When selecting a powder it is important to consider the shape of the particles called granules. All powder measures achieve their drop weight by filling a cavity or an adjustable vile having a quantifiable volume with powder. The physical shape of the granules are a part of the manufacturing process and due to their physical… read more
A chamber provides full cartridge case support only if the case is supported down to the level of the INSIDE BOTTOM of the case, which typically is about 0.05-inch (one-twentieth inch) above the start of the case extraction groove outside. Thus any chamber that provides case support all the way down to the extraction groove… read more
Gas Checks, as we know them today, are small precisely made copper cups that fit on the base of the bullet. Gas checks are used when non-jacketed bullets are used in high pressure cartridges. Gas Checks are a method of enhancing the bullet performance by sealing the base of the bullet against gas blow-by… read more
Understanding Firearm Headspace Headspace is one of the most critical measurements in your firearm. The definition of headspace: the distance from the face of the locked bolt to a datum line or shoulder in the chamber that arrests the forward movement of the cartridge. The term originated when all cartridges had protruding rims, so the… read more
All military brass and some commercial ammunition has crimped or “staked” primers. The crimp helps to hold the primer in when headspace is deliberately loose or just got that way. Military ammo can get a rough ride and anything to hold it together – from crimps to tar bullet seals – helps. This crimping process leaves… read more
Looking to get into a 458 SOCOM. Check out the review of the CMMG MkW-15 XBE ANVIL from The Truth about Guns. And don’t forget to grab a box or two of our Subsonic 458 SOCOM ammo for your next range trip or hog hunt!
Wrinkled or buckled shells usually means that there is too much compression in the shell. Try applying more wad seating pressure, use slightly less shot, use a denser powder (a powder that uses a smaller bushing for the same dram equivalent) or a shorter wad. Kink During Last Crimp If you are finding that your… read more
Here is a good read if your just getting into reloading and you are in the market for a progressive press.
While there can be many reasons for a case to be crushed in the reloading process, there are primarily two. The first is that the bullet seating die is not set properly. If the crimp shoulder is set too deeply, the case is crimped before the bottom of the press stroke is achieved. Once the… read more
A clue to what is causing the leading is where the leading first begins to appear. If it appears near the chamber, chances are that bullet diameter or hardness are the cause. A diameter too small and/or too hard an alloy will allow high pressure gas to leak past the bullet, which erodes the bullet… read more