Old dog - new tricks

[JagerDog]

Been reloading for 40+ years.

Learned old skul, still do a lot of old skul.

Never really did much volume for rifle (I shoot a lot more shotgun and pistol) so kept it old skul.

Well, I had 1000 pcs. of .223 brass to process including crimped primer pockets. They've been in my stash for a few years and I wasn't looking forward to it after I did the first 1000 some years ago.

Lee universal de-capper
Hornady hand crimp remover - chucked into HF drill press
Dillon spray lube - about 150 cases in a ziploc...spray and jumble around
Little Crow WFT (.223 specific) - chucked into same drill press.

Still a lot of work, but beats the he77 out of using my hand deburr tool for crimps, Forster trimmer, various lubes (I've used a lot of One Shot and never really had issue with it, but that was with reloading blocks) and HF drill press for power.

WFT worked splendid holding +/- 0.001 pretty easy. Bit of a pain to set, but once set did a beautiful job.

If I was doing 10's of 1000's, I know there's better ways, but this suits my needs just fine. So 21st century and cool starry bra.

[pacrat]

Lee universal de-capper
Hornady hand crimp remover - chucked into HF drill press
Dillon spray lube - about 150 cases in a ziploc...spray and jumble around

SIZE

Little Crow WFT (.223 specific) - chucked into same drill press.

Did you forget to list the bolded operation?

[stevec223]

Ya 1k of mil brass is a pain to process... Tumble,,, Size-deprime,, power trim chamfer deburr,,, Dillon swage.... Tumble to get the goo off ,, then ready to load.... Finally...
I quit picking up other peoples mil brass,, and mark mine with a sharpie to show it's swagged...
So what you loading up ??
Cheers...

[JagerDog]

Did you forget to list the bolded operation?

Ummm...not really. As there was no new process/tools used.

I guess the de-capper wasn't new either. Was trying to highlight the new tools/methods.

[JagerDog]

Ya 1k of mil brass is a pain to process... Tumble,,, Size-deprime,, power trim chamfer deburr,,, Dillon swage.... Tumble to get the goo off ,, then ready to load.... Finally...
I quit picking up other peoples mil brass,, and mark mine with a sharpie to show it's swagged...
So what you loading up ??
Cheers...

I have a CH swage tool for my press, but never really liked it.

Don't know if I'll reload this right away. I've got maybe 1000 rounds of FMJ range fodder in LC and 500 or so TNT's in commercial brass. Got tired of looking at a 50 cal ammo can of brass that had no immediate value. Then again, I picked up 16# of TAC when it was on sale and should prolly make up a range load for that vs. my Benchmark. I like the load development, then th rifles kinda sit mostly after I settle on a load(s).

[phdo]

Dillon Super Swage and Giraud trimmer work wonders for me. To clean and uniform the primer pockets, I have the Sinclair tools chucked into a power tool.

[stevec223]

I like the non-lead Nosler 40gr bullets in .223... They Really shine as a varmit vaporizer... Very accurate in a 1x12 or 1x9 twist barrels.. Havent tried them in a 1x7 yet.. Just a suggestion...
Cheers...

[Divernhunter]

I have tried a lot of cutters and swagers but none have worked as good as my Dillon Super Swager. I have a RCBS electric motor powered trimmer and I use the Lyman case prep center for deburring and chamfering.
All the operations can be done while I watch TV except the trimming. I do the trimming outside so I do not get pieces of brass in my carpets. I also hand prime while watching TV.

In my 223 I really like the 55gr Hornady SX or squirrels. Now that we cannot use lead core bullets I have used 36 and 50gr Barnes VG bullets(my 223 has a custom barrel with a 1-10 twist for the 50gr bullets). They worked well but not as explosive as the SX bullets. I have some 40gr non-lead Nosler bullets to try also.

[JackEllis]

I use the Lyman case prep center for deburring and chamfering.

Until late last week I was doing this by hand. Then I bought a second-hand Lyman case prep center thinking that it I didn't like it I could sell it for what I'd paid.

Well it's a keeper. Prepping brass is still tedious but motorized tools are a lot easier on old hands and wrists.

[stevec223]

^^^^ RCBS three way trimmer saves me alot of prep time... Trims,, deburrs and champhers at the same time.. Powered RCBS user here too... Buy one three way trimmer,,, then buy other caliber pilots and adjust the three way.. My hands couldn't take all the grabbing-holding of the brass for three different operations,, especially for bulk prep...
Cheers...

[JagerDog]

I have tried a lot of cutters and swagers but none have worked as good as my Dillon Super Swager. I have a RCBS electric motor powered trimmer and I use the Lyman case prep center for deburring and chamfering.
All the operations can be done while I watch TV except the trimming. I do the trimming outside so I do not get pieces of brass in my carpets. I also hand prime while watching TV.

In my 223 I really like the 55gr Hornady SX or squirrels. Now that we cannot use lead core bullets I have used 36 and 50gr Barnes VG bullets(my 223 has a custom barrel with a 1-10 twist for the 50gr bullets). They worked well but not as explosive as the SX bullets. I have some 40gr non-lead Nosler bullets to try also.

Everyone raves about the Dillon. I just don't do enough .mil brass to justify it. Or enough rifle period to justify a Giraud trimmer. I'm a pistol, pistol caliber carbine and shotgun guy mostly for volume. Like most reloading choices, volume tends to dictate. But I knew I didn't want to do another 1000 primer pockets with a hand deburr tool and a manual Forster trimmer.

I do all my .223 load development with a Kimber of Oregon. 1:12 IIRC. It wasn't fond of 50g Barnes, but does well with the 36gr. I have some 43gr. TNT Green I still gotta try to work up.

I do all mine in the garage. I've got the mrs. pretty well trained not to bother me while I'm performing these dangerous feats.

[pacrat]

From OP

Lee universal de-capper

Hornady hand crimp remover - chucked into HF drill press

Dillon spray lube - about 150 cases in a ziploc...spray and jumble around

Little Crow WFT (.223 specific) - chucked into same drill press.

I asked about not listing the SIZING. Because SOP, is to SIZE after lube. And before trimming.

[JagerDog]

From OP



I asked about not listing the SIZING. Because SOP, is to SIZE after lube. And before trimming.

Already addressed. I was highlighting the new tools (aside from the universal decapper). The sizing is implied by the lube.

[smoothy8500]

I didn't see anything about case cleaning....

[smoothy8500]

Did you wash your hands after going to the bathroom too? Funny the CH swager got mentioned. I had one of those 20 years ago and wasn't all that impressed.