my first reloaded batch....complete with oops!

[shouldifail]

so i recently picked up a used lee 3 hole turret press at a gunshow. i've been looking to get into reloading for quite sometime, and the press with a lee autodisk powder dispenser with dies for 39 special for $40 seemed like a good opportunity to start.
now i had some once fired 38 spec. brass and wanted to get it cleaned up before resizing and decapping...no tumbler, so i washed them real well, decapped them and reprimed then placed them primer up in some plastic shell trays i had....
fast forward 4 days.....
with powder and bullets handy, i decide to make some ammunition the old fashioned way. but to my suprise, as i take out the first primed case, i feel moisture on the case.
i am an idiot.....i didn't let the cases dry enough, and yes, the primers were "deactivated" by the moisture...all 150 of them.
attempting to set them off in my revolver confirmed it.

so, after depriming, repriming, and setting up the autodisk i was ready to load.
once i was done triple and quatruple checking everything, and an hour and a half later....i have 150 brand spankin new reloads.

158 grain hornady lead bullets,
unique powder (4grains, .43autodisk) according to the lee megabible reloading book...
cci and winchester small pistol primers.

now i can't wait to get out to fire some.

and i bought a tumbler to avoid damp issues in the future.

 

[jcwit]

Those primers that got wet can be dried out and used. I've done it many a time. I would check my powder charges with a scale to be sure about the charge weight. Personnally I've never had the disc throw the charge weight listed, however its close enough to be safe unless you're getting close to max load. I really like the Lee Auto Disk set-up, just trust my scales more.

 

[t george]

i always check with the scales it takes a long time, but until i get an electronic dispenser and digital scale its going to continue to be that way

 

[evan price]

The Autodisc works really well, but it tends to throw a tad light ( a liability issue I am sure) and that's not a big deal as long as you are aware of it- and they tend to be dead nuts repeatable.

My trick is to buy some extra discs and then ream one to throw exactly the load you want for "your" pet load. Then it is about foolproof, as long as you mark the disc permanantly if it is altered.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Evan...The only problem with drilling out the cavities in an Auto Disk dispenser is that humidity and temperature tend to vary the powder charge thrown by the Auto disk. I have been using a Lee Auto Disk (same one) for the last 20 years and that is what I have found. The varience is about +/- .2 grains of the listed weight from one day to the next. Creates absolutely no problem if you are loading in the moderate range...

 

[44Magnum]

You can use a fine steel wool on the cases until you get a tumbler. That way you won't need to dry out the cases.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to your nearest firearms supply store and get a tumbler...

I used to use (20 years ago) fine steel wool to clean my cases. Didn't take me long to find out that using steel wool makes your fingers sore, labor intensive and time consuming. I'd rather soak them in a solution, wrince and oven dry then use steel wool. I still use steel wool for those touchup jobs, but that's all...

Get a tumbler and don't look back...

 

[Walkalong]

I like Nevr-dull for touch up.

 

[aerod1]

I got my tumbler from Harbor Freight for $39.00 and it works great!!

 

[RustyFN]

I also check my powder drop with a scale. I will drop and weigh until I get the weight I want. Then I drop and weigh ten in a row to make sure it's good, never had a problem with it not being good. Then I go into production and don't weigh until half way through and at the end. I got tired of weighing every tenth drop or so and having it always weigh what it was supposed to. Now I just look in every case to make sure there is powder before I set the bullet on. I'm loading on a classic turret with the pro auto disk.
Rusty

 

[shouldifail]

i picked up one of the harbor freight tumblers along with some of the walnut shell lizard litter.
just got done tumbling about 600 pieces of 9mm brass, and around 300 pieces of 45acp brass. sure does make things easy!!!!!!
a cut up dryer sheet along with a splash of mineral spirits gets them clean real quick.
thanks for all the help...i'm really liking this reloading thing. like an addiction.....only productive!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Good man!!!

 

[jcwit]

Just my experience with the Harbor Freight tumblers. I had three, each one only lasted a week, the bearings went out in the motor. Went to Cabela's and bought one of theirs for $39.95 on sale and have been using it for 2 years now. Plus its made in America supporting U.S. business, not some little chinamen. BUY AMERICAN One other thing Cabela's is guarented forever.

 

[tribbles]

Yeah, I've burned out bearings on two Harbor Freight tumblers myself. Keep the receipt handy.

 

[indiandave]

You have now caught a terrible afliction called reloading syndrome. You will find reloading as much fun as shooting!

 

[RustyFN]

My first tumbler was a HF tumbler. After a year it seemed to be slowing down a little. It still works and I've had it two years now but I also have a Cabelas tumbler that is my main tumbler. The Cabelas tumbler is very nice. Just don't overload the HF tumbler and you should be fine.
Rusty

 

[The Bushmaster]

Amazing...I must be real lucky...I've been using the same tumbler for the last 22 years. Slow down? This one is running the same as it did over 20 years ago. What is it? A name brand (probably made by someone else). Lyman Turbo 1200....I think I've turned it upside down to clean the motor space two times in those 20 some odd years. Probably should do it here pretty soon...Maybe...

 

[45Frank]

Have one of those blue midway ones that were called back about 18 years ago. Send you new motors, still have it never put it in the old one is still tumbling.

 

[the foot]

My Lyman tumbler was inexpensive and is a great multitasker. I have a hopper with media for tumbling my brass, and my son has a hopper for cleaning grimy bolts/nuts/all sorts of small metal parts.

Get a tumbler.