[Armanov Case Gauge vs Shock bottle]

On 3/8/2019 at 12:48 PM, rishii said:

I have a shockbottle, I purchased it based on

made in the USA

shockbottle is a dealer here

the owner  Shred is a long time contributor here 

and it works, much tighter than my Dillon gauge

wait a minute, are you saying Shred is affiliated with Shockbottle?  I didn’t know that. If it’s true, then that makes my decision easy. Hundo it is. 

[100 round plunk tester recommendations]

Man, why can’t all of you just agree as to which one is better?  That would make my decision sooooo much easier!

 

 

I definitely need to decide and just order one soon. 

[Shockbottle Hundo]

Hey all, can anyone tell me how the Hundo compares to the Armanov version of the 100 round gauge, specifically for 9mm?

 

I never used one before, and not sure why I need one after 25 years, but it seems like just about everyone else is using one so why not me?

 

Thanks. 

[Where on the case feeder do you mount the MBF on an RL 1100?]

I guess it’s no big deal to just throw in a handful of brass and bullets when I refill the primers. Might need a stool to reach that high…

[Dillon Dies lead time?]

3 hours ago, Furrly said:

RCBS, LEE, REDDING.. just to name a few 

thanks, I always thought they were all pretty much equal, but I’ve only ever used Dillon or Lee dies. 

[Where on the case feeder do you mount the MBF on an RL 1100?]

While we are on the subject of bullet and case feeders, about how many 9mm Bullets and cases do you put in each hopper?  Do you fill them up?  Or do they work better at 1/2 capacity?  Or something else?

 

thanks,

-Cuz

[Why heavier 9mm rounds like 147 gr feel softer shooting than 115 gr?]

Thanks Guy. I tend to notice that not many PCC shooters use the 147s, while a good deal of the Production, Carry Optics, and Limited minor shooters seem to love them. Are they not as well suited to PCC?

 

[Dillon Dies lead time?]

8 hours ago, Furrly said:

There are much better dies out there then dillion

. Readly avilable 

 

Sometimes, it could be helpful to offer up your opinion of which dies are better, so we don’t have to wait a day for someone to ask you, and then another day for you to reply. 
 

maybe you could have said there are much better dies out there, such as…

 

 

[Why heavier 9mm rounds like 147 gr feel softer shooting than 115 gr?]

There were a few times when I thought it would be advantageous to switch from 124 to 147 gr Bullets. Then I figured the 147s would be too heavy for the PCC. Then I thought maybe the 115’s would be best in the PCC, and good enough in the pistols. At the time I was shooting Berry’s copper washed Bullets and if I went with 115s, then I’d be driving them close to Berry’s max recommended velocity for their Bullets. In the end I stuck with the 124/125 gr Bullets as the perfect compromise for just about all situations. 

[New auto drive photo shoot]

Need more pics of Lena before I can decide if I like the fancy blue control box…

[Dillon Dies lead time?]

I wonder what is causing the die shortage?

 

I was able to find a set of Dillon 9mm and .380 dies a couple of months ago just by calling a few local gun shops that I knew stocked a some Dillon supplies. Also grabbed a spare parts kit for my 550 which was long overdue. 

[New auto drive photo shoot]

It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Mark 7 auto drive. 
 

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

1 hour ago, HOGRIDER said:

 

…In all fairness, I do use FULLY PROCESSED, once fired Winchester brass; or occasionally new Starline for testing purposes.......

 

 

 

 

thanks, I’m more of a mixed junk range brass sort of guy. That’s why I accept a large amount of variance in my OAL of loaded rounds, and SD at my chrono. 

[Primer stuck on depcappping pin]

4 hours ago, ddc said:

 

I use the Lee decapping/sizing die on multiple 1100 tool heads. I seldom have a problem with the case not lining up perfectly. Perhaps once per thousand at the very most. Probably much less than that. 

I have had alignment issues using the Lee die on a 650 as it seems to be less precise.  Careful tuning has pretty much solved that problem.

1100 not a big deal.

 

I'll see how the "modified" decapping pin works on the Dillon die, and if it gives me problems I'll try the Lee die.

Although, if I'm back to jacketed bullets, I think I'll want to go back to using the Lee Factory Crimp Die as I liked that, then, I may as well also put in the Lee seating die, because that was much easier to adjust...

 

So many dies, so little time...

