Cigar Box conversions plus custom boxes

.22LR, 9mm, 357 Sig, 38 Spc., 45 ACP, 45 Colt & 12 Gauge.

 

Rossi 92 Lever Action: Chambered in; 45 Colt - Standard Barrel and 38/357 - Octagonal Barrel

Done: Loaded to go...

Processing on the XL650 to having a Clean Case with new Primer. The T7 has three (3) stations set-up to: Load 6.2gr of Trail Boss, Set 200gr SWC then Crimp Case. 

Prime for Powder ...Processed on Dillon XL650 .. next Redding T7.. Powder, Bullet Seat then Crimp...

Time for a refill .. 45 Colt

Out of the vibratory cleaner, Full case sizing and deprime .. Clean Primer Pockets and ID-OD a light case rim clean-up..186 cases of 45 Colt.  I added a brush to clean inside of case.

Custom Full Wadcutters:.....

25 lbs at: 222 grains each, (25 x 7,000 / 222) ... approx 785 bullets. Cast and Powder Coated, diameter; 0.452". Next step; run them through the 0.451" Sizing Die.

45 Long Colt … Reloading Lot size 750+

The latest run on of 45 LC re-loading is complete.  A sum of 278 Cases loaded with 6.1 grains of Trail Boss and topped with a 185 grain copper plated SWC, a further 480 were topped with a 200 grain SWC.

Sharing the work between my Dillon XL650 and Redding T-7 proved to be relaxing.

I did change out the Lyman neck sizing die in favour of the Lee Universal die.  I prefer the Lee die for that function.

45 Long Colt .. Batch # 2 .. finishing up case prep

We have 764 cases thu. full case re-sizing, de-prime and primer pocket cleaning.  Now its on to loading large primers

Interesting to note one lone 44 Remington Magnum case was commingled.  VERY difficult to spot.  On the left we see the lone 44 Mag.

I’ll be using the XL650 for the bulk of the cases. I’ll also run a 100 on the T-7 to see how the Primer Tube option works with the Lee Auto-Drum powder measure.

UPDATE … I removed the primer tube option from the T-7 .. too finicky.

45 Long Colt .. batching 750 cases, batch #1

With both (T-7 & XL650) set up and ready to go.  I’ve set-up to first pass clean 750 brass cases.

Dry tumble and separate out the media, it’s off to the 650 to De-Prime.  Once that’s done I’ll process through the case cleaning for a 2nd time then clean primer pockets. We have 360 cases with primer pockets cleaned.

Primer Pocket Debris

45 Long Colt .. Case prep on the Dillon XL 650

Feeling a bit lazy I’ve set up a couple of stations in the XL650. This allows use of the Case Feeder and Indexing Priming System.

1) Full Length Case Forming and De-Prime.

Then; cleaning and prep on 750 cases, return to XL650.

1a) Primer loading.

The cleaned and primed cases will then move to the Redding T7 station 2.

45 Long Colt set-up on the Redding T7

Utilizing the T7’s die holding capacity I set up a separate Neck Flaring station.

1) Full Length Size and De-Cap .. Lee Deluxe Die 

    1a) Prime .. Winchester Large Primers

2) Neck Flare** .. Lyman M Die

3) Powder Charge .. Lee Auto Drum Powder Measure

4) Bullet Seat .. Lee Deluxe Die

5) Neck Crimp .. Lee Deluxe Die

**Neck Flaring: I have a few choices, this time I’ll use the Lyman M Die. Note: M Dies are caliber specific vs the Lee Universal Die. My M Die is set-up in the press, the Lee pictured below.  Which is best? Always fodder for discussion. In general the machine finish is superior on the Lee, Lyman offers caliber specific neck sizing along with neck flare. With Lee you buy ONE Die, Lyman its One Die Per Caliber .. $ vs $$$$$$$$.

Range Report: 45 Long Colt / 200 Grain SWC with Tail Boss

12 rounds of 45 Colt charged with: 8.3 grains of Accurate Arms No.5 (standard loading) fired as benchmark.

1 Round of Trail Boss charged fired - check… all good

11 Rounds charged with 6.1 grains of Trail Boss .. first rate.

Cartridge Cases: Clean, No pressure signs at primer, No excessive smoke.

1 Round, with Case Wad and Filler fired .. No appreciable improvement over standard Trail Boss loading . (Fiber/Paper Wad .. Dryer Lint Filler)

Conclusions: Change to 6.1 grains of Trail Boss, No Case Filler as standard loading. Use for both; 185 and 200 grain projectiles. 

XLV Long Colt .. First XV done .. Off to the Range

As in rugby, the first XV are ready for trials .. Trail Boss is a “new” powder for me, so best we Fire Test these re-loads before proceeding with more.

Seating and Crimping was very consistent, testament to the: Lee seating & Lee Crimp dies as set in the T7 (very sturdy press) Setting and Adjusting these Lee Deluxe dies is a tad easier than the Dillon pistol dies. That said, both perform well when set.

45 Long Colt .. Powder Charge CHECK #1

45 Caliber- 200gr. SWC verified. OK First five (5) charged cases checked and verified (measured). OK

45 Long Colt .. Loading Trail Boss .. 6.0gr.

Trail Boss is a High Volume relative to Mass (weight) powder. 6.0 grains metered out.Trail Boss, 6.0 grains in the Dillon scale scoop.

To better indicate when Lee Auto Drum Measure is set to: “OPEN FLOW” I added a RED mark on the casting inline with the hopper screw.

Note position of Powder Metering Screw; quite extended for just 6.0 grains of powder.

45 Long Colt .. Overall Length Set

Overall Length is set .. Redding T7 press and Lee Deluxe 45 Colt Die set.Here we have a Max OAL of 1.600” .. on these Copper Plated 200gr. SWC.  I set a couple of thou under .. 1.598”

T7 set-up for 45 Long Colt

All set for a first IMR Trail Boss / Auto-Drum trials.

A 2nd 45 Long Colt Die Set

The Deluxe 4 die set from Lee, this shall be specific to the T7 turret press.  E-Bay: $44.98.. No delivery fee.  Midway 39.48 .. $47.08 with delivery