Hurley's Gold

What did you do today in the world of reloading?

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  • avvidclif

    TGT Addict
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    3   0   0
    Aug 30, 2017
    5,794
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    Van Zandt County
    Loading another 25k 9mm, got loader two converted to 45Auto, ran about 8k on it after checks, and got a bunch of brass ready to ship/scrap. Added a photoreflective sensor to the 45 drop tube as well, slowly getting all of them away from micro switches.

    Not a bad for a short Saturday at the shop.

    Naked Camdex machine, down to wear plates.

    View attachment 181032

    "Dressed" Camdex
    View attachment 181034

    Even after all these years, NOTHING sounds as good as 45 plunking into a bin at 4k an hour. Just looks good and sounds good.

    Now that is a beautiful piece of equipment.
     

    TxStetson

    Opinionated and Irritable
    TGT Supporter
    Lifetime Member
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    4   0   0
    May 9, 2013
    10,056
    96
    The Big Country
    Loaded up 20 rounds of 308 Federal Match brass with Hornady 168gr ELD-M. 44 gr of Varget. CCI BR-2 primers. COAL 2.805. I'll find out in the AM if they work. FPS, SD, and group size. Supposed to be abt 2600FPS. Looking for sub .5MOA.

    Fingers crossed.
    I’ve had much better consistency with SMK’s than the Hornady ELD match in my AR10 and bolt action Savage. I didn’t notice anything match about them.
     

    avvidclif

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    Aug 30, 2017
    5,794
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    Van Zandt County
    Range Report: Disappointing

    Bergara B14 HMR in 308 20" Barrel Vortex 6.5x20 Labradar for measuring

    80 Deg no wind or slight from rear 100yds

    After reading thru another forum I loaded up 20 rounds for a trial run.
    Federal match brass
    Hornady 168gr ELD-M
    44.0 gr Varget
    CCI BR-2
    COAL 2.805

    For a reference I fired 5 rounds of Creedmore Match ammo 175gr Scenar HPBT Spec 2600 FPS Actual 2549 Avg SD 8.8 Since that group was just over 1 MOA the shooter needs more range time, previous <.5MOA.

    5 shot groups with reloads
    1 ~2 MOA 2665 FPS SD 16.95
    2 ~1.5MOA 2664 FPS SD 30.62
    3 ~>2 MOA 2665 FPS SD 17.9
    4 ~1.75 MOA w/3 touching (shooter) 2665 FPS Sd 5.0

    The velocity was very consistent RE:Avg, but the SD was all over but seemed to be better as the barrel got hot. I would slowfire a 5 shot group and wait abt 10-20 min and do it again. Barrel was hot but not untouchable at the end. Didn't measure temp. The load showed slight sign of pressure on primer, not flattening but slight flow around firing pin.

    I don't know how much of the inaccuracy was the shooter or the ammo. I haven't shot since June so probably me, still disappointing.

    Plan:

    Load 20 more with 43.0 & 43.5 Varget. Measure chamber and set .020 off lands. Check concentricy of round. The last 2 steps were omitted the first go around

    If the Hornady doesn't work out I'm going to 168 SMK. The fun for me is making it work.
    IMG_2768 (Medium).jpeg
     

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    TxStetson

    Opinionated and Irritable
    TGT Supporter
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    4   0   0
    May 9, 2013
    10,056
    96
    The Big Country
    My Savage prefers 175 grain SMK’s over 42.3 grains of Varget. My AR10 prefers 168 grain SMK’s over 43.2 grains of Varget. They both usually run .5 MOA if I’m doing my part.
     

    rp-

    TGT Addict
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    14   0   0
    Apr 11, 2010
    3,251
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    converse
    Did somebody here load 45 Schofield?

    This past weekend I took the Ruger American 223 out with some plinking loads I made up for the ARs. Was shooting steel so I couldn't get groups but I was able to hit steel at 300 yards consistently. This was my first time out since before the move so it was mostly just stress relief. I'm going to have to come up with a better load for that rifle though. It's easy to shoot. Think my girls will love it.

    Building a new bench and cut all my lumber the past 2 days but can't find my box of screws. Gonna be a lot more stout than my last bench was for sure.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     

    rp-

    TGT Addict
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    14   0   0
    Apr 11, 2010
    3,251
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    converse
    I had to buy factory ammo for my wife to take a basic women's handgun class tomorrow. I paid 68.44 for 250 rounds of 380 fmj. That's more than a quarter a pop. That really puts reloading I to perspective. My cast loads were under 3 cents and my XTPs we're just under 20 cents.

