Reloading kit

Glensman

Inspired by the fact that most of the good members of this forum aren't actually allowed to reload; I've decided to make use of the opportunity I have to legally reload.

The general mood on this forum seems to be that reloading will be allowed in the 26 sometime soon enough... I thought it might be useful if I chart my foray into the hobby and point out some of the successes and difficulties.

I will try to cover equipment, load development etc etc.

Firstly I've started by buying reloading gear from America, I wont have this gear for a few weeks so it will probably be a month before I've anything useful to say.

From reading reviews and seeking advice from another forum; I've decided to follow the RCBS brand. I was told to avoid Lee as I would end up upgrading later in the day- which I want to avoid.

I have gone for the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit:
http://www.midwayuk.com/apps/eproductpage.exe/ShowProduct?saleitemid=646599

I have also bought RCBS dies in .223 and .270:
http://www.midwayuk.com/apps/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?SaleItemID=362266

I have also gone for RCBS Shell Holders #3 and #10.

I think I have everything I need within what I have pruchased to get started... I may need a case trimmer and I'm pretty sure I need a case tumbler. But apart from that I'm fairly set

declan1980

well best of luck with it glensman, i'm seriously jealous here

FISMA

Glensman wrote: »

I think I have everything I need within what I have pruchased to get started... I may need a case trimmer and I'm pretty sure I need a case tumbler. But apart from that I'm fairly set

Glensman,
Good luck and well wear!

You will need a tumbler and a pocket cleaner, although cleaning the primer area is probably do-able with a good stiff toothbrush.

I doubt you will need the case trimmer yet. If you are reloading once fired brass they say you will probably be alright. The more reloading of the brass, the more likely you'll have to resize. You should have something to check the length like a caliper or chart.

Get a few more books. I see you will be getting the RCBS - I would recommend Hornady and Lyman's reloading books. Don't take any one book's word for powder loads. I like to cross check 2 or 3, in case of a typo.

Keep the brass gun specific. If you have multiple 223's - yourself or in the family, make sure you write down from which rifle the brass was fired.

The bullet puller hammer is nice to have as well. I also like the powder trickler and auto primer.

Be safe!

Glensman

declan1980 wrote: »

well best of luck with it glensman, i'm seriously jealous here

Well hopefully everyone will get the opportunity!

I would say that there is a grass-greener factor here. If someone is getting good results from factory ammo there is really no need to start.
I have looked at Clive's Hunting Rifle Group thread, and trust me- plenty of people have no reason to be reloading at all!

I am going halves with my shooting partner on all the gear needed- that is taking a lot of the sting out of the initial investment.

johngalway

Glensman wrote: »

Inspired by the fact that most of the good members of this forum aren't actually allowed to reload; I've decided to make use of the opportunity I have to legally reload.

Glad we could help

Good luck with it

Glensman

FISMA wrote: »

Glensman,
Good luck and well wear!

You will need a tumbler and a pocket cleaner, although cleaning the primer area is probably do-able with a good stiff toothbrush.

I doubt you will need the case trimmer yet. If you are reloading once fired brass they say you will probably be alright. The more reloading of the brass, the more likely you'll have to resize. You should have something to check the length like a caliper or chart.

Get a few more books. I see you will be getting the RCBS - I would recommend Hornady and Lyman's reloading books. Don't take any one book's word for powder loads. I like to cross check 2 or 3, in case of a typo.

Keep the brass gun specific. If you have multiple 223's - yourself or in the family, make sure you write down from which rifle the brass was fired.

The bullet puller hammer is nice to have as well. I also like the powder trickler and auto primer.

Be safe!

I forgot to add that I have already bought the RCBS bullet puller/hammer!
My Dad's an engineer, so I have no shortage of vernier callipers etc.

Some of the .223 brass will be once fired, but not from the rifle they are going to be fired in from now on, will this make much difference?

Traumadoc

You should look at a few videos on how to reload, when I started i did not have much of a clue, the video helped a lot.
You could probably fid one on youtube or on the rcbs site.

