What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[Hatchdog]

I spent time today setting up my friend's RCBS loading press in my room for him to load ammo for his 223. I have my loader on one side of my room where my bench is 12' long. I have his press on the 8' bench on the other side of the room and both are mounted on boards that can be taken off the counter tops in seconds with the C-clamps attachment. My vise is mounted on a board also to be easily removed. When I picked up his loading press after getting it bolted to the board with the screws counter sunk from the bottom the handle dropped and the ram smashed two of my fingers at the full stroke. Felt like they were cut off it hurt so bad. That slowed the rest of my day down to almost doing nothing. I hope to finish it up tomorrow after church or Monday morning.

That sounds painful. I’ve done a partial pinch before and that was bad enough. Great you’re bringing another reloader along.

[DsGrouse]

so far this morning I secured a deal for 40lbs of commercial pistol powder.

[Oldbrass]

Loaded up some 30-30 for a friend, he inherited his grandfathers winny 94 some years ago and never fired it so we're going to remedy that

[Vaquero]

150 or 170 grain pills?

RP

[BigAl52]

Nothing. My reloading bench here in Texas USA sits idle. I only load shotgun shells here 20 ga. But I have been able to buy them for about 7 cents a round cheaper than I can load them. We shoot skeet 2 times a week so I have been buying them by the case.

[Hatchdog]

Nothing. My reloading bench here in Texas USA sits idle. I only load shotgun shells here 20 ga. But I have been able to buy them for about 7 cents a round cheaper than I can load them. We shoot skeet 2 times a week so I have been buying them by the case.

You’re certainly “reloading” your inventory.

If I get movitated I’m planning on loading up some 38 special light loads using Berrys plated bullets. Lately I’ve only used my single stage press to load but since my dies are still set up for my Lee turret press I’m going to reacquaint myself with it. Slow and steady she goes.

[Mags]

My press is idle, but setup for .30-30, from the last time I reloaded. I was hoping to come by some Speer #2011 bullets. No local inventory and online they are too expensive on top of shipping.

[Hatchdog]

Yesterday I managed to drag by butt downstairs to my reloading lair and be productive. I fired up my Lee turret press and cranked out 250 38 specials using the Berrys 158 gr flat point plated bullet. Using 3.8 gr of Titegroup this makes for a soft shooting 38 that is like a popcorn fart in my 686 and Henry. Great for new shooters, mild to no recoil and very little muzzle blast.

This inexpensive press, auto powder measure and primer feed constantly amaze me at what a quality cartridge it produces. I checked several powder drops in the beginning and every 10th when loading. That’s 30 checks and all were within a 10th of a grain. The Lee chart says it should drop 3.8 but most of my checks were 3.9. No worries as this is not a max load and is a very load mild and being shot in big heavy duty firearms. The primer feed hangs up once in a while so I have to be aware of that. I can get a sidewise primer once in a while but with a sensitive touch on the press handle I can feel the difference and make the correction before seating the primer. I use the Lee Factory Crimp Die which puts a nice crimp on the bullet without damaging the plating.


So here lately I have loaded 250 38 specials and 300 357’s. I’ll be ready this spring to take out all those evil bowling pins that hang out on my range.


The Lee press set up for 38’s.

IMG_5700.jpeg (2.46 MiB) Viewed 1219 times

The 250 38’s.

IMG_5701.jpeg (3.6 MiB) Viewed 1219 times

IMG_5702.jpeg (2.65 MiB) Viewed 1219 times

Bowling pins beware

IMG_5703.jpeg (3.96 MiB) Viewed 1219 times

[DsGrouse]

I swaged another 15 0.452 from 40sw brass. 280, 290, and 300 grian bullets.

Swung by lgs, they had the RCBS rebel on sale, 50 bucks off. 199. I picked one up. It really is 15% larger than the RCIV/supreme

[Vaquero]

Mine has been idle for a good while, I did load 10 or 12 a few weeks ago of some 35 Rem. with some 162 gr cast bullets over 10 grs. of unique so the # 2 grandson to try out the cut down butt stock.
Looks like Wed. is going to be a rain day with likely no work so I plan to load some of those cheap 357s I just recently scored.
Also if you've seen my new thread on the purchase of the new Rossi 444 or not, I plan on loading a few of those to break in and test it's abilities.

