Having 2 sets of dies is a great idea. It makes changeovers much easier. I took your advice the 1st time I watched this.

Cannot fathom why anyone would give a thumbs down to this video. This gent tells us things about pistol reloading that took me years to learn (pre-internet). A ton of fantastic experience and information in a few minutes video. Thank you! Don

Sir, we greatly appreciate you sharing your level of expertise with those of us (like me) who desire learning from a person who tells it like it is. I'm also like you in that I am an accuracy-seeking hound and always will be. I will be purchasing a .44 mag hopefully within the next 2 years and look forward to load development. Thanks again for all the quality videos and all the time to produce them!

Reloading is a lot of fun. The Lee 4 head turret press is all you need in my opinion. It has served me well.

I love my 44's. My favorite powder for the Special is RED DOT with a 200gr bullet it is extremely accurate and fun to shoot. For a 44 Special load in the 44 Magnum I only load Titegroup powder. There is a lot of room there and Titegroup is volume and position incentive, it's very consistent in larger cases. My favorite powder or if I could have only one would be Sport Pistol. Great for everything from 38 to 44 Mag and 9mm to 45acp it's right next to Bullseye on the chart. It's a great low to mid range powder in revolvers and it gives very good velocity's in semi's. It also burns very clean and has been very accurate for me, a fantastic all around powder. As for my dies, Redding sells a set of calibrated washers for around 10 bucks so your dies, both 38 and 44 can do double duty without readjusting them for caliber, it even includes a ring for partial sizing. One last thing I do is before I drop a finished round into a storage box I take 2 seconds and drop it into a chamber checker. I have found a bulged case or a slightly offset bullet that wouldn't chamber. Better to find it on the bench than on the range.

It was fascinating to watch this process! The importance of avoiding distractions is very evident.

"Central Grocery." Muffulettas and handloads; it doesn't get any better.

I have been reloading for many years but I am always open for advice and learn a few new tricks here and there to improve my handloading techniques. Thanks for the video. Same for your video disassembling a SW revolver.

I really enjoy your rational and thought logic to your response here on the internet!

Excellent info. regarding .44/.38 special dies suitable for .357/.44 magnum reloading. An issue with a S&W .44 magnum comes to mind while viewing this clip. There may have been an issue with 'cylinder lock-up' you discussed in the video. While shooting at a local range in Rheingenheim/Mundenheim LU..a German colleague's new 629 Hunter classic blew apart in exactly the same way you described (sheared cylinder, no backstrap). Although the loads were far reduced, I was able to determine that a defect in the rotation of the cylinder caused a bullet to lodge against the forcing cone, and simultaneously set off the other cartridges. Even so, after that I'll never reduce below the data published for a specific cartridge. I rarely sit while shooting on a pistol range (25 meters), but it was good for me that day, with pieces of the cylinder brazing the top of the head. Quite like a grenade, like you said. Ironic how Ulm and Berlin have the strictest firearm proofing standards in the world. I should mention I prefer the same scale type and use the same yellow scoop!

I so enjoy learning from you.

@Honk_Clank

5 жыл бұрын

I know right! Wish he owned a reloading shop in my area 😁

This is great. I'm learning how to reload my ruger super blackhawk right now!

I love all your videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

I enjoy your videos. Thanks for all the help for the gun community. When focusing on a small object you have to need to put your hand behind the object to force the autofocus to focus on the small object.

@GunBlue490

7 жыл бұрын

oilhammer04 That requires coordination skills that don't come so easy after 90. The camera is really trying to focus on the shine of my bald head.

Thank you for showing me the reverse powder drop setting trick using a known charge size.

Great video. Great advice. Very informative. Enjoyed watching it

Good primer tips (no pun intended). I use an empty case to set my bullet depth and bullet crimp before loading any live rounds. I can then pull the bullet and reuse the case. I also bell my cases before adding powder.

Thanks for taking the time to do things Right. I'm sharing this with my pistol students😁

I've loaded 44 mag for years and just bought a flat top Ruger Blackhawk 44 special. I tried some of the 44 spc target loads in two S&W 44 magnums with amazing results. You're correct that the crud ring from firing special cases in magnum chambers is not a problem and easily removed.

