This section is for reloading and ammunition only, all loads found in here are used strictly at your own risk, if in doubt ask again.
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should treated as suspect and not used.
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All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.
Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
phaedra1106 wrote:I reload 3-400 for a range day using 2 presses, the Rockchucker fitted with the Inline Fabrication case ejection system for case de-priming (followed by a SS pins clean) then a full length size.
After trimming to length, chamfer/de-burr and a final clean in the SS pins I hand prime using an RCSB Universal hand priming tool. Cases are then bagged up ready to be loaded when needed.
For the actual loading, using a Hornady Auto powder Dispenser and the Lee Breech lock press to seat bullets the operation is quite fast. It takes about a second or two longer for the powder dispenser to operate than it does to seat a bullet and pop the round in the tray while it dumps the next charge. I've not timed it but you could easily do 400 rounds in a morning or afternoon with breaks for cups or tea/coffee every 50 rounds or so.
Yep, same here... get the cases all ready to load, dispense a load, tip into case, put pan back on to get a new load while i'm seating the bullet, pick up empty case and wait a second or 2 for the dispensing to finish, then tip into case.. rinse and repeat...
Once all cases are loaded and bullets seated, change to the Lee Factory crimp die and run them all through that... jobs a goodun...
meles meles wrote:We like our Rockchucker single stage press and weighing every charge as we want to keep things simple* and safe. However, as we sometimes needs to load up to 400 rifle cartridges for a weekend, often 100 each of 4 different calibres, we are thinking of ways to speed up the process. One thing we have noticed is that progressive presses all seem to use powder throwers that work on a volumetric principle. We prefer to weigh each and every charge. Are we being unduly finicky ?
* We is a small brained species compared with you bald monkeys
The quickest way to speed up your reloading process is to buy an RCBS Chargemaster. Stick with the Rockchucker - swapping dies takes seconds. Hornady have the 'lock n load' press system but it only saves a minute or so.
400 rounds for a weekend's shooting - wow, wish I could afford that!
I have a Rockchucker with the threaded die bushing removed (took some doing...) & replaced with a Hornady L-N-L bushing.
I have three & soon to be four (& possibly five) different rifle cartridges to load for & find it better being able to swap dies in an instant.
For rifle cartridges, I find the Chargemaster to be an absolute boon.
I'm lusting after a Hornady L-N-L progressive press for use over the Pond, as loading a couple of thousand handgun rounds on an RCBS Junior takes a while...
I would agree that the biggest time saver will be your powder dispenser. In my experience, the following devices work very well:
RCBS Uniflow with the precision micrometer (just makes it easier to record a setting for easier set up) for ball powders. Use this in conjunction with a set of beam scales. These type of powder hoppers are very consistent with ball powders like Ramshot, and you won't get more than 0.1gr variations between loads. I usually set mine up and check for five consistent measures before loading cases. I do one check every 20 or so cases to confirm I'm still throwing good charges. Doesn't work so well for stick powders as you can sometimes bind the action and get inconsistent measures.
Lyman Gen6 automated dispenser for stick powders like Reload Swiss. This device can accurately dispense a 50.0gr measure in 40 seconds or so, which frees up you time pretty well. While it's dispensing a charge you can seat the bullet into a charged case and measure the overall length by the time the next charge has been dispensed.
Another good trick for setting up your dies is to set witness marks on you dies. Once my die is set up for a particular bullet or case size operation, I use a sharpie and mark witness lines on the exterior die body, threads and locking rings. I've already got a witness mark on my press. I ensure these all line up when installing my die and measure the first few rounds closely, confirming that my die setup is perfect. This is really handy for bullet seating dies, especially if you use different colour sharpie marks if using different mass/length bullets in the same calibre.
