Started Reloading .45acp

[APynckel]

My .45 reloading station



I've loaded up about 2k rounds so far. Here's 1k of them






And I have some more shinies waiting




Clays is a great powder. May I advise, DO NOT LOAD FOR SELF DEFENSE / CARRY PURPOSES! Buy a retail box of ammunition. Winchester's lawyers are better paid than yours.

[APynckel]

Oooooooh

Need any help converting them back to fired cases?

Those are all for the Les Baer Stinger. Break in ammo.

[DocV]

You are way out in front of me!

My Lee die set made it in the other day. I drilled a couple of holes in my work bench and set up the press.
I have been going slow and trying to learn from my mistakes. Those started off early. My steps, blunders and observations
are:
1: I already had a RCBS shell holder and left it in the press. I should have used the Lee shell holder with the Lee Die set.
Not a huge problem as the shell holders where within a few thousands and as my initial loads are all dummy practice
loading rounds that I planned to ruin anyway. I have switched over to the Lee holder now and will use it for all 'real'
rounds. If I am being totally retentive about matching the holder and dies, please let me live in ignorance

2: I had not separated my brass. Most of my brass is Winchester but I had some Remington, some S&B, some American Eagle
and some Federal Champion. The problem I ran into was that different brass acts differently in the sizing die. Whodathunk?
S&B, in particular, overstressed the decapper which prompted me to learn how to readjust it through the old tried-and-true
repetitious practice. After becoming quite familiar with the operation of my decapper clamp, I also learned that by adjusting
my stroke I completely avoided launching the decapper into the ceiling.

3: The RCBS primer catcher
Enough said. Well, I can add that the cat was rather upset by having primers all over his floor. I would go on about just how
upset the cat was but this is a family-friendly place. Fortunately, Mrs. DocV was elsewhere which allowed me the opportunity
to avoid having to beg for forgiveness - again.

4: I did not prime any cases as I want Mrs DocV to be in the house so she can enjoy me blowing myself up. I also wanted to clean out
my primer cases with the Lee tool that I bought. I learned that different brands of ammunition have a different 'feel' when I clean
the primer pockets - especially Federal Champion that refused to allow me to use the large primer pocket cleaner. I believe I will
continue hand-cleaning primer pockets as it gives me a chance to once-over the brass once again and to separate brass by manufacturer and primer size.
I also decided to re-tumble some of my brass and concluded that the value of additional, post depriming, tumbling in my walnut media
did not live up to my expectations.

5: The expander die adjustment mystified me. For the life of me I could not get a case to 'hold' a 230gr Hornady FMJ regardless of
how deep I attempted to push the die. I settled for the recommended one turn back-out and what appeared to be a balancing act
of getting the boollet to sit on the case. Although I managed to fumble through with the strategy I need hints.

6. I used a factory load to set the bullet reseating die to seat two entire boolets in cases. This seemed to work well and eased my concerns about case sizing - somewhat. The boolets managed to seat in the cases just fine. My OAL measure is 1.26 and is easy to control!! My plan is to err on the side of lower pressure and slowly, very slowly, make adjustments as needed.

7. I used the factory taper and crimp die on the most conservative of settings. I was a bit worried about this but my results seemed satisfactory in that my two-round dummy load cycled fine in all of my 1911s.

Next comes powder and primer selection and live loading. I have not yet spent the time to inventory the local gun store's for powder availability but will do so soon. My powder candidates are: Bullseye due to its alleged historical use in 45ACP; Unique as I have heard it is fluffy and might clue me in if I attempt to double load a round, and; Clays. Any other powder suggestions, or advice about primers is most welcome!

[mjoplin]

DocV, interesting observations on the shell holder. I wouldn't have expected any difference as I would assume that any holder would align to the center of the ram. Will always stick with same brand holder/dies based upon your comments. How far off was it??

I sympathize with the decapper. I had several slipping issues when trying to poke primers out of military 30-06 brass, where it is crimped in place AND sealed with lacquer. No probs yet on 45, but no S&B brass...

