Ghetto loading

[mdi]

I understand the term "ghetto reloading". It just means reloading ammo with tools on hand, not necessarily dedicated reloading tools (depriming with a nail, charging with a teaspoon, etc). Improvised reloading is another term used for this "make do with nothing" method. I haven't tried lately, but I've primed 38 special cases with a brass rod and a steel plate (set primer on plate, case over primer, rod inside case, tap until seated.)

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/05/21/the-gun-markets-of-pakistan/
About halfway through this video, 7.65X39 is being loaded with nuttin but a hammer.

 

[Oic0]

That video was my when I started on my first hundred rounds with the lee loader. I was trying it without lube. The manual said it was ok for small pistol cartridges. Was a bear though. Was using it down on the floor to avoid destroying any tables. With case lube its not bad to use at all. Also works much better with a deadblow. I can do about a round a minute with it now.

I also dont understand why everyone is terrified of primers. Sure if a lot of them go off they can hurt you but a single primer is no real threat if you use safety glasses. I don't care to get mercury on my self but they are just not that violent on their own. I've set a few off with that lee loader. They go pop and you get soot on your hand. Thats it. They are also VERY resilient. Takes a good beating to set one off.

Also, no I don't plan on loading ammo this way purposefully. Its just interesting to think about how you could make due if you had to.

 

[AlexanderA]

If you want to try "third world reloading," do what they reputedly do in the Khyber Pass/Peshawar area of Pakistan, where Lee-Enfields and AK-47's are made by hand out of salvaged railroad rails. They carefully straighten out spent primers with a punch and anvil, and then refill them with a compound scraped off the heads of strike-anywhere matches. Propellant is old nitrocelluloid movie film, sliced into slivers. This is topped off with cast lead bullets, painted to simulate copper jackets.

(It goes without saying - don't try this at home.)

 

[Cmeboston]

This is as ghetto as I will get when it comes to reloading, and it works pretty slick! a clam bucket with some holes in it that I dump all of the tumblers contents into, and then Place it on top of a running tumbler and walla! We have clean brass.
I have trimmed cases with a file as well, but a case trimmer is far more accurate and efficient


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bush Pilot]

Originally Posted by Otto:
The OP posted a Youtube last year of his reloading technique. Looks like he needs more than a press.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsaf1nGMyuU
...and a pair of pants by the looks of the video.

Isn't that how Fred and Barney loaded?

 

[simon_rook]

I tried ghetto loading using a Lee Hand Press. I held it horizontally (as required in the Ghetto), and found it difficult to apply the necessary leverage to the handle. The press works much better in the vertical position, as do most firearms with the exception of the Sten.

lmfao

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

Once again, a guy asks for help and gets the not-so-high road responses.

Oic0 - jcwit and Carl N. Brown are spot on. The part that you'll need the raised platform for with a hole at the bottom is when you use the mallet to seat the bullet. And as you mentioned, resizing is a must, either neck or full-length. Use some thick leather gloves when seating the primers and if one goes off, you won't hurt your hand.

 

[jcwit]

Once again, a guy asks for help and gets the not-so-high road responses.

Correct! There were an awful lot of childish, and cute petty posts.

 

[Vacek]

Actually I don't have a problem with a discussion on ghetto/survival/primitive reloading. I just picked up at an antique store 2 vintage American Rifleman. The first was a May 1941 edition (right before the war started) and a 1943 edition. The 41 had a continuation article on reloading and as usual for that period there was a lot of discussion and advice on handmade tools as well as duplex loading.

The Old NRA booklets on reloading talked about making some of your old tools as well and if I rememeber talk about slowly seating primers with a dowel and vice. I think the chapter was called ... "Why Not Reload".

While I do not advocate taking stupid risks.....a certain amount of curiosity, questioning and discussion regarding what is possible should be welcomed. We don't really know when we might need some of that knowledge. The problem with any hobby is that it eventually gets so sophisticated and equipped that we lose sight of where and how it began. Look at the popularity of primitive archery. Those archers know their gear and how to use it and if need be would be much better prepared if a compound bow and graphite arrow was no longer available.

As to Lee Loaders, I find them very useful and pull one out of the drawer once in awhile; as well as have one in my travel kit. The only time I ever got the primer to go off was with 303 Brit until I realized the problem was the military crimp. Once removed, no issue. Also, I keep hearing about the rod getting stuck in the ceiling. Never even had the rod jump out of the case. The first and second times I did jump out of my pants but no hole in the ceiling. Sounds a little mythological to me.

It was the partially the ability to improvise reloading that kept the free US military and their Philippino allies capable of fighting after the Philippines fell to Japan.

