Reloading Time Saving Tips

[BigJakeJ1s]

Get the best equipment you can afford, and the pleasure of using it will make the time go by more quickly.

Note that the "best equipment you can afford" is not always "the most expensive equipment you can afford".

Andy

 

[koja48]

Organization, doing things in batches, hand-priming work for me. When I have free time, I'm often performing some reloading or case prep function. If I don't have time to reload, I always have ammo ready to go . . . my goal was to never put myself in a position where I "had to" crank-out needed loads.

 

[Chief-7700]

Reloading time: powder measure full, 5 primer pick up tubes full, casefeed full, bullet tray full= 75 rounds in 5 minutes on a Dillon Xl-650 at a slow pace.
Chief-7700

 

[FM12]

One thing that makes the time go by better is to have equipment that WORKS. Few things in life more frustrating than trying to load and havind a case get stuck, or a tool break, or something get screwed up on your loader. The PITS when that happens.

Also, keep up your inventory. Nothing like trying to do last-minute loading for tomorrows match and run out of primers, bullets, powder, etc.

 

[wcb]

Press wise I agree totally with jenrob, I bought a Hornady Lock-N- Load press and I have to say they sure are going after the Dillon presses and doing a fine job of it. Hornady, I think, still has their 1,000 bullets for the cost of freight $12.00 when I bought, as a rebate for purchasing the press which is a really good deal. At full retail that would make the press only 80.00 with the value of the bullets.

I really like the power trimming suggestion and that Possum Hollow Trimmer is a great looking tool. I think the most valuable tool I have added to the progressive though is the RCBS Lock-Out Die. I'm retired so an extra 100 rounds an hour isn't a goal; keeping my hands intact is. That Lock-Out Die gives a lot of peace of mind and saves a lot of double checking time. It's even worth it for catching those squibs too. My learning curve (before the LO die) was a bit embarrassing at the range.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=536792

Another recent addition was the Lee Factory Crimp Die; (buy the way 85% of my reloading volume is .45 ACP). I bought it at the advice of an acquaintance for a totally different situation which it didn't help. But having the die screwed into my single stage all set up, one day I decided to do some test firing of Lee Factory Crimped cartridges verses crimped off the Lock-N-Load. My groups went from about 2" to just over an inch with the FCD. SO for competition I will definitely take the extra step for the increase in accuracy.

http://www.midwayusa.com/esearch.ex...to+Begin+Search.x=9&Click+to+Begin+Search.y=5

Oh and a little tip for those with primer tubes; take a coat hanger and cut a straight piece that will fit all the way to the bottom of your primer tube with about an extra 2 1/2 inches at the top. Take a piece of tape and wrap it around the coat hanger even with the top of the tube when it's all the way at the bottom (means it's out of primers). Now measure how much more room is left in the tube when 100 primers are loaded in it by measuring the hanger wire and wrap another piece of tape around the wire that will indicate when it is safe to load another 100 primers even though the primer tubs isn't empty yet. this assures you dont run out of primers with just a quick glance at where the tape is as the wire hanger rides the primers down the tube.

Click picture to see it bigger.

 

[JollyWhiteGiant]

RCBS 3 way trimer. Saves allot of time and when trying to de-bur by hand a few hundred rounds, saves on hand cramps.

Have everything organised, what you need at hand. find yourself a routine and stick with it, will help to keep you safe as long as you do not get lazy with it.

Write things down! Accurate records on what you are doign and have done will help to avoid allot of head scratching and re figuring. Keep you notes from your work ups as well, (velocity figures and accuracy figures from each charge wieght I always keep at min) never know when you are going to need something there.

 

[VARifleman]

I use a 1/8" brass rod for the primer tube, and I have a zip tie tightened and glued in place for when there are 5 primers left.

I use large Akro type bins made by Stanley that I picked up from Lowe's.

 

[qajaq59]

Also, set up everything before you start.

And then clean and put everything away where it belongs when you quit, so you don't have a mess next time.

 

[Master of Arms]

take your time

 

[wcb]

take your time

Exactly

I agree totally with equipment that saves time/does it better but I cold care less if I hit the production numbers the manufacturer of my press claims. I'm more interested in quality loads and most important safe loads. There isn't a production number worth losing your hand or killing someone.

 

[donttellthewife]

I speed up the filling of primer tubes by laying out the primers in straight rows on the flip tray before filling the tubes

 

[wcb]

I speed up the filling of primer tubes by laying out the primers in straight rows on the flip tray before filling the tubes

I want to know where your buying primers that are all facing the same way in the box? I always have to dump them into a primer tray that turns them right side up, which is no big deal.

 

[jenrob]

Oh and a little tip for those with primer tubes; take a coat hanger and cut a straight piece that will fit all the way to the bottom of your primer tube

I use a 1/8" brass rod for the primer tube

I would advise seriously against this. If you use anything use a wooden dowel or a plasic rod.

