Was going to do some late night loading last night when my 10 year old Frankford Arsenal electronic scale bit the dust. One of the numbers started flaking out periodically so I decided to can it. I ordered a new one from Amazon as non of the reloading places seem to carry this small model anymore. I checked it periodically against my super duper RCBS electronic scale and calibrated weights and it was always right on. The old one cost a lot less back then though.
I'm not sure how I'll use these - I put them in some old green MTM ammo boxes that my Dad probably bought in the 1970s - I still have some of his 357 reloads in one of those that he loaded in 1979 when I was still 8 years old.With today's shortages, I advise people to use 3 shot ladders so as not to waste powder and primers on the unknown. Now if you are only shooting at 7 yards, it wouldn't make a difference but, I doubt you are shooting your .357 at seven yards.
That's interesting - one of the reasons I got the 2400, other than the fact that it's known as a good powder for 357, is that I've read that it doesn't need a magnum primer to burn well.For what it's worth, 2400 likes heavy bullets and strong bullet pull. I used it quite a bit in my .44mag, 20gns behind a 250gn bullet. I found that even with a good crimp, it left unburned powder in both pistol and rifle if I didn't use a magnum primer.
With today's shortages, I advise people to use 3 shot ladders so as not to waste powder and primers on the unknown. Now if you are only shooting at 7 yards, it wouldn't make a difference but, I doubt you are shooting your .357 at seven yards.
Was going to do some late night loading last night when my 10 year old Frankford Arsenal electronic scale bit the dust. One of the numbers started flaking out periodically so I decided to can it. I ordered a new one from Amazon as non of the reloading places seem to carry this small model anymore. I checked it periodically against my super duper RCBS electronic scale and calibrated weights and it was always right on. The old one cost a lot less back then though.
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
You will want to trim after sizing your cases, if needed. Measure cases before then after. You will see them grow after the sizing operation.