Post by RAF on Dec 27, 2004 11:04:05 GMT -5
I’d like to describe my system and steps of making ammunition and then like your comments and thoughts on my system.
I start when I bring home my fired brass. I inspect each piece for damage, cracks etc. When I’m satisfied that they are OK, I put them in my tumbler and give them a few hours. When I remove them I clean out any media and brush the inside of ever neck. They are then lubed and neck sized and spent primers removed. The lube is then wiped off and I then trim to length. For this I use a Lee tool, the name of which escapes me. Simply it is a tool where a shell holder for the appropriate caliber fits into a drill. The tool is held in the hand and the drill spins the shell holder with the brass in it. The tool slips into the brass. It is the same diameter as the brass I’m reloading, has a point at the far end that fits into the primer pocket and a cutter at the other end. This ensures that each piece of brass is the same length. After the brass is trimmed, I chamfer and debur.
I then clean out any fouling in the primer pocket. The brass is then put back into the tumbler for a few hours. When I take it out I brush the inside of the neck again to make sure there is no media left
When the time comes to load I place the clean brass in a tray neck down. I now prime each piece. For this I use one of two methods, depending on the mood I’m in. I have a Lee hand primer that works well. I also have RCBS tubes for the primers that fits on my press. I like both but the Lee is quicker. The brass is then put in the tray neck up. I then prepare my scale and make sure it is zeroed. I consult my notes and make sure I set the scale at the desired weight. I bring the appropriate powder to the bench and set my powder dispenser to the just a little under the required weight and fill my powder trickler.
I use an empty 30-06 brass to catch the powder from the powder measure and put it in the scale. I then use the trickler to bring the scale to balance. The powder is then transferred to the brass. After all the brass is filled I visually check each with the aid of a small flashlight. (This was a step I used to skip because I couldn’t see how I could miss one. Found out at the range one day that I could. Missed 5 in one row in the tray. Had a bullet a couple inches up the barrel that had to be pushed out with the rod.)
Seating the bullets goes quickly once the die is set up to the right OAL Don’t do anything special here except I don’t crimp my bullets. I had to with the 30/30 I used to load for because it was a lever action. I also did for my auto loader which didn’t like reloads.(that's another story) For crimping I used a Lee die which crimped only. Didn’t like the crimpy part of the seating die.
That’s it. Give me your thoughts or opinions.
I start when I bring home my fired brass. I inspect each piece for damage, cracks etc. When I’m satisfied that they are OK, I put them in my tumbler and give them a few hours. When I remove them I clean out any media and brush the inside of ever neck. They are then lubed and neck sized and spent primers removed. The lube is then wiped off and I then trim to length. For this I use a Lee tool, the name of which escapes me. Simply it is a tool where a shell holder for the appropriate caliber fits into a drill. The tool is held in the hand and the drill spins the shell holder with the brass in it. The tool slips into the brass. It is the same diameter as the brass I’m reloading, has a point at the far end that fits into the primer pocket and a cutter at the other end. This ensures that each piece of brass is the same length. After the brass is trimmed, I chamfer and debur.
I then clean out any fouling in the primer pocket. The brass is then put back into the tumbler for a few hours. When I take it out I brush the inside of the neck again to make sure there is no media left
When the time comes to load I place the clean brass in a tray neck down. I now prime each piece. For this I use one of two methods, depending on the mood I’m in. I have a Lee hand primer that works well. I also have RCBS tubes for the primers that fits on my press. I like both but the Lee is quicker. The brass is then put in the tray neck up. I then prepare my scale and make sure it is zeroed. I consult my notes and make sure I set the scale at the desired weight. I bring the appropriate powder to the bench and set my powder dispenser to the just a little under the required weight and fill my powder trickler.
I use an empty 30-06 brass to catch the powder from the powder measure and put it in the scale. I then use the trickler to bring the scale to balance. The powder is then transferred to the brass. After all the brass is filled I visually check each with the aid of a small flashlight. (This was a step I used to skip because I couldn’t see how I could miss one. Found out at the range one day that I could. Missed 5 in one row in the tray. Had a bullet a couple inches up the barrel that had to be pushed out with the rod.)
Seating the bullets goes quickly once the die is set up to the right OAL Don’t do anything special here except I don’t crimp my bullets. I had to with the 30/30 I used to load for because it was a lever action. I also did for my auto loader which didn’t like reloads.(that's another story) For crimping I used a Lee die which crimped only. Didn’t like the crimpy part of the seating die.
That’s it. Give me your thoughts or opinions.
