What clever little things have you "invented or discovered" that you can share?

[gearheadpyro]

old reloader, I was going for sturdy. lol. Where I started out before I moved the bench top flexed and I was having issues with consistent ammo, so I built this one to hold a train. I get teased frequently about being able to drop it from a six story window. Oh well, it works and that's what matters. This top is 5' x 22".

 

[oldreloader]

gearheadpyro if you look closely you can see two sets of 2x4 blocks mounted under the overhang on my bench to help with the sturdiness.LOL

 

[proplinker]

auto prime shellholder

I just made up some brass auto prime style shellholers. I have 3 sizes 223, 308, and PPC. before you ask me WHY, You realy have to feel the difference!!

I will ship 1 FREE to the first 45 people who call me at 260-782-0735
thanks eric sinclair

 

[madd0c]

Ok, new member and new reloader, but long time DIYer

3 things:
1) Great reloading bench plans free from the National Reloading Manufacturers Association for a very sturdy reloading bench you can size basically however you want and I spent about $70 on building it. Plans free for download at Shotgunsportsmagazine.com. I think I could park a car on it. Oh, I just built the bench and not the storage hutch that is also included in the plans so it would probably add to the cost if you decided to build the hutch too.
www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/downloads/bench_plans.pdf
Also, I put a 12" square of 1/4" steel plate on the corner that my press is mounted on. Drilled the plate and the bench and bolted through both. It easily supports my entire weight on the arm of the press with no flex.

2) people mentioning all sorts of things to clear tumbler media out of flash holes. I have a cheap little rat tail file that came in a $20 set from Home Depot. deburs and cleans the media out at the same time with one quick swipe.

3) People have mentioned using those little silica gel packets for a lot of things. Several people have said they use them for a while then toss them out. Don't do that. put the packets on a sheet of tinfoil or a small backing pan and put them in an oven for 3 hours at 250 degrees( I recommend a toaster oven for less energy use unless you really have alot of packets to rejuvenate ). It drives the moisture out of the silica and after you are done they are good as new. I don't know if this works for all silica packs so your milage may vary, and I have had some of them that either the wrapper turns brown or melts so even if you use a baking pan put tinfoil down on it.

Great thread and it only took a couple hours to go through all of it lol.

Thanks,
madd0c

 

[GW Staar]

Best Kinetic Bullet Puller from Home Depot

I have more time today than I should, and I finally waded all the way through the many good ideas found here. Fun! I decided I ought to contribute.

I "play" on two gun forums. AR15 is the other one where I post as "GWhis"
In answer to a guy's request there, I posted info on building a safe homemade bullet puller that will long outlast the plastic ones. The general idea isn't mine (40 years old or more). I do take credit for the three improvements that make it safe and handy. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=294139

 

[Innovative]

Reloading tools

This particular thread is loaded with lots of good ideas. It shows how creative most shooters are. My website statistics show that lots of visitors are getting to my website from the links here, so I decided to visit the Highroad.

It's my job to come up with unique reloading tools. After working directly with hundreds of shooters, I get a whole lot of new product ideas. Here are two of my best inventions (that I patented) and I sell them on my website.

Digital Headspace Gauge


Belted Magnum Collet Resizing Die
​

- Innovative

 

[scout26]

Next time your at your doctor or lab, ask if you can have the styrofoam trays from the vacutainers (blood vials). They make nice loading blocks.

 

[Roccobro]

Welcome to The High Road Innovative. I'm sure many reloaders will welcome your experience and input.

Justin

 

[bonza]

Loading a Cap & Ball Revolver

Getting a powder charge into the chamber of a C&B revolver can be a bit tricky without spilling some, especially on the smaller calibers. I had tried various funnels, but the angle is all wrong. One day at the range I picked up a couple of discarded 7mmWSM cases & got an idea. I used a pipe cutter to cut off the head of the case & then deburred the cut edge. The neck & shoulder of the case tend to conform closer to the shape of the revolver, the neck goes far enough into the chamber so as not to fall out, & the wide body of the WSM & WSSM cases give you ample room to pour the powder into.

Here's a cut-off case, you can cut them to your desired length:



The case shown in a .36 caliber M.1858 Remington:

 

[mmorris]

Speed Loaders aren't just for speed shooters anymore

I don't like to handle individual rounds at the range. I mean it's about shooting, not loading, and I've handled each round (or component) individually enough times by the time it's reloaded to suit me
Add stiff, old fingers into the mix and it's downright painful.
So, I decided to try out a speed loader for my S&W revolver, and I quickly realized that I needed some way to load the speed loader

Since I end up putting individual rounds into a loading tray out of the turret press and then again into storage boxes, why not handle both and accommodate the speed loader-loader at the same time
So was born the Really Cheap Built from Scrap Loading-Storage-Loading Tray System (RCBS LSLT)

I made a CAD template and drilled through it instead of marking 108 holes on each tray. The handles/spacers are bent out of some old 1/8" x 1/2" band iron.
I can store 324 rounds in a Surplus 50 Caliber Ammunition Can.

