The pleasure of good tools

S

stubbicatt

New member
I just finished loading 100 45 ACP rounds using the Lee Classic Cast turret press and my RCBS APS hand priming tool. Everything was smooth, and such a pleasure to use.

Was a time when I would shoot so I could reload, but not so much anymore. I see reloading as a bit of a chore, and so I put it off whenever I can. So today I got all set up and while nothing can totally relieve the tedium of the chore, the use of good tools just makes it so much better.

I actually enjoyed that 100 rounds. :)
 
I actually enjoyed that 100 rounds.
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Of course you did. Why? Because you are a handloader ;)

Yes, there is no substitute for the right tools. I had the good fortune of having a mentor steer me in the right direction the first time. Per his recommendation, I purchased all RCBS equipment to get started. A starter kit; and a single-stage press. Most all the items I purchased back in 1984 are still in use - the press (RS-2), the powder hopper (Uniflow), the trimmer, etc. The scale started doing "funny things" a few years back - so I had to replace that. Anyway, I could go on. My point made.

I am a handloader too - as opposed to one who simply loads their own ammunition. We enjoy the craft of loading. Those who load just so they can shoot usually end up not loading at some point. I know a few garages with loading equipment stuffed in a dark corner, collecting dust. If it's not something one enjoys, it will be a chore. If it's a chore, they will find their time too valuable to do it. The loading ceases. The loader who enjoys the craft of loading will be the one who continues to do it.

Speaking for myself: I even enjoy brass reconditioning. And I do all my work on that same single stage mentioned above - I have no other press. If that isn't amazing enough, I load/shoot some 1200 rounds/month. Is there some sense of drudgery? Yes, a little. But for the most part, I truly enjoy all my time at the load bench. It's therapeutic.
 
Once you get the lee safety prime, you will enjoy it even more. That eliminates having to remove the shell from the ram to prime it, saving time. If you're not already using the pro auto disc measure, then once that is in use, it will speed up the process even more.
 
I used to dread about 4 aspects of rifle brass prep/loading, and then got tools that take the tedious nature away from that.

Dillon media separator- no more shaking cases of 223 after sifting through a collander to get media out.

Cts trimmer- no more putting a case in the trim pro to measure, and trim if need be,

Rcbs case prep center- no more chamfer/debur by hand, and a easy way to brush neck/primer pocket, and remove crimped in primer pockets.

Rcbs chargemaster- easy way to charge cases, and load ladders with powder that does not want to meter well.

Pistol was not a big deal with the classic cast turret with the pro autodisc and bullseye powder that meters well for me.

But yes, I agree tools make all the diffrence.
My rifle brass prep is about a unhurried 20 seconds per case, it used to take considerably longer before.
And they are all done the same way for consistiency.
It is an enjoyable process now.
 
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When you are relaxed, practiced, and everything clicks along like its supposed to, I enjoy the mechanical repetition... Up to a point.
Somewhere around 500 rounds I start to get tired of it.
My Lee Turret is a really well thought out design and works quite well,
But after a couple hours you will get tired of about anything.

That's why I got the Dillon progressive for bulk reloading.
The powder thrower isn't quite what it should be, and it will have a case feeding glitch or primer glitch here and there, but its still about 4 times faster than I can crank out hand loads on the Turret press.

Comes in handy when I'm cranking out 'standard' practice/field rounds in 1,000 count batches.

They say you can do between 600 & 1,000 rounds an hour,
I average 300-350 with good quality control, and that's still two or three times what I do on the Turret press...

What I like most about my turret press and rock Chucker is the feel & feedback you get from the ram, you can feel every hesitation, snag, pull, ect.
You just can't get that with a press doing 4 or 5 things at the same time, just too much going on...
 
One way to combat the "drudge" of reloading is to "batch reload". Sometimes I'll clean as many cases as my tumbler will hold and come back later and screen them from the media and put them in a plastic container. Mebbe at a later time I'll inspect and size/decap a bunch (until I get tired of the particular task at hand). For my revolver and/or rifles shooting lead, I'll flare and prime and store, or just prime and store. Then when I have a load in mind I'll charge and seat bullets (and crimp if necessary). This seems to me to "make ammo faster/easier", because each step is broken down and done separately. I have a lot of primed and ready brass for most of my guns stored in baggies and all I gotta do is grab a bag, set up the powder measure and scale, and finish 100 rounds...
 
There are some loading I do in smaller batches. 38 special, .380, 32 cal.
I do them on the Turret press or the single stage, usually 50 at a shot.

But for the volume shooting, 9mm and 45acp. I usually do runs of 1000 on the progressive.

Some times I load for fun. Some times I load for volume.
 
I loaded on single stage presses for years but I've been using a Dillon 550 for the last 2-1/ years, I'll never go back to a single stage except for testing and rifle loads.
 
One way to combat the "drudge" of reloading is to "batch reload".
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I agree with this. In fact, I keep my reloading equipment at my office and when I have a spare bit of time, I do any one of the functions in preparation of the finale... the progressive. De-capping, loading wet tumblers, spraying lube, even priming in short bursts can be done quickly. And then, when everything is ready, I set aside a few uninterrupted hours to make finished cartridges. Never gets boring, and it's fun bringing home packaged ammo for the locker.
 
But to the OP... yes, good tools (and I might add a well thought out loading center) makes an otherwise tedious chore something enjoyable, satisfying, and relaxing.
 
After almost 40 yrs of reloading l finally got a bench just for it..l even bought a new top mounted RCBS Pro press.. Now no more dragging everything from the closet and setting up each time. ln fact l think l am shooting twice as much as l was before..
 
11:30am, 30 min before Gunsmoke, what to do. Knock out 100 45ACP, make a sandwich and still watch Matt and Festus, love my Dillon.
 
Agreed Snuffy. Unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the large primer punch. :o I telephoned Lee and they have sent it out.

Even so, I actually enjoy using the RCBS hand primer. Never a cocked primer with that tool, and the feel of the primer bottoming in the pocket is unmistakable.
 
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