Trick I use to neck size my rifle brass once fired and formed to my gun is to smoke my brass using masking tape. Once smoked
back up your die and work it down just off the shoulder. You can visibly see the ring off the brass shoulder very clearly.I use this method when a black magic marker is not handy to me.
works good.

reloading blocks can get expensive. I take a 2x4 and a sharp drill bit and drill holes slightly larger than the casing and about 1/2 way thru the wood. Using a 2x4 it still fits under the powder drop. Just an idea...

Best bolt action gun reloading tip ever= Lee collet neck size die.

Never shoot handloads that you are not 100% sure of........Like handloads that you might have got in a gun trade.

54 grains of IMR 4350 is sweet for a 130 in a .270 win
54 grans of IMR 4895............... not so sweet.

Accidents happen

Cabela's Fort Worth

Reloading Class Ever Sunday.
Look toward bottom of events:
http://www.cabelas.com/retail-stores-fort-worth.shtml

Two from a total newb so take them with a grain of salt:

1. I've taken to spinning my purchased (unknown) once fired brass like Lake City 7.62x51 brass in an electric drill as I inspect them. The lee shell holder for Lee's cutting system has a drill bit shank. If I don' like the way a properly seated piece of brass spins, I put it to the side. Maybe I'll mess with them someday, maybe I won't.

2. I do all my trimming, chamfering and deburring over a paper plate.

Excellent writes by THF members.

Single stage!

I use multi-colored case trays and move "right to left" and then "left to right" for each step. Never do more than about 25 at one time. Example:

Raw fired cases on the left > size & deprime > put on right.

Size & deprimed case from right > trim > put on left.

So on & so on........

Also, I powder & trickle each case by hand and immediately set the bullet. Time consuming but I know each case has powder.

(Will also mention my screw up - Once had a fan running in the shop across the room and wasn't paying attention. Air current was running by my balance scale and causing it to read light. I didn't catch this until at the range and noticed a possible over pressure (case examination). Immediately stopped went back, pulled all bullets, and checked load. When fan not running load was over max.......gun was OK) The little things will get ya!!

Once your media gets dirty what do you do? I went to Walmart and bought a Tide laundry bag. The mesh is fine enough to keep the media inside. I wash and dry it with some old jeans or towels to protect the bag. I put one regular scoop of laundry soap and a quarter cup of dish detergent in the wash. I have used media up to six times. Be sure to safety pin the zipper closed. It will come open and your wife will be mad. After washing and drying recharge with your fav formula and get back to pulling the handle.

Cartridge Case Capacities
http://kwk.us/cases.html

Cartridge Pressure Standards
http://www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/...e_Standards.pdf

Manufacturer (or in some cases the maker of the cartridge case, or distributor of the loaded ammunition, or a using activity, or other meaning.
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes_bottom.htm

Tip for reducing bullet run out:

Set your bullet as ussual but then turn the case 1/4 turn and then run it into your press a second time.

I've found that when I do this simple little trick I can reduce run out from .004 - .005 down to .001 - .002.

Exterior Ballistics and Barrel Harmonics

Precision Ballistic Coefficienet Estimator

Ballistic Calculator

Thanks doveshooter;
Ballistic information
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/

.....

To change full lghth. dies to neck size, I was always told to set
them down on a nickle and lock adjustment..Seems to work every
time...re: Irving Reed Ackers..Durys Gun Shop...Don Dial Pipe
Creek, Tx

223 load information, good reads and info

http://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2011/01/04/ammunition_st223_120606/

I have worked with Lyman "nutcracker" and the old Lee hammer type dies up to the point of now owning two Dillon progressives. Got involved in casting my own bullets, tried swaging, have sized brass down and filled it out, pulled bullets, loaded for accuracy and for maximum power loads, wildcats, AI, etc etc. Only say that to clarify this isn't my first rodeo.

My tip, don't loan your equipment to anyone, no matter how sorry you feel for them, what type of sad story they tell, how much you want to help them. I once loaned two of my manuals out to the son of a friend, years of notes and load data, and never received them back. If you want to give someone money to help them so be it, just don't loan things.

Stuck Fired case.

Make sure stuck breach is not causing jam.

Find a Radio Contol Hobby shop and get a piece of 3/16 or 5/32" music wire. It comes in 36 inch piece. Music wire is extremely hard and stiff. Pull back on bolt or remove recoil spring while:
Just let rod slide or drop down barrel and hit cartrdige. This should knock it lose. Your not going to damage rifleing sliding rod down barrel.

Now you have a fits most all tool ($2) for next time it happens

If case is stuck really hard, put the rod in barrel and measure it and add 3inchs. Use a grinder or cut off wheel to cut rod and dress both ends square. Wrap some electrical tape around rod where it is near end of barrel to keep from damage crown /rifleing. Add a washer to protect crown. Then use 6 to 8 oz ball peen hammer to tap end of rod while pulling back on breech, and tap case out.

X2
Got one for 22-250, and one for 300 Win Mag

Great reads guys. A co worker of mine makes his own rounds.. ill be sure to print off a few of these for him

Here are some good explanations about using the Lee Collet Dies

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTUgytUGnM&feature=relmfu



Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgHR43TN5Zk&feature=relmfu