What have you done in the reloading room today

[3sport]

Nothing today, gents. Spent 4 hours this morning finishing putting insulation above my sunroom. That project has been hanging over rme for a VERY long time. The sunroom shares the roof with my garage, attached to the back, and the roof is elongated to accommodate the extra sunroom area. So there is not much head room up there. I used a 20' retractable pruner to hook and push the insulation to the eves. I wore a hardhat after the first roof nail bit my skull. Got poked in the back a few times by roof nails. Not a pleasant home project. It was probably 90 degrees up there my noon. But the sunroom is already MUCH cooler with just ceiling fans running. There is only a stained 1/4 inch plywood ceiling out there, so it radiates heat from the attic like a furnace in the summer without insulation stopping the heat transfer. I have a free-standing AC unit (with window vent) out there, and don't even need it today, even though its 84 outside. It is amazing what a bit of R13 insulation does.

After a cold shower to get the fiberglass off me, I ordered a few more tin signs for the reloading bench, and plan on reloading some 45 Colt tomorrow. I'm hooked on that cartridge at present. It took me a lifetime to appreciate it, but I sure do now.

 

[.45Coltguy]

3sport, what will your .45 Colt load be?

 

[3sport]

3sport, what will your .45 Colt load be?

Thanks for asking, @.45Coltguy - I am mulling that at this very moment. One of the best things about reloading to me. I enjoy the research and the "Formulation" consideration time.

BRASS - Definitely NEW Starline Brass, since that's the only clean brass I have for 45 Colt at present. So that's an easy choice. That reminds me I have to finally PLUG IN my new old stock Midway vibrator cleaner and clean some fired 45 Colt brass.

BULLET - is Missouri Bullet Hi-Tek Coated Cowboy #4 200 grain RNFP.

POWDER - Titegroup is my powder of choice. Reload data shows 6.5 - 7.7 Grs. Thinking 6.7 to start with. I have never reloaded Hi-Tek coated Missouri before. Looking forward to it. I bought a "Bunch" of those bullets, to say it kindly.

I am thinking about getting a Lee Hand Press and a small portable scale to work up loads for 45 Colt at the range. I have never done that before. I think I would enjoy it. Up to this point, all of my loads have been developed at my bench. It may be time to expand my horizons a bit.

 

[AJC1]

Well I lost the battle with the new mold last night, but won the war this afternoon. I've never had to run a mold this hot before, but apparently that's what it took. The lead was so hot I could not build up a sprue, it just started running off. Started making a good bullet and ran close to pot empty. You don't leave a good situation.
These are .314 165s for the 7.7 jap. Ill size them to .313 and lube with the lubrasizer for inital testing

 

[barnfrog]

Nothing today, gents. Spent 4 hours this morning finishing putting insulation above my sunroom. That project has been hanging over me for a VERY long time.

I see what you did there.

 

[3sport]

I see what you did there.

Nice catch.

 

[JmacD]

I used the bench to fold some laundry… I got a phone call this morning letting me know I have to go to northern SODak for the funeral of a family friend on Wednesday. And so that put “boring” stuff in the fast lane… I did sit down and make up a label for my 9mm ammo box… I used sharpie this time to hopefully prevent a big mess… and I ran some more of said 9mm. I’m loving this progressive the more I use it.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Thanks for asking, @.45Coltguy - I am mulling that at this very moment. One of the best things about reloading to me. I enjoy the research and the "Formulation" consideration time.

BRASS - Definitely NEW Starline Brass, since that's the only clean brass I have for 45 Colt at present. So that's an easy choice. That reminds me I have to finally PLUG IN my new old stock Midway vibrator cleaner and clean some fired 45 Colt brass.

BULLET - is Missouri Bullet Hi-Tek Coated Cowboy #4 200 grain RNFP.

POWDER - Titegroup is my powder of choice. Reload data shows 6.5 - 7.7 Grs. Thinking 6.7 to start with. I have never reloaded Hi-Tek coated Missouri before. Looking forward to it. I bought a "Bunch" of those bullets, to say it kindly.

I am thinking about getting a Lee Hand Press and a small portable scale to work up loads for 45 Colt at the range. I have never done that before. I think I would enjoy it. Up to this point, all of my loads have been developed at my bench. It may be time to expand my horizons a bit.

