Liberty4Ever
Member
I spent over three hours comparing reloading tools online last night and the problem seemed to be diverging rather than converging on a purchase solution. I searched this forum, but my search foo is weak, and it's difficult to search for the equipment recommendations I know have already been posted.
I've been reloading since 1994. I've loaded a lot of pistol and semi-auto rifle plinking ammo. I've reloaded some plinking ammo for my .50 BMG bolt action rifle (surprisingly accurate!), but now I'm finally ready to finish taking the plunge and get into precision reloading for best rifle accuracy. I'm a geeky engineer, so the fussy technology thing is already working for me, and I love reading and learning about the craft and science, so I'm not fishing for the five minute enlightenment that will have me winning bench rest matches.
I want to invest in a case trimmer that will allow me to trim necks even and to a precise repeatable length. The Wilson looks good in that regard. I'd like to be able to use the same trimmer and have a fast changeover that will allow me to switch back and forth between different calibers - currently .50 BMG and .308, but I may want to add one or two later. The longer .50 BMG version of the Wilson allows this, I think. I also think it'd be great if I could trim to length, chamfer and debur in one operation for maximum efficiency and repeatability, and apparently there is a good Forstner carbide tool to do this for .308 and a couple of other calibers, but the Forstner won't do any .50 BMG? I may be looking at one set of equipment for .50 BMG, and another for all lesser calibers?
Some accessory tools do inside or outside neck turning on the trimmers. I have a manual Forstner outside neck turning tool (slow and tedious) and mandrels for .223, .308 and .50 BMG. What neck turning do I need to do if I'm only neck sizing fire formed brass for bolt action rifles, and what's the best equipment to do that?
What's the best equipment to neck size .308 and .50 BMG?
Apparently, the Wilson case trimmers use case holders that are cut with a chamber reamer to locate the brass perpendicular to the cutter for a very straight perpendicular neck trim, but the OD of the case holders is not well controlled so when they're clamped into the case trimmer, they aren't aligned coaxial to the cutter, so any chamfer could be offset .001" or so off center (total error twice that), and the workaround is not to clamp the case holder and allow it to self center, which sounds suboptimal to me.
And of course, what other issues am I not considering?
Like Rosanne Rosannadanna said, I sure ask a lot of questions for a guy from New Jersey... except I'm from Kentucky.
If you'd rather spend ten minutes discussing this complex topic rather than try to type an answer, PM me and I'll call you at your convenience, and write up the recommendations for this thread so other High Roaders can hopefully benefit.
Looking forward to small groups!
Thanks in advance.
I've been reloading since 1994. I've loaded a lot of pistol and semi-auto rifle plinking ammo. I've reloaded some plinking ammo for my .50 BMG bolt action rifle (surprisingly accurate!), but now I'm finally ready to finish taking the plunge and get into precision reloading for best rifle accuracy. I'm a geeky engineer, so the fussy technology thing is already working for me, and I love reading and learning about the craft and science, so I'm not fishing for the five minute enlightenment that will have me winning bench rest matches.
I want to invest in a case trimmer that will allow me to trim necks even and to a precise repeatable length. The Wilson looks good in that regard. I'd like to be able to use the same trimmer and have a fast changeover that will allow me to switch back and forth between different calibers - currently .50 BMG and .308, but I may want to add one or two later. The longer .50 BMG version of the Wilson allows this, I think. I also think it'd be great if I could trim to length, chamfer and debur in one operation for maximum efficiency and repeatability, and apparently there is a good Forstner carbide tool to do this for .308 and a couple of other calibers, but the Forstner won't do any .50 BMG? I may be looking at one set of equipment for .50 BMG, and another for all lesser calibers?
Some accessory tools do inside or outside neck turning on the trimmers. I have a manual Forstner outside neck turning tool (slow and tedious) and mandrels for .223, .308 and .50 BMG. What neck turning do I need to do if I'm only neck sizing fire formed brass for bolt action rifles, and what's the best equipment to do that?
What's the best equipment to neck size .308 and .50 BMG?
Apparently, the Wilson case trimmers use case holders that are cut with a chamber reamer to locate the brass perpendicular to the cutter for a very straight perpendicular neck trim, but the OD of the case holders is not well controlled so when they're clamped into the case trimmer, they aren't aligned coaxial to the cutter, so any chamfer could be offset .001" or so off center (total error twice that), and the workaround is not to clamp the case holder and allow it to self center, which sounds suboptimal to me.
And of course, what other issues am I not considering?
Like Rosanne Rosannadanna said, I sure ask a lot of questions for a guy from New Jersey... except I'm from Kentucky.
If you'd rather spend ten minutes discussing this complex topic rather than try to type an answer, PM me and I'll call you at your convenience, and write up the recommendations for this thread so other High Roaders can hopefully benefit.
Looking forward to small groups!
Thanks in advance.