You came to the same conclusion as me on the expander die. Just used the recommended setting and took care to balance the bullet. Never had an issue with my single stage, but could see this as a challenge with a progressive in the future.

I'm using Clay's and CCI large pistol primers and happy so far with the results. Will be looking for a range report after you get the powder and primers!

[DocV]

DocV, interesting observations on the shell holder. I wouldn't have expected any difference as I would assume that any holder would align to the center of the ram. Will always stick with same brand holder/dies based upon your comments. How far off was it??

My calipers say three thousandths. The difference is probably not at all important in 45 acp but less forgiving calibers might care about such things.

I sympathize with the decapper. I had several slipping issues when trying to poke primers out of military 30-06 brass, where it is crimped in place AND sealed with lacquer. No probs yet on 45, but no S&B brass...

S&B is lacquered. One thing I noticed about S&B is how clean the cases are. I wonder what powder they use.

You came to the same conclusion as me on the expander die. Just used the recommended setting and took care to balance the bullet. Never had an issue with my single stage, but could see this as a challenge with a progressive in the future.

That is comforting! My first thought was I might want to go for the load volume of a progressive. As I see it now, the single stage is much more forgiving.

[mjoplin]

After doing this for a couple of months, I don't see a progressive in my 1-2 year horizon. I like the idea of the single stage running in batches so I can examine each load, take time with each bullet, etc. I only run through a couple of hundred rounds at the range twice a month with my 45, and maybe 150-200 30-06 a year. Slow, steady, and meticulous works for me right now.

[Don2]

After doing this for a couple of months, I don't see a progressive in my 1-2 year horizon. I like the idea of the single stage running in batches so I can examine each load, take time with each bullet, etc. I only run through a couple of hundred rounds at the range twice a month with my 45, and maybe 150-200 30-06 a year. Slow, steady, and meticulous works for me right now.

At this time, I do not have a progressive metallic press. I am now using a Redding T7 turret press.
I see no problem using a single stage or turret press to make your ammo, like you mentioned...I "feel" closer to the process this way and can adjust my methods to get the type of ammo I want at that time.
I use a few add-ons to speed up the process like a Hornady case activated powder drop with the Hornady PTX dies.
But, I have the time to look into each piece of brass with a mounted LED light to check powder.
I do not shoot in comp's or other manors that need a lot of ammo very quickly.
Most of my shooting is at targets set-up in my back yard (about 20 acres or so from my house ).
I have the time I need to create ammo I use. Some that do not have the time would surely need a progressive press to keep up.
I'll get another at some point, but now I'm happy enough.
Plus I also make most of my bullets...Thats another whole hobby in itself

I do have some progressive shot shell presses...Oooops....Thats another sub-hobby
I've been loading for a bunch of years now and just love it...plus there are so many aspects of reloading one can get into.
Some people just want ammo to shoot, other want to control as many items as possible, so far I just load, cast my bullets and have made my own bullet lube etc....What can I say...Its FUN..!!

Be Safe & Have Fun.
Don2

[Don2]

I love my single-stage press - but I bought my Hornady LNL progressive because I run out of time these days. I pretty much get only Saturdays off each week, so I have to make that one day off count - and spending half of that to crank out 500 rounds of ammo on my single-stage doesn't work for me.

Now to find time to alloy my lead, cast more boolits, lube 'n' size them.... this hobby is non-stop

Yea Andy, I have read about your new LnL you got a while back when you were sick..!! Yuk....
It will be my next purchase when I decide I want another progressive...Everyone I have read about that has one loves it. I have read about a few small problems, which some may have been operator error???? Who knows but I am mechanically inclined so I feel I can handle it

I also have a few other single stage presses that sometimes I set them up for different operations which works well also.
Thing is for me...I have more time than more money at this time...I have four kids out and about that need a little help at times...I think thats a better investment than a new progressive press at this time for me
Thats just the way it is with kids...I say kids but they are all from 24 to 33 Yrs old.

Oh well.....Have fun with your Ammo Factory

Don2

[OldCannon]

We all have priorities, yup.

