Mastiff
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Posts posted by Mastiff
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Definitely reload to shoot. I'm not really fond of reloading, especially trimming rifle brass, but just can't afford to buy 1500 rounds every month. Working up loads for all six calibers I roll was interesting and educational in the beginning but the novelty wore off after a year or two.
There could be a separate thread on the ".223 reloading phenomenon". You're right. Rifle brass prep in general is labor intensive no doubt. But think of all those folks that went out and bought AR's and couldn't get ammo and then decide to try their hand at reloading. I'm all for new people learning to reload, but .223 is challenging to start out with. But like I say, that's a whole other thread for another day.
Dog
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Although reloading CAN be somewhat relaxing, I reload to shoot.
If I could buy finished ammo for what I spend on components, I could give up reloading as an activity easily.
Ok, now there's a good response. Sounds reloading for you is more of a utility than a hobby. You could take it or leave it. The question is, if you could give up reloading easily, would the alternative use value of your time offset the savings of the reloads? From my point of view it would. The people who claim reloading is less than buying factory ammo may be right, but these days, it's close when you figure the cost of the equipment, dies, etc. But the real issue is time. Bottom line is, what's your time worth? The only thing I know is the older I get, the more it's worth
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It's another Friday night where I get lazy and throw out questions that may have been discussed long before I ever found this great forum BE has for us. I was going to do a poll on this question, but polls are boring, besides, I like to hear everyone's take and commentary, so here's the question, and I want the truth...
How many of you enjoy reloading more than shooting? It doesn't have to be a yes or no answer. For example, I like reloading 65% of the time and shooting 35%. Or, an extreme response would be: reloading is a complete waste of time. I stop at the store, buy the ammo and shoot it, and then I let the brass vultures get on their knees and take 'em. I shoot, I want nothing to do with reloading. So where do you stand on this question?
If this has been asked before, I'll delete the thread.
Dog
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Good thread. I think the vast majority of us have stuff we don't NEED. I have only averaged shooting about 7k rounds a year for the last 3-4 years. And I only reload 9mm, 95% of which is MAJOR. Basically I never change anything on the press. I load on a 650 with case and bullet feeders and on a good day could load everything I will shoot all year.
So I pace myself and just go to the reloading room when I get bored and crank out 500 rounds or so. Funny part is, I am still looking for a faster way to case gauge my ammo when in reality I could gauge 100 or so a WEEK and almost do all of my yearly needs. The truth is I could literally load what I NEED on a Rockchucker.As for components, I have enough powder and primers to shoot at my current pace for 5+ years. Bullets for about 2 years. I guess that's technically hoarding but I only do it because I know what it's probably going to cost me to replace it all in 5 years, or 10. If I had the money and a safe place to keep it I would buy enough components to last me 15 years. By then I would be getting old and would probably be slowing way down.
Sarge, I think you represent a large group of us here. I think we'd all be hard pressed to find someone on this forum who buys just enough stuff to maintain parity with their shooting. You don't sound like a collector or hoarder. You are simply staying ahead of your needs and maintain a nice back up inventory.
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1050 (9mm), 650 (6 heads, 30-06, 308, 45 ACP, 40, 223, can remember the other), (3) Star progressive reloaders, one set up for large caliber pistol (45LC, 45 ACP, 44, 41) one for 38/357 and one in 38 super & .380, Rock Chucker with dies from 218 bee to 458 tons in between, Lee Single stage press, Lee Turret, Lee Pro 1000, Mec 76 Series Grabber Hydurlic 12GA, Mec 9000H 12GA, Mec 9000 in 20GA, Mec 600 28GA & 410GA, Lee Load All 12GA & 20GA. There may be more, not going to search now. Various case trimming and primer swaging tools, hand primers, (2) Vibra Prime automatic primer tube filler in Large and small , 2 tumbers.
Sold the Camdex that was in 38, that was nice machine 3800 rounds an hour. I grew up on a shooting range, Dad left me all this. Miss him dearly.
This is clearly a collection. This gentlemen certainly is using his inventory, but also many of the items have sentimental value. My dad was a WWII infantry vet and taught me how to shoot, I understand those memories, it's the great memories that make our lives so much richer.