Glensman

Traumadoc wrote: »

You should look at a few videos on how to reload, when I started i did not have much of a clue, the video helped a lot.
You could probably fid one on youtube or on the rcbs site.

I've watched a few alright but they were mostly progressive presses.
I'm going to call to a local fella who loads .243 and get him to show me the ropes.

I literally had no intention of getting in to reloading for a few years- but people on here are always complaining about it lately so I felt like maybe it was time to get my arse in gear. Having someone to split the costs with is also a big factor :cool:

poulo6.5

Green with envy.

i look forward to hearing how you get on. i want every dirty little detail:D

Cass

Good man. No point letting the opportunity go to waste. Might i also suggest a Hornady/Stoney point OAL gauge. Great tool and gives you exacting measurments to get the perfect seating depth.

Glensman wrote: »

Some of the .223 brass will be once fired, but not from the rifle they are going to be fired in from now on, will this make much difference?

Some brass from anothe rifle may not chamber in your rifle. If it will not chamber try full length resizing, use a medium load and this will fire form to your chamber. From here on out simply neck sizing will suffice.

If the brass fits your chamber then neck size from the start and work on developingg your own load.

arrowloopboy

Lucky boy,

It really pisses me off every time i'm in Cabelas and theirs 2 whole ailes of of reloading goodies ,that i can't legally use:mad::mad::mad:.

Enjoy your new toys:D.

Glensman

arrowloopboy wrote: »

Lucky boy,

It really pisses me off every time i'm in Cabelas and theirs 2 whole ailes of of reloading goodies ,that i can't legally use:mad::mad::mad:.

Enjoy your new toys:D.

I'm looking forward to it! But it'll be a few weeks before I load my first rounds...

zeissman

Glensman wrote: »

I've watched a few alright but they were mostly progressive presses.
I'm going to call to a local fella who loads .243 and get him to show me the ropes.

I literally had no intention of getting in to reloading for a few years- but people on here are always complaining about it lately so I felt like maybe it was time to get my arse in gear. Having someone to split the costs with is also a big factor :cool:

Glensman, Have you seen Hand loading for the long range shooter by Darrell Holland ? My mate downloaded it and I found it very good.
Send me a PM if you want a copy of it.

FISMA

Here's a nice quick link from RCBS offered as an overview on reloading.

BTW Glensman, did you qualify for the rebate?

Glensman

FISMA wrote: »

Here's a nice quick link from RCBS offered as an overview on reloading.

BTW Glensman, did you qualify for the rebate?

Thanks for the link! But I don't think I qualify, I bought from Ebay, although the whole set up is new

2 weeks to my mum comes home from the states with the kit... She's in Vegas form 2moro :mad:

pedroeibar1

I have more than some doubts about reloading. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, and I’m certainly not having a go at Glensman, who clearly knows what he is at.

I fully understand the hobby aspect, the target guys’ need for experimentation, then for precise loads, standardization, etc. and also realise that there is a small cost benefit. BUT. How happy would you be buying a gun from a reloader? We’ve all seen the number of posters on here who swear by high power cartridges, who think that 3’’ magnum is necessary for duck. Put a reloading kit in their hands and it is recipe for disaster. Yes, Darwin will root out the big offenders, but I guess there will be many weakened barrels and shakey actions after reloading is introduced. I would be very careful in buying on the second hand market, as the gun could be put out of Proof.

There is a classic marketing case-study for one of the cake mix companies – in their initial recipe the cook had only to add water but they soon were flooded with complaints. They discovered that many customers were using milk, some were adding an egg, all believing that they were ‘improving’ the recipe, when what they were doing was screwing it up. How many reloaders will say ‘Ah shur, another few grains will be no harm!’ ??

If reloading does happen, methinks it will be like the centrefire handgun licence

(FWIW the cake mix company then left out the powdered egg and milk, the recipe required the cook to add them herself, complaints stopped, sales soared because the cook believed that the product was more wholesome and there was a feel-good factor for adding input.)
P.

Tackleberrywho

Pedro
For reloading to happen here, one will have to have done a reloaders course, where safety videos will be shown and reloaders will probably have to pass a basic exam to get a permit to reload.

