Posted: 8/1/2010 5:06:37 PM EDT
|
I have a Hornady locknload AP which I use for reloading handgun calibers, but I'm wanting to load for the Socom 16. I already have an RCBS small base resizing die, and bullet seating die. I've ordered an RCBS powder checker die and a Hornady case activated powder drop to use with my RCBS uniflow powder measure. I've reloaded for rifles before but on a limited basis. I'm looking to increase my output, but in a safe and effecient manner. I would appreciate any recommendations ya'll can make. Uprooted 1 |
|
I already have the No. 1 shellplate. I'm not sure what you mean by a second powder die. The case activated powder drop when attached to the powder measure will drop a charge into the case. There's one mounted on the press now. It has the drop tubes for both pistol and rifle but it's set up for the rifle now. Do you think the RCBS uniflow powder measure will accurately drop enough powder for the rifle cases, or should I get a different metering insert for it? |
|
I'm loading for .45 ACP, .38 Super, and 9mm on mine. I have a separate lower assembly for each(because the lengths are different). http://www.hornady.com/store/Case-Activated-Lower-Assembly-1-Each/  http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/5947 To switch calibers.... Set for .45 Auto:  Pop out the metering insert:  Remove the spring:  Loosen the screw on the lever and remove the measure from the lower assembly:  Remove the .45 lower assembly, pop in the preset .38 Super lower assembly, and drop in the funnel:  Reattach the case activation lever:  Put the spring back on:  Put in the preset .38 Super metering insert:  All of this takes less than two minutes to do. Now, because you are switching from pistol to rifle, you'll have to remove the two hex head bolts from the pistol rotor, and swap it for the rifle rotor. That adds less than a minute to the operation. Having preset metering inserts and lower assemblies really makes caliber conversions super simple. ETA: My LNL AP came with a pistol and rifle rotor, with inserts for each. It occured to me that some of the older presses may not have come with the equipment to do both. If you also need a rifle rotor and insert, you will have to order them. |
|
That looks a lot simpler than I had thought. Although your powder measure looks to be a newer version, it is still basically the same. My vision is to simply replace the powder measure with another which is ready to go. I've already got the powder measure, just ordered the case activated parts. I use my LNL to reload for the .45 acp, .45 colt and .357 mag. I've been purchasing tools along the way in anticipation of setting it up for the .308 win. Case prep is the most time consuming along w/ inspecting cases, but I thought maybe I could increase (safely) production on the LNL versus a single stage set up. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to show me how to do a quick change caliber conversion. I will probably use this for changing from .45 acp to .45 colt. Would you recommend a cartridge headspace gauge for the .308 or is this something I can forgo? |
|
I'm not high speed enough to have a case feeder just yet. However, I did lube the cases and ran them all through (100) the small base resize die then on around the machine to the bin. They're in the tumbler now for a good cleaning. I've still got to measure/trim them then they'll be ready to load. I haven't used the powder measure which came with the machine for rifles yet, but I changed the funnel for the rifle caliber. I'll be using IMR 4895 (extruded powder) so guess I'll see how well it meters. In the past I used a single stage press and measured each charge on a scale. 50 rounds was a serious labor of love. |
|
I'm using a Redding T7 press for rifles. I use powder measure and throw about a grain shy of my desired charge, and trickle up to exactly what I want for all the rifles I'm currently loading for, but I think for .223 and .308, I'm just going to use the powder measure on the LNL AP and a Powder Cop die. |
|
Quoted:
.....I'll be using IMR 4895 (extruded powder) so guess I'll see how well it meters. In the past I used a single stage press and measured each charge on a scale. 50 rounds was a serious labor of love. I hate using extruded powder with a powder drop. If you're using the RCBS Uniflow powder drop, you may not like using 4895. I tried IMR 4896, 4350, and 3031 out of my Uniflow and said never again. Win 748 or Tac meters really well with almost all powder drops if you've a mind to try another powder. I got lazy and bought the RCBS digital powder scale and dispenser. It makes reloading for my bolts much more fun. |
|
Quoted:
I have some win 748. Other than better metering are there any other advantages/disadvantages? Ball powder burns hotter than stick powder. Heavy loads will eat a throat up faster than extruded powder. That's about the only disadvantage I can think of. But which load is most accurate in the rifle always determined what I reload. I hardly ever reload for my semi autos. It's almost always for my bolts. |
|
when I started loading rifle on a progressive the #1 thing that sped up my production was a dillon RT1200b case trimmer; it sizes and trims to length the cases at the same time; when mounted on a progressive you can size/trim up to 1k an hour, more I suppose if you move faster.
the only downside is cost, the motor head is $225, sizing/trim dies are from $45 to $55 each depending on caliber and you need a case length gauge for proper set up, you'll also need a small vaccum to hook to the discharge to remove the trimmings, I've read reviews that it supposidly helps keep the motor/die cooler too, because it diffenantly gets hot when sizing/trimming a lot of cases at a sitting. other than that, I don't know any special tricks to speed up production on a progressive press, I do put a lee collet die in station #1, but that's just to size the neck back up from .001" to .003" (depending on if decapper pin been polished or not) undersize because the dillon size/trim die will size the neck id down quite a bit and if you don't size it back up the bullet has too. I've got a dillon so it's a bit different from the hornaday lp, but I think hornaday uses quick turn inserts so it wouldn't be much different than how I got my dillon set up, I bought the deluxe quick change assemblies (tool head, powder measure/die, toolhead stand) for each caliber I load, that way all I do to change calibers is switch out the tool head and shell plate, change out primer system if changing sm/lrg, fill the powder measure, cycle through 10 cases to settle the powder in and double check throw weight and it's ready to load, it all takes approx 10 min. |