GregJ

I just pulled about 100 rounds last night with the Grip and Pull, in about 45 min. Best money I've spent in a long time.

Ordered the Grip-n-Pull on the 11th, got it yesterday. Pulled about 20 rounds last night. This thing is slicker than snot on a door knob. It works great for 230gr RN, and it doesn't booger up the bullet, so I can reuse them as practice rounds. I had just one that took more than the first attempt. It must have been seated a tad deeper providing less bearing surface, but all the others came out on the first try. Only caveat with it, you need a single stage press for it to work. The kinetic hammer is getting an early retirement.

My LGS had some Clays. Very surprised to see this, so I picked up a # bottle to test. What was more concerning though, was they had removed the W231 label from the shelf.

I saw that earlier. I might have to give it a try. Edit: I just ordered one. Will report back how it works.

I have the kinetic puller, and an RCBS puller. The kinetic takes too long, and the RCBS does not work very well with 230gr FMJ RN bullets as there doesnt seem to be enough of a bearing surface for the collet to grip onto. Only other option I have seen is the Hornady Cam Lock. Anyone have experience with this one? Or one that will work with 230gr jacketed RN?

Make no mistake about it, wet tumbling is a PITA. I tried it because I was tired of the dust and the media everywhere. The cleaner brass is a benefit, not my prime goal. As much as I try and shoot and reload, there is no way I am going to handle the brass more than I have to, so no way I will deprime before tumbling. If I was retired, and had too much time on my hand, maybe. Brass in the oven for an hour at 170* seems to work nicely for now. I will be ordering a food dehydrator. Thanks all.

This confirms my suspicion. Thanks.

I recently joined the wet tumbling band wagon, and have noticed a lot more duds, rounds that take 2 or 3 strikes before they light off, and weak loads, than I ever have had. Loading 45ACP, mixed headstamp, Hornady LNL, 4.5gr WST, 230gr Zero bullets. I had dried my first couple of batches of brass by putting them in a 5 gal bucket, with a tray in the middle of the bucket, two large holes on the bottom to let air out, and setting a fan on top of the bucket for an hour or so. Even after several weeks of storing them in the (finished) basement where my bench is, I noticed powder sticking to the inside of the case when checking weight of powder drops. Either the brass was still wet, or there was some residue left in the case. I used 1/2 Tsp of Dawn, 1/2 Tsp of Lemishine, and 1/2 Tsp of Turtle wash and wax in a Frankford Arsenal tumbler. Brass is tumbled with the Primers in. I would have thought certainly they would have dried over a period of several weeks time. I loaded a batch with brass from the walnut shell tumbler, as a comparison. I will see how they shoot tomorrow. I suppose I will need to find some other way (besides wife's stove) to make sure the brass is dry. Anyone run into a similar issue with potential wet brass?

I've been using them for over 2 years now for my 45ACP Major loads. Best thing since sliced bread. Previously, I had a lot of setback issues with mixed headstamp brass. I had to sort my brass to make sure certain headstamps were used just for matches. I tried Hornady, RCBS, and Dillon dies, all same results. With the EGW, no sorting by headstamps, no more setback. Life is much better.

I am so disappointed in Hornady's gimmicky approach to this. I refuse to get one. I have used my VP for a few years, but it started to be very finicky and a PITA to work. I went back to my Lee primer tray setup, using an engraver as the vibration source, and fill tubes in half the time as the VP. I really wished Hornady would come up with a real solution to feeding primer tubes.

^^^ THIS !!! I have not used a beam scale since I got mine. Best thing since sliced bread.

I picked up N310 last year, as I too was running low of W231. I did not like it for SS Major. It took a lot of powder to get close to major. IIRC it took near or over the posted max charge. I have been running WST for some time, and it works well. Could meter better, but good enough. When my stock gets to the point of replenishing, I will be going to something else.

Per CED literature: With incredible accuracy, the Patented Infrared Screen Set eliminates the need for sunlight when using the CED Millennium Chronograph system, and gives you the freedom to record velocities under any lighting condition, or if you choose, no light at all! This seems to indicate I should be able to use them in full daylight, or in a box.

The 166 and 169 PFs were 3 shot strings each. Just like at a match. No I do not connect my M2 to a computer, I just copy it off, but I do clear all memory before any new testing. RE bullet weight, maybe. Still, very tough to sample. I may as take one out of the pile waiting to load and weight it to use to calculate the PF of each string. I may try again on a bright sunny day, and try with the regular screens and with the IR screens.

I suppose a better test would be to chrono a string with the screens not in a box, and one with them in a box, and see what the delta is.

No I did not try using the regular screens. I have used the IR screens exclusively to ensure the round is read, and not have to worry about the light not being right. When I chronoed with mine, temp was 70* clear and nice. Temp at match chrono was 90* clear and fairly humid. No I did not weight a bullet. I did basically what is done at the match chrono (sans weighing a bullet), fired a string of 3 rounds, averaged, and calculated PF with a 230 g bullet (not weighed). I did this for 2 strings. Given the delta, I doubt weighing a bullet would have mattered that much. I'll have to pull the SD/ES/AVG off the CED tonight. But not having that data from the match chrono, not sure what that will show.

Not sure if my CED M2 is accurate or not. Unfortunately there is not another one in my area that I can compare it to. Loads are 45 ACP, mixed headstamp, 4.6gr WST, 230g Zero. Two days before the VA/MD sectional match my loads chronoed at 722/PF166 and 737/PF 169. Temp was about 70* At the match they were 775/PF 178. Temp was about 90* and humid. My chrono, as well as the match chronos, were CED M2 with the RF screens. Match chronos were boxed, mine was not. WST is supposed to be slower when it gets hotter. This is a pretty big difference, so I wonder if I may need to send mine and have it checked out.

I bench mine at 25 yds. I want to know exact POI/POA, as we often have steel at this distance, and I want to have the confidence of knowing what my zero is.

It was a great match. Bill and company laid down some very challenging stages. Finished 4th in SS, behind two M's, and no Mikes for the day. I'm happy.

RCBS Chargemaster 1500 scale. Then upgrade to include the powder drop if you need it. I have been extremely pleased with mine.

www.redstitchtactical.com Great products by great guys. One of our local matches use them exclusively. Contact guys at gravitastactical.com , they might be able to get you better prices.

Guys I shoot with are having a sale on their 8 rnd mags. They are Metal Form bodies. I've used them for almost 2 years now, work great. http://gravitastactical.com/product/gravitas-tactical-45-magazine-3/ EDIT: Should have read post closer. You're looking for 40 mags.

I hate 700X. Cornflakes meteres better in my LNL. Anyone in the NOVA area that needs some, PM me. AA2 meters very well. I use this for practice loads, keeping my WST for matches.

I've seen the $28 bullet feeder, no desire to do that. The time I spend loading the tubes I can spend cranking rounds out. I'll take a closer look at the Mr. BF post, tks.

I've been thinking about adding a bullet feeder to my LNL, already have the case feeder, all set up for 45ACP. But I have a few questions: - I have the EGW-U die and the Powder Funnel powder through expander. I have tried the Hornady powder through expander, but it adds a significant amount of resistence, so I switched back to the Powder Funnel. I have read the Hornady bullet feeder die will only work with the Hornady powder through expander. Is this true? - Preferences on the bullet collator, and why? Hornady or Mr. Bullet. - Until I get the bullet collator, anyone drop bullets into the feeder by hand?