I like just add milk pancake mix for the record
If we make reloading legal we legislate and regulate it.
MNSCI will be a prime example of this.
reloading is not have as dangerous as poor maintenance
Not cleaning a rifle/shotgun will do more harm .

I look forward to loading .223/.308/.40 to my "Recipe" for a smaller fee and to bring a whole new dynamic to the sport. And increase my accuracy.

In regards to 3" Magnums being too powerful? :rolleyes:

Glensman

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

I have more than some doubts about reloading. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, and I’m certainly not having a go at Glensman, who clearly knows what he is at.

I fully understand the hobby aspect, the target guys’ need for experimentation, then for precise loads, standardization, etc. and also realise that there is a small cost benefit. BUT. How happy would you be buying a gun from a reloader? We’ve all seen the number of posters on here who swear by high power cartridges, who think that 3’’ magnum is necessary for duck. Put a reloading kit in their hands and it is recipe for disaster. Yes, Darwin will root out the big offenders, but I guess there will be many weakened barrels and shakey actions after reloading is introduced. I would be very careful in buying on the second hand market, as the gun could be put out of Proof.

There is a classic marketing case-study for one of the cake mix companies – in their initial recipe the cook had only to add water but they soon were flooded with complaints. They discovered that many customers were using milk, some were adding an egg, all believing that they were ‘improving’ the recipe, when what they were doing was screwing it up. How many reloaders will say ‘Ah shur, another few grains will be no harm!’ ??

If reloading does happen, methinks it will be like the centrefire handgun licence

(FWIW the cake mix company then left out the powdered egg and milk, the recipe required the cook to add them herself, complaints stopped, sales soared because the cook believed that the product was more wholesome and there was a feel-good factor for adding input.)
P.

That's a well argued point using a very good example.

I'm looking at it from a different direction though, I know a lot of reloaders, I read a lot of reloading sites... If americans and english people can reload responsibly; I don't see why Irish people cant do the same.

I myself have no intention of running a hot load, but no doubt Plenty of people will to try to squeeze the most out of their chosen round... That's up to them! But you're right the second hand rifles they sell wont be worth the buying...

poulo6.5

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

I have more than some doubts about reloading. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, and I’m certainly not having a go at Glensman, who clearly knows what he is at.

I fully understand the hobby aspect, the target guys’ need for experimentation, then for precise loads, standardization, etc. and also realise that there is a small cost benefit. BUT. How happy would you be buying a gun from a reloader? We’ve all seen the number of posters on here who swear by high power cartridges, who think that 3’’ magnum is necessary for duck. Put a reloading kit in their hands and it is recipe for disaster. Yes, Darwin will root out the big offenders, but I guess there will be many weakened barrels and shakey actions after reloading is introduced. I would be very careful in buying on the second hand market, as the gun could be put out of Proof.

There is a classic marketing case-study for one of the cake mix companies – in their initial recipe the cook had only to add water but they soon were flooded with complaints. They discovered that many customers were using milk, some were adding an egg, all believing that they were ‘improving’ the recipe, when what they were doing was screwing it up. How many reloaders will say ‘Ah shur, another few grains will be no harm!’ ??

If reloading does happen, methinks it will be like the centrefire handgun licence

(FWIW the cake mix company then left out the powdered egg and milk, the recipe required the cook to add them herself, complaints stopped, sales soared because the cook believed that the product was more wholesome and there was a feel-good factor for adding input.)
P.

when is this cake license coming in. my missus has bin mixing cake illegally for years now, should i stay quiet about it or do you think i should ask her to stop as i feel guilty abut her breaking the law.

she has all the equipment like cake tins, geese proof paper and so on. is it ok to have this equipment or is it contraband. or is it only against the law to add flower and eggs. she also has self raising flower, what kink of black magic is that.

anyway must get back to the press as i have a few hundred rounds of dangerous bullets to make, these safe bullets you buy from the shop just dont do it for me:D

shootemall

poulo6.5 wrote: »

when is this cake license coming in. my missus has bin mixing cake illegally for years now, should i stay quiet about it or do you think i should ask her to stop as i feel guilty abut her breaking the law.

