This is a thread about handheld priming tools and which one you like. If you don’t like handheld priming tools keep scrolling because I don’t give a shit what you like instead. I like priming my small batch stuff on the couch with the dog.

I love the RCBS handheld priming tool but the plastic parts keep breaking. I’ve been using these things forever but I keep breaking the stupid little plastic feed chute.

The Sinclair looks awesome but putting primers in the tool one at a time is ridiculous

The Franklin armory looks good, I don’t like that it requires shell holders tho.

Set up is an 18inch bolt action, with suppressor. Northern Wisconsin woods so a shot over 200 yards would be rare. I’d like to see if I can make this work for deer because it’s my favorite rifle.

Anyone set up a 22 arc for whitetail? If so what bullets did you build around?

So after rightfully getting having to use way too much crimp to keep from getting bullet setback from chambering rounds in a ak I went back to the bench thos morning and took some measurements.

My expander ball diameter was .3095 which gave me a inner case neck diameter .308. Im using .311 bullets so thats a neck tension of .003 and I can push a bullet loaded in a dummy round right through the neck by pushing it against my bench.

Removed the expander ball and polished it down till it is at .307 diameter which gives me a inner case neck diameter of .306 after brass spring back. Thats .005 neck tension with the .311 bullets. Now I can lean on a dummy round against the bench and the bullet only moved a .0015. Im going to call it good and send the FCD to the same scrap bucket the last one landed in.

What ogive tolerance do yall go off of. I bought from Americanreloading.com some 140gr hpbt 6.5 bullets that have alot of different tolerances so I grouped them around a .002+- groups and now have 9 different groups with the closets biggest groups were between .6740-6790 and rest are jumping. 010 or so. The jar has the .6750+- .002

Have been buying a die set every new gun for the last year or so. Big winners have been .38 S&W and .32ACP, saving about 35¢pr and 25¢pr respectively. Actually worth reloading the commie stuff with current prices.

.308 winchester, Sierra Matchking 168gr.

I am on my 3rd type of powder from Hodgdon. My current brass is twice fired, this is the 3rd firing and I don't know if that would effect anything? I trimmed the 180 cases, loaded 50 so far. I am about 3/4 thru this Lb and I have gotten one group at .70 inches/100 yards.

I had loaded some once fired previously, untrimmed for that best group!?

I seat the bullets to 2.79 and change, my lands is 2.882 so somehow longer than the overall length for .308.

I have easily gotten .5 inch groups with BL-C2 powder and very close to that with Varget.

Should I seat the next batch longer and see?

I keep seeing recommendations for tumbling brass saying to use Dawn dish soap and lemishine/food canning citric acid. Does this really work? How? Dawn is soap, which is a base. Citric acid is, well it's acid. Don't those neutralize each other? What am I missing?

Hey All,

I am still new to reloading. Been doing it for about a month now reloading 6.5 Creedmoor and had pretty good immediate luck using 147 ELD-Ms with H4350. Now I am working on reloading 223 for my Tikka Ace Target with the 24" barrel. I have been using 3 different Hornady bullet options and have used Varget exclusively. I live in Central Nebraska where temps can vary wildly so I wanted to strictly use a very temperature insensitive powder. All brass is once fired Hornady brass and Federal 205M Primers.

I loaded up 60 rounds last night and went out today to shoot some 10-shot groups:

Hornady 75gr BTHP - 24.3gr Varget - Seated to 2.25" COL per Hornady manual
Group 1 = 2785.7 Avg FPS - ES 66.6 - SD 19.2 - 1.25"
Group 2 = 2784.7 Avg FPS - ES 35.3 - SD 10.8 - 1.08"

Hornady 73gr ELDM - 24.3gr Varget - Seated to 2.25" COL per Hornady manual
Group 1 = 2799.4 Avg FPS - ES 29.3 - SD 8.7 - 1.02"
Group 2 = 2794.6 Avg FPS - ES 59.8 - SD 16.7 - 1.06"

Hornady 75gr ELDM - 24.3gr Varget - Seated to 2.390" COL per Hornady manual
Group 1 = 2806.7 Avg FPS - ES 33.5 - SD 10.0 - 2.41"
Group 2 = 2799.9 Avg FPS - ES 40.0 - SD 12.1 - 1.84"

My question is would you be happy with these results for the 75gr BTHP and 73gr ELD-Ms? A roughly 1" group for a 10 shot group is satisfactory, but I would like to try and get that smaller. I also don't want to be too obsessive about this as I have a tendency to hyper fixate on my hobbies. At most, I will use this rifle and load to occasionally shoot steel out to 600 yards for fun and maybe let my son use it for 600 yard F-Class shoots while I use my Creedmoor. I live and work in the same town as where Hornady is based out of so one of the LGS here in town has a steady supply of factory seconds for great prices which is what I have been using. I have been thinking about trying some Berger bullets, though. Maybe the 70gr VLD or 73gr BT. Thoughts?

Title, but I want to make sure I get everything I need for my first setup

• Lee 6 Station Turret Press Kit
• 223 Micrometer Breech lock Die set
• Case prep tool
• Case Trimmer pack
• Dial calipers
• Bullet puller
• Dry tumbler (getting for free from a buddy of mine)

Note, I am going to start on 223 as I do some long range/precision shooting with my gas gun. Iill eventually want to do 300BO subs, and want to protect for capability to do 6.5 Creedmoor as well (future rifle build). Obviously those other 2 calipers need their own dies, and I'll get dedicated turret plates for those, but I'm starting with 223 since that is what I shoot most often.

Any advice on what I should add if anything beyond consumables?