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Well, I am not a hoarder of loading equipment, I definitely use just about everything I have and since I run a small ammo manufacturing company it's a lot.
However,
I cannot resist hording pyrotechnic tooling, supplies and chemicals. I have all sorts of rocket tooling to make up to 10 pounders, solid maple case rollers to make up to 8" shells, sifting screens from 10 to 100 mesh size, all sorts of rammers up to 2" to make fountains and such. I can't pass up good solid tubes, plugs, cardboard disks or endcaps of any type. Exotic chemicals I am likely never going to use like lampblack and nitrocellulose laquer.... but ya never know so I buy it just in case..
Just about every oxidizer and fuel know to man including aluminum, steel and titanium in assorted mesh sizes or stamped flakes.
It's a bad addiction...really bad.
This post is disqualified. He's in the business
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Definitely a hoarder. I've got the Mac Daddy 550 set up. 550B with the strong mount, roller handle, and bullet tray. I have so far only ever loaded .40 but in the closet I have five brand-new powder measures, five tool heads, and five powder dies. This is on top of the .40 set up that lives on my press. I also have dies in 9mm, .380, .45, .38, .308, and assorted rifle dies I'll never use. I'm also hoarding about 400 pounds of polished brass in assorted calibers that I'll probably never load. This includes the 150 lbs of .40 brass that I keep on hand. I'm out of bullets.
Sir, you don't just have some Dillon equipment, you have what is called in the securities world a "long position" in extra stuff. You should be featured in the next Blue Press.
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Silver nitride ceramic balls? C'mon Dillon, you just got to help me to understand how we need a set of balls like these to get the shell plate running smoother.
Sarge, you can buy anything from McMaster Carr. I don't know if they still print their catalog, but the darn thing had to be 5" thick...
Dog
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And here's why: it's still fresh in the zip bag from Dillon. So, I have protected myself from myself. The 1200 and I have a love hate relationship. If I don't succeed this time, Dillon should hit me for a $50 penalty.
I make the following pledge:
1. I will read the instructions
2. I will re-read the instructions
3. I will have a case in the die while adjusting
4. I will check my work before I flip the little red rocker switch on the box.
I can do this, I just don't know why I find this darn thing so intimidating. I guess the weight and mass of the thing vs. the amount of tolerance we're trying to control is weird for me.
Dog
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I think the wet tumbler is a must have. But buy a good one, there's plenty of great threads on tumblers on the BE forum. You'll hate a cheap tumbler. And don't forget, the stainless tumbling media will be roughly 20% of the cost of your new machine. Again, I don't want to hi jack my thread, but a tumbler cleans primer pockets and I love it. For that reason, I'm in.
Dog
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I see where you find that. I would agree that mounting the casting directly to the bench is more rigid. But the advantage to the SM is the height and clearance I have below my bench top. I have always had the SM's for the SL900 and XL650 - never a problem. But, I do think dillon may want to consider dropping one gauge in thickness and consider some gussets or cross braces in areas which may add ridgity.lAfter using the SM for a year or two side by side with another 650 mounted directly to the bench, I sold the SM. Castings don't flex much before they just break, sheet metal on the other had...
Dog
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.... Funny part is, I am still looking for a faster way to case gauge my ammo when in reality I could gauge 100 or so a WEEK and almost do all of my yearly needs. .....
If you want a faster way to case-gauge ammo, have you seen this?
http://www.benstoegerproshop.com/100-Hole-9mm-Chamber-Checker-Cartridge-Case-Gauge-p/cg9-100.htm
Yes, there is a 100-case Chamber Checker from EGW. But the one from Ben Stoeger fits cartridge boxes....so cartridge handling is cut dramatically.
This is fairly close to World Peace, in my admittedly limited view.
Chris
I think if your doing some high output, it might make sense. But it's a $100 each. If he can sell some volume, if he can drive the price down, I'd think about it. I'd like to see all of the other comments.
Dog
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As expexted, it was a faulty SM.
