Just reloaded 1000 9mm?

[Tripplet918]

Im so rusty. Only 2nd session with the progressive (650) since Covid. It took 3 hours. I was thumbing the shell plate to prevent spillage. I also demilled 25 rounds that had issues from my last run earlier this year. Wastage was at a minimum. About 6 primers that I?ll push out of bad cases later. A couple were crushed on crimped WCC cases.

It would make more sense loading 9mm if I can do 500 an hour. The most Im averaging 4-6 a minute. This includes putzing with the press when stuff goes wrong. Got stumped for like 20 minutes when I didnt notice my case feeder tube jumped out and I couldnt figure out why my cases were jamming up. Amateur hour.

[Supersapper]

The way I've found works best for me is to do it in stages. I clean and tumble 1000s of cases at once. Get them out, media separated and in a bucket.

This next step is largely unecessary for most but wrist and shoulder issues make it a requirement for me. I will lube the 9mm casings with lanolin from a spray bottle and then resize and deprime, This step makes the process much easier, as it reduces friction when you push the casing into the die with the press. If I do this, then I retumble. At this point, I get them all into a bag, bucket or box and come back when I have more time.

The next step I do when I have some time is to reprime the casings. I check the primer pockets from last time for any incidental media, usually 20-30 at a time. I get a few here and there I have to clear, but not a horrible problem. I hand prime cases to minimize wastage, or damaging casings. I just grab a bagful and one whole box of primers (1000) and prime. Never counted, but I usually average about 30-40 per minute.

Final step is the actual reloading on a Hornady LnL progressive press. I only use 3 of the stages with one stage open prior to bullet seating to verify I have a powder charge before I sit a bullet on it. Just look down through the empty stage in the turret head as it passes by. If I don't stop to randomly check rounds for COL, then I can knock out between 10-15 per minute.

Overall, it takes a bit longer, but it's done over several stages at different times. Prevents burnout, frustration and lowers the possibility of a mistake, since I'm only focused on one thing at a time. Moreover, it gives me 3 chances to inspect cases I'm reloading.

Just a thought.

[smoothy8500]

Yeah, progressives require a certain amount of familiarity gained through continued use. Especially if you have a glitchy progressive that needs some (or constant) attention while operating. The batch idea mentioned above by Supersapper is a good idea to regain experience and avoid frustration.

Until 9mm is universally available well below the cost/time of reloads it still makes sense.

[ar15barrels]

Im so rusty. Only 2nd session with the progressive (650) since Covid. It took 3 hours.
I was thumbing the shell plate to prevent spillage.

tips to prevent powder spillage:
Run a load that does not overfill the case.
Put a little grease under the shellplate. The grease will stop the shellplate from moving too fast at the end of the index stroke.
Adjust the shellplate bolt down as much as you can without it causing the shellplate to drag.
Slow your press handle stroke towards the 2nd half of the indexing and during priming. I pull the handle faster while sizing and seating then when I index and prime. Slowing down some during indexing will eliminate the jumping even if you don't add grease or properly set the shellplate bolt to minimum clearance.

You should be able to load around 800-900 rounds per hour on a 650 if you are not stopping to fix things or indexing it manually like a 550.

[bruce381]

tips to prevent powder spillage:
Run a load that does not overfill the case.
Put a little grease under the shellplate. The grease will stop the shellplate from moving too fast at the end of the index stroke.
Adjust the shellplate bolt down as much as you can without it causing the shellplate to drag.
Slow your press handle stroke towards the 2nd half of the indexing and during priming. I pull the handle faster while sizing and seating then when I index and prime. Slowing down some during indexing will eliminate the jumping even if you don't add grease or properly set the shellplate bolt to minimum clearance.

You should be able to load around 800-900 rounds per hour on a 650 if you are not stopping to fix things or indexing it manually like a 550.

Yep what he says 100%

[Mayor McRifle]

I was thumbing the shell plate to prevent spillage.

Hit Factor has the answer to this: https://hitfactor.biz/

IMG_5990.jpg

[tabascoz28]

I'm going about 400 an hour with my lee breechlock pro with all hands and feet, no brass or primer hopper with maybe a protruding primer every few hundred. Just load in the gun and try again. 10 years of machine operation taught me the key is getting that machine humming with no issues first, then you're gold. Refill powder hopper with every new sleeve of primers. Full up and full down.

[Tripplet918]

Hit Factor has the answer to this: https://hitfactor.biz/

[ATTACH]1172217[/ATTACH]

Ive got all of that except the ejector.

Im gonna work on addressing my spillage. I was intent on getting a case done. Wasnt focused on tweaking the press. My real issue is when the ball detent hits home. It jars the shell plate. I might try and find a weaker spring.

[Rwnielsen]

I hook my little finger on the advancing case when I place a bullet in it. Its a fluid ,onion when I get going. I tried the bearing hack, didn't like it and went back to my old way. I can knock out around 800 45 acp an hour if I have all the primer tunes filled.

[Tripplet918]

I hook my little finger on the advancing case when I place a bullet in it. Its a fluid ,onion when I get going. I tried the bearing hack, didn't like it and went back to my old way. I can knock out around 800 45 acp an hour if I have all the primer tunes filled.

This is what I do, but no where close to 500 an hour

Yawlz inspire me.

[ar15barrels]

My real issue is when the ball detent hits home.
It jars the shell plate.
I might try and find a weaker spring.

Plate is too loose.
Add grease and tighten the plate down so it's as tight as it can be without actually dragging.

I tried a lighter spring.
It caused indexing failures.
The final soution was the dillon spring and adjusting the shellplate bolt to eliminate all excessive slop.

[Tripplet918]

Plate is too loose.
Add grease and tighten the plate down so it's as tight as it can be without actually dragging.

I tried a lighter spring.
It caused indexing failures.
The final soution was the dillon spring and adjusting the shellplate bolt to eliminate all excessive slop.

Thanks. I will do this.

[ar15barrels]

Noticed the brass shavings collecter in a picture you posted.
Did you buy it or make it.
Also where did you get that size hose?

The Dillon trimmer comes with the blue piece on it that lets you connect a vacuum cleaner.
I took a 1-gallon protein powder jar and made 2 holes in the top of it to fit the vacuum cleaner hoses.
Then I used the vacuum cleaner hose to connect the vacuum cleaner to the jar and a pool pump hose to connect the jar to the Dillon trimmer.
The idea is to use the jar to catch all the brass and then the vacuum cleaner is just a big air pump.
The brass chips fall into the jar but the air is moving across the top so the jar acts as a gravity trap much like a P trap under a sink does and the brass all falls into the jar with almost no brass actually passing into the vacuum cleaner.
This makes it much easier to empty the brass shavings since I can unscrew the jar without disconnecting anything else.

The vacuum is loud as hell so I wear earmuffs.
You could quiet down the operation by having a long enough vacuum hose to move the vacuum cleaner outside or into another room.
The vacuum hose could be extended as long as you want since it's only moving air.