@imwatchin7770

5 жыл бұрын

Yep been reloading for 34 yrs. Mostly 44 mag for my Ruger SBH. Thousands and thousands of round through that and my Winch Trapper.Just got a flatop Bisley and have loaded up some Keith loads for it and a few variations for it. Can't wait to get to the range. Only is I sized, flare, prime then powder. Don't like flaring with powder in the case. Besides I prep tons of cases and just have them ready for powder and bullets. Good shooting.

great video but the model 29 SW is a week gun I had one for about 1 year and stretched it the gap between the cylinder and the barrel got quit large and I was not shooting hot loads quite below the max in my Lyman reloading hand book. I got rid of it to a friend that just wanted it for his man cave. then I got a Ruger Black Hawk with a 10.5 barrel had to change the grip to make it nicer to shoot, loaded it much hotter after working them up and 15 yr later no damage to the Ruger . I now like to shoot in my back yard so had to switch to a Ruger 77/44 because hear you can only shoot a hand gun at a range. But great Video one of your better ones.

I liked your 45 video, too. I'm going to print you up a 'Don't drop the slide!' t shirt.

Thanks for making this video

I personally find the medium burn rate powders to be the most useful and... well.. safe. Safe in that they rarely will double charge like the very fast powders. in other words.. there are several grains to play with. the really slow powders are generally high pressure or at peak pressure. Problems arise because they have much less than the 10% recommended starting charge to work with. Add to this that the bullet we choose may not be exactly the one in the book The medium range powders will easily drive bullets into the 1,000-1,200 fps range and work in a most calibers either fairly well or as good as is possible. The other thing is I use a chrono which are not expensive. If for some reason my loads are much faster or slower than published data and known loads are going through the chrono fine.. then I need to rethink. but.. it is rare that two different manuals will have the same minimum and maximum loadings even when bullets are identical.

When you are loading a test sequence keep in mind that they will all look the same after you have finished. If you drop your box you can easily get them mixed up. For safety I mark the individual cartridges so I can always tell them apart. I use a permanent marker and mark a symbol on the primer, a symbol such as a dot, a circle, a plus, a single line, one load can be blank. That gives me the ability to easily distinguish between 5 separate loads. If I need more than that I'll use another color of marker.

@GunBlue490

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I have generations of New England seafaring genes in me, so I continue to live dangerously, but carefully. That's a great tip, though I'll probably continue to walk the plank as I've done for half a century of loading.

I have thoroughly enjoyed you videos and have learned a lot from you. Thank you. I have a question about casting and reloading lead bullets. I have a Ruger GP100. I learned from the Ruger Forum that the forcing cone angle on Rugers are optimized for jacketed bullets( 5-8 degs). Lead cast bullets need 11deg. to eliminate leading the bore.. Did you modify your Red Hawk?

Another good video. You talked about the wobble on the turret not being an issue on the LEE Classic Cast Turret Press. I have always thought it was by design. Much in the same way that a Forester Coax lets a case wobble and find the center of the die it is being pushed into. The new MEC Marksman press has built in wobble to let the case find the center of the case. Since the LEE Classic Cast Turret press is only working on a single case at a time the wobble is not going to cause problems like it would in a progressive press. I have always thought it was Richard Lee thinking outside of the box.

@GunBlue490

7 жыл бұрын

LIVIN CINCY Actually, in my experience there's no difference between the final product that one press or die produces over another. Give me any company's product and I will make the same ammo. All dies have chambers cut by SAAMI specification reamers, and it's virtually impossible for a lathe to cut off center dies. Presses only drive the case into the die to the limit of the shell holder, which can be done with a vise or bottle capper. The differences are all about design and making the production of quality ammo easier, less frustrating, enjoyable, and less expensive, which Lee has a very firm grasp of. Press wobble means absolutely nothing, no matter what sort of press. They stop wobbling when the case is fully inside.

@livincincy4498

7 жыл бұрын

Good points. The LEE Loaders work on a picnic table that is not level, wobbles and can make match ammo.