I went to my local reloading shop and switched out the SM. Not nearly the flex that I was experiencing.
He's going to return it to Dillon.
Y'all we're so quick to blame everything except a Dillon product. It bleeds Blue around here for sure
We do bleed Dillon blue because Dillon products work and they continue to provide us unprecedented service and no charge replacements year after year, But there are loads of threads attesting to that. Rarely do their products fail and many of the readers of this thread had probably not seen a strong mount behave like that before, so we assumed it had to be caused by something else. That's the great thing about the BE forums. We have some fun, but we are always anxious to help you or at least provide some ideas even though we can be wrong sometimes. For me, it's most of the time.
Dog
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Email Dillon the video. They'll know what's going on. I just can't imagine what would create that side load.I remounted. Same issue. SM was resting naturally when I mounted it. Mount is not bound up or attateched funny.
About 100 2.5" screws hold my bench together. The bench absolutely is not the problem.
Guess you guys didnt read it before, THE METAL IS FLEXING!
I think a 650 Only mount would flex less, as its 2" shorter.
Taking it to where I bought it last Friday. Maybe they'll have an idea to firm up the SM.
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I don't know. I use the machines bone stock. I just follow Dillion's instructions (except my RT1200 difficulties, but I will get that down).
Okay, for 8 bux I ordered the McMaster Carr set up and after using it for awhile, I decided to yank it. I think if you place the correct amount of grease, tighten the bolt correctly so the shell plate is stable but rotates well enough AND tighten the ram set screw, the machine does fine. I lived without this bearing set up for many years, loaded thousand of rounds and never had problems. I trust that as soon as Dillon has enough valid changes they need to make, they will up rev the current model. Wishful thinking?
Dog
Are you loading anything that is near full of powder? And you are not spilling anything? I can load minor 9 OK but 9MAJOR is pretty much a no go without the bearing or some other snap mod. Cases are about 3/4-7/8 full.
Sarge, I have loaded lots of 9mm and I admit I've thrown some powder, but it was very rarely. I played with the shellplate, bolt and grease a few times and when the planet, moon and the stars aligned, it seemed okay. I think a lot if may be that the operator smoothness helps too. Next time I swap out my .223 toolhead, I'll go for some 380 or 9 and see how I do. Will report results. If it's bad, I'll cop to it and throw the bearing back on and see if it helps. I just want to believe we can do without all these added doo-dads and the machines will work according to the book...
Dog
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I don't know. I use the machines bone stock. I just follow Dillion's instructions (except my RT1200 difficulties, but I will get that down).
Okay, for 8 bux I ordered the McMaster Carr set up and after using it for awhile, I decided to yank it. I think if you place the correct amount of grease, tighten the bolt correctly so the shell plate is stable but rotates well enough AND tighten the ram set screw, the machine does fine. I lived without this bearing set up for many years, loaded thousand of rounds and never had problems. I trust that as soon as Dillon has enough valid changes they need to make, they will up rev the current model. Wishful thinking?
Dog
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Wow. Can't say I've ever seen my 650 strong mount flex like that. I get a little, let's call it a "jiggle", at the case feeder, but it's never cause me any problems. I wonder if when the strong mount was bolted down if the legs weren't quite in their natural position and square to both the bench face and the 650 mount face?
This is the correct answer. The mount has to seat naturally on the bench all 8 holes 4 on the bench and the 4 on the base of the machine casting) must line up dead nuts. I realize there is some play, but less or none is best.
Dog
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This is one of those hobbies that if you're not into it, no one knows or appreciates what you're doing. It's not like looking at a beautiful classic car. So we all like this stuff I presume. Right now I consider my shop a mess, so please forgive me…here goes:
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98sr, I like your solution. I don't experience the flex. But I'd like to see what that Strong Mount base is screwed down on, meaning the bench top. If that bench top or whole bench for that matter isn't rock solid, anything can throw you off your game...
Dog
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How do you post a picture?
Just hit "ctrl C for one source and paste ctrl V in the thread. Not hard to find a good image out there...
