Festive Hand Loading.

[dromia]

So what will be your holiday hand loading projects?

I'm working up cast boolit loads for a 303 Martini Enfield, Ishapore 2A1, Swedish M96 and a Springfield 03.

Got set up yesterday and sized, lubed and gas checked a couple of hundred NOE 316299 boolits to 0.315", will do another couple of hundred today to 0.314" and hopefully get the 500 once fired HXP69 303 cases I've earmarked for the Martini Enfield sized and primed.

The wind and snow has made shooting challenging since the weekend but I've had some fun nailing a few bunnies with a 310 Cadet.

[Sandgroper]

Once I've finished Skyping the family in WA and feeding the horde of two; the plan is some case prep for the 45-70, 357 Mag and the 257AI!

[Alpha1]

Cast boolit loads for .310 cadet. 7.62x39. 38special and the mas36 for 25 yard indoor shooting.

Jacketed loads for .308 and .303.

I have just full length sized some 6.5x55 norma brass trimmed it to length then chucked it up in the lathe and drilled and tapped it to fit the hornady overall length gauge.

I cut two slots in the neck with a slitting saw down to the base of the neck.

My next project is to modify a 6.5x55 full length die to see if I can bump the shoulder slightly.

There just is not enough hours in the day. :lol: :lol:

[Alpha1]

Oh nearly forgot I want to machine a case holder for my Le Wilson trimmer to hold some 32-20 cases so I can trim them to length for use in the .310 cadet. I just need to full length the cases in a .310 cadet full length size die.
I will probably do that after Chrimbo dinner while She watches all the repeats on the telly.

Its a hard life :shakeshout:

[ovenpaa]

Alpha1, did you get a collet chuck to hold the cases?

[mag41uk]

I have some 45-70 prepped cases that need Swiss BP and 535gn Postell bullets putting in them.
Just got hold of some Ramshot Zip powder to try in the 41 and 44 marlins. Got some Big game to try in the 303 and 7.5x55.
Asked for Enforcer too but on back order. Looking forward to trying this in the 260 Remington.
I have a Rolling block in 10.61 Jarman that I have cases for and bullets that I really must put together and try.
Always seem to have cases to prep and boolits to cast!
Have a ball mould to try for 12g. I picked up a Dillon SL900 shotshell press awhile back and never really put anytime into it.
Then there is the shotmaker project that is in kit form at the moment!
Slobbing to day then off to see banger car racing at Wimbledon tomorrow.
Reloading saturday and shooting on sunday.
Cheers,
Tony

[phaedra1106]

So it's not just me doing this sort of stuff today then?

Was up at 6:30 so decided to strip both progressive presses and give them a good clean and lube, having done that and with both kids still in bed I also did the turret and single stage presses!.

I'm saving re-assembly and setting up the progressives until tomorrow as my daughter is going back to her mums tonight so I'll have nothing to do all day while my son is in bed until mid-afternoon as usual. I'm sure it was only the smell of Xmas lunch that got him up before 12 today!.

[Alpha1]

Alpha1, did you get a collet chuck to hold the cases?

A collet chuck is the way to go unfortunately the one I want is out of stock at the moment.
In the mean time the guy at work has been showing me how to make holders for small pieces of work out of scrap bar stock etc. Drill a hole in the middle of a piece of aluminium bar slightly oversize for the case you want cut through one side with a hack saw machine to fit in your chuck and bobs your uncle.
I also watched him make me a revolving centre out of bits of stainless from the scrap bin and two bearings. Took him about one hour.

The guy is amazing.
One of the machinists showed me how to grind HSS cutters and parting tools I have got boxes full of the things now. They reckon I am the oldest apprentice they have ever had at 62 years young.

[Charlotte the flyer]

Santa dropped an ultra-sonic cleaner down the chimbley so I've been cleaning some .303 brass today.

[User702]

I spent a large part of the afternoon making a load for a 4.5 kilo goose. The load contained sage, onion and chestnuts.

it was very tasty