jamesicus
Member
I am in extended recuperation from a botched abdominal surgery that resulted in a massive infection from a punctured intestine. In consequence, I am at present tethered to a wound vac machine with very limited mobility. At least I got to celebrate my eighty-first birthday with a hospital room party!
Needless to say my reloading and shooting activities have been somewhat curtailed during my convalesence. Although I have a well-equipped reloading room, I am now producing "home brew" cartridges for my CZ 550 American 30/06 caliber bolt action rifle (eventually other rifles/calibers also) while seated at a comfortable patio table - the most relaxing and enjoyable reloading I have experienced in some sixty years. I am presently producing reloads using the following equipment, components and methodology:
Equipment:
Lee hand press
RCBS 30/06 neck sizer/bullet seater die set
RCBS #3 Shell Holders
Lyman large rifle primer pocket uniformer
RCBS chamfer/deburring tool
Nylon bristle bore brush (inside neck cleaning/lubricating)
Lee cartridge case lube (for inside neck lubrication)
RCBS hand priming tool
Dial Caliper
Lee powder dipper (15 grains)
RCBS powder funnel
000 steel wool
Small flashlight
CZ 550 American 30/06 caliber bolt action rifle with firing pin mechanism removed
Components:
Winchester brass
CCI 200 large rifle primers
Hodgdon IMR "Trail Boss" powder
Hornady .30 cal 150 gr FMJ/BT bullets
Methodology (twenty reloads per session):
1. Inspect cases for flaws
2. Clean cases using 000 steel wool
3. Clean and lube inside case neck (nylon bore brush/Lee case lube)
4. Size and de-cap using RCBS Neck Sizer die (Lee Hand Press)
5. Clean primer pocket using Lyman uniformer
6. Check case length (Dial caliper)
7. Deburr/chamfer case mouth - inside and outside
8. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
9. Seat primers using RCBS hand tool
10. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
11. Charge (15 grains) cases with Trail Boss powder using Lee dipper
12. Check each case charge using flashlight
13. Seat bullets using RCBS seater die (Lee Hand Press)
14. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
15. Inspect each cartridge - finish using 000 steel wool - Wipe off using rag/lighter fluid
I am an old-time competitive high power rifle (mostly 30/06) shooter who loves to shoot accurate bolt action rifles. Now that I am in my eighties I really enjoy comfortable paper target shooting from the bench. I doubt I will ever hunt animals again, but I do love shooting! Diminished eyesight and trigger finger tremor dictate that I use optical sights and rifle rests. Shooting full power 30/06 (and more powerful) loads is uncomfortable for me now - the recoil and muzzle blast really bothers me - but I derive great pleasure shooting at the range. As for reloading, brass seems to last forever using the reduced Trail Boss loads thereby reducing expense significantly. Shooting from the bench is now a joy (even during lengthy range sessions) and the accuracy I am obtaining is most satisfying.
JP
Needless to say my reloading and shooting activities have been somewhat curtailed during my convalesence. Although I have a well-equipped reloading room, I am now producing "home brew" cartridges for my CZ 550 American 30/06 caliber bolt action rifle (eventually other rifles/calibers also) while seated at a comfortable patio table - the most relaxing and enjoyable reloading I have experienced in some sixty years. I am presently producing reloads using the following equipment, components and methodology:
Equipment:
Lee hand press
RCBS 30/06 neck sizer/bullet seater die set
RCBS #3 Shell Holders
Lyman large rifle primer pocket uniformer
RCBS chamfer/deburring tool
Nylon bristle bore brush (inside neck cleaning/lubricating)
Lee cartridge case lube (for inside neck lubrication)
RCBS hand priming tool
Dial Caliper
Lee powder dipper (15 grains)
RCBS powder funnel
000 steel wool
Small flashlight
CZ 550 American 30/06 caliber bolt action rifle with firing pin mechanism removed
Components:
Winchester brass
CCI 200 large rifle primers
Hodgdon IMR "Trail Boss" powder
Hornady .30 cal 150 gr FMJ/BT bullets
Methodology (twenty reloads per session):
1. Inspect cases for flaws
2. Clean cases using 000 steel wool
3. Clean and lube inside case neck (nylon bore brush/Lee case lube)
4. Size and de-cap using RCBS Neck Sizer die (Lee Hand Press)
5. Clean primer pocket using Lyman uniformer
6. Check case length (Dial caliper)
7. Deburr/chamfer case mouth - inside and outside
8. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
9. Seat primers using RCBS hand tool
10. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
11. Charge (15 grains) cases with Trail Boss powder using Lee dipper
12. Check each case charge using flashlight
13. Seat bullets using RCBS seater die (Lee Hand Press)
14. Check chambering/bolt closure using rifle (without firing pin mechanism)
15. Inspect each cartridge - finish using 000 steel wool - Wipe off using rag/lighter fluid
I am an old-time competitive high power rifle (mostly 30/06) shooter who loves to shoot accurate bolt action rifles. Now that I am in my eighties I really enjoy comfortable paper target shooting from the bench. I doubt I will ever hunt animals again, but I do love shooting! Diminished eyesight and trigger finger tremor dictate that I use optical sights and rifle rests. Shooting full power 30/06 (and more powerful) loads is uncomfortable for me now - the recoil and muzzle blast really bothers me - but I derive great pleasure shooting at the range. As for reloading, brass seems to last forever using the reduced Trail Boss loads thereby reducing expense significantly. Shooting from the bench is now a joy (even during lengthy range sessions) and the accuracy I am obtaining is most satisfying.
JP