Anyone into it? I've just started and I'm hooked! Just curious if anyone that does has or recommends a power case prep set up and a good tumbler ?
I have a RCBS reloading set up and I love it! A few things that I don't have which are in my wish list is a power case trimmer, power case prep station and a electronic powder scale/ trickler! Oh and also a chamber gauge made by Hornady is a good idea if you are getting serious about accuracy. You just have to buy the Hornady cases that attach to the gauge. If you have the coin this makes things go much faster. If you need any tips for getting started just ask. A friend of mine showed me alot of short cuts so you don't have to go through so much powder looking for a good load!
As far as tumblers, I just have a Frankfort arsenal with fine walnut media. Again if you have the money Frankfort arsenal makes a tumbler that uses stainless steel pins for the media and a cleaning solution. My buddy has one. It works awesome it even cleans the primer pockets and the inside of the case. The tumbler makes them look better than new un-primed cases! I think your looking at around $150 ish for this set up I can't remember.
I just picked up a hornady lock n load press kit and rcbs hand crank trimmer and have started with 30/06 making rounds for my Garand trying to duplicate the M2 ball round and so far been pretty happy with the outcome. Just the sore fingers from the little knurled steel debuting/chamfer tool is not pleasent. Now moving on to some .30 carbine
Funny you bring up the stainless... a guy at work uses it and we were just talking about it yesterday except he hand built his tumbler with some big pvc and an old washing machine motor. Think I will check into the Frankfort tumbler though
I hear you with the sore fingers! I to have an M-1 Garand. I just never got around to reload for it yet. Did you crimp the bullet? A general rule of thumb that my buddy told me is that semi-autos, pistols and tubular fed rifles need crimped. Not a real heavy one just enough to keep the bullet from being jammed back into the case during recoil!
I have 2 tumblers-I know one came from Midway and I was given the other one. The one I paid for cost $50 or so, and had worked well for 15 years.
I am not familiar with the Hornady lock n load press. My buddy said the the most important thing is the setup of the dies! You want to make sure that the dies are perfectly square with the ram and shell holder, this way the bullet will be set perfectly in line with the case for increase of accuracy.
Ok first what make of Garand do you have just out of curiosity? Mine is an International Harvester being that I am an IH nut As for the crimp yes I did crimp them. I loaded went with 46 grains Hodgdon Varget and 150 grain fmj boat tail bullets with the cannelure and finished them with a nice taper crimp. I ended up going with the rcbs small base 30/06 dies which was recommended by the guy at Cabelas where I got my stuff and through some other reading I had done. It's a two die set decal and size with one then seat the bullets, readjust and crimp with the other
I use a world's finest trimmer for trimming and a lyman power case prep center. Next tool im.getting is a dillon super swage. I hear the new wft is multi calIber. Definitely worth a look. As far as crimp goes, I find better accuracy in rifle loads with no crimp. Magnum pistol loads, yea....crimp. Standard pistol loads, no crimp...just remove Belling of the case.
The lock n load has splined bushings the dies thread in to and then you drop them in the press frame and 1/4 turn you are locked. Makes changing them pretty simple but I think if you were looking for real prescision it's not the way to go because they are sort of hard to adjust perfectly
That's what I'm looking to get nothing fancy because I'm not Probly going to be doing a ton of reloading but still could use something
It's great! If doing mass amounts (read 300 at a time or more) of military crimp is your goal, the dillon super swage is better at that, but for everyday chamfer, debur, primer pocket duties, and crimps it's a great tool. I know it doesn't trim, but even if it did it would be painfully slow due to the low rpm. I forgot to add: my tumbler is a lyman auto flo 2200. Sealed lid keeps dust down, and the drain plug beats the snot out of fishing cases out with your hands.
Mine is a 1944 Springfield Armory. It looks brand new except for the stock. It has a Danish barrel which was installed in 1968. I can hold approximately 2" to 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards on a good day. Iam sure it could do better but I am not the best with peep sights.
Very cool! I'm a big peep sight fan I was on the rifle team in high school only .22 cal indoor but still lots of focusing on a pen dot size bullseye peep sight in the rear and apature peep in the front which would fit the target perfectly inside of
bocefus78 is right about better accuracy with no crimp. My buddy told me that if you would plan on shooting competition that what you need to do is shoot the cartridge out of your rifle first. Then do not full length resize the case but you need a neck size die. You only want to partially resize the neck! Load the bullet long so that when you chamber it into your gun that it actually pushes the bullet back into the case. Most competition bullets like to be touching the lands of the rifling. But this is techical stuff that the average hunter or shooter doesn't need to do. Just remember if you neck size a case that will only be for tgat individual rifle!