The LnL runs great - it's been very reliable with zero issues other than the usual operator error in getting used to it; I'm very pleased.

I am in the finishing stages of setting up an LnL right now. Like any other AP system, the hardest part is the initial setup. You can easily put an entire day in from unboxing to final tuning, and that's assuming you have all your parts (I got "lucky" with my Hornady and had some small parts missing -- they were VERY quick at getting me the right parts, but...sigh).

I'm set up now to be a reseller of Hornady stuff as well, so my plan is that if you buy a full LnL system from me, I'll take the time with you to get everything up and running here at my place, so that all you have to do is bolt it down at your house and start pulling the lever

[Don2]

We all have priorities, yup.

The LnL runs great - it's been very reliable with zero issues other than the usual operator error in getting used to it; I'm very pleased.

Thats good to know....Unless something else comes up, I will buy a LnL AP next time.

Does the LnL AP have both a brass and a bullet feeder available? Or would that just be the Ammo Plant ?
The problem is, I just don't think I need that many finished bullets that fast. Or is it just a case of " I Want It" ?

But I really like it, And it looks so good too..!!

Don2

[OldCannon]

We all have priorities, yup.

The LnL runs great - it's been very reliable with zero issues other than the usual operator error in getting used to it; I'm very pleased.

Thats good to know....Unless something else comes up, I will buy a LnL AP next time.

Does the LnL AP have both a brass and a bullet feeder available? Or would that just be the Ammo Plant ?
The problem is, I just don't think I need that many finished bullets that fast. Or is it just a case of " I Want It" ?

But I really like it, And it looks so good too..!!

Don2

You can buy the press, the case feeder, and the bullet feeder all separately. Frankly, I don't see much value in the bullet feeder, but I do in the bullet feeder die (which doesn't come with the bullet feeder because it's caliber-specific). It lets you drop bullets in from the top of your press, instead of reaching inside where all the cartridges are. Also, the bullet feeder dies come with a powder through expander of matching caliber (aha! Hornady doesn't tell you that).

[Don2]

We all have priorities, yup.

The LnL runs great - it's been very reliable with zero issues other than the usual operator error in getting used to it; I'm very pleased.

Thats good to know....Unless something else comes up, I will buy a LnL AP next time.

Does the LnL AP have both a brass and a bullet feeder available? Or would that just be the Ammo Plant ?
The problem is, I just don't think I need that many finished bullets that fast. Or is it just a case of " I Want It" ?

But I really like it, And it looks so good too..!!

Don2

You can buy the press, the case feeder, and the bullet feeder all separately. Frankly, I don't see much value in the bullet feeder, but I do in the bullet feeder die (which doesn't come with the bullet feeder because it's caliber-specific). It lets you drop bullets in from the top of your press, instead of reaching inside where all the cartridges are. Also, the bullet feeder dies come with a powder through expander of matching caliber (aha! Hornady doesn't tell you that).

Soooooooo...Let me get this straight.

If one would buy the bullet feeder die only and set it up in lets say a single stage press...I would just drop the bullet into the top of the die and seat the bullet as normal? Correct ? OR does it need other bullets behind it for weight/pressure/Something to push against ?

Reason I'm asking this is, I also use a Redding T7 turret press with 7 stations on the turret, I have a Hornady Powder Activated Powder Drop and Hornady PTX installed to my powder measure in one of the stations on the press.
So now if I got the Hornady bullet feeder die and positioned it after the powder drop and feed a bullet into the bullet feeder die, it will be seated and ready for any other process?????

Hmmmm...I was reading a while back where someone on YouTube and someone on another forum did this but used a tube to store the bullets in with a support to keep it steady. I understand it will NOT work as good as with the bullet feeder assy. on it and will not be as fast, but it would help some in my situation and keep my fat fingers out of the way of the ram too..

What say you?

Ps...I understand that the Hornady bullet feeder die works better than the RCBS die because RCBS has a plastic (something) inside that breaks/wears out easy?

Don2