RP

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Nothing........Went Buc-EE's...........Yesterday I mounted the suppressor and night scope on my new AR build in 7.62x39 and zeroed it in.....Created some brass that I will reload soon.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Mine has been idle for a good while, I did load 10 or 12 a few weeks ago of some 35 Rem. with some 162 gr cast bullets over 10 grs. of unique so the # 2 grandson to try out the cut down butt stock.
Looks like Wed. is going to be a rain day with likely no work so I plan to load some of those cheap 357s I just recently scored.
Also if you've seen my new thread on the purchase of the new Rossi 444 or not, I plan on loading a few of those to break in and test it's abilities.

RP

Lee's 310 gr cast GC pushed by 40 grs of H4198 runs 1908 FPS avg(Oehler 35P crono) out of my 444P and will shoot lengthwise through a deer and kill a tree behind it.

[Vaquero]

I have that mold, I tried it in my Sporter Safety model, I had to seat it deep to get it to chamber, never tried it in the P.
I have a Lyman 429650 which is a SWC model that works much better in both. It's suppose to be a 300 gr., but usually drop no less than 317.
The last batch were 325 to 327.
I think the load is 41.0 grs. of the same powder, Awesome.
My for fun load with those is 25 grs of 2400, very pleasant and slaps the gongs in the backyard that I shoot from the back deck at 50 yds.
Year before last I shot the big gong, it's 3/8 thick, 12 x 24 silhouette and has a 4" hole in the center with 5 or 6 inch behind it.
With the cast and the 41. grs. of the H4198, it snapped the 5/16's bolt the holds the center plate.
Haven't dot a chance to use it on a deer yet.

As to the 310 Lee, it shoots well in the Henry BBB in 15.0 grs. of 2400.

RP

[BigAl52]

Hey Randy
What kind of feedback ya got on the brass and bullets ya just got for 357

[Vaquero]

Al, I weighed a decent handful. I good many at 158.1, few were 158.3, and the lowest was 157.7.
They don't have a crimp groove.

20250203_195332.jpg (1.55 MiB) Viewed 1368 times

I never got around to playing with them. I did put a handful of rounds through the new Rossi with no hiccups.
Then I went with the wife on some errands and didn't get home until 3.
I did load up the last of my heavy cast for the 444.
The red obes one the left are over 25.0 grs of 2400, and the mean green ones are over 41.0 grs. ofH4198.
Guess I need to fire up the casting pot before long.

20250203_171849.jpg (2.01 MiB) Viewed 1374 times

I did adjust the OAL a wee bit, it's now 2.533". I put 5 in the mag tube and cycled them like ole Lucas Mc Cain.
Except for not shooting, I think ole Lucas would have been proud.

RP

[BigAl52]

I noticed that they didn’t have a crimp groove in the photos of the posted link. No big deal in a single shot

[Vaquero]

I guess they'll be fine for the revolvers, but hey for that price I'll just feed in those two.
I most exclusively shoot cast in the Rossi any way.
I have other bullets If I have a need for something else in it.

RP

[Vaquero]

Hey Al, I still have a whole box of those Zero 357 and a good many in another, also.

RP

[DsGrouse]

I picked up a c and h roll crimper from ebay to solve the crimp grove problem.

Once i get the swaging going i'll start applying a crimp groove at the proper seating depth.

A buddy is going to give me some 38 super brass, and i've 380 on the way. I am hoping that the 380, allows for thos 170 to 180 bullets.

[BigAl52]

Hey Al, I still have a whole box of those Zero 357 and a good many in another, also.

RP

Those Zero 125gr sp shot very well for me. Im going to order more before I get home so I dont half to pay the communist 6.5% excise tax on the sale. Colorado now seeking to outlaw all guns with detachable magazines.