Do you have any Unique, Universal or Red Dot? Mighty good powders for the 'ol .45 Colt. Have loads for all three of those guys. Especially Unique.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Do you have any Unique, Universal or Red Dot? Mighty good powders for the 'ol .45 Colt. Have loads for all three of those guys. Especially Unique.

I second the Unique.

 

[3sport]

Do you have any Unique, Universal or Red Dot? Mighty good powders for the 'ol .45 Colt. Have loads for all three of those guys. Especially Unique.

Yes, I know Unique is a prized powder for 45 Colt. I have that "On Order" at my gun shop, along with Red Dot and H110. Man, powders have become so much harder to get than they used to be. Sign of the times I guess. Gun Shop says 2 more weeks. I remember just going in and buyin a canister or two right off the shelf.

TiteGroup has really good reviews for 45 Colt, and some prefer it over Unique. I'm not taking sides, just quoting what I've read on other Forums. They say it is "Cleaner" than Unique. But that's their opinion. I used to load Unique all the time many moons ago, so I am looking forward to loading that again. I don't think I ever loaded Universal. Red Dot for sure.

 

[3sport]

I used the bench to fold some laundry… I got a phone call this morning letting me know I have to go to northern SODak for the funeral of a family friend on Wednesday. And so that put stuff in the fast lane… I did sit down and make up a label for my 9mm ammo box… I used sharpie this time to hopefully prevent a big mess… and I ran some more of said 9mm. I’m loving this progressive the more I use it.

Sorry about your friend.

 

[hps1]

Unique is, well it is Unique! Works in everything from pistols to shotguns and yes even in the venerable 30-06!
Years ago, I was talking to a Sierra tech about loads for Mod 70 target rifle for my first ever upcoming 1000 yard match. Had loads and zero's out to 600 but needed some comeups from 600 to 800 and 1000 and he did a wonderful job of getting me on paper at all those yardages.

Sometime, during the conversation I had mentioned that our club often held 100 yard reduced range matches and he asked if I had ever tried Unique for that. Of course I had not. He said some shooters were using (don't remember the load) of Unique, get this, behind 190 gr. Matchkings and getting unbelievable groups @ 100 yds., so, I had to try it.

Well he was absolutely right, this very reduced load shot little bitty one hole groups at 100......if there was no cross wind. Unfortunately, in S. TX we have some pretty healthy winds (our wind flag is an anvil suspended by a 1/2" logging chain ) and the slightest full value wind really affected that slow moving bullet.....sometimes blowing off course a full ring. Would be great for punching paper @ in an indoor range, however.

Other than being a bit dirty, it was my go to powder for 45 ACP. When I coldn't find Unique, #5 was 2nd choice.

 

[3sport]

Unique is, well it is Unique! Works in everything from pistols to shotguns and yes even in the venerable 30-06!
Years ago, I was talking to a Sierra tech about loads for Mod 70 target rifle for my first ever upcoming 1000 yard match. Had loads and zero's out to 600 but needed some comeups from 600 to 800 and 1000 and he did a wonderful job of getting me on paper at all those yardages.

Sometime, during the conversation I had mentioned that our club often held 100 yard reduced range matches and he asked if I had ever tried Unique for that. Of course I had not. He said some shooters were using (don't remember the load) of Unique, get this, behind 190 gr. Matchkings and getting unbelievable groups @ 100 yds., so, I had to try it.

Well he was absolutely right, this very reduced load shot little bitty one hole groups at 100......if there was no cross wind. Unfortunately, in S. TX we have some pretty healthy winds (our wind flag is an anvil suspended by a 1/2" logging chain ) and the slightest full value wind really affected that slow moving bullet.....sometimes blowing off course a full ring. Would be great for punching paper @ in an indoor range, however.

Other than being a bit dirty, it was my go to powder for 45 ACP. When I coldn't find Unique, #5 was 2nd choice.

