What did you reload today?

[Bon Sauvage]

In anticipation of happier times I ordered 20 lbs. of #4 and #5 bismuth shot.

 

[ageingstudent]

I suspect a great deal of ammunition will made in Fernley this week. In several calibers...

 

[Coachbell]

250 rounds 9mm 115gr rn fmj, Titegroup...Scorpion fodder.....40 rounds 25-06 100gr Nosler Ballistic tip, H4350...Working up a couple of new hot and hotter loads for my 25-06...Sure do love to shoot both..25 and 50 with the Scorpion and my range has a tiny gong at 280 when the paper work is done at 200.

 

[v8engin]

These .45acp 200gr. SWCs. 5.6gr of Viht N320. 1.4" oal.
My FIRST SIX .45 rounds
Question: The lip of the cases gets a fair bit of scraped lead and/or the bullet coating on it. Is that normal? They "plunk" just fine. You can clearly see it on the pictures. Do I need to run in my expander a bit more? Going to go through a Para Ord P7 LDA 1911.
Thanks in advance if you have any input.

 

[Ben B.]

200 rds of .308 last night, time to switch the press and load 600 of .32 S&W Long, then 2400 rds of 9mm, then 1K .223 69 SMK. That should hold me until primers are once again available at rational prices.

 

[Coachbell]

200 rds of .308 last night, time to switch the press and load 600 of .32 S&W Long, then 2400 rds of 9mm, then 1K .223 69 SMK. That should hold me until primers are once again available at rational prices.

Hey Ben! Let me know if that pile of SPP gets in your way too much...

 

[Ben B.]

Hey Ben! Let me know if that pile of SPP gets in your way too much...

Coach, you're a pal! Lots of fellows been offering to help declutter my bench storage and get those nasty, dangerous, fire hazard "primers" out of my life.

In mid 2019, I decided to stop sitting on the pile of components I had and made an effort to turn all components into loaded ammo. Then in February 2020 I was unnerved by the slim remainders of primers and powder and restocked. I wish I could say that I foresaw the shortage, but it was just dumb luck.

 

[LSWC]

If you're shaving lead or copper from plated bullets I'd adjust the expander a bit and pull the mouth back in if needed with a crimp die.

 

[Coachbell]

Coach, you're a pal! Lots of fellows been offering to help declutter my bench storage and get those nasty, dangerous, fire hazard "primers" out of my life.

In mid 2019, I decided to stop sitting on the pile of components I had and made an effort to turn all components into loaded ammo. Then in February 2020 I was unnerved by the slim remainders of primers and powder and restocked. I wish I could say that I foresaw the shortage, but it was just dumb luck.

I'll bet you have had many "declutter" offers...Never say that you were lucky, only that you were very good, in a timely manner...I too am moderately well stocked myself but as insecure as the next guy as to what's to come in the future...I have recently had some great conversations with a bunch of folks of high character from this site...Colt1911 comes to mind...People really concerned with some folks who are, really, all the way "out"...In the middle of all this mess, I leaped in, mid year, and bought a CZ Scorpion toy that eats 9 like candy....Damn, its fun to shoot though...Looking forward to when I don't have to be the voice of reason about when its time to stop for now...Happy reloading to you...

 

[HaveGun]

It's my brother' birthday next week and he just got himself his first 10mm, a Glock 20. I figured I'd be a good brother and mix him up a batch of warm 10mm since it is non-existent around here.

7.1 grains of WSF behind a 180gr Hornady XTP. Then I realized I was light on 10mm brass. Can't find it anywhere online. A member messaged me about some so I'll get it coming shortly.

 

[RVTECH]

Aluminum & brass SPP .45 ACP jackrabbit ammo !

 

[Mikej]

These .45acp 200gr. SWCs. 5.6gr of Viht N320. 1.4" oal.
My FIRST SIX .45 rounds
Question: The lip of the cases gets a fair bit of scraped lead and/or the bullet coating on it. Is that normal? They "plunk" just fine. You can clearly see it on the pictures. Do I need to run in my expander a bit more? Going to go through a Para Ord P7 LDA 1911.
Thanks in advance if you have any input.

View attachment 814001View attachment 814002

Are those coated with that gray molly stuff? I would say, like above, flare your case mouths a little more. I don't load any lead, but I think it's common knowledge that lead bullets need a little more flare. With jacketed bullets you only need to flare the case mouth enough so that the bullet just barely sits in/on the brass.

 

[RVTECH]

Do I need to run in my expander a bit more?

Well, you need to adjust it a bit deeper to flare the case mouth when expanding them.

 

[ageingstudent]

Well, you need to adjust it a bit deeper to flare the case mouth when expanding them.

And when you place the projectile get it as straight in the case as you can. Also you should clean your seating and crimping die because there is probably a considerable amount of lead scrapings and lube residue in there due to the shaving

 

[v8engin]

it's common knowledge that lead bullets need a little more flare. With jacketed bullets you only need to flare the case mouth enough so that the bullet just barely sits in/on the brass.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I definitely treated it like jacketed bullets and hadn't heard the "common knowledge." The bullets have a nice chamfered edge, so I thought they'd be okay. I'll see about giving them a little more flare. Thanks!!

And yes, I'll clean out my seating and crimping die. Thanks @ageingstudent

Oh, and no. I don't think they're coated. They just have a nice blue ring.

 

[Certaindeaf]

These .45acp 200gr. SWCs. 5.6gr of Viht N320. 1.4" oal.
My FIRST SIX .45 rounds
Question: The lip of the cases gets a fair bit of scraped lead and/or the bullet coating on it. Is that normal? They "plunk" just fine. You can clearly see it on the pictures. Do I need to run in my expander a bit more? Going to go through a Para Ord P7 LDA 1911.
Thanks in advance if you have any input.

View attachment 814001View attachment 814002

What they said.. and you may need to seat and then remove flare in two separate steps..

 

[Lesliet]

What they said.. and you may need to seat and then remove flare in two separate steps..

Using separate seating and crimping dies on .45 ACP was the step that got my polycoats to quit shaving lead. Poly coated and plain lead load very similarly, as far as being a little more tricky to keep from shaving. Shaving off a bit of lead will make them less accurate, too. With the combined seat/crimp die, the die is trying to remove the crimp at the same time as you are seating the bullet, which doesn't work well on non-jacketed bullets.

 

[John Gault]

I worked up a load that shot well and revisited the press to load another 200.
These 220g bullets are a little top heavy but clock in at 1020fps and group well.

View attachment 808505

Bullet manufacturer?

 

[Papercidal]

Used up the last of my premixed alloy to make up some h&g 68 clones for the single stack match last weekend they have since been coated sized and sent into the berm.

 

[Lesliet]

mmm, shiny