Beginning in the February 2015 issue, TheGunMag.com will begin a series of handloading columns by Art Merrill.
by Art Merrill | Handloading Editor
January is “out with the old and in with the new” time, so let’s take it alphabetically to see what’s new for handloaders at the upcoming Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas and new on dealer shelves during 2015.
Reloader 26 one of two new Alliant powders.
Alliant
We’ll fudge the “new” on this one a bit. Because they came out in mid-2014 you may not have heard of Alliant’s two new powders, Reloder 23 and Reloder 26. Alliant says Reloder 23 is similar to Reloder 22, but resists the effects of temperature extremes that causes powders to produce more pressure at higher temps (leaving your cartridges in the hot sun during a match) and less pressure at lower temps (winter walrus hunts). With Reloder 23 you may see an improvement when using the heavier bullets in the .243 to .270 family of cartridges.
Reloder 26 for magnum rifle cartridges falls in between Reloder 22 and Reloder 33 in burn rate. Its high density permits larger powder charges and, like Reloder 23, resists the effects of temperature changes. Alliant says Reloder 26 will produce “extremely high velocities” to get the most from the magnums and from the heaviest bullets in the larger standard calibers, and says it has a component that reduces copper fouling to boot. For both powders MSRP is $26/lb. or $190/8lbs.
CorBon
CorBon DPX bullets for handloaders.
CorBon has entered the reloading market, offering its DPX line of bullets as components. They will come in 100-count boxes, including an 80-grain/.355-caliber bullet for the .380 ACP; a 115-grain/.355-caliber bullet for the 9mm; a 140-grainer in .40-caliber and a 185-grain pill for use in the .45 ACP.
Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge has re-designed its popular MTAC/MTH high ballistic coefficient bullets. The MTH hunting bullet is designed to fragment at the tip into three petals while the “Blunt Trauma Base” continues deeper into the target.
Dillon Trim Toolhead
Dillon
The guys in blue have a couple of new items for Dillon aficionados. The Square Deal B Toolhead Stand neatly organizes the SDB toolhead, powder measure, dies and caliber conversion components in one place. MSRP $25. For their Dillon Rapid Trim 1500 Case Trimmer, the new Super 1050 Short Trim Die Toolhead allows working with short rifle cartridge cases like the 300 Blackout. MSRP $225.
Hornady
A vibrating red M1911A1 may be the most entertaining new reloading tool for 2015. Actually, it’s a Triple-A (AAA) battery-operated tool for quickly loading primer feeder tubes for the Hornady Lock-N-Load® reloading press. How quickly? About 100 primers in 10-15 seconds. That’s about the same cyclic rate as a Ma Deuce M2 .50 BMG machinegun, in case you were wondering. MSRP $72.
The Quick Change Hand Tool accepts any case neck brush, primer pocket brush, reamer, and chamferer or what-have-you that has 8-32 threads, and it comes with a set of 10 of those items and three separate chucks. The ergonomic—read “fat & comfy”—handle should be mighty welcome to those who perform these operations by hand. MSRP $64.
Hornady primer tube filler
Specific to its own Lock-N-Load® press and caliber specific to 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO, Hornady’s AP Primer Pocket Swage Tool removes the crimp from military brass. In addition to the shell holder, it comes with feed, swage and eject dies needed for the operation. MSRP $117.
Hornady says you can turn any progressive press into an “ammunition factory” with their Bullet Tubes. Resembling a primer feeder tube and working essentially the same way, it also requires a Hornady Bullet Feeder die, sold separately. The tubes hold 40+ of 9mm, .40 cal/10mm or .45 cal. bullets, depending on caliber, and sell in packs of three for $36 MSRP.
For advanced handloaders Hornady now offers an outside case neck turning tool that can be driven via cordless drill. You can choose between adjustment indents of .0005” increments, or no indents for infinite adjustment. MSRP $146.
When you’re ready to move up from dusty, dirty media tumblers, the Hornady Sonic Cleaner 7L 110 VT will serve double duty as a cleaner for handguns and gun parts, as well as for brass cases. The onboard computer allows you control over time, solution temperature, degassing, ultrasonic and heat functions. Capacity is seven liters (7.3962 quarts) and it includes a solution-saving 1.6 liter (1.6907 quarts) small parts tank. MSRP $425.
Hornady has added 15 new cartridges to its family of unprimed brass offerings, including such esoterics as 7x65R (Brenneke) and 500-416 Nitro Express, and used-to-be-esoteric 8x57JRS (8mm Mauser) and 9×18 Makarov. Regardless of cartridge, Hornady says their brass has tight wall concentricity, uniform case wall thickness and consistent weight and capacity—all the Holy Brass Grail of handloaders seeking ultimate accuracy. MSRP varies with the specific cartridge.
One of three new Enduron powders from Hodgdon.
Hodgdon
Joining Hodgdon’s CFE (“Clean Fouling Eraser”) Pistol powder, the new line of Enduron extruded rifle powders boast the same property of eliminating copper fouling. Additionally, Hodgdon says the Enduron powders are insensitive to environmental temperature changes. Asked for their trade secret of how they accomplished the feat, Hodgdon said they “added pixie dust.” IMR 4166 is for cartridges of .308 Winchester size; IMR 4451 for the .30-06 family size, and IMR 7977 for magnum cartridges, including .338 Lapua Magnum. Available in 1lb and 8lb containers, MSRP is $27 and $207, respectively.
Lee Precision’s Classic powder measure.