Dog
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If we're talking about this part for the XL 650, it's been the part I have been using for 20 years. As long as the spring yields a full stroke with the nylon square forward and fully back, you should have a full charge. I could be wrong, did I miss the point of the thread. Just tighten up the blue wing nut with just enough spring left to get the stroke complete.
Dog
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Check out John's work - heirloom quality. I carefully used a drill fixture to hold a 90 degree hole and sharp wood bit. Patience is required to do this correctly. Measuring so the handles clear on the downstroke, your bolts will clear drawers, acro bins clear the sides, proper working space are all factors to think through before ever getting a drill near this workbench or should I say fine furniture:
http://www.americanworkbench.com/files/newmapleconstsingle.jpg
John's not the least expensive, but if you don't have the time to build it, or don't know how, it's a bargain and will outlast any of us! By the way, I don't work for John, he deserves the kudos, I love his work.
Dog
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I have asked the question, but really never admitted or discussed my obsession. First of all, before I buy anything I read, then I read some more and ask a lot of questions. I then deduce the info and do what I think will be right for me. And I ask the question, "will I really do it one day ?" If I say yes, I buy it, but may not set it up for a month or longer, but there is this sense of security knowing I have one. For example, I've been a Dillon progressive fanboy for nearly 2 decades. Then one day I started digging into the dangerously tempting Sinclair catalog. So rifle became interesting. Hey, I shoot rifles too, so why not reload cartridges for them too? Then I went crazy, bought all the tools, trimmers, reamers, champher/debur tools, Wilson products (I love) flash hole deburrer, primer pocket reamers well you know the drill. Redding became my best friend and fortunately it is a good friend because I like quality products. I don't buy calibers I don't shoot, but a I have a nice representation of most pistol competition dies from Redding as well as Dillon dies and common rifle like .223 and 22-250. I was very tempted to buy a set of Weatherby .300 because I inherited a gem Mark V from the 1960's. But I don't hunt, we just shoot target, but I'll take it out to the range just to say I shot it and made the ammo. But I'll still get a set of dies, just because. And then their is the tools, the workbenches, cleaning supplies, cases, mags, and you name it. I went out and ordered one of John's American Work benches, look him up by googling American Work Benches. This man makes the most beautiful benches for reloading you will ever see, and it takes an elephant to move it. I've got my 650, T-7, primer tubes, all 3 powder measures, and the SL900 in 12g and 20g, all there with shelves and acro bins lined up. I am so sick, I use a brother p-touch to label my bins. As far as components are concerned, well, let's say I'm fine there. I finally broke down and got set up with the Lortone tumbler and steel pins. That was a nice investment and recommend that highly. Summary, I stick with quality goods, no junk, but I love it all. There's nothing like receiving a fresh set of competition dies from Redding covered with cosmoline. Life is good. Just buy quality products, I'd rather have one great products than 3 crappy one.
Dog
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I have 4 1050s and load only one caliber (9mm). Just starting to load 223, though. Had to get a Super from Brian because the Redding comp seating die wouldn't fit on the RLs. Quick change tool heads for .40 and 38SC are just collecting dust.
Here's when you begin to reach a turning point. Do I collect or enjoy owning extra stuff that I may use one day (or never), or do I sell it to the next guy for some money I could put towards something else? Oh, did you hang on to those sets of a Redding comp dies too?
Dog
So I pace myself and just go to the reloading room when I get bored and crank out 500 rounds or so. Funny part is, I am still looking for a faster way to case gauge my ammo when in reality I could gauge 100 or so a WEEK and almost do all of my yearly needs. The truth is I could literally load what I NEED on a Rockchucker.
Reload to shoot or shoot to reload, or reload and don't shoot, or
in Dillon Precision Reloading Equipment
Posted
I placed a massive order of components with Midsouth months ago and I figured what the heck, if it comes it comes, and the prices were fair, like a brick of ssp at 26.50. Then, I forgot I placed the order. Guess what, I get a call Thursday. "Sir, you're order is here". What order? You back ordered this months ago, do you still want it? I said sure, and now I am poorer. Components are available, even Cabelas which is 2 miles away has a lot more. I try to drive by without stopping.