My friend did the triple charge,blew the top 3 cylinders off a Ruger and bent the topstrap.

@GunBlue490

Жыл бұрын

Handloading certainly demands absolute attention to the basics. There's no room for error.

I'm curious why you charge the cases before flaring the mouths.

@NormanPOlt

2 жыл бұрын

A most excellent point: only need to drop one powder-filled case to see why...

@cerescorubi

2 жыл бұрын

@@NormanPOlt i guess i dont understand the answer. Probably work but I have always finished working the case before I load the powder.

Is it okay to load 44 special specs in 44 Mag Brass ??

I wonder if you have any experience with the Ruger Old Army cap and ball revolver, and if so, what are your thoughts about it. Thanks.

I have a brand new new .44 super redhawk w 9.5 in barrel, stock Hogue grips. Will shoot Specials mostly and a handful of magnums (mostly a fun piece). With what to replace grips: Pachmeyer, stag horn, keep as is? Thank you, and blessings returned +++

could you give me a moderate 44 mag load so I don't have to load 44 special. I have a redhawk like you. thanks

Greetings sir! Outstanding videos I’ve been at this game for around 45 years myself...old dogs can learn new tricks🙂. I have a question for you concerning 44 reloading. After seeing your video on case annealing, it made me think whether given the substantial crimp given these rounds...is annealing these cartridges a good idea for brass longevity? I would love to hear your thoughts! Benny’s a sweetheart..I’ve had 3 Brittanies over the years...wonderful companions. All the best! JP

@GunBlue490

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!. Unfortunately, handgun cases are too short to anneal without softening the lower part. However, good quality cases still have several loads in them, even with heavy crimps.

@forgottenheritagehomestead8448

5 жыл бұрын

Yes that makes sense! I really haven't noticed much effect even after 6-7 reloads on some of my oldest brass.Could be the heat of combustion is sufficient? Thank you again for sharing with us. JP

What kind of reloading press is that?

Once again you have taken me to school. I always have been curious how they measured precisely in a small production. Thank God, you not measuring for each individual cartridge. I noticed that you use Lees LoadMaster vs Lees Classic. which one would be best to start with for a newbie like me. I want to hand load 9mm, 10mm, .40SW and also be able to hand load .30-06, .308 rifle including if its worth it .22 long cartridges.

@GunBlue490

7 жыл бұрын

George Mezines By far and away, the best press I have ever used is the Lee Classic Turret press that you see in this video. With the easily dropped in turret, it can be ready for a different caliber in seconds, and may be used in either semi progressive or single station mode by removing the turret rotation stem. The Loadmaster is certainly better in terms of production, but requires significantly more time and mechanical talent to change over to different cartridges, and 30-06 rounds are pretty big to handle five in one stroke. Unless you are shooting lots of ammo, you'll do fine with the simpler turret press. Get a turret for each caliber and a storage case.

@unclegeorge6175

7 жыл бұрын

GunBlue490 THX for the information. Your credibility far out weights everyone else.

I thought I saw a video you did on reloading 9mm ammo, but now I can’t find it. The last couple of months I started measuring my brass, I have 3 manuals and they all tell me different measurement on the trim to length and the max over-all length. I’ve read several articles that say it doesn’t matter but if one case measures 0.750 and the next 0.744 how do you get the same C.O.A.L.? I am not shooting competition; however, I am trying to make the best bullet so I can shoot as accurate as possible. I appreciate any help you can give me. I have an S&W M&P 2.0 9mm with a 5” barrel. Thank you!

@GunBlue490

10 ай бұрын

COAL is unrelated to case length. I've never trimmed straight walled pistol cases in my life, because they simply do not lengthen. Simply adjust your seating die for the recommended COAL for the particular bullets you're loading, and you'll be spot on. Be conscious of the fact that seating depth affects two very important aspects of a pistol case: The COAL is that measurement that will both fit the magazine and feed. At the same time, seating depth affects available powder space, which cannot be reduced, or pressures will rise dramatically, which is very sensitive with small cases and high working pressures. For that reason, use the COAL stated for each bullet, according to the bullet manufacturer. Every bullet maker publicizes the COAL for every bullet they make, which emphasizes the importance of referring to their loading data. Don't trim pistol cases.

aa2 meters well imho

I have finished my first session with my new Henry Rifle in .45 Colt. I've noticed that every case that I have fired has a soot smudge along one side of the case that extends just past the half way point of the case. Is this something that I should be concerned about? This is my first pistol cartridge rifle and am curious. I've never encountered this with any other rifle cartridge that I've shot.