I think Unique was the very first powder (recommended by my Gun Shop) that I started reloading with in 1993 ish. I switched to W231 for 9mm after a year or so, but always had a bottle of Unique laying around. Looking forward to getting some as soon as it arrives at my shop.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Unique is a standard powder for the .45 Colt[and many others!], Universal is just impossible to find nowadays. Red Dot is a a good choice for "softer" loads. I load 5.8-6.0gr RD in my .45 Colt for my wife to shoot in the desert with. 250gr coated rnfp bullet. Two cylinders and she's done. But, it is a soft shooting load.

 

[3sport]

Unique is a standard powder for the .45 Colt[and many others!], Universal is just impossible to find nowadays. Red Dot is a a good choice for "softer" loads. I load 5.8-6.0gr RD in my .45 Colt for my wife to shoot in the desert with. 250gr coated rnfp bullet. Two cylinders and she's done. But, it is a soft shooting load.View attachment 1207183

Yep. My gun shop said he could not get Universal. Red Dot and Unique, OK, but Universal was Unobtainium for him.

I've seen you post this pic before. Looks great. I love the scenery. To an Easterner that has always longed for a "Western" lifestyle, that looks like heaven. In another life, I would have owned a ranch on land like that. 30 acres or so. Shooting ranges, horses, hunting and fishing. Ah, such a great dream.

Thanks for your help. Unique is on the way!

 

[Shovel]

Finished sorting 220 Swift cases - most of the the "Super X" ones were knurled in the bulge area of the neck. Never seen or heard of such a thing before - the variation in the knurling looks like a hand-done thing. The Win cases are all fine. Going to duplicate my ladders with H414 and A2700 to see if the barrel trim and recrown worked.

 

[3sport]

I finally ordered a Lee Hand Press. I've been thinking about one for a while. Ordered the "Kit".



Also got an RCBS pocket scale. I've had my eye on this for a while.



I have never used anything but my Rock Chucker (sometimes with the Piggyback Progressive attachment) and my vintage RCBS digital scale. So now I can go portable. These will open some new possibilities at the range.

 

[IALoder]

Swapped the single stage for the six pack pro. Just have to make sure it's dropping 4.1gr of N320, and I'll be off replenishing my wife's "precious" 9mm ammo

 

[Captain*kirk]

Here's the thing about Unique. It can be used in most everything I load: 44 mag, .45LC, .380ACP, 44-40, shotgun shells, and even .45-70 if I chose to. And in the handgun carts the loads are so small a pound will last seemingly forever.

 

[armoredman]

I wish I could find some Unique local - using #2 and ZIP right now for my 45 Colt loads...I can already tell I need at least one more revolver in 45 Colt.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Here's the thing about Unique. It can be used in most everything I load: 44 mag, .45LC, .380ACP, 44-40, shotgun shells, and even .45-70 if I chose to. And in the handgun carts the loads are so small a pound will last seemingly forever.

NO NO NO…..!
It is NO good for 45-70……!!





You better send it to me for disposal……….

 

[LV Gun]

4.5 LBS $70. Great find!!! I’m jealous!

Shot some of the IMR 4759 today in 44 magnum what a nice shooting powder forgot how much I liked it

 

[Captain*kirk]

I wish I could find some Unique local - using #2 and ZIP right now for my 45 Colt loads...I can already tell I need at least one more revolver in 45 Colt.

i have it on my "notify me" lists on Midway, Graf's, Powder Valley and a few others. Every couple of months somebody notifies me and I grab it when it does

 

[3sport]

Here's the thing about Unique. It can be used in most everything I load: 44 mag, .45LC, .380ACP, 44-40, shotgun shells, and even .45-70 if I chose to. And in the handgun carts the loads are so small a pound will last seemingly forever.

Great all-around powder for sure. I stopped using it in my early 9mm reloading days because I was always at minimum loading and there was a bit of unburnt powder, so it was too dirty for my use in 9mm back then. In my early reloading days, I typically loaded at rock bottom powder charges. I was learning and felt safe with minimum loads. Unfortunately, I didn't have access to a forum like this back then, since the internet was not a "Thing" yet. We are really lucky today to have a tool like this forum.

I also loaded Unique in 12 ga target loads for Trap, but switched to Winchester WST after a year or so.

I look forward to loading with it again.

 

[drband]

Unpacked a pkg from LOK Grips!