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Before any reloading is done I start with brand new brass. This is run
through my Bertelsman case trimmer and trimmed
to minimum length. Once it's trimmed, it's loaded for the first time and
fired in a match.
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Step 1: Brass brought home from the range is tumbled in corn cob media to remove dirt.
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I use a household strainer and bucket to separate the brass from the tumbling media.
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Step 2: Using a plastic bin I dump in a layer of cases and spray with lube.
With a lid on top the bin is shaken to get the lube on all the cases.
Another layer of brass is added and the bin is shaken once more.
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Step 3: Cases are resized on a single-stage press.
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I set up my sizing die by using a gauge that mimics the chamber in my
rifle. When I put a fully sized case in the gauge the length from end of
the gauge to head of the case should be 2.000".
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Step 4: The brass is tumbled in corn cob again to remove case lube.
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To load primers into the Dillon 550 I use these tubes to pick up
primers.
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Step 5: These are actually multiple steps performed all at once on a
Dillon 550b progressive press.
5a: When the ram goes up the case goes into a decapping die to remove any tumbling media inside
flash holes.
5b: When the ram comes down a primer is pressed into the primer
pocket.
5c: Drop powder into case.
5d: Check to make sure there is a full charge of powder in each case.
5e: Seat bullet.
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I check the amount of powder in each case with a homemade gauge made
from an old die, the body of a ball point pen, and a cap screw.
Normally the gauge is sitting down inside the body of the die (left
side of photo). When the charged case is raised up on the shell plate, the
tip (cap screw) of the gauge enters the mouth of the case. If there is a
full charge of powder, the gauge (ball point pen body) follows the upward
movement of the ram and rises high enough so I can see the white
line (right side of photo).
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The final result is a bin full of loaded ammunition.
All my ammo, including the powder charge, is the same for all yard lines except for the bullet. I
use Sierra 77s for 200 & 300 yards. The Sierra 80 is used for 600
yards.
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