Mechanized Round Counting

I have a mechanical counter mounted to my bench next to my Rockchucker press. Every time the handle is taken to the bottom of the stroke, it counts. That's how I count my brass when resizing it.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I just use a postal scale [.1 ounce accuracy] to weigh a batch of empty cases to get a count. Also works for counting bullets.

Take a cheap pedometer and wire the “trigger” contacts to a small momentary switch then mount the switch so it’s triggered with each stroke of the press. Or just weigh them as above.

9mm, 59.46gr/ea, 117.7cases/#, 8.5#/1000

38spl, 68.06gr/ea, 102.8cases/#, 9.7#/1000

40s&w, 70.1gr/ea, 99.9cases/#, 10#/1000

.357mag, 78.3gr/ea, 89.4cases/#, 11.2#/1000

.45acp, 89.58gr/ea, 78.1cases/#, 12.8#/1000

.223, 95.28gr/ea , 73.5cases/#, 13.6#/1000

.44mag, 114.38gr/ea, 61.2cases/#, 16.3#/1000

50bmg, 865.26gr/ea, 8.1cases/#, 123.5#/1000

All weights are uncleaned fired cases with the primer remaining.

Individual case weights were derived using an average of mixed brass weights (except 50bmg)

So, if you have 8#'s of 45 brass: 8# X 78.1cases/# = 625 cases+/-

If you use 1gal ziploc freezer bags to store your brass, each (full) bag contains:

9mm, 15.6#, 1836cases
40s&w, 12.2#, 1219cases
45acp, 11.4#, 890cases
223, 11#, 809cases

I stack brass in a few plastic trays left from old ammo boxes.
2 trays = 100 pcs.
Every 100 pcs gets dumped into ziploc freezer bags.

Easy enough for me.

Keeping track that way has also led to the discovery that Hornady tends to put 101 or 102 bullets in most of their 100 round boxes <grin>.

I used an old machine counter.
Been going strong for 30 years!






rcmodel

Mine is pretty close to what rcmodel uses, and likewise, mine has been in operation for more years than I can remember. You may be able to find one at Grainger.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I have an old Dillon one that the op-rod was apparently activated by the bullet in the crimp station. Never used it, I count by boxes of bullets.

Might be possible to Afro-Engineer one of these things.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91040

But heres the real deal:
http://shop.miniscience.com/navigation/detail.asp?MySessionID=259-834918211&id=IC1400

rcmodel

I do not have, nor do I want to have, any clue to how many times I have pulled the handle on my press.

That said, that is a cool idea.
__________________

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you know what it sounds cool. But then im almost afraid to know. Im sure its way way up there

yeah, that counter goes to 5 digits. (I.E. 10k rams)

How badly do you cry when you get past 5 digits on a single stage press?

I'm still shiny new to reloading and I've moved that lever somewhere between 4,200 and 5,500 times now (3x for each load) mostly doing .38 special loads for CAS.

I use mine to tell me it's time to take another couple of Advil every 1,000 strokes.

Actually, a counter can save a lot of time.

Got a bucket of brass and want to load four boxes of pistol ammo.

No wasted time counting out 200 empty cases.
Just set the counter and when it says 201, you have enough, plus a spair for that one you mess up.

Got a bucket of .223 and don't want to waste time counting it to see how many you have?
Size it & read the counter.

Etc, etc, etc.

I also have one on my Lubrisizer so I don't have to wonder how many bullets I just cast & lubed in that last session.

rcmodel

So i see you drink Folgers.

So i see you drink Folgers.

Click to expand...

Yep!
But that old coffee can is another great time saver.

As you can see, it hangs in just the right spot to drop stuff in as it comes out of the shell holder, by just letting go!

No wasted movement atall when sizing, belling, or loading!
You just let go of the one you take out, while reaching for the next one setting on the bench right over the can.

rcmodel

Buddy i agree 100% i have a ton of coffee cans. Ironicaly i have one on each side of my presses. good for holding tools too.

No wasted time counting out 200 empty cases.
Just set the counter and when it says 201, you have enough, plus a spair for that one you mess up.

Click to expand...

And here I thought that I was the only one that added that extra 1 or 2, just in case - LOL...

Mechanical counters are fine but I prefer the digital ones myself. I mounted this Cub counter on my progressive and used 3M double sided tape to secure the reed switch to the side of my press and then stuck a magnet on shell plate. To use it on a single stage press mount the reed switch on the edge of the bench and stick a magnet on the the arm of the press so that every time it come close to the reed switch it registers a stroke. The battery life is rated at seven years with the meter on all the time. I use the counter to know how many cases I have prepped ore reloaded and as a reminder when to check my powder dispense.

That looks great!
But some of us are more electronically challenged then others!

I'd probably burn down my loading bench with an electronic counter!

rcmodel