    But i got my bench top put together. Used a 2x6 at the front to mount the presses onto. Gonna attach it to the wall later tonight once the garage cools down.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     

    rmantoo

    Cranky old fart: Pull my finger
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jan 9, 2013
    814
    76
    San Angelo
    I had to buy factory ammo for my wife to take a basic women's handgun class tomorrow. I paid 68.44 for 250 rounds of 380 fmj. That's more than a quarter a pop. That really puts reloading I to perspective. My cast loads were under 3 cents and my XTPs we're just under 20 cents.

    But i got my bench top put together. Used a 2x6 at the front to mount the presses onto. Gonna attach it to the wall later tonight once the garage cools down.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

    Good on you.

    I hate, despise, and detest loading 380.
     

    rp-

    TGT Addict
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    14   0   0
    Apr 11, 2010
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    converse
    Good on you.

    I hate, despise, and detest loading 380.
    How come? I don't think there was any I really hated loading. I wasn't find of loading light 44mag loads for my friends rifle though. Mostly because he bought a 44 mag and then complained it kicked too hard

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     

    rmantoo

    Cranky old fart: Pull my finger
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jan 9, 2013
    814
    76
    San Angelo
    How come? I don't think there was any I really hated loading. I wasn't find of loading light 44mag loads for my friends rifle though. Mostly because he bought a 44 mag and then complained it kicked too hard

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

    Spent the ~$100 on the 1050 shellplate/caliber conversion, and then, no matter what I did, or how careful I was with the advance/rotation, I couldn't avoid spilling powder from every shell when I worked the arm to advance it....Coupled with the fact that I couldn't make the mr bulletfeeder work with the 90 or 85 grain bullets and I was done with 380.

    For any cartridges that I'm going to routinely shoot 100 or more of, I want to load them on my automated 1050- or at the very least, my manual 1050, and I just coudln't get that to reliably happen, so I was done... shortly thereafter my brother gave me a P938, and my need to reload 380 disappeared :)
     

    rp-

    TGT Addict
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    14   0   0
    Apr 11, 2010
    3,251
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    converse
    That sounds like it sucked. I can certainly understand why you didn't like it. I have one of the turrets for the pro1000 setup for 380 and my mr bulletfeed is just my fingers. I do lose a little powder though.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     

    dee

    Well-Known
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 22, 2008
    2,468
    66
    Red River Way
    Range Report: Disappointing

    Bergara B14 HMR in 308 20" Barrel Vortex 6.5x20 Labradar for measuring

    80 Deg no wind or slight from rear 100yds

    After reading thru another forum I loaded up 20 rounds for a trial run.
    Federal match brass
    Hornady 168gr ELD-M
    44.0 gr Varget
    CCI BR-2
    COAL 2.805

    For a reference I fired 5 rounds of Creedmore Match ammo 175gr Scenar HPBT Spec 2600 FPS Actual 2549 Avg SD 8.8 Since that group was just over 1 MOA the shooter needs more range time, previous <.5MOA.

    5 shot groups with reloads
    1 ~2 MOA 2665 FPS SD 16.95
    2 ~1.5MOA 2664 FPS SD 30.62
    3 ~>2 MOA 2665 FPS SD 17.9
    4 ~1.75 MOA w/3 touching (shooter) 2665 FPS Sd 5.0

    The velocity was very consistent RE:Avg, but the SD was all over but seemed to be better as the barrel got hot. I would slowfire a 5 shot group and wait abt 10-20 min and do it again. Barrel was hot but not untouchable at the end. Didn't measure temp. The load showed slight sign of pressure on primer, not flattening but slight flow around firing pin.

    I don't know how much of the inaccuracy was the shooter or the ammo. I haven't shot since June so probably me, still disappointing.

    Plan:

    Load 20 more with 43.0 & 43.5 Varget. Measure chamber and set .020 off lands. Check concentricy of round. The last 2 steps were omitted the first go around

    If the Hornady doesn't work out I'm going to 168 SMK. The fun for me is making it work. View attachment 181399
    It may seem like more work but on short action rounds .2gr increments is a bit better. With the .5gr you can skip a node or just sit on the ragged edge of it.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
     

    deemus

    my mama says I'm special
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    30   0   0
    Feb 1, 2010
    15,590
    96
    DFW
    Loading another 25k 9mm, got loader two converted to 45Auto, ran about 8k on it after checks, and got a bunch of brass ready to ship/scrap. Added a photoreflective sensor to the 45 drop tube as well, slowly getting all of them away from micro switches.