she has all the equipment like cake tins, geese proof paper and so on. is it ok to have this equipment or is it contraband. or is it only against the law to add flower and eggs. she also has self raising flower, what kink of black magic is that.

anyway must get back to the press as i have a few hundred rounds of dangerous bullets to make, these safe bullets you buy from the shop just dont do it for me:D

just wondering did you notice much of a diference in the accuracy of the cakes your missus baked over standard bakery cakes

Tackleberrywho

shootemall wrote: »

just wondering did you notice much of a diference in the accuracy of the cakes your missus baked over standard bakery cakes

Homemade tastes/shoots better

It's all in the love of preparation!!

pedroeibar1

Nice one Poulo.
I always avoid direct comment on the traits & attributes of a man’s dog or his wife and have no intention of doing so now, particularly when you use words like ‘kinky’ and ‘black magic’ in your descriptions of your missus and her activities. From what you’ve said I reckon she subscribes to the view that cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon, or not all. So, it appears you are on to a good thing and I suggest any adverse comment by you might result in being put on a diet, if you know what I mean. ;)
Rs
P.

Grizzly 45

For reloading to happen here, one will have to have done a reloaders course, where safety videos will be shown and reloaders will probably have to pass a basic exam to get a permit to reload.


FWIW..My cousin in Germany is a qualified reloader under German law,I asked him what is required for the liscensing thereof over there and the test.He said 95% of the course was studying LAW on transportation,storage,health&saftey,and types of explosives and their usage.JUST 5% of the Five day course[of a 2 hour class over four weeks,and one exam night] was devoted to the actual mechanics of reloading a shotgun,pistol and rifle shell..He said unless you have the intelligence of a small soap dish,[in which case you are technically brain dead,and shouldnt be near firearms or explosives anyway:eek:.]
It is virtually impossible to screw up the mechanics of reloading.


Point is as usual,In Ireland you can be assured somone in Govt or private contract will try and make a quick bob out of this,and make it as difficult for anyone to pass without at least three attempts at an outrageous price to resit the test.:rolleyes:
[Two prize examples are the driving test and HCAP.]
So I am always leery of anyone ever suggesting "simple tests" here,as they generally are never simple in the end!!

As for over pressured guns..It is the same stupidity as "chipping" your engine.Yeah,no trouble putting the chip in..What is it doing to the engine,drive train and gearbox?you will never stop people experimenting,but it will be easy enough I think to recognise them and the guns they will be selling...Just look for those guys with nicknames like "fingers","Blasty" etc and check out missing bits of anatomy.:D If there any bits missing,dont buy their guns.:eek:
OTOH it might be a good excuse to get the Irish proof house back in running,that any guns to be sold here must be in proof?

poulo6.5

shootemall wrote: »

just wondering did you notice much of a diference in the accuracy of the cakes your missus baked over standard bakery cakes

all depends on how you mix the parts together but consistency is the rule of the day.

happy cake sales

Hartman

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Point is as usual,In Ireland you can be assured somone in Govt or private contract will try and make a quick bob out of this,and make it as difficult for anyone to pass without at least three attempts at an outrageous price to resit the test.:rolleyes:
[Two prize examples are the driving test and HCAP.]
So I am always leery of anyone ever suggesting "simple tests" here,as they generally are never simple in the end!!

Nail..... Head

Deise Musashi

I used to reload years ago (legally in a different country), several different calibres including rifle and pistol rounds.

I never found the "hot" loads much good really, far too much muzzzle blast and when you see powder burning outside the barrel what's the point of having it go to waste?

The real benefit was the consistency round to round.

You can weigh the individual heads and sort them into groups of matching weights, measure and trim your brass, make sure your primer holes are clear etc. Then seat your primers to the same pressure each time, much easier using a primer tool than using the press.

All the powder charges can be weighed individually, I used to use a scoop to get most of the weight on the scales pan and use a powder trickler to add the last little bit. All those rounds are clones of each other, and a mild load lets you relax and concentrate on your shooting.

