Sized 3-400 pieces of twice-fired Lake City .223 that were stainless tumbled in the weeks prior. Need to fish it out of the tumbler this morning, and then size up the rest later today. Then I need to get it loaded again.

Also reloaded ~1500 9mm in the past few days.

Still a large backlog of "project brass" in various stages of being finished. Maybe one day I'll have enough free time...

Down to about 12lbs of Varget, just a hint of panic. When I crack open that last 8lb jug of Varget, full on panic!

Loaded and shot some rounds this AM to try a couple other powders in one of my 6x47's. IMR 4350 and IMR 8208 XBR/Berger 105 Hybrids. 5 each 38.5-40.5/4350, .5 grain increments and 5 each, 34-35.2, .2 increments. Slight stiff bolt lift on the 35.2/8208 stopped after one round. 34, 34.2, 34.4/8208 shot very well at 100yds. Ya, I know it's only 100yds, but its a start. Will put the 34-34.4 8208 loads on paper at 500yds soon, see how it holds vertical.

quote:

Originally posted by offgrid:
Down to about 12lbs of Varget, just a hint of panic. When I crack open that last 8lb jug of Varget, full on panic!

Yep. I've got a full 8# jug and maybe 1-1.5# in an open one. I'm starting to worry, since I can't find any anywhere.

I do have three 8# jugs of CFE223 plus another that's open and partially used. I suppose I might be able to make due with that if I need to.

Starting to worry about WST, too. I'm into my last 8# of that as well.

Yesterday I deprimed and primed 500 cases of .45 ACP. Going to load them up tonight.

I'm really feeling the need for a progressive, sigh.

Flared those 500 cases, and an additional 189 cases I had already primed, tonite, all this took me the better part of 6 hours combined. (counting the time it took to deprime and prime the 500 cases I did last night) Thinking real hard about buying a progressive with next months salary, contemplating on what I should get. I hear bad things about the Lee pro 1000, but it's the cheapest one around. Should I buy once and cry once and get a dillon 550? What say the group? Any better suggestions?

When I am ready to step up to progressive from my Lee Turret, I will be getting XL650

Right now I have 2 550s.

I'm thinking long and hard about getting a 650 with a case feeder and a bullet feeder....

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:
Right now I have 2 550s.

I'm thinking long and hard about getting a 650 with a case feeder and a bullet feeder....

I went through this dilemma too long ago. I was ready to jump into a 650 or 1050, and even broke down one of the 550's and packed it up to sell. I never took the plunge, and the 'spare' 550 is still packed up. Now you got me thinking about doing it again....

quote:

Originally posted by agony:

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:
Right now I have 2 550s.

I'm thinking long and hard about getting a 650 with a case feeder and a bullet feeder....

I went through this dilemma too long ago. I was ready to jump into a 650 or 1050, and even broke down one of the 550's and packed it up to sell. I never took the plunge, and the 'spare' 550 is still packed up. Now you got me thinking about doing it again....

I'm considering it because range trips are just getting to be more and more ammo. We have been shooting at different places, getting involved in some games, and it's burning a lot of ammo. Today was about 500 9mm and 100 45acp. That's a lot.

Speaking of which, I think I need to order some more bullets...

The big hidden cost of a progressive press is feeding one. The faster the press the more hungry it gets. I would go broke trying to pay for all the components to feed a 1050 pretty fast.

Soon I have to decide if I am going to work up a load for the bullets I have or just place another order for the bullets I already have a good load for.

Picked up 3k+ once fired LC brass this week. I started tumbling it so I can chopsaw it for .300 conversion. I also picked up 2k of .40 speer brass from a local police range auction. Im trying to trade it for .45 brass, or some 9mm brass maybe.

I also loaded up 20 .300BLK rounds for testing this weekend. 220gr subsonics... We will see how it does. If its solid then Ill get 1K of them cranked out to put on the shelf.

Loaded a 20 round work up using the new FX120i yesterday, still used the Chargemaster to get to the main load then just trickled up.

I weighed some charges my 'fixed' charge master was throwing…2 dozen of them…on the fx120. 39.1 grains of 3031. The spread was 38.91 to 39.35, and none were overthrows per the CM.

Today I need to load a couple hundred Varget/308 charges.

I need to do some loading today and am debating picking up a small ultrasonic cleaner. I hate dragging out the big vibratory to do small batches. Although I'll probably dislike having to dry brass as well.

As a side note, any 300 Win Mag shooters out there ? Are you using standard or magnum primers. I think I read in one of Litz's books that he suggested standard primers to cut down the ES.

quote:

Originally posted by jlemmy:
As a side note, any 300 Win Mag shooters out there ? Are you using standard or magnum primers. I think I read in one of Litz's books that he suggested standard primers to cut down the ES.

Two friends shoot 300WM's, 208 Amax's, Berger 215 Hybrids/H1000. Both get slighter better ES/SD's with non-magnum primers.

Weather is crappy here today, so it's time to clean guns, sort brass from the last few range trips, and reload a bunch. Over the past couple days I've loaded ~500 223. Need a bunch more 9 again, and more 223.

Neiltus- my gempro 250 showed roughly the same variation with my chargemaster, too. Amazing. But it is still faster than hand weighing the entire charge.. Lol

quote:

Originally posted by offgrid:

quote:

Originally posted by jlemmy:
As a side note, any 300 Win Mag shooters out there ? Are you using standard or magnum primers. I think I read in one of Litz's books that he suggested standard primers to cut down the ES.

Two friends shoot 300WM's, 208 Amax's, Berger 215 Hybrids/H1000. Both get slighter better ES/SD's with non-magnum primers.

Thanks ! Just looked thru my primer stash. In large rifle I have CCI magnum which is what I've been using. Then I also have Winchester standard and magnum. Perhaps I'll give the Winchester standards a shot. Or go see what the toy store may have on the shelf.

Bored sitting waiting for a cable to be delivered so I can program some radios, so I went out and ran a quick 100 45 ACP on the press.

Maybe if I'm still bored this afternoon, 100 more when the tumbler gets done.

Need to run 9MM as well.

RMD

Cleaned all my handguns this morning. Need to clean all my rifles next.

Installed my target butt-plate on my AICS, and sorted brass from Thursdays range trip. Need to tumble it all still, then reload. Need a bunch of 9, more 45, and there's never enough to feed the ARs.

Did my monthly "clean the carry guns" routine.

Two of mine and one of Mrs. Flash's.

They weren't really all that dirty.

quote:

Originally posted by exx1976:
Installed my target butt-plate on my AICS,

The adjustable butt plate is nice upgrade!

Consider getting your stock skim bedded if you haven't already.

Loaded/shot 30rds through one of my 6x47's this AM. IMR 8028 looks to be very good alternative to Varget. Bug-holing and silly low ES/SD's. Chrono'd five shots, ES-6, SD-1!