    Not a bad for a short Saturday at the shop.

    Naked Camdex machine, down to wear plates.

    View attachment 181032

    "Dressed" Camdex
    View attachment 181034

    Even after all these years, NOTHING sounds as good as 45 plunking into a bin at 4k an hour. Just looks good and sounds good.

    It moved looking at those pics.
     

    Deavis

    Active Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 20, 2011
    827
    26
    Austin
    Only another 25k? That's chump change. I can do that in an hour!

    But seriously, those machines were impressive. I just heard your shop burned down. Is that true?

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

    Yes, to the ground. Once the fire burned through the powder magazines it was over. It was a bad morning for us that day.
     

    Deavis

    Active Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 20, 2011
    827
    26
    Austin
    Spent the ~$100 on the 1050 shellplate/caliber conversion, and then, no matter what I did, or how careful I was with the advance/rotation, I couldn't avoid spilling powder from every shell when I worked the arm to advance it....Coupled with the fact that I couldn't make the mr bulletfeeder work with the 90 or 85 grain bullets and I was done with 380.

    For any cartridges that I'm going to routinely shoot 100 or more of, I want to load them on my automated 1050- or at the very least, my manual 1050, and I just coudln't get that to reliably happen, so I was done... shortly thereafter my brother gave me a P938, and my need to reload 380 disappeared :)

    A few tips to help from a few years running 1050s.

    1) cut a coil off your detent ball spring and tighten up your shell plate retainer slightly and the snapping will go away. Ignore the roller kits, a properly tightened and greased retainer will solve it whether it is automated or driven by hand. Make sure your ball hole is clean, dont want it to stick either but grab freely.

    2) you can fix the MBF by using a business card inserted just before the flipper and nose entry to help give you a hair extra flat surface for the small bullets to ride on and flip properly. It is super finicky but it can be done, there is a video posted somewhere of it but I cant find it right now.

    3) try using the 100gr HBrN bullet from Berrys can help, it is just a little longer and makes all the difference, even in my machines it is better than any 95 out there. Any shorter and you are feeding a "ball" which is REALLY hard to do.

    Good luck
     

    rp-

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Apr 11, 2010
    3,251
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    converse
    Yes, to the ground. Once the fire burned through the powder magazines it was over. It was a bad morning for us that day.
    I bet. Do you know what caused it?

    Also, a while back I talked to the guys at Lonestar handgun in converse about your company. Shortly after I saw they started carrying your ammo! Glad to see you guys were able to do business together.

    Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
     

    xdmikey

    Well-Known
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    10   0   0
    Nov 27, 2009
    1,445
    46
    cypress, tx
    Went out today and loaded ~400 223.

    Getting an order ready for PV soon.

    Lit off my 357 mags. Kind of hoh hum actually.

    Starting to track down a guy I split a huge reloading order with. I got a pallet of powder and another huge box of primers.

    I've been using Wolf but the last 100 rounds I used Rem 7.5s so I can't just chunk them all in cans.
     

    Deavis

    Active Member
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Oct 20, 2011
    827
    26
    Austin
    Hal sorted a few barrels of brass, I loaded 45, upgraded a couple sensors on the 9 machine, and finished testing a controller in the background. Froggie Frog kept us company today.

    20190821_093144.jpg


    20190821_095953.jpg
     

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    xdmikey

    Well-Known
    Rating - 100%
    10   0   0
    Nov 27, 2009
    1,445
    46
    cypress, tx
    Yesterday I half prepped another 300 223 cases(swaged primer pockets)after replacing the oil pan on my truck, after dropping the bash plates under the oil pan!

    This morning I'll trim and load those cases and lock in my PV order.
     

    GasGuzzler

    Active Member
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    May 19, 2018
    737
    76
    Cooke County, TX
    Bought a handful of .357 brass. Not sure where all mine went. Guess I gave some away, sold some during the 2012-2014 crunch, and likely loaded the rest. Yeah, I know...kinda weak for a response in this topic but...
     
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