Outside of your press and dies, the gear I found that helped most was a dedicated primer tool, rotary case trimmer with matching guides for calibres, deburring tool for your trimmed brass, powder trickler, grain scale and lube. I liked the lube that was white cream stuff, tried graphite powder but it was messy and harder to clean off the brass.

Get a few trays to hold your brass and a funnel for pouring the powder charge in. A great way to pass hours of a winters evening. I do miss the order and zen like concentration in assembling rounds

Ah Bullseye and Vihtavuori, large and small rifle primers, boat tail and ballistic tips...hope we meet again!

Grizzly 45

http://www.shootingwire.com/story/238605)
Set up by RCBS it's an interactive forum dedicated to reloading.
Might be worth a look?

FISMA

Deise Musashi wrote: »

.. the gear I found that helped most was a dedicated primer tool, rotary case trimmer with matching guides for calibres, deburring tool for your trimmed brass, powder trickler, grain scale and lube. I liked the lube that was white cream stuff, tried graphite powder but it was messy and harder to clean off the brass.

Deise Musashi,
After how many fires did you have to start trimming your brass: once, twice, three, ...?
Thanks

Deise Musashi

It depended on who made the original bullet, some cases were more prone than others to stretch.
Calibre also made a difference.

I used to measure and trim as needed, but cases that readily stretched were usually binned after a couple of loadings, don't need a case seperating in the breech!

Glensman

I was watching a DVD I got from Zeissman last night (thanks mate, it’s great!)
I watched the first part last week and realised I ‘needed’ a primer pocket uniformer and a case trimmer... So I solved that ‘issue’. But from watching the fella seat the bullets last night I think I should have gotten a ‘benchrest’ die rather than a normal one; it seems it seats the bullet far straighter. Also, money is tight at the minute, but it seems a concentricity gauge is almost a necessity- unfortunately it will have to wait for a while...

FISMA

Deise Musashi wrote: »

It depended on who made the original bullet, some cases were more prone than others to stretch.
Calibre also made a difference.

I used to measure and trim as needed, but cases that readily stretched were usually binned after a couple of loadings, don't need a case seperating in the breech!

I have a lot of 30-06 Remington Ammo that I plan to reload, fired once. Obviously, I will measure the cases, but should I expect to have to resize the brass?

What big bores did you reload? Whose brass did you find to be problematic?

wingtip

Glensman get in touch with Mayfly, he's been doing various .223 reloads and seem to have a good menu for the Tikka T3 lite 1-8" twist
good luck mate

Deise Musashi

Obviously, I will measure the cases, but should I expect to have to resize the brass?

I would imagine so, often you can get away with just neck sizing a few times before full length sizing needs doing. For "clone" rounds I used to full length resize all the cases to keep them as uniform as possible.

What big bores did you reload? Whose brass did you find to be problematic?

.22-250, .270 Win, 30-06 and 30-30, 9mm and .45acp. I don't remember offhand which makers brass stretched most, I do seem to remember RWS brass being very durable though. I'll see if I can find my old notes and manuals from those days, I fear they've seen one house move too many and been "tidied away" for good at this stage

Glensman

wingtip wrote: »

Glensman get in touch with Mayfly, he's been doing various .223 reloads and seem to have a good menu for the Tikka T3 lite 1-8" twist
good luck mate

Yeah I was talking to him 6 months back when I was looking at a second hand kit. I think when I get all set up I'll invite him up for lunch and an afternoon on the bunnies and see if I can learn much from him...

I don't think his back would stand up to the goat stalking

wingtip

i'll gee him up when I get on to him tomorrow, l loved the craic up there last summer, goats sound more like a proper day out:)

Glensman

If the 2 of you want to come up and have a crack at a goat I'll happily act as guide and supply the rifle...

I can promise rabbits though- goats are harder to find!

Tackleberrywho

Glensman wrote: »

If the 2 of you want to come up and have a crack at a goat I'll happily act as guide and supply the rifle...

I can promise rabbits though- goats are harder to find!

