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  1. B

    Swaging start ups

    About 20 years ago, I made 6mm benchrest bullets for a while - 68 grain, .2435, flat base, I seem to recall 7 ogive. What do you need: three dies - squirt die to make cores of a uniform size and weight, core seater die to seat the cores in the jacket, and a point up die to form the pointy...
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    Can't stop breaking sizing dies !

    See attached SAAMI cartridge and chamber print. In your drawing, you said that your fired brass base diameter was 14,96 to 15,0x. In the SAAMI print, the max base diameter is 14,845. The base of your brass is at least 0,1150 mm (0.004 inches) oversize [(14,96 - 14,845)/25.4]. You said that...
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    What caused this primer failure?

    You can pull it out or push it out. If it was teotwawki, I would put the bolt between two hardwood blocks, put it into my drill press, drill a small hole into the ejector (think scope base screw), thread the hole, run a screw into the threaded hole, and pull it out. If the world has not...
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    Best way to do a neck tension test ... with the fewest supplies

    You only need 3 or 4 pin gauges for each caliber. For example, assume you are sizing for 308. You don't need a 308 gauge, you have bullets that are 308. You probably don't need a 307, you should be able to use your fingers to push a bullet into that diameter. You probably want a 306, 305 and...
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    Anyone anneal this fast?

    My apologies. I watched your video a couple of times and I thought I saw the first-torch inner blue cone hitting and wrapping around the neck - not much hitting, not much wrapping around, but a little. When I had mine set that way, the necks did not get hot enough to soften. When I arranged...
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    Bullets coming apart downrange - did bad reloading cause this?

    Thanks to everyone for addressing the question. I did not know the answer. When I made bullets, I bought J4 jackets in small tubs. As manufactured, jackets are shaped like a tall straight-wall drinking glass. The jacket wall is tapered from the base to the top edge. I assumed that the...
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    Anyone anneal this fast?

    I use a "Vertex bench source". I had some new Lapua brass and the necks were too hard. I tried annealing with the inner blue cone wrapping around the neck and shoulder. Even with the longest dwell time, they were not getting softer. I suggest that you Google "where is the hottest part of a...
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    Bullets coming apart downrange - did bad reloading cause this?

    About 286,000 rpm - that seems like a lot. Here is my math -- 12 inches per foot divided by 7 inches per rotation = 1.71 rotations per foot. 1.71 times 2783 feet per second = 4,770 rotations per second. 4,770 times 60 seconds per minute = 286,251 rotations per minute. For comparison, I...
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    Concentricity gauge

    Since I don't see that, I'm curious. How do you seat bullets? Are you using factory bullets or custom bullets?
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    What happens if you anneal the same case twice?

    Should we anneal the powder and primers too?
  11. B

    Concentricity gauge

    I use Wilson seaters for my precision ammo. In my opinion, I am not going to improve my group size by using a runout measurement tool. As evidence, I offer the story told by Tony Boyer. Prove your point. Take 5 rounds with zero runout, shoot a group. Take 5 rounds with larger runout - say...
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    Headspace conundrum, comparators, fired brass and go gauges

    Keep in mind, Hornady says that their comparator gauges are not headspace gauges - they are for comparison. For example, measure a case, size that case, re-measure. Did I just push the shoulders back by .002? Are your PTG headspace gauges a cylinder with a flat end or do they have...
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    Concentricity gauge

    You have targets for that, a gauge is not helpful. Just for fun, check this page. It is the national benchrest shooters association (NBRSA) group size hall of fame. Notice the top guy, Tony Boyer with 176 points. Notice number 2, WAYNE CAMPBELL, 59 points. Boyer has just under three times...
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    Sizing down brass

    SAAMI says the necks on your 30-caliber brass and 7mm SAUM brass should be no more than 18 thou thick. 30 caliber bullet diameter is .308, max diameter for the round is .344, .344-.308=.036/2=.018. 7mm bullet diameter is .284, max neck diameter for the round is .320, .320-.284=.036/2=.018...
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    Small, easy portable and stowable reloading solutions.

    Basic benchrest kit: In addition to the press, add Wilson neck die and seater. Buy a powder thrower and stand. Buy a priming tool. Use fine-grained powder. If you have the settings for your powder measure, you don't need a scale. Add a pound of powder, brass, and 100 primers, it will all...
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    how much does a powder trickler help?

    I have a good powder thrower. I used it with a Dandy and a quality load cell scale for a while. Process: pick up the scale pan, throw 95% of the final charge, set the pan on the scale, trickle to the right number, throw the charge, move the funnel, and repeat. I set the Dandy next to the...
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    how much does a powder trickler help?

    "Help" is relative. What kind of shooting do you load for? What sort of scale do you have? How many digits to the right of the decimal point? Do you need to go a little faster or a lot faster? How much accuracy do you want and can afford? My original scale was a Ohous 1010 - still have it...
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    300PRC +P Load development

    I stopped rock climbing a few years before cams hit the market. I was using Chouinard nuts - I still have some and some blades and bongs, some of those postage stamp pitons, and similar stuff. I was more into ice, rigid boots and crampons, and Salawa ice screws. I am very familiar with...
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    300PRC +P Load development

    I do not understand how this will work. I looked up the yield strength of 316 stainless steel - about 30,000 PSI and cartridge brass - about 75 MPa (megapascals) or about 10,000 PSI. Given the yield strength numbers, the steel will accept about 3 times more pressure before yielding than brass...
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    I'm going to re do my last batch but, before I begin ...[UPDATE]

    This forum is for people who reload. Some are just starting. Some (like me) have been doing it for longer - I started to reload in 1970. This forum is not divided into beginner and experienced groups - both are present and both are welcome. You choose to make comments directed to those who...
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