Post by bigblue on Nov 29, 2006 16:14:51 GMT -6
Here's an excerpt from the Barnes Bullets December newsletter.
I hope you can use and enjoy the information.
Don
Ty's Tips
It’s winter again here in Utah’s Rocky Mountains. Snow is piling up in the high country and it’s cold enough to discourage me from most outdoors projects.
I’d like to bring this month’s tips inside by the fire, where it’s a bit warmer. The reloading bench keeps calling my name, so let me share some reloading tips to help make life easier and your loads a little better. I’ll also mention some of the tools that help us in the ballistics lab here at Barnes. Who knows—maybe you’ll find some of these tools in your Christmas stocking.
Let’s start off with case preparation. Before reloading, I generally tumble my cases in corncob or walnut shell media. These products are common—but after a few uses they simply don’t work that well. Rather than replacing that expensive media, I’ve found a product that rejuvenates it to near-new status. It’s called Flitz. Just a capful of Flitz and your old media polishes like new again. There are several other media rejuvinators on the market. Lyman, Iosso and Frankfort Arsenal all make similar products, to name just a few.
Nickel-plated rifle cases just don’t size as easily as old-fashioned brass cases do. They also have diminished case capacity and tend to give higher pressures with equal charges. I don’t often use them—but for those who do, I highly recommend applying a little Imperial sizing wax. This will eliminate stuck cases and reduce the scratching common with normal sizing lubricants. If you’re case forming, this product is a must. Redding has a version of the same product. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way. You’ll need to clean the sizing die often, as the wax will build up in the die and begin creating dents in case shoulders. I clean the die after every 50 cases. This isn’t necessary when sizing nickel-plated pistol cases.
Another great product for cleaning those nasty, corroded cases is 0000 steel wool. You don’t have time to tumble a few cases? Just break out the steel wool, and you’ll have them cleaned and ready in no time.
I find many customers still using the old lube pad and standard case lube. There’s nothing wrong with this method. However, there’s a faster, user-friendly product that saves time and effort. We use Hornady’s One-Shot case lube. I know it’s a competitor’s product, but I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t work great. We use it almost exclusively in the Barnes Ballistics lab. If you haven’t used this product, give it a try.
One of our favorite tools—and a “must have” for any Barnes Bullet reloader—is the Stoney Point Chamber-All Overall Length Gauge. This tool allows you to quickly measure the distance to the rifling in your particular rifle with any given bullet. Since Barnes recommends seating our bullets .050” off the rifling, this gauge comes in very handy. Sinclair also offers a version of this useful tool. Either will do the trick, but we usually use the Stoney Point version. I might add this makes a nice stocking stuffer.
We’ve begun using the RCBS Charge Master Combo to dispense powder charges in the Ballistics Lab. Included with the Charge Master is a small paint brush. At first, we didn’t realize how handy it would become. You know how powder sticks to the sides of whatever container you’re using? This little brush removes it as slick as a whistle. I’d suggest you get one for your reloading bench. You’ll find it has all kinds of uses.
Next is brake cleaner. You know, the stuff you can buy at the auto parts store for $2.99 a spray can? We use and suggest the non-chlorinated version. It has several uses including, but not limited to, barrel cleansing after using CR-10, flushing dirt from an action, and cleaning dies to remove lubricant buildup. It also does a marvelous job on spiders and those pesky flies that keep circling.
My last tip is something the lab guys came up with. We’re constantly hunting for the tiny Allen wrenches needed for setting dies, mounting scopes and handling various other duties. They’ve found an ingenious solution. Notice the cases holding the allen wrenches in the photos below.
As always, I’ve enjoyed bringing you these tips.
Here’s wishing you and your families a happy holiday.
Ty Herring
I hope you can use and enjoy the information.
Don
Ty's Tips
It’s winter again here in Utah’s Rocky Mountains. Snow is piling up in the high country and it’s cold enough to discourage me from most outdoors projects.
I’d like to bring this month’s tips inside by the fire, where it’s a bit warmer. The reloading bench keeps calling my name, so let me share some reloading tips to help make life easier and your loads a little better. I’ll also mention some of the tools that help us in the ballistics lab here at Barnes. Who knows—maybe you’ll find some of these tools in your Christmas stocking.
Let’s start off with case preparation. Before reloading, I generally tumble my cases in corncob or walnut shell media. These products are common—but after a few uses they simply don’t work that well. Rather than replacing that expensive media, I’ve found a product that rejuvenates it to near-new status. It’s called Flitz. Just a capful of Flitz and your old media polishes like new again. There are several other media rejuvinators on the market. Lyman, Iosso and Frankfort Arsenal all make similar products, to name just a few.
Nickel-plated rifle cases just don’t size as easily as old-fashioned brass cases do. They also have diminished case capacity and tend to give higher pressures with equal charges. I don’t often use them—but for those who do, I highly recommend applying a little Imperial sizing wax. This will eliminate stuck cases and reduce the scratching common with normal sizing lubricants. If you’re case forming, this product is a must. Redding has a version of the same product. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way. You’ll need to clean the sizing die often, as the wax will build up in the die and begin creating dents in case shoulders. I clean the die after every 50 cases. This isn’t necessary when sizing nickel-plated pistol cases.
Another great product for cleaning those nasty, corroded cases is 0000 steel wool. You don’t have time to tumble a few cases? Just break out the steel wool, and you’ll have them cleaned and ready in no time.
I find many customers still using the old lube pad and standard case lube. There’s nothing wrong with this method. However, there’s a faster, user-friendly product that saves time and effort. We use Hornady’s One-Shot case lube. I know it’s a competitor’s product, but I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t work great. We use it almost exclusively in the Barnes Ballistics lab. If you haven’t used this product, give it a try.
One of our favorite tools—and a “must have” for any Barnes Bullet reloader—is the Stoney Point Chamber-All Overall Length Gauge. This tool allows you to quickly measure the distance to the rifling in your particular rifle with any given bullet. Since Barnes recommends seating our bullets .050” off the rifling, this gauge comes in very handy. Sinclair also offers a version of this useful tool. Either will do the trick, but we usually use the Stoney Point version. I might add this makes a nice stocking stuffer.
We’ve begun using the RCBS Charge Master Combo to dispense powder charges in the Ballistics Lab. Included with the Charge Master is a small paint brush. At first, we didn’t realize how handy it would become. You know how powder sticks to the sides of whatever container you’re using? This little brush removes it as slick as a whistle. I’d suggest you get one for your reloading bench. You’ll find it has all kinds of uses.
Next is brake cleaner. You know, the stuff you can buy at the auto parts store for $2.99 a spray can? We use and suggest the non-chlorinated version. It has several uses including, but not limited to, barrel cleansing after using CR-10, flushing dirt from an action, and cleaning dies to remove lubricant buildup. It also does a marvelous job on spiders and those pesky flies that keep circling.
My last tip is something the lab guys came up with. We’re constantly hunting for the tiny Allen wrenches needed for setting dies, mounting scopes and handling various other duties. They’ve found an ingenious solution. Notice the cases holding the allen wrenches in the photos below.
As always, I’ve enjoyed bringing you these tips.
Here’s wishing you and your families a happy holiday.
Ty Herring