Maybe we need a sub-forum section on older methods and tools were an open curious discussion is acceptable.

 

[FROGO207]

It is evident that not everyone here does already know everything. That said, we all should be willing to help answer a valid question with a safe knowledgeable response. There is a time for humor and also a time to keep it serious. Thank you to those that take the time to always help their fellow High Road users with a good answer and voice their safety concerns as needed. Also not everyone has the resources to get the top of the line setup first thing if ever. Making due with whatever we can scrounge up may one day be the new normal and I for one want to be as prepared as possible "just in case".

I must admit in the past some of my responses have not been perfect but I am always trying to become a better human being daily.

 

[Clark]

Mal H

Please explain what "ghetto loading" is. It doesn't sound safe to me.

My son recently borrowed a bicycle from me that I had borrowed from someone else.
He locked it in a locked parking garage in downtown Seattle, right were all the homeless tents are under the freeway.
Someone cut the chain and took the bike.

My son recently parked my vehicle in the same area.
Someone broke the window, took out his empty duffel bag, and left it on the side walk.

Insurance paid for my window. I had to cough up $400 for the bike.

So when I visit that area, I carry a 45acp that I have handloaded to 45 Super levels.

That is my getto loading.
It's not safe in the ghetto.

 

[TheCracker]

Is this a serious post? I doubt it! If it is buy a lee loader for $20 for crying out loud! That's as ghetto of a loader as I would use.

 

[amlevin]

Somehow the statement "loading when you don't have the proper tools, safely" has a major contradiction in it.

I think I'd refer to it as "Hillbilly Loading" rather than "Ghetto Loading" When Ghetto Rats run out of ammo they just go steal more.

 

[Gadzooks Mike]

Is this a serious post? I doubt it! If it is buy a lee loader for $20 for crying out loud!

I really wanted to try my new gun this weekend but I don't have a priming tool for large rifle primers yet (in shipping).

Yes, it was a serious post - equipment was on order. I don't think having more stuff on order was going to help him. And what he was asking isn't so far out of line as you might think. I'm pretty sure reloaders years ago (and some today) don't have big fancy blue machines to churn out rounds by the hundreds. Sometimes people made their own equipment. I made a set of 12 gauge shotshell loading hand tools and they work great. Setting a primer is done by starting the primer with your thumb, setting the shell down on the table primer down, inserting a dowel with a small dimple drilled out of the end into the shell, and tapping the dowel with a hammer. I've not done that with a 30-30, but I can't see why it would be much different. I'm pretty sure that's what he was asking. Why doesn't that strike you as a serious post?

Frogo - nicely said!

 

[gamestalker]

Wow, that sounds really risky, not to mention ineffective. I would show some restraint and patience, just wait for your press and avoid any possible dagerous resprocussions. REALLY!

 

[jcwit]

Wow, that sounds really risky, not to mention ineffective. I would show some restraint and patience, just wait for your press and avoid any possible dagerous resprocussions. REALLY!

Whats risky about seating a primer with a dowel or steel rod?

Thats how its done with the Lee Loader, and many millions of rounds have been loaded this way.

Your key word "sounds" obviously means you've never used a Lee Loader or know not whereof you speak.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Don't scoff. You may need the techniques someday.

Don't scoff. You may need the techniques someday. Besides, it is educational to know these things.

Somehow the statement "loading when you don't have the proper tools, safely" has a major contradiction in it.

I think I'd refer to it as "Hillbilly Loading" rather than "Ghetto Loading" When Ghetto Rats run out of ammo they just go steal more.

I think I would prefer the term "Improvised Reloading", "Expedient Methods of Reloading", "SHTF Reloading" or "TEOTWASKI Reloading" (The End Of The World As We Know It).

As was mentioned earlier by ;

Vacek in post 34
AlexanderA in post 28
mdi in post 26 and
Carl N. Brown in post 18 wherein he referenced the documentation in Wikipedia about the Warsaw Ghetto where a handful of courageous Jewish fighters held off the SS and German Army for nearly a month before being overrun and killed or shipped off to the Camps.

They used improvised, ancient, smuggled and captured weapons and I am sure, reloading tools we would have a hard time even THINKING of. Hence, the original post.

Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. (Paraphrased from George Santayana)

Lost Sheep

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

About the closest I want to get to ghetto loading is the lee loader, which with a lee hand primer makes some outstanding ammo.

 

[kingmt]

What people don't understand they are afraid of. They often try to discourage others also.

I have loaded several rounds using these methods & even made my own firearms doing similar. It is safe for me.