Would you be interested in a 640GB ADATA ext harddrive for that mompod thingy?
I won it in work, worth around £55stg.
(sorry for going off thread, but I hate reading PM's as I can miss what's going on threads by reading and replying to loads of mails )

Glensman

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Would you be interested in a 640GB ADATA ext harddrive for that mompod thingy?
I won it in work, worth around £55stg.
(sorry for going off thread, but I hate reading PM's as I can miss what's going on threads by reading and replying to loads of mails )

Na mate. I have a 2TB and I'm in the market for another 2TB at some stage. I can get HDs brave and cheap...

I'm in no panic to sell the mono-pod, I haven't even tried it out but it's not what I was expecting so I'll probably sell to help fund the work I need Enda to do on my stock... It's yours if you want it, but I'd be wanting at least £60 for it.

Tackleberrywho

Glensman wrote: »

Na mate. I have a 2TB and I'm in the market for another 2TB at some stage. I can get HDs brave and cheap...

I'm in no panic to sell the mono-pod, I haven't even tried it out but it's not what I was expecting so I'll probably sell to help fund the work I need Enda to do on my stock... It's yours if you want it, but I'd be wanting at least £60 for it.

I have all my funds tied up at the mo, so trying to be creative! Every hoor I offered it for sale all want 2TB, WTF have yee young lads got soooooooo many hours of movies, and what kind of Movies

Worth a shot; pardon the pun.

On an Economy drive these days!

Glensman

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I have all my funds tied up at the mo, so trying to be creative! Every hoor I offered it for sale all want 2TB, WTF have yee young lads got soooooooo many hours of movies, and what kind of Movies

Worth a shot; pardon the pun.

On an Economy drive these days!

I have somewhere in the region of a 1000 films- so 640 is no use to me at all!
Good luck with the economy drive... The mono-pod isn't advertised so I wouldn't panic about me selling it.

Back to topic: My reloading kit is coming tomorrow morning! YaY. Gonna ring a joiner tonight to see if he'll come make me a work bench to bolt everything down to!

FISMA

Glensman wrote: »

I have somewhere in the region of a 1000 films- so 640 is no use to me at all!
Good luck with the economy drive... The mono-pod isn't advertised so I wouldn't panic about me selling it.

Back to topic: My reloading kit is coming tomorrow morning! YaY. Gonna ring a joiner tonight to see if he'll come make me a work bench to bolt everything down to!

Glensman,
Send in the rebate - what have you to lose but a bit of postage?

Glensman

FISMA wrote: »

Glensman,
Send in the rebate - what have you to lose but a bit of postage?

Yeah I'm going to give it a go and see what they say.

All the kit made it through customs this morning- havent had a chance to look at it. I cancelled the joiner that's coming to make the bench- I seen a length of smooth kitchen worktop for sale so I'm going to use that for the top of my reloading bench and just bolt the press to it

Glensman

Hi Lads,

Thought I’d give a quick update, I’ll also take some pictures of my work area when I get a chance.

I now have the press set up and have done some playing around with it. We Full-Length re-sized some .223 brass we had and did a ‘test’ .270 round.
What I did was take a once fired PRVI case and Full-length re-sized it, de-priming it in the process. I then seated the new primer using the hand-primer tool. You need a lot more pressure for this than you would think...

We hadn’t figured out the powder side of things yet, so we left the case empty, changed the die and seated a Hornady 130gr SST head. This all went very smoothly. I then compared my loaded round to a factory Hornady round I have and could see that my head is seated to deeply- I will have to correct this for again... (I am not buying a headspace gauge as I cannot afford it and you only really use it once)

So that was a couple of weeks ago and as it was raining last night I decided to try to figure out the powder side of things...
First you have to disassemble the thrower to remove any lubricant. Then you have to cycle around a lb of powder to get the thrower nicely coated in powder. The thing I found straight away is that with most charges I was losing powder; when it shoots out into the dish it is going too fast and spills- I have a feeling they do this on purpose to make you buy one of the Many Many attachments you can buy to correct this!

Next I tried to weigh my charge- this is where I am having a real problem!.. There seems to be an issue with the scales, it takes around 140grs of weight before the scale comes up to read zero. There are no parts to assemble and I’ve read the manual and I can’t for the life of me see what the problem is. It seems to be Very user friendly and once it starts reading it seems accurate but I don’t understand what the problem is.
I had a friend of mine take a look this morning in case I was being an eejit- but he can’t see the problem either...

So that’s where I stand now. I think if I get over the issue with my scales I should have my first loads ready for testing this weekend!

Cass

Nice to hear you're up and running. Couple of questions.

Glensman wrote: »

What I did was take a once fired PRVI case and Full-length re-sized it, de-priming it in the process.

Is it your own brass, as in fired through your gun. I only ask because i was wondering would you not simply neck size rather than full length resize.

I then compared my loaded round to a factory Hornady round I have and could see that my head is seated to deeply- I will have to correct this for again... (I am not buying a headspace gauge as I cannot afford it and you only really use it once)

A Horady OAL gauge runs around €40 and does the job perfectly to get seating depths. Worth getting.

Next I tried to weigh my charge- this is where I am having a real problem!.. There seems to be an issue with the scales, it takes around 140grs of weight before the scale comes up to read zero. There are no parts to assemble and I’ve read the manual and I can’t for the life of me see what the problem is. It seems to be Very user friendly and once it starts reading it seems accurate but I don’t understand what the problem is.

Which scales is it? Did you calibrate before using. Also allow it to sit for at least 30 - 45 minutes before using any digital scales.

Glensman

Ezridax wrote: »

Nice to hear you're up and running. Couple of questions.



Is it your own brass, as in fired through your gun. I only ask because i was wondering would you not simply neck size rather than full length resize.

Yes it is my own brass (in the 270 the .223 is second hand) I ordered a Lee Collet neck sizer last night as I don't want to FL re-size all my brass, it just happens the set came with FL dies

A Horady OAL gauge runs around €40 and does the job perfectly to get seating depths. Worth getting.

I must check that out... The guage I was shown in Young Guns is £120 so I didn't bother.

Which scales is it? Did you calibrate before using. Also allow it to sit for at least 30 - 45 minutes before using any digital scales.

They are the RCBS 5-0-5 scales. They seem to be a great job but as I say they are under-weighing the powder. I put a 130gr head on the scale and it didn't even register!

mayfly36

Dan, get yourself a set off digital scales mate, far more accurate, and far ore quicker, but remember to calibrate them before use, you should get a calibration weight with the digi scales. See if you can take a small video clip or some step by step pics and post them up. Its got to be something silly mate.

Glensman

mayfly36 wrote: »

Dan, get yourself a set off digital scales mate, far more accurate, and far ore quicker, but remember to calibrate them before use, you should get a calibration weight with the digi scales. See if you can take a small video clip or some step by step pics and post them up. Its got to be something silly mate.

I want to persevere with the balance scales as they look like they should be a great job, I just can't understand what the craic is.
Ollie's going to call up tonight in case it's me being silly. If not I might call in to young guns to show them to him...

If I find my camera I'll take a few photos tonight...

Cass

Neck sizing would nearly do you for your needs. FLR would be needed after a half dozen shots or so (depending on brass). Plus necking is easier on the arm than FLR.

This is a Hornady OAL gauge.



It needs two other componants. A dummy round as in the picture. Its a drilled and tapped piece of brass in the caliber size suitable to what you're reloading. It screws onto the OAL gauge. The otther item would be a comparator, also in the size you need (.270 or .223)



This measures the bullet from the ogive rather than tip. Its a more accurate method and gives a pretty good/exact seating depth.

Glensman wrote: »

They are the RCBS 5-0-5 scales. They seem to be a great job but as I say they are under-weighing the powder. I put a 130gr head on the scale and it didn't even register!

Balance beam scales. Simple and reliable. More so than most electronic scales. It sounds like two things. Either;

1. Its not set up right. No offense but with the powder pan on the scales and the weights set at 0 it should read zero on the scales. You then adjust the weights to the desired charge weight and add the powder until the scales gives a zero reading again. If the weights are in the wrong position it won't move until "too much" has been put in. I hop that makes sense. Its hard to describe by writing.
2. It could be "sticking". Either the beam is not seated right into the scales body or there is friction in some part that is preventing the beam from functioning until enough weight is put on the scales to "force" it to move.
3. Don't know if this could cause a problem, but make sure the scale is level. Its nor desinged to be affixed to a table/counter but has leveling feet instead. If its off level then it could take more to move it than normal. Its unlikely but worth looking at.

These are only guesses. If you could get a picture or two or even a video of it up it would give a better idea as whats wrong.

mayfly36

Ezridax wrote: »

Neck sizing would nearly do you for your needs. FLR would be needed after a half dozen shots or so (depending on brass). Plus necking is easier on the arm than FLR.

This is a Hornady OAL gauge.


It needs two other componants. A dummy round as in the picture. Its a drilled and tapped piece of brass in the caliber size suitable to what you're reloading. It screws onto the OAL gauge. The otther item would be a comparator, also in the size you need (.270 or .223)



This measures the bullet from the ogive rather than tip. Its a more accurate method and gives a pretty good/exact seating depth.



Balance beam scales. Simple and reliable. More so than most electronic scales. It sounds like two things. Either;

1. Its not set up right. No offense but with the powder pan on the scales and the weights set at 0 it should read zero on the scales. You then adjust the weights to the desired charge weight and add the powder until the scales gives a zero reading again. If the weights are in the wrong position it won't move until "too much" has been put in. I hop that makes sense. Its hard to describe by writing.
2. It could be "sticking". Either the beam is not seated right into the scales body or there is friction in some part that is preventing the beam from functioning until enough weight is put on the scales to "force" it to move.
3. Don't know if this could cause a problem, but make sure the scale is level. Its nor desinged to be affixed to a table/counter but has leveling feet instead. If its off level then it could take more to move it than normal. Its unlikely but worth looking at.

These are only guesses. If you could get a picture or two or even a video of it up it would give a better idea as whats wrong.

"If the weights are in the wrong position it won't move until "too much" has been put in"

This sounds like the problem to me, had similar problem when i started reloading with similar scales.

Glensman

Ezridax wrote: »

Neck sizing would nearly do you for your needs. FLR would be needed after a half dozen shots or so (depending on brass). Plus necking is easier on the arm than FLR.

This is a Hornady OAL gauge.


It needs two other componants. A dummy round as in the picture. Its a drilled and tapped piece of brass in the caliber size suitable to what you're reloading. It screws onto the OAL gauge. The otther item would be a comparator, also in the size you need (.270 or .223)

Young Guns was showing me one of those the exact same, but he was quoting me around £120 by the time I bought everything I needed



This measures the bullet from the ogive rather than tip. Its a more accurate method and gives a pretty good/exact seating depth.



Balance beam scales. Simple and reliable. More so than most electronic scales. It sounds like two things. Either;

1. Its not set up right. No offense but with the powder pan on the scales and the weights set at 0 it should read zero on the scales. You then adjust the weights to the desired charge weight and add the powder until the scales gives a zero reading again. If the weights are in the wrong position it won't move until "too much" has been put in. I hop that makes sense. Its hard to describe by writing.
2. It could be "sticking". Either the beam is not seated right into the scales body or there is friction in some part that is preventing the beam from functioning until enough weight is put on the scales to "force" it to move.
3. Don't know if this could cause a problem, but make sure the scale is level. Its nor desinged to be affixed to a table/counter but has leveling feet instead. If its off level then it could take more to move it than normal. Its unlikely but worth looking at.

These are only guesses. If you could get a picture or two or even a video of it up it would give a better idea as whats wrong.

I have checked all of that, but I will check again tonight. Paul 6.5 suggested that it may have something to do with the magnet in it. I'm not sure- they seem absolutely idiot proof! I'll have to look again tonight with fresh eyes....

See in-line

Cass

No offence to the guys in young guns, i don't them, but £120 is 3 times the price. Try Cecil in Tannyoky. Has them for £35 and if he hasn't got the comparators he can get them within a week or so. They are £8 - £10 each.

As to the scales they are fairly idiot proof. I guarantee, as you know yourself, that it is something simple. Lets us know how you get on.