Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading
Check your pistol brass!
unfy:
Just got back from The Bullet Hole in Omaha.
Ran 50 rounds of my first batch of reloaded 40 S&W through my Sig P229 Equinox.
* Mix headstamp range brass
* 180gr Hornady HP XTP
* 6.0-6.5gr of Unique (6.7 or 6.8 gr is listed max under latest Speer, and my powder thrower wasn't being exceedingly consistent, prolly due to humidity)
* Winchester Small Pistol primers
A bit more recoil than factory, but it performed nicely. I'm relatively new to semi-auto pistols... so although my first shot is typically in the X, the rest of the magazine (even when at a slow assured pace) tends to be wander within 2-3 inches at 7yd). I prolly need to work on my grip, meh.
Picked up a hundred 40 S&W brass off the ground as well as some 45ACP. Was inspecting the brass on a smoke break at work and came across my first failed pistol brass, see attached pics.
So... don't assume pistol brass is good just because it hasn't been stepped on!
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justsomeguy:
Glad you caught it. Inspection should be part of you normal brass prep. Is it?
unfy:
Yeah, it's part of my routine. I've just seen so many people who will reload pistol rounds and basically just hammer through 'x hundred rounds per hour!^%!@#!@$'. I've always preferred a slow and careful routine despite having a fancy AP press.
I've also seen arguments about pistol brass being subjected to lower pressures so it's a lot less likely to fail, etc.
I've been debating if to make primer pocket cleaning apart of my routine or not. When reloading for a pistol that won't be used in competition target shooting it seems a bit moot... and it'd greatly add a good amount of time to the process. Would appear to basically have to tumble... then deprime and resize an entire batch. Pocket clean them all, then make the final run through to prime/charge/seat/crimp. I suppose... this could get further questions relating to if i were to actually go through and trim all of the brass. So far I've not really had any pistol brass grow to bad lengths... ?
Although - given that I've enjoyed hand loading much more as a hobby than as a way to produce inexpensive ammo.... I suppose I could go with the decap/size ... clean primer pocket, trim the brass if needed, then go about prime / charge / seat / crimp.
I will probably have to do this expanded routine eventually anyway. I really liked renting the p229 chambered in 357sig from the range. I balistically like the round (at 1300/1350fps it's not too far from a 357mag in energy or velocity), and I like how the gun performed with it.... so... I'm really wanting to get a 357sig barrel for *my* p229.
Being a shouldered pistol round, neck sizing / trimming is undoubtedly going to have to be apart of the operation.
justsomeguy:
Check out the RCBS Trim Mate. That sure seems it would speed the process up. I've never used one as do mine the old fashioned way.
unfy:
Hornady sells a similar device.... but I believe the RCBS tool is cheaper.
I've been avoiding reloading rifle brass just yet... have just a Win Model 94AE in 3030... but lack a range to go to for the 100-200yd shots... so there's not much point in me putting many rounds through it. Similarly, I'm eventually wanting a 308 chambered rifle... will prolly just put the $$$ down on a Springfield m1a match... heh.
When I do get to reloading rifle (or maybe even 357sig), I'll definitely debate a powered multi-nubby tool. I'd kinda like to do it by hand, but the ease of a powered tool seems nice as well. I just dunno. I'll prolly buy the hand tools first and then progress to powered if I feel the need.
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On a somewhat back on topic subject... I've noted much of my .40 brass has a slightly angled dent (1/8th of an inch long and not all that deep) about 1/4 inch or so from the case mouth. It appears on most of the brass I've collected, but not all of it. Is this dent from the gun expelling the spent brass after each round fired ?
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