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

3 hours ago, cbrussell said:

I am a big believer in the Lee Undersized sizing de capping die for all my pistol loading. Used it first for my 40 S&W and then 45ACP and all other pistol calibers.

 

I agree, I also used the undersize die in 40 cal when I shot Limited with my SVI, but I haven't loaded or shot 40 cal in more than 10 years.

 

[RL1100 Press Extra Light System - What Do you use]

This looks nice.

how hard is it to remove the tool head to install it?

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

5 hours ago, cbrussell said:

I use these below the tool head. Worked on my old RL1050.

https://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1745

thanks, I’ll keep those in mind if I decide to put the Lee dies on. I did prefer my Lee FCD over the Dillon, but had switched it out on my 550 when I was loading coated Bullets because I heard the Dillon was better. There’s a thread on that discussion here somewhere. 

[Blind old fart sight questions for G41.]

I gave up on the sights, and sent my G41 slide to C&H Precision to have them mill it for MOS adapter plates. Not sure what optic I will put on it yet. I have a Burris for now. So I’ll use that until I decide. That’s why I went with MOS cut rather than DMR. 

[Where on the case feeder do you mount the MBF on an RL 1100?]

Thanks all,

I will check both Lowe’s and Hope Depot next week after I get the RangePanda bracket. I’m sure one of them will have the 3/4” black pipe by then. If not, I’ll ask them about curtains threading a longer piece. 
 

[Where on the case feeder do you mount the MBF on an RL 1100?]

I wonder if 1/2” pipe will work as well as 3/4” pipe to mount the MBF?

 

My local Home Depot didn’t have the right length, so I bought 1/2” pipe instead. It certainly looks strong enough to support the MBF hanging down from the ceiling. 
 

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

Update, the Lee decap/size die is too short to install.  I would need about 3 more threads to make it work.  I guess I could put the lock nut under the tool head, but I don't like that.  I filed down the Dillon decapping pin to flatten one side and I'll try that.

 

I am a little annoyed that spent primers miss the cup and fly all over the place.  I got a primer catcher thingy from RangePanda when I ordered the MBF mount, but now I'm sort of dependent on watching for the primer to fall out of the case to make sure it didn't get stuck.

 

I got the primer seating issue squared away, or at least I think so.  I'll take my son to the range tomorrow and we'll see if we get any light strikes.

 

[Where on the case feeder do you mount the MBF on an RL 1100?]

21 hours ago, Sigarmsp226 said:

Dang - You are right Cuz - I guess I just got lucky when I was ordering my bracket and ordered the right one…Sorry for the confusion I almost created for you there….Was not intentional….. Mark

 

Ha, no problem.  I ordered it, now gotta get to Home Depot and score some 3/4" pipe.  I may try to hang it down from the ceiling, or out from the wall, rather than straight up from the countertop.

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

Thanks all,

Dillon had the exact video I needed.  I will adjust seating depth and test.

Still getting some stuck primers, going to try my Lee Die since I already have it lying around. 

 

When I have some free time I may just have to watch all the RL 1100 videos.

[Same weight bullet and charge, 2 calibers, same PF?]

I'm sure you will see a difference in velocity due to the difference in case volume between 40 and 45.  I don't know how big a difference, but if I take a 9mm, 124gr JHP bullet and load it with 3.9gr TiteGroup powder, and then vary just the oal from 1.40 down to 1.070, I get different velocities which = different power factors.

 

And, with regard to barrels, if I chrono the same load in an STI Eagle 5.0, a Glock 17, and a Glock 34, I get more than a 5 PF difference between the lowest (Eagle) and highest (Gen3 Glock 34).  What's really interesting, is that I added a Gen5 G34 to the mix, and with the same load, the Gen5 G34 chronos lower than the Gen3 G17.  I wasn't expecting that.

 

[RL 1100 new press setup issues.]

Thanks for the info.

Next issuue, I'm getting light strikes when testing ammo.  I think in 20 years on a 550, priming on up stroke, I've probably had less than 10 light strikes due to the primer not seating.  Now, I'm getting 2 or 3 every 15 shots.  I'm using the same two Glocks, and yes they do have lighter 4.5 lb striker springs.  But that's never been a problem.  I guess I'll have to figure out how to adjust the primer seating depth gizmo.  Hmmm, maybe this time I'll start with the Dillon videos and see what they have...

 

This has definitely been a learning process, that's for sure.