What have you done in the reloading room today

Fired up the lead pot and did a casting session this past weekend. Made a bunch of 9mm with a couple of LEE 6-cavity molds and RMR lead.
Dropped from the mold into a bucket of water and now spread out to dry. I'll powder coat these for loading over the cold months of winter.

I've been loading the round nose TL356-124-2R over 3.1 grains of Clays. It's a pretty accurate and fun load for plinking. The Truncated Cone 356-120-TC I'll load over some VV320 or Win231/HP38.

I also have a LEE 356-125-2R mold, but haven't worked up a load I like with it. The nose of the bullet is very bulbous and I have to seat it quite deep in the case for it to chamber properly.

1727874579890.jpeg
 
Got home from bowling all wound up and restless...

Loaded exactly 2 rounds of .41MAG... :) I set up the ProJector for .41 and the Xtreme 210grn PFP bullet, using new to me AA4100. Got all the dies set and made 2 proving rounds, ran the dimensions through QuickLoad... and got the green tag from the inspector.

First time I've worked with AA4100... I'm surprised how dense it is, not unlike W296, and perhaps even finer grained. It was like pouring fine sand... Sure did drop nice out of the Hornady drop, and that even using the rifle meter.
 
Charlie98 said:
I know what I forgot to mention... Midway.

I needed a few parts for the LNL press, and while I was at it, 2 500 boxes of 150grn Hornady .30 FMJ... accidentally *wink, wink, nudge, nudge...* fell into the cart as well. Midway's usual mode is to throw them into the biggest box they can find, along with my other items, put 3 cubes of styrofoam or 2 sheets of air bags in, loosely tape it up, and send it out the door. When I get it... if I get it... everything is usually smashed to smithereens, and at least one of the bullet boxes has burst. Not this time! They actually double-boxed the order! ...and the box fit the bullet boxes appropriately. Yes, they just put the rest of my parts in there, and they got smashed, but it wasn't terminal this time. So... kudos to Midway! Maybe they ARE listening to all the complaints about their horrible packaging.
Click to expand...
I have noticed that Midway has improved their packaging. It was about time! Starline, RMR and Powder Valley all package their products well.
 
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Charlie98 said:
Got home from bowling all wound up and restless...

Loaded exactly 2 rounds of .41MAG... :) I set up the ProJector for .41 and the Xtreme 210grn PFP bullet, using new to me AA4100. Got all the dies set and made 2 proving rounds, ran the dimensions through QuickLoad... and got the green tag from the inspector.

First time I've worked with AA4100... I'm surprised how dense it is, not unlike W296, and perhaps even finer grained. It was like pouring fine sand... Sure did drop nice out of the Hornady drop, and that even using the rifle meter.
Click to expand...
Isn't that the opposite of what bowling should do?
 
CQB45ACP said:
Isn't that the opposite of what bowling should do?
Click to expand...

Bowling is a physical activity, it pumps me up. Same reason I don't go to the gym after 5PM... if I want to get a good night's sleep.


Took my test 9mm/WSF loads to the range, today. They worked well enough in both the SA-35, and my Kahr CW9... but I will probably bump it up a tenth of a grain, and call it a day.

Shot 50 of my 230grn FMJ over WSF loads in the 5" Kimber Custom II... no problems there, either, so that will be The Load. I've not put either of those over a chronograph, so it will have the final say... I do have a velocity expectation.

Fired 20 rounds through an AR I put together for a friend. Short cycling. I cranked the gas block all the way open and finally got the rifle to cycle, but bolt lockback was only about 50%, and it short-stroked once and jammed. It seemed to work a little better as it was warming up... so I don't know if there was some sort of obstruction in the gas system or what. I've never had an AR that needed to be 'broken in.' I put a Ballistic Advantage barrel on it... as well as an Aero adjustable gas block. I've had more problems with BA barrels than any other... so I'm going to pull the gas system apart and go through it, again, and break down the BCG and inspect it as well.
 
Charlie98 said:
Bowling is a physical activity, it pumps me up. Same reason I don't go to the gym after 5PM... if I want to get a good night's sleep.


Took my test 9mm/WSF loads to the range, today. They worked well enough in both the SA-35, and my Kahr CW9... but I will probably bump it up a tenth of a grain, and call it a day.

Shot 50 of my 230grn FMJ over WSF loads in the 5" Kimber Custom II... no problems there, either, so that will be The Load. I've not put either of those over a chronograph, so it will have the final say... I do have a velocity expectation.

Fired 20 rounds through an AR I put together for a friend. Short cycling. I cranked the gas block all the way open and finally got the rifle to cycle, but bolt lockback was only about 50%, and it short-stroked once and jammed. It seemed to work a little better as it was warming up... so I don't know if there was some sort of obstruction in the gas system or what. I've never had an AR that needed to be 'broken in.' I put a Ballistic Advantage barrel on it... as well as an Aero adjustable gas block. I've had more problems with BA barrels than any other... so I'm going to pull the gas system apart and go through it, again, and break down the BCG and inspect it as well.
Click to expand...
Do ba barrels have an enlarged gas hole for the adjustable gas block. I ordered my xtreme that way....
 
Charlie98 said:
That I don't know... but I'm going to measure it likely this weekend. I forgot to bring my spare BCG to swap into the rifle to make sure it wasn't the BCG. Dummy.
Click to expand...

One other thing to check is to make sure the BCG is oiled properly. I've had a few guns when they got dry (set too long) act sluggish. Some fresh oil had them running like a top again.

Gas port holes have a range they can be end. But one of the things that happens is misalignment. Most require a small gap between the block and barrel ledge. If shoved all the way back it can restrict the port. I've converted most of mine to piston operated. Keeps the receiver/BCG clean and is more consistent with different ammo loads.
 
Sorted the brass I fired yesterday... I've got the .45's and a few errant PMC .308 cases that I picked up stewing in the walnut, the 9 Mike Mike standing by. I pulled a few bullets I created while setting up the LNL, and then put them back.

Got a few more things ready to go from the PIF thread... very likely the last items before I shut down the thread. Got a box of unneeded powder looped up and going to a fellow THR member tomorrow. :)
 
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