[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

The only issue I have had with the shaving is when a piece gets stuck under my primer when I'm seating it. It has made a small indent in the primer. I just try to keep a can of air handy and a small brush to clean up. As far as shorten the brass life I haven't noticed any issues with brass casing I more often will crack a nickel case but I don't think it has anything to do with the shavings. This seems to only happen with my Lee dies.

Yeah I thought about switching dies to another manufacture just to see, but then I realized how dumb that was when I could just ask the experts here.

[650 set up tips or gotcha's]

It's a lot easier than any of the lee stuff to set up. Though I admit I still use lee dies and a pro auto disk on my 650.

[when storing ammunition and moving it....]

I have stored all my ammo loose for years reloads and factory never had an issue. My ammo all survived the drive from Texas to ohio bouncing around in a uhaul the whole way. It was stored in those surplus green ammo cans.

[Favorite steel target]

So I get my shipment from jabs on the 30th. I'll get back with a range report when I can.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

I get the same shavings on my 550. I just keep a can of air and a small tooth brush to clean it all off. I use Dillon dies and lee dies and it does it worse with the lee dies.

Have you seen ant problems with those shavings? I kinda wondered if it wouldn't shorten the brass life, but have yet to see a difference. Other than that just makes a mess mostly in my opinion.

[Favorite steel target]

So I bit the bullet so to speak and purchased a jab steel target.

http://www.jabssteeltargets.com/product/hostage-target-ar-500-2x4-post/

Thanks for the input guys

[Day at the range]

That always makes my day when I can leave the range with more brass than I showed up with.

[Mounting press with c-clamps?]

I've used clamps on my 650 for a couples years now never had a problem. I like to be able to pull it off my bench if I need the length to work on a rifle etc. I ended up bolting the press the a 2x10 and then clamping that down.

[Home made brass polish?]

A little mineral spirits mixed with some nu-finish car wax seems to be a popular combo. I've tried it and it works.

Does this work with water and ss pins?

[650XL press upgrades... Worth the cost, or a waste?]

Number 3 was one of the best upgrades I've ever purchased for anything. I got the one from inline fabrication. The number 4 upgrade I'm still on the fence about. Had it a few months and neither like nor hate it really.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

If you're using the Lee Auto disk with their powder thru expander die take a look at the expander. The neck of the expander may need to be polished to remove the machining marks. Be careful if you do this as it is easy to remove some of its flaring potential.

Yeah so I finally gor around to trunk all the dies one at a time to see where the shavings we're coming from and it's the Lee powder through expanding die. You can see tiny bits of brass all built up on the expander plug. So I guess I'm gonna try polishing that up first to see if it removes the problem.

[Lee Carbide Crimp Die]

Yeah I agree with my FCD I've had almost no rounds that wouldn't chamber. The few I've had were either errors on my part or so far out of spec you could see it visually (which was again a my bad).

[Wet tumbling brass - primers in or out?]

I've been wet tumbling for a couple years now and have tumbled with the primers both in and out. Probably about the same for most people either way. I tend to end up with some pretty dirty range brass sometimes (been laying in the mud, rain, snow for awhile) and those I always decap first. The primer pockets on those are really dirty with mud down in them sometimes, and I have had a few problems seating primers so I just decap first and the problems go away. That being said I've only ever had a few problems and that has been with exceptionally dirty brass.

[Favorite steel target]

The best steel target is one I can hit.

But for training, mebbe one or two 8" round plates? You don't need the whole Steel Challenge set, or the bigger targets, just a couple small plates to keep you honest, accuracy wise. They break down into the plate, a hanger end cap, the base and a length of 2x4, all of which will fit easily into the trunk of your car. Lots of vendors.

Get quality, especially on the plate.

The hangar end cap? Guess I'm not familiar. Ia it something you purchase along with the steel plates?

[Favorite steel target]

Looking to purchase my first steel target and was wondering what you prefer? I live in town these days and need something portable as I can't just set it up and leave it like some of you folks do. I was kinda leaning toward the silhouette style with those swinging target pads that pop in and out, but would love to hear the pros and cons of the other styles and why you like them. Also how do you mount said target? I was thinking of building something out of 2x4s as a stand but see you can buy metal stands as well. Thoughts?

Thanks

Josh

[Anyone loading for their Glock 42?]

I don't have a 43 but this load works well in everything I've put it in.

100 gr plated bullet from xtreme bullets. 2.8 gr of Red Dot. CCI 500. OAL 0.98.

Only grip about it is the charge is so small I have to tap my lee auto disk every round to get a consistent drop which kinda sucks but I don't load large quantities of 380.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

Most of my Lee pistol dies would do that. Some worse than others. No amount of adjustment would ever fix it. I ended up switching to Dillon and redding dies. Problem solved. I think its simply a QC issue.

Hmm so let me ask you this, does it hurt anything in the long run for pistol? I haven't seen any ill effects on the loaded rounds or the brass, but then again I don't have the expertise of some on this forum. The main reason I got into reloading was to duplicate the Winchester white box stuff I was buying then found out I kind of enjoyed the whole process and haven't saved a single cent haha.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

Yeah that happens a little when I uss brand new brass but never had it happen on fired brass. It's an odd one. How much bell are you putting on the case? I'm thinking it may be too much.

Yeah was my thought too so I adjusted the bell down till it was almost shaving the copper plating off the bullets and the brass shavings were still there.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

Yeah sorry I am using plated bullets but the shavings are brass.

[Brass shavings on the shell plate]

I've been loading for about 2 years now on my xl650. I do only pistol (9mm, 380 acp, 45 acp, 38 spec/357). I use Lee carbide pistol dies with a FCD from Lee. Oh and I use the Lee auto disk for my powder dropper. I guess my question was is the brass shavings normal? The pics are after about a 1000 rounds loaded. I didn't think anything of it really until someone said that the shavings in no way should be there. I typically use once (or more who knows) fired brass from my local range.