Blown out 45ACP Case - Picture #1

Here is an interesting 45 ACP case I found at the range with the base blown out.  Primer is flat and slightly projecting out.

Blown out 45ACP Case - Picture #2

The frugal cartridge length measuring device - Picture #1

Just take one old tired and fired cartridge case, drill and tap the primer pocket and you just made yourself a frugal overall cartridge length measuring device.  Now just seat the bullet and measure the overall length.  Push the bullet out a little, seat it again, in your dies until you get the correct setting.  Use your gun and get over all length to hard contact to the lads.  Set your dies for the correct bullet jump and check the settings with the frugal device.  Just push the bullet back out a little and re-seat and repeat.  Just one extra little trick, file, sand, and polish the end on the threaded bolt and it will not mar the base of the bullet.  When all is set load the bullet and use a fresh one from new bullet batch the next time.

The frugal device and RCBS Precision Micrometer

I like using the RCBS Precision Micrometer to measure case and cartridge lengths.  It is easy to use and gives direct measurements with any bullet.  The Sinclair or the Stoney Point devices are also easy to use and may give better readings since the ejector in the bolt can not influence them.  I have removed the ejectors from the bolts of my silhouette rifles so this little frugal device works great.  The frugal device I made from a 223 case, I filed a slot in the cartridge base for the ejector.  I attach the frugal device to the bolt and then insert the bolt and cartridge into the rifle to measure the cartridge length.  I let the rifle seat the bullet, this gives me the overall measurement that makes hard contact with the lands.

The frugal cartridge length measuring device - Picture #2

Here is a 308 Winchester Case on 1/4 inch bolt with a 180 grain Sierra MatchKing standing by.  The frugal unit comes in handy every now and then.  Like measuring the overall length to land contact for different bullet weights or different bullet brands.

AR-15 On Return to Battery Bench Rest

Best Tool On My Work Bench?

AR-15 Case Deflector - Scope Model

I make this case deflector from a cabinet hinge and a peace of plastic.  The hinge fastens to a extra scope mount on my scope.  It stays up for single shot loading.  Using the bi-pod it puts all the brass in one little pile.  From the  kneeling position they are with reach.  Works great.  Picture attached showing it.

Redding Competition Dies

Warning - Redding Competition Dies.
Once you start using them they start to multiple.  Once you starting using the competition seating die you will not be able to use a standard die again.  Just warning you.

Bullberry's Contender Grip & Forearm

Here are some pictures of my new grip and forearm from Bullberry for my Contender.  The extra wide (3.00 inch) forearm was order to help shoot Rams @ 500 Meters.  The chickens, pigs, and turkeys were easy but the rams at 500 meters using a 44 magnum was tough.  So the following rest for the wide forearm was also made.

Bobcat - Shot with Kodak DC 220

Raccoon - Shot with Kodak DC 220

In the picture either above or below is a 221 Fireball case. I just purchased 500 new Remington cases and got 501 cases.  After re-cutting the primer pockets, deburring the flash holes, and turning the necks; I weighed the cases.  Pleased with the weight distribution.  Over 400 cases seem to turn evenly during the neck turning and ding free.  I ended up with 400 cases between 79.9 and 81.0 grains.  Average weight was 80.3305 grains and Standard Deviation 0.3378 grains.  However, one case weighed more than four grains heavier than the rest of the cases.  Thirteen sigma’s over the average, one could easily say that this one is old of the process control window.  I kept this odd ball heavy case separate.  Looking into the case you could see something odd.  Case looked like it had extra thick webbing in the bottom of the case.  I decided that this case would be my bullet seating depth case.  Therefore, I proceeded to drill out flash hole out to fit the tap for a No. 12 x 20 screw.  The extra web or thickness in the base looked like it would be part of the threads.  During the drilling and tapping procedure things got messy and I ended up pulling that brass shaving out of the case.  Originally, the brass shaving was not apparent, it appeared to be so tightly drawn up on inside walls at the bottom of the case it appeared to be part of the case.  It took a little doing to get it out.  After removing, this shaving from the case the case looked normal or any of the other cases on the inside.

Without weighing the cases, I would have never found this shaving.  In fact, several people looked inside this case at the range before I decided to use this case, has my bullet seating case.  The brass shaving would have stayed in the case was fired, but surely would change the pressures a little.

The flash hole in the case is now tapped for 12 x 20.  The case is now ready for use.  The bullet seating depth maybe easily measured now using this special case.  Just seat the any bullet into this case using a your seating die.  Then measure the seating depth of the bullet.  Adjust your seating die as needed.  Then just push the bullet back out of the case a little and reseat it again.  This maybe repeated many times.  If the bullet gets a little loose, just resize the case.  The frugal cartridge length measuring device.

221 Fireball – RCBS Precision Mic.

If you have a RCBS Precision Mic for 223 Remington, then you also have one for 221 Fireball by adding a small nylon spacer.  Since the Fireball is about 3/8 shorter than the 223 Remington adding a 3/8” diameter by 3/8” nylon spacer will convert it to the 221 Fireball.  I found just the right spacer at my local SEARS Hardware Store.  Total cost $0.13.  The nylon spacer or bushing fits nicely into the base of the Precision Mic.  The 221 Fireball case reads about 0.012 long on the 223 Remington scale.  So what, it is just comparative anyway.

I have also used my 223 Precision Mic to measure cases for my 7mm TCU.  It will only work on the 7mm TCU cases.  The 223 Precision Mic will work for both case length and cartridge length on the 221 Fireball.

Maybe this is why RCBS does not carry the 221 Fireball?

CD Adjusts Elevation On Bench Rest

Red X
Made this Red X for posting on various web sites.  Use it after someone has tried and tried and tried to post a picture and has nothing but but Red X's. Then I post a bigger RED X.

<>  
Top of Page

Next
  

Next
  

Next
  

Next