A metal wire on top of the primers if the tube of primers blow then the pressure has to push the metal out or blow out the side.

Dillons low primer has a plasic piece so that it is light enough to come out of the tub and still not stick in your head on a recochet off the ceiling.

You can paint the wooden dowel as well.

 

[wcb]

I would advise seriously against this.

I guess I like to live dangerously; heck I've been known to punch out live primers; quite frequently. Honest, they aren't that sensitive; a coat hanger resting on one wont make it go off anymore than dripping a loaded cartridge will.

 

[zxcvbob]

a coat hanger resting on one wont make it go off anymore than dripping a loaded cartridge will.

That's not the concern; primers do sometimes go off in the tube, and you have a metal rod sitting on top... where do you think it's going to go?

(I have a brass rod on top of my primers, but I understand what jenrob was saying. There's also a pretty substantial blast shield around the primer feed tube)

 

[wcb]

That's not the concern; primers do sometimes go off in the tube, and you have a metal rod sitting on top... where do you think it's going to go?

How the heck does a primer go off in a primer tube? You're starting to make me wonder if my gun will spontaneously go off in the middle of the night killing me.

I guess I'm safe on the loader though, the coat hanger will exit the muzzle of the primer tube and stick in my ceiling. This will all take place above my head. LOL

Honestly if I thought there was any reasonable possibility of a primer going off in a primer tube; I would not be doing any reloading since there is as much as 20# of gun powder in the vicinity of the press.

 

[donttellthewife]

I want to know where your buying primers that are all facing the same way in the box? I always have to dump them into a primer tray that turns them right side up, which is no big deal.

The vast majority of small primers are positioned correctly for this to work. Even when they are not, when fliping them in the factory trays they end up on their sides and it easy to tip them in the right direction before going to the metal flip tray. I load 15 primer tubes at a time so saving 3 minutes a tube adds up. Large primers and Wolf brand primers seem to always be positioned correctly or I am just lucky.

I think it's just fine that you use a metal follow rod down your primer tube, and most experianced reloaders can make up their own minds. For novice loaders that is just not the thing to do and most press instuctions would agree not to do that.

 

[zxcvbob]

How the heck does a primer go off in a primer tube?

More likely the primer goes off when you are seating it and it somehow got turned sideways or something. Then that primer sets off the one at the bottom of the feeder tube, then they all go. (it's not something I really worry about, but I do always keep the steel blast shield in place.)

You're starting to make me wonder if my gun will spontaneously go off in the middle of the night killing me.

That's why you always keep it pointed in a safe direction, right?

 

[jenrob]

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=47621

Here is a link of a primer tube blown up. Lucky no one was hurt. The blast was contained in the steel sheild tube. Add the weight of a steel rod on top and the steel tube might also blow out.

I'm not worried about a single primer going off cause I also decap live primers. but add 20, 50 or even 100 primers going off at one time confined in a tube by a steel rod at face level.

Honestly if I thought there was any reasonable possibility of a primer going off in a primer tube; I would not be doing any reloading

Guess you better stop reloading cause now it has been shown that it can happen.

 

[evan price]

primlantah:

Hand priming off the progressive would probably not wind up saving you any time- because you would have to decap and resize before you primed- that is half of the job of the progressive right there.

 

[wcb]

So everybody doesn't have to join another forum to see the photo:

Guess you better stop reloading cause now it has been shown that it can happen.

Don't forget I said "reasonable possibility of a primer going off" there are inherent risks in everything we do in life so when someone engages in reloading ammunition using explosives, the utmost care and attention must be practiced no matter of you're a newbie or consider yourself an expert. In over 35 years I haven't had a primer tube explode and still dont expect one. I will put this on my list of be careful possibilities and may be a little more suspicious of malfunctions when they happen.

 

[Eb1]

When I work up loads at the range. I use a Country Time Lemon Aid container (the one you can use the lid to measure with) to carry my powder.

Pour from the keg into the container. When I start to load, I use the lid as my loading can. When done I pour contents of the lid back into the Country Time container, bring home, and pour back into the keg, or leave it for the next time. labeled appropriately of course.

Of course I have washed and dried the original contents of the container first.

 

[primlantah]

primlantah:

Hand priming off the progressive would probably not wind up saving you any time- because you would have to decap and resize before you primed- that is half of the job of the progressive right there.

thanks for the tip. something about autopriming devices makes me a little uneasy... perhaps its just a newbish feeling but i like to feel with my fingers when its right.

 

[feets]

It's easy for me to find primers facing the same way in the pad.

What's hard is for me to not DROP THE STINKING THING at the store.
Bass Pro Shops sells primers by the pad. When you drop the pad, you get to chase primers all over the store.

 

[wcb]

something about autopriming devices makes me a little uneasy... perhaps its just a newbish feeling but i like to feel with my fingers when its right.

I dont know what you use to "auto prime" but with my progressive, I can feel a primer being inserted and it's a pretty hefty press. You just need to learn to feel it going in.