Mike

 

[308win]

mmorris - pretty slick. My son is an architect and he is going to make me some 5 and 6 shot templates for .38Sp and .357. The templates can be scanned into a PDF and posted here; anyone who wants them can download them. I will post them when he gets them made.

 

[Roccobro]

That... Is.... SLICK!!!!

Thank you for sharing!

Justin

 

[mmorris]

Thanks 308win and Justin.

Not to hijack your idea, 308win, but I was working on scaling the CAD drawing to my printer. It printed a pdf that was too small out of my HP 4000, so I had to dink around with the file to get an actual-size printout. This pdf will print out accurately for me, but be sure to measure the exact 1" square. The center-to-center on the cylinder holes is 0.455"

I downloaded and printed this link, and this pdf works OK (for me).
Mike

 

[308win]

Printed fine for me. Thanks!

 

[1200 meters]

Here's a couple I do;
1. I cut 1/4 inch dowel rods the the exact length of each of my brass lengths and use them to set my case trimmer for that Case length.
2. I use bamboo the same caliber as the bras ii then put a depriming pin thriught he middle of it and insert it into the case to deprime it Tha bamboo centers the pin over the primerfast.

 

[wade rigsby]

When using my powder dump to load 308 win. I have cut a 30/06 case off and use it to dump the powder in the pan. I have found this makes it quicker than using a trickler. Just set the dump a few grains over.

A few years of reloading in my apartment, my wife was getting tired of the mess and scratches on the dinning room table so I made a portable press rack. Have been using it ever since. It is made of ¾ plywood and has a cork bottom to prevent scratches. It holds everything from scales to case tray.

 

[J&S Custom Bullets]

I know that when using Lee's sizer you should lube the bullets before and after for best performance.

 

[chrisgo]

I just program what I need on the CNC mill and let it go!!! But I guess not everyone has one of those machines laying around.
c.g.

 

[wade rigsby]

some of the other ideas I have come up with and one I copied because it was being sold for too much.

first idea is the copper tube comming out of the funnel. the tube drops into the case to keep any powder from spilling out when removing the funnel from the case. just in case you didn't get all the case lube off. not often but it happens. second, I built a stand for my lee progressive to sit on when I reload in the bedroom. if it is raining outside I just set up in the bedroom. wife will not let me bolt it to the dresser. hmm I know whipped. third is I use pelican boxes to transport loads to the range. it keeps them dry on rainy days and together so I will not forget any that I have reloaded. if I can't fit anymore in the box I don't need to shoot. and last is my full bedroom set up. it's raining today.

forgot one. if you look below the press you will see a green sierra box. it has primers in it. they are new. yes I know, "why did you take them out of the original box". well when you have limited space you have to do what is needed to make room. all my primers fit in one drawer in the red tool box.
if you look to the left side on the lee press you will see that I have drilled and tapped for a set screw to keep it from moving up when seating the bullet or resizing

 

[Roccobro]

Wade- How does the Pro1000 work at that angle? Any issues? I kinda like that space saving idea...

Justin

 

[editingfx]

Keep the primer arm from falling out of a Lee Turret:

Small zip-tie near the bottom of a support, that then hangs over the end of the primer arm. When the ram raises, it gently holds down the primer arm, until the bar inside the ram connects with the back of the primer arm, lifting it and as it does, the arm pushes the zip-tie out of the way. 100% success. Loaded 100 rounds and the arm never got close to coming out. It allowed my to speed up considerably, not having to worry about the arm.

See thread for pix:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=487686

 

[wade rigsby]

it's a turet not a 1000. but it works great. i need to lengthen the base a little toward the front but right now it works fine

 

[Shinbone]

I attached an RCBS primer pocket cleaner (the one that comes with a little handle) to an old sewing machine motor with a foot pedal. Worked great. After moving a couple times I lost it though.

 

[Roccobro]

Woops, sorry. Sleepy THR'ing = not good!

Justin

 

[Focal Point]

Speed Loaders aren't just for speed shooters anymore
I don't like to handle individual rounds at the range. I mean it's about shooting, not loading, and I've handled each round (or component) individually enough times by the time it's reloaded to suit me
Add stiff, old fingers into the mix and it's downright painful.
So, I decided to try out a speed loader for my S&W revolver, and I quickly realized that I needed some way to load the speed loader

Since I end up putting individual rounds into a loading tray out of the turret press and then again into storage boxes, why not handle both and accommodate the speed loader-loader at the same time
So was born the Really Cheap Built from Scrap Loading-Storage-Loading Tray System (RCBS LSLT)

I made a CAD template and drilled through it instead of marking 108 holes on each tray. The handles/spacers are bent out of some old 1/8" x 1/2" band iron.
I can store 324 rounds in a Surplus 50 Caliber Ammunition Can.




I LOVE it!!! Now thats thinkin!