Lee
Just when you think there can be nothing new in powder measures, Lee Precision retros with a hefty, classic cast iron body while modernizing with an aluminum micrometer metering chamber for its Classic Powder Measure. The micrometer scale is laser etched for clarity with .01cc graduations and a releasable detent; each detent click adjusts about 1/10 of a grain of extruded rifle powder. The quick-change machined rotor drum is antistatic and non-sparking brass, and an elastomer wiper helps prevent cutting powder granules for more consistent throws. The half-pound capacity hopper is removable for easily dumping unused powder back in the container. MSRP $95. Stand sold separately, MSRP $35.
Another new measure from Lee this year is the Auto Drum Powder Measure. Its two best features are that it is case-actuated and when used on a progressive press it has an automatic disconnector to prevent double charging pistol cases. The two quick-change rifle and pistol powder drums that come with the measure will meter from 1 to 80 grains, and an extra six pack of drums is available separately.
MSRP for the measure was not available at press time. A six pack of drums is $20.
Lehigh Defense
Handloaders can now utilize the solid copper Xtreme Penetrator bullets from Lehigh Defense, featuring a unique frontal design with radial flutes to create a larger wound channel. There are bullets listed on the website including a .429/220-grainer for the .44Magnum, and a .452 weighing 250 grains for the .45 Colt. Another entry is a .475-caliber bullet weighing 300 grains, and a .500-caliber projectile weighing 350 grains.
Lyman Case Prep kit.
Lyman
To quickly check for maximum headspacing, Lyman introduces their Cartridge Checkers machined to SAAMI minimum chamber specs from solid blocks of 6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminum. Just drop your finished cartridge into the proper cartridge hole and if the base is flush with the block, you know it will chamber. The three Cartridge Checker blocks cover 22 of the most common cartridges. MSRP $30-$40.
Tired of your hodgepodge of random case prep hand tools? Lyman’s new Ultimate Case Prep Kit has everything in a single organized storage case. The 14 tools include a VLD chamfer tool, an E-ZEE Case Gauge and Dry Case Neck Lube. The tools have large, comfortable, ergonomic handles and the kit price is a significant 40% below what you’d pay for buying the tools individually. MSRP $140.
The Lyman Turbosonic 1200 finally puts ultrasonic cleaning within reach of Everyman’s pocketbook. This new model has a mid-size 6.5×5.4×2.6” tank to process about 350 9mm cases or, serving double duty, to cover the frames of small pistols and revolvers. Lyman has both brass and steel cleaning solvents, plus a lubricant that penetrates every nook and cranny of partially disassembled handguns after cleaning. Molded handles on the 1200 make it easy to change out solutions. Watch this space for a product review this year. MSRP $120.
RCBS Pro Chucker 5 Auto Index Progressive Press.
RCBS
The RangeMaster 2000 electronic scale from RCBS probably gets its name from the fact that, because it can run on 9 volt DC power as well as 120/240 volts AC, you can take it to the range with you for instant load tweaking. Oh – and because it reads up to 2,000grains with +/- 0.1gr accuracy. There’s a touchscreen LCD on the compact unit and it has an auto shutoff to conserve the battery. Two calibration weights are provided, as well as a scale pan and dust cover. MSRP $150.
Can you load a complete cartridge from empty brass in six seconds? RCBS says their Pro Chucker 5 Auto Index Progressive Press has a load rate of 600 rounds per hour, so here’s your chance to try. Like many other progressives it has five-station automatic indexing, but this one is convertible to seven stations. Two other nice features: spent primers fall straight out the bottom into (your) trash bin, and the press has a zero fitting for lubrication. For faster changeovers, the Pro Chucker 5 has a quick-change die plate; you can dump the powder without removing the powder measure and you can swap out pre-set powder measure metering screws to change the powder charge. MSRP $779.
Or, you could go right to the seven-station Pro Chucker 7 Auto Index Progressive Press. It has all the features of the Pro Chucker 5, but a larger powder measure means you don’t have to stop as often to refill it. With seven stations you can add your own combination of a separate crimp die, bullet feeder or Lock-Out or powder checker die. MSRP $1099.
Redding National Match Die Set.
Redding
New die sets from Redding give the handloader a few more options and preclude the need to buy accessory carbide expanders, micrometer bullet seaters and neck sizing dies.
Redding’s new Premium Die Sets include a carbide expander button and a Micrometer Adjusting Seat Stem. The free floating carbide expander button reduces stress on the case neck and improves concentricity, and the micrometer seater controls bullet seating to .001”. The two die Premium Die Set has a Full Length sizing die and a Seating Die with Micrometer Seat Stem. MSRP $144.
The three-die Premium Deluxe Set has those two dies and adds a Neck Sizing Die. They are available in the most popular Redding “Series A” calibers. MSRP $186.
Redding also adds to its National Match die sets the same carbide expander buttons, and dies in six additional calibers: .204 Ruger, .243 Win, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Rem and 7mm/08. MSRP $269.
Sierra
Sierra released Version 7 of its Infinity Exterior Ballistics software, which calculates point blank range, zero, shooting up or downhill, max range, MOA and atmospheric impacts. Users can generate trajectory charts and graphics, including in mils. The software has a gun database and a few other goodies, too. Infinity 7 is compatible with Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP or Win2K, and is available as stand-alone software ($40) or packaged with Sierra’s 5th Edition Reloading Manual in print or digital formats ($60). Sierra posts downloadable updates on its website at: sierrabullets.com.
Sinclair
Sinclair Micro-Adjust bullet seater gauge.