Reloading process question

Gil Martin · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject: Reloading process question

When reloading, I weigh powder charges for rifle and pistol loads. When the powder is dumped into the primed case, I immediately seat the bullet. I do not have any cases with powder sitting in a tray. I suspect it is a personal preference thing and I have two tom cats (Fred and Jeremiah) that enjoy watching me reload. Those guys walk around the reloading bench and could upset cases with powder sitting in a tray. What do you folks do regarding charging cases and seating bullets? All the best...
Gil

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

Howdy Gil. I fill all the cases with powder and before i seat the bullets i check them all with a flash light to make sure they all have powder. If i am loading various loads for development i make a little chart and tape it to the lid of my case box of the charge and location in my box and i put my primed cases in the loading block in the same location so if i get a brain fart Confused

(witch happens from time to time) i know whats what!!

Blaine · Member Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine

I'm loading for load development at the moment, so I'm only loading 5 rounds of each recipe. I tried lining up the cases and doing 5 of each till the tray was full and then seating bullets. I found it easier to load 5 then seat and then load another 5 and so on. It just keeps it simpler. When I load a a bunch of one recipe, I charge all the cases of one load and then seat the bullets. I also weigh out all my powder charges, so after every 10 charges I re-balance the scale (as required) before proceeding.

Blaine

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I like the idea of re-balancing the scale every so often. I'll have to try that.
I powder all my cases before I seat the bullets. After powdering I'll check them all for powder level before seating the bullets. Now and again you'll hit your scale with a misguided paw and really screw up so it's good to keep an eye on it. I close the door to my reloading room so my dog and cat can't get in. I'm sure they wonder what in hell I'm doing, but I don't plan on letting them become a part of the process. I seat all the bullets in a given caliber at one time. It's easier to make necessary adjustments that way. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Flint54 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 1:40 am Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

During load development I load 5 by weighing each charge and seat the bullets, then on to the next 5 etc. A chart is made and put into the case with the loaded rounds and I also mark the powder weight on the outside of the case with a Sharpie, this way they cannot be confused. Same with primers, I use a sharpie of a diffrent color around the primer for each make.

Once I have settled on a load for rifle, I set up the measure (I have 2 Culver Precision) and prior to charging the cases I will run 10 charges thru the measure & weigh each one, then I will charge 10 cases & weigh 1, and repeat. I load no more than 50 prior to seating the bullets.

For pistol I will set up the measure by weighing 10 and then start charging same as rifle, checking after 10 cases. I charge no more than 100 and seat the bullets.

As you can see I still use a single stage press, I also shut the door to keep our cats out and away. I don't allow any distractions when I am reloading, I've made a couple of mistakes in the far away past by allowing distractions and won't let it happen again. Distractions WILL get you into trouble, keep the phone away also. Be safe above all. Wink

popgun · Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

I always reload away from distractions to include radio, tv, people and pets.

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Ya what popgun says... otherwise you end up filling 20 cases with powder only to discover you didnt put in the primers yet... not that I did such a thing before (ok yea I did :()

Usually I load up 20 rounds at a time unless its preparing a couple boxes of rounds for hunting season. I deburr / trim cases, prime then charge all the cases at once. I like doing things in a constant repeatitive motion so once they are all charged, I then move to the bullet seating stage working slowly makeing sure everything is as consistant as possible.

-DallanC

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I have a telephone in my reloading room but do not answer it while reloading. I don't turn on the television either. Reloading is a fun hobby, but you have to give it your undivided attention. I do some things that might seem extreme like resetting my weigh scale to zero after I'm finished reloading a particular caliber, keeping only one can of powder on my workbench at a time, ditto for bullets and primers. It's amazing how easily you can make mistakes. I try hard to avoid them. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

moose2 · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

Gil,
I basically reload in the same manner as you do. One charge, one bullet.
Always have, probably always will do it that way. Found thru the years that when I change a routine, reloading or anything else, I generally screw something up right off the bat. Might as well just do what works and what am comfortable with. Its still very enjoyable this way. Very Happy

sniper · Last edited by sniper on Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

Good advice, all.
I have only one bullet and one powder on my bench at a time.

For pistol, I only use powders with bulk enough to fill up the case pretty well, so a double charge will be readily evident or will overflow the case, like Unique, 2400, or Blue Dot. I powder all cases, check the level with a flashlight, (and I thought I was the only one that did that!) Seat the bullet, put them away with proper notation, then go to the next one.

I don't re zero my scale much, but before each session, I do calibrate it to zero with a 53 gr. bullet, and then check where the poises are located often during my loading.

Dallan, YOU left the primers out, too? Embarrassing, ain't it? I was giving a demo to some boy scouts, and one said "Whassat leaking out of the end? " 8-O. Some resident expert!

Years ago, my son liked to help me reload, and he tightened all the little screw thingies down when I wasn't looking. I caught it, and no harm done. I should have checked, but I double check everything since then, and it has been 20 years since he grew out of wanting to help. I miss that .

robfromaz1977 · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH GIL ON THIS ONE. I LIKE TO SEAT THE BULLET AS SOON AS THE POWDER GOES IN. THE MAIN REASON IS IF I HAVE TO GET UP FROM THE BENCH I DONT LEAVE ANYTHING UNDONE. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT POWDER THAT IS EXPOSED TO THE AIR CAN DRAW MOISTURE. I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH OR IF IT CAN CAUSE THE BURN RATE OF THE POWDER TO CHANGE BUT I GET GREAT RESULTS DOING IT MY WAY. ALSO I TEND TO BUMP THINGS AROUND ON MY BENCH AND HAVING A TRAY OF CASES FULL OF POWDER MAKES ME NERVOUS. IF YOU BUMP THE TRAY AND POWDER COMES OUT OF SOME OF THE CASES YOU CANT BE SURE WHICH ONES AND WOULD PROBLY HAVE TO DUMP THEM ALL TO BE SAFE. IF YOU HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU THEN DONT CHANGE. CHANGES CAN LEAD TO LEAVING OUT STEPS. JUST MY OPINION.

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: Reloading process question

On handgun I seat the bullet as soon as I have weighed and dumped the powder into the case. I load only 20 (some times more) at a time of rifle and charge all cases then seat the bullets.

My wife has two cats. If caught on the loading bench they become .22 targets, moving at that....

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I made a change to my reloading procedures a couple of years ago because of the problem Dallan mentioned. I now stand up all the cases I'm going to reload right next to me RCBS priming tool. After the primers are inserted, and only then, I put the cases into the reloading block. I powdered cases that I had failed to put primers in more often than I care to remember. It's surprising how easy it is to forget a step now and then. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Blaine · Member Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine

When I prime cases, I always stand them "primer up" in the ammo cases and they stay that way until I transfer them to the loading block for charging. That way if I prime the cases and don't get to finish loading that day, I always know at a glance which cases are ready to load.

Blaine

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

A stunt I'll pull occasionally especially if tired is too hit the balance beam accidently and faile to notuce if the balance beam has been inadvertently moved. All of a sudden I'll look at the beam and notice it's set for 56.2 grains instead of 56.6 or so. Obviously I've whacked it and didn't check it afterwards. Now I can weigh them from the case one by one starting with the most recent to see how many reflect the mistake. The simple things that can go wrong are amazing sometime. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal