · Feb 3, 2024

85MikeTPI said:
Getting back into 308win. These Barnes TSX pulls were in the premium mix for 10cpr so the years of collecting deals is coming to fruition.

308win Federal brass, 165gr TSX, CFE223, Rem 9-1/2. , about 35cpr.

View attachment 452293

Finished off the ammo can full of 200+ of the TSX. Started a new can of Federal Nickel bonded poly rounds. I need to process another 250cnt baggie of Fed 308 brass to keep moving forward

blazing lead · Feb 3, 2024

85MikeTPI said:
Finished off the ammo can full of 200+ of the TSX. Started a new can of Federal Nickel bonded poly rounds. I need to process another 250cnt baggie of Fed 308 brass to keep moving forward

View attachment 452641
View attachment 452642

blazing lead · Feb 3, 2024

Those are looking good. Nothing better than a can full of rounds. I got some cans to fill up myself. I'm gonna try to work on that once the sun warms up the garage a bit.

Doco Overboard · Feb 3, 2024

Some of those bolt faces look absolutely horrible.
The M1A bolt has a firing pin port thats so large or the pin is so out of spec you can see it.
Anyway, its important to remember that primers move rearwards out of the pocket and become reinserted after the case is thrust rearwards.
Sometimes this looks like flattening and characteristics of over-pressure etc.
Sometimes you may find one that protrudes from the case after its ejected but not completely unseated.
Increasing the charge in a hand-loaded cartridge will often remedy that condition. Its usually accompanied with a minimum spec-ed out load. Especially in a rifle that will nearly close on a no go gauge or one that has been deemed to be still good becuase it passes a "field test" by a wishful owner.
I see this in a lot of 06's I get turned over to me to look at.
What the owners of these rifles dont ever or rarely ever consider is that throat erosion, worn bores etc reduce pressure and bolt thrust as well becuase of less friction so increasing the main charge over a minimum helps to keep the primer in the case so to speak.
This is also one of the reasons to start at a minimum charge when changing components becuase friction cannot be determined outside of a pressure barrel and velocity is often higher than published data simply becuase a bore is tighter that what was used in the lab.
I think the main, reason primers are crimped in is for machine guns, particularly aircraft and for preventing stoppages due to a primer falling out becuase of the bolt moving rearwards before enough pressure has been applied to reinsert the primer before the extraction phase begins.

Joker · Feb 3, 2024

Got the new, to me anyway, blue press bolted down. Probably gonna spend the rest of the day figuring it out and setting up for my loads.

85MikeTPI · Feb 4, 2024

85MikeTPI said:
Finished off the ammo can full of 200+ of the TSX. Started a new can of Federal Nickel bonded poly rounds. I need to process another 250cnt baggie of Fed 308 brass to keep moving forward

View attachment 452641
View attachment 452642

Trucking along, finished prepping another bag of Federal Match Brass. Rounded out the Nickel Trophy rounds and hit up the Barnes 165gr TTSX and 168gr TTSX. Finishing off the brass bag with some Sierra 165gr Tipped Game King (TGK) rounds. Should end the weekend with 500rounds of premium 308win for $150 and some sweat equity

KRC · Feb 6, 2024

22BR 6BR 30BR

85MikeTPI · Feb 7, 2024

KRC said:
22BR 6BR 30BR

That's a lot of BR..

What bullets are those? Are you doing ladder tests or prepping for an event?

KRC · Feb 7, 2024

85MikeTPI said:
That's a lot of BR..

What bullets are those? Are you doing ladder tests or prepping for an event?

22BR (14T Varmint Rifle) 55gr. SBK's & 53gr. SMK's
6BR all Berger 105 Hybrids
30BR Berger 115's and BIB112's
(Bullets are moly coated.)
Some testing - for match preps.
Love my BR's!

85MikeTPI · Feb 7, 2024

KRC said:
22BR (14T Varmint Rifle) 55gr. SBK's & 53gr. SMK's
6BR all Berger 105 Hybrids
30BR Berger 115's and BIB112's
(Bullets are moly coated.)
Some testing - for match preps.
Love my BR's!

Thanks.. The moly has them all looking like exotics..

4g64loser · Feb 7, 2024

KRC said:
22BR 6BR 30BR

I'm envious.

I will eventually get a 30br barrel for my TL3 to go with the 6br Norma barrel in it now. If you don't mind my asking, what weight bullet are you running and what throat did you go with? My intent is not registered match but more for fun and maybe the occasional critter. I'll be using 125TNT and 125BTip.

KRC · Feb 7, 2024

I have NO idea what the throat is on the 30BR (or the 6BR or the 22BR). The 30BR and 6BR were chambered by Sid Goodling some 20+ years ago. The 30 has always shot bullets in the 112 to 118 range (17T barrel) which are slightly into the lands while seated ~halfway+/- down the neck. I tried 135gr. Sierra's (600 yard aspirations) but could not get them to stabilize and they shot like shyte.

4g64loser · Feb 7, 2024

KRC said:
I have NO idea what the throat is on the 30BR (or the 6BR or the 22BR). The 30BR and 6BR were chambered by Sid Goodling some 20+ years ago. The 30 has always shot bullets in the 112 to 118 range (17T barrel) which are slightly into the lands while seated ~halfway+/- down the neck. I tried 135gr. Sierra's (600 yard aspirations) but could not get them to stabilize and they shot like shyte.

I'm thinking a 15 twist or a 13.5. That way I know I am good for 125BTip and most flat base into the 150 range. I won't be competing with it. The 125TNT is a great whistlepig pill and the 125BTip at those speeds looks good for deer at closer ranges.

Ponder_MD · Feb 8, 2024

What is the purpose of the polymer tips? The copper bullets I ordered for .350 Legend have them.

The primer arm for my Rockchucker split where it holds the anvil. I think I screwed in the keeper setscrew too tight. Replacement arrives today. Shipping on many items seems to be slowing down.

Rockzilla · Feb 8, 2024

Ponder_MD said:
What is the purpose of the polymer tips? The copper bullets I ordered for .350 Legend have them.

This may help

Polymer Tipped Ammo | Why Use Poly Bullets?

An easy to follow guide on polymer tipped ammo. Our guide covers what it is, why you might use and its benefits over other bullet types.

www.ammoforsale.com

danimalw · Feb 8, 2024

Ponder_MD said:
What is the purpose of the polymer tips? The copper bullets I ordered for .350 Legend have them.

The primer arm for my Rockchucker split where it holds the anvil. I think I screwed in the keeper setscrew too tight. Replacement arrives today. Shipping on many items seems to be slowing down.

If/when you can, do your self a huge favor and get a hand priming tool. I have the original RCBS (not the universal one) and it is so much faster and get a good feel on the seating.

Can prime 100 in about 8 minutes.

What did you do at your reloading bench today?

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