Camdex machines

[50 Shooter]

So yesterday as I'm driving home in the worst traffic I've ever seen (thanks Caltrans) on a Friday, I call a friend who lives along the way. He says stop by for awhile and let the traffic die down.

I know he's into reloading and has his own business but on top of that has a few other licenses. So he's showing me his NFA stuff for the studio's, way too awesome! Had to take a pic of the two DSHK's in the corner...

Then we walk out into the other part of his shop, sitting there waiting are 4 Camdex machines in different calibers! Not to mention all the loaded ammo by the tons sitting in bins, boxes and canisters! My jaw just about hit the floor, then he says "wanna see it go"? Like I was going to say no right!

He turns on the one set up for .223 and as we're talking for the next couple minutes the machine runs off over 250 rounds. It was pretty cool watching the machine run through the steps, has checks for everything, shuts down if it doesn't like something. It stopped once because it didn't like the flash hole on a piece of brass!

Ok, reality stepped in and I had to ask " how much"? When he said $70K I kinda choked a little but I'm sure big companies pay more then that. Remembering that he has 4 and tons of ammo waiting to be shipped, I can see how much he works. Plus he has a couple employees that help him out.

Can't wait to make another stop at his place, he was setting up an M2 for blank firing for the studio's. Awesome piece and the way it's made you would never guess how it works unless you looked really close.

So, for those of you looking to go big time, think $70K to get started.

 

[jmorris]

Even at $70k in there is still heartache.

 

[243winxb]

Camdex 1970s

http://www.black-hills.com/ Black Hills started with remanufactured ammunition, they are doing well today. Not all ventures end as well. About 35years ago, a club member was going to become King of reloading 38 special. He bought a Camdex http://www.camdexloader.com/. Everything that could go wrong, did. Misfires, squibs, duds. Till 1 day the primer feed exploded, went from the basement to upstairs bed room, just missed his wife. End of reloading business. Sold Camdex at a loss. Camdex's are fine machines, he just didnt have the know how or the magic touch. More http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=562815

 

[Drail]

A Camdex requires a skilled technician to keep it running. I have seen them at work and it's pretty amazing to watch. Back in the late 80s I used to live down the road from the now defunct Bull-X and they bought a Camdex. It took them quite a while to set it up and make it sing - but once they figured it out they filled huge crates with ammo. They were a great bunch of people and would let you back your truck up to their freight dock and load up all you could carry. I was getting 500 round boxes of .45 bullets for about $15.00 a box. The guy that ran the place, Carter Jones, would show up at all of our matches and beat us all and laugh. That guy could RUN a S&W revolver. He always brought prizes for the table too. I really miss him. The good old days.

 

[50 Shooter]

Yeah, my friend flew up there and got to see the machine being built and they ran him through how to set it up. If you were to buy one that would be the best way to go in my book.

So far he's paid off half the cost, that's how much he has them working. Plus he has 4 Dillon 650's that have all the automative stuff on them as that's what got him started.