I like Hillbilly Loading. I also liked TEOTWAWKI but I don't think I could say it as a word.

I make all kinds of different loads that are very safe but would make half of these folks cringe.

 

[GLOOB]

Here are a couple of my forays into Ghetto reloading:

I have a few odd cartridges with a shaved plating lying around on occasion. Usually, they disappear into the unknown, never to be seen from again. One day I happened upon one and actually had the initiative to do something about it. So I pulled the bullet.

I had the scoop handy, and curiosity made me trickle the recovered powder into the scoop. Perfect amount. So rather than toss the brass in with my other fired cases, I briefly contemplated reassembling the cartridge. I could do it correctly: I.e. I could set up my press. Remove the decapping pin. Resize, flare, and seat a single bullet... or I could go Ghetto. I decided to try the latter.

I poured the powder back into the case and put a new bullet on top. Then I tapped the bullet in, using the round end of the kinetic puller like a hammer, until the bullet naturally stopped at the original seating depth. To my delight, this actually worked according to plan, and the bullet had plenty of neck tension.

I don't remember the exact caliber, but it was either a 9mm or a 40SW autopistol round. I don't think I would have tried that with a revolver round, for the obvious reasons. Nor a 45 ACP, because my Glock 21 is particular about the crimp.

Another occasion that called for Ghetto techniques was a batch of German made ammo with small flash holes. I turned down the end of a nail and hammered the primers out over a block of wood with a hole drilled through it. Then I reamed out the flash holes with the appropriate drill bit.

 

[Vacek]

I have been on the road the last 3 weeks with my beautiful wife (business trip vacation combination). Anyway when I get back I am going to post pics of a home-made 12 guage shotshell reloader I picked up. It belonged to an elderly gentlemen who had passed away and his daughter was selling off all of his reloading. Anyway, I got a brand new MEC, a Spartan press, bunch of dies, etc. , along with the home-made reloader (all for $75, if I remember right). Its pretty cool and was obviously functional.

 

[jcwit]

Here are a couple of my forays into Ghetto reloading:

I have a few odd cartridges with a shaved plating lying around on occasion. Usually, they disappear into the unknown, never to be seen from again. One day I happened upon one and actually had the initiative to do something about it. So I pulled the bullet.

I had the scoop handy, and curiosity made me trickle the recovered powder into the scoop. Perfect amount. So rather than toss the brass in with my other fired cases, I briefly contemplated reassembling the cartridge. I could do it correctly: I.e. I could set up my press. Remove the decapping pin. Resize, flare, and seat a single bullet... or I could go Ghetto. I decided to try the latter.

I poured the powder back into the case and put a new bullet on top. Then I tapped the bullet in, using the round end of the kinetic puller like a hammer, until the bullet naturally stopped at the original seating depth. To my delight, this actually worked according to plan, and the bullet had plenty of neck tension.

I don't remember the exact caliber, but it was either a 9mm or a 40SW autopistol round. I don't think I would have tried that with a revolver round, for the obvious reasons. Nor a 45 ACP, because my Glock 21 is particular about the crimp.

Another occasion that called for Ghetto techniques was a batch of German made ammo with small flash holes. I turned down the end of a nail and hammered the primers out over a block of wood with a hole drilled through it. Then I reamed out the flash holes with the appropriate drill bit.

You actually did all that without blowing up your reloading room? Man alive were you ever lucky.

 

[GLOOB]

I take it you're being sarcastic? The German ammo was fired brass, to be clear!

 

[jcwit]

Ya, I'm being sarcastic, all the way. Just joking as some seem to think a primer is close to being a small A-Bomb.

Have a good one
jcwit

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I have been loading 12 gauge with home made tools for a while now. My loading volume is so low, that as of yet I do not have need of a press. I have, however, used a progressive press in the past to load for pistol cartridges. I don't miss it.

I made a block to prime and deprime the hulls. It is rather easy - A steel washer is counter-sunk into piece of 2x4, and a hole drilled through. The old primers simply fall through when struck with a center punch. Re priming is simply a matter of setting a primer down, and tapping the hull down with the help of a 1/2" dowel.

A scoop of powder from the appropriate Lee dipper gives the charge. From there an over-powder card is seated with the dowel. An adjustable Lee shot dipper is used to measure a charge of shot, and an over shot card is seated with the dowel. A drill press with a roll crimping bit is used to finish them.

Working in batches, it takes me about 30 minutes to load a box of 20 shells. My total investment was only about $50, and I can easily and SAFELY load enough cowboy, bird, and slug rounds to meet me needs.