@GunBlue490

7 жыл бұрын

The Colt is a low intensity round that not always seals the chamber up front completely, and it's fairly typical, even with factory rounds. It can vary with the powder used and the charges. Not to worry.

@patmancrowley8509

7 жыл бұрын

That was my thought line on it. I was thinking that with the lower pressure the case expansion wasn't as radical with this brass. Thank you so very much for your response. Peace be with you.

Read your loading manual!!!

Good info as usual. Just got a copy of Sixguns book reprint by Elmer Keith. Look forward to more info there. It was featured on FortuneCookie45LC channel. Another great channel like yours.

@nastybastardatlive

4 жыл бұрын

No such thing as .45 long colt; it's simply .45 colt.

Does gun powder ever go bad? How would I know how to check it?

@lebommjohnson8101

7 жыл бұрын

Modern smokeless powders are quite stable, and if stored under cool, dry conditions, will remain perfectly useful for decades. If, when the container is opened, you get brownish vapors, looking like rust dust or smoke, the powder has been subjected to high temperatures, and has begun to decompose. If it has a sticky, gummy or clumpy appearance, it's been wet or chemically contaminated. Under either of these conditions, the powder should be destroyed immediately by burning or being widely scattered on the lawn or garden (it contains a lot of nitrogen).

@commonconservative7551

7 жыл бұрын

never get rid of your powder by pouring it in the lawn and then lighting it....... ........the grass leans a bit in all directions and it can burn straight back at you and burn your face.........i know this for a fact ,trying to light a line of powder leading to the main pile , did not end well

@kep67

6 жыл бұрын

good to know

I am wondering with 7.65x25 TOK some load manual call for H110 with small pistol primers is this correct ?

@GunBlue490

6 жыл бұрын

W Gunter If it's a legitimate load manual, I don't second guess their analysis, but just make sure it's your data, which you read with your own eyes, and not someone else's claimed source. Follow directions to the letter with all data. Call Hodgdon to confirm if you have any questions, and they will happily assist you.

@wgunter6105

6 жыл бұрын

Thank You I enjoy your channel very much All the best !!!!

People say it's bad to let the cylinder slam shut with a flick of the wrist like on TV....; but, given your stance on how it's fine to let the slide slam closed on an empty 191, curious as to your thoughts. Slam with reckless abandon?

@bobjones5624

2 жыл бұрын

Slam the 1911 (most brands) it’s fine.

Less is more

44 spcl low cost only if you reload

Very good video, with discussion about burning rates, case capacity, the danger of double charges, etc. I very much enjoy shooting reduced loads in multiple calibers, and I decided to watch more of your videos. Unfortunately, one of the first that I chose to watch was the video in which you were sitting on your porch discussing the selection of defensive carry guns. You made multiple erroneous and illogical statements in this video. The greatest of which is probably when you stated that the lives of multiple police officers have been saved by manual safeties (true). You then state that safeties have NEVER stopped anyone from shooting a criminal, or even slowed them down while doing so (very false). If manual safeties have saved the lives of good guys, then it logically follows that manual safeties have saved the lives of MANY criminals, since firearms are used defensively far more often than offensively by criminals. I'm quite certain that you know that your logic is flawed, and I suspect that this is why you've turned off comments for that video. You can hate firearms without manual safeties as much as you want to, but don't lie to new shooters who may be watching your video, and may not know that your statements are false and illogical. Censoring the comments of those attempting to correct your false statements is rude, arrogant, and frankly, a page right out of Hitler's playbook.

Boring lecture.

@fjb4932

3 жыл бұрын

Some people can't learn. Others refuse to ...