Reloading hacks

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Reapergunworks

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Background, I've been gunsmithing for a couple of years now and just got into handloading. I'm starting off very basic with a lee classic handloader.

Primary cartridge I'm reloading right now is 9x19 but will eventually get into 40 s&w and 45 ago.

Are there any tips and tricks that anyone uses such as using the walnut reptile bedding as tumbling media? Or I have also heard of using nushine car was as a polish sub in your tumbler.

Also, when you seat the bullet on your 9mm casings what is the range for overall length of the cartridge?
 
When you seat the bullet on your 9mm casings what is the range for overall length of the cartridge?
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1.000" to 1.169" or longer if you're loading for a gun that can take a longer cartridge, such as a 1911, and your magazine and chamber throat will accept it.

The OAL is determined by what fits in the magazine and chamber and feeds reliably.
 
Yes, the lizard litter and car polish are pretty elementary and popular as dry tumbling media. Tumbling times will vary depending on the results you are looking for. Two hours is probably satisfactory for most.
 
When you say “.1” tolerance”, do you mean +/-.1” or +/- .05”? In any case, it depends on what will fit your gun’s chamber and its magazine. A 1.15” COL with some bullet types will fit some chambers and not fit others.

And what is “45 ago”?
 
I interpret .1" tolerance as 1/10th of an inch which in most handgun considerations would be excessive. Now if you are meaning .001" that would be acceptable in most cases.
 
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Reapergunworks wrote:
Are there any tips and tricks that anyone uses such as using the walnut reptile bedding as tumbling media?
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You can use reptile bedding, but some people have found it ground too coarse to be satisfactory as tumbling media. Buy 15, 20 or 30 pounds of walnut or corn cob media from an on-line seller and you'll only be paying a few bucks more but you'll be sure of getting the correct grind.

Or I have also heard of using nushine car was as a polish sub in your tumbler.
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It is called NuFinish.

I don't use it.

I suggest you try tumbling in just the media to establish a baseline. That way you will have a basis from which to judge the effect of what you add.

Also, when you seat the bullet on your 9mm casings what is the range for overall length of the cartridge?
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What does the reloading manual say? Follow that.

If you don't have a manual, go buy one.

If you don't want to spring for a reloading manual, then look up load data on the website of the company that makes the powder you are using. For example:

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

http://alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

http://westernpowders.com/

Would .1" tolerance be acceptable with all popular handgun loads?
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Heaven's No!

In its section on the 9mm Luger, the Speer Manual includes a discussion on bullets setting back under recoil because of inadequate neck tension. This would also apply to bullets intentionally set lower than the specification given in the manual. It noted that when bullets were intentionally set 0.030 inch deeper (that's 3/100 inch - less than a third of the tolerance you are suggesting) a load that had generated safe pressures saw the pressure more than double. Start throwing around an assumed 10/100 inch tolerance on ALL handgun loads and your nickname will be "lefty" before too long.
 
Would .1" tolerance be acceptable with all popular handgun loads?
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45 acp. Auto correct. Yeah I meant plus or minus .1"
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Even where tolerances are generous, like for COL, +/- .1" is too much, especially for "all popular handgun loads". That's a .2" spread. SAAMI only allows .169" from min to max COL for 9mm Luger and only about half that for .45 ACP, just to pick two popular ones. And that takes into account all different bullet types and shapes.

Just curious, do you have and have you read a reloading manual?
 
Reapergunworks said:
Background, I've been gunsmithing for a couple of years now and just got into handloading. I'm starting off very basic with a lee classic handloader.

Primary cartridge I'm reloading right now is 9x19 but will eventually get into 40 s&w and 45 ago.

Are there any tips and tricks that anyone uses such as using the walnut reptile bedding as tumbling media? Or I have also heard of using nushine car was as a polish sub in your tumbler.

Also, when you seat the bullet on your 9mm casings what is the range for overall length of the cartridge?
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Tips, hacks and observations for the reloading newbie:

9, .40 and .45 -- for the purpose of grinding out practice ammo, there's little difference between them. Heed the load data.

Don't bother measuring handgun cartridges case length.

Ditto, don't bother cleaning out the primer pocket on your handgun cases. Not worth doing for these.

Once you've reached a minimal level of capability, most of your equipment purchases are going to be for labor saving.
 
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Your questions betray that you have not read a reloading manual thoroughly. That is the first step for anyone considering becoming a reloader. I can recommend a few good ones as I have many and have read them:

Lyman's version 49 or 50
Speer #14

There are others of course but I found these two pretty much cover it all.

You made a good choice, reloading is FUN!
 
I worded my question really poorly when I said +/- 0.1"

I was thinking along the lines of seating a bullet 0.1" deeper than the Lyman 49 reloading book reccomends on all handgun cartridges that I'm loading but I saw the word SAAMI and did some researching and that answered my question. SAAMI has chamber drawings with min and max OAL for those cartridges and no one formula fits all.
 
I like crushed walnut shell and use fine liquid rubbing compound commonly found in any automotive parts store. Much cheaper than anything the gun/reloading suppliers sell.;)
 
I worded my question really poorly when I said +/- 0.1"

I was thinking along the lines of seating a bullet 0.1" deeper than the Lyman 49 reloading book reccomends on all handgun cartridges that I'm loading but I saw the word SAAMI and did some researching and that answered my question. SAAMI has chamber drawings with min and max OAL for those cartridges and no one formula fits all.
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but I saw the word SAAMI and did some researching and that answered my question.
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I do not shoot gages, I shoot reloaded ammo, If I am loading for a chamber I have I do not find it necessary to load ammo for SAAMI's chambers.

You saw the word SAAMI for the first time? That happens, another member thought he saw 'case head space' in the case drawings section, and? SAAMI said the case does not have head space. They did say that was a common mistake.

F. Guffey
 
When you say you do not shoot gages, what do you mean? Forgive me, I'm new to forums and don't know how to quote yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
NuFinish or Nushine or any other polish isn't necessary. Cases need to be clean not shiney.
If you're going to use a Lee Classic(that will be exceedingly slow) throw the daft scoops away and use a scale. The scoops can vary the powder charge plus/minus a full grain. The Classic can produce match quality ammo though. Just not quickly.
"....1"..." That's 1/10". Way too much. 1.169" is the Max OAL for 9mm. Works every time.
 
1.169" is the Max OAL for 9mm. Works every time.
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Not every time.

As for Nufinish, while it isn't necessary for cleaning brass, it does slick up the cases a little bit for easier sizing and less grab on the expander.
 
I don't believe it's a good idea to add wax of any kind to your tumbling media. I add a half teaspoon of silver polish which is a very mild abrasive but it contains an anti corrosive that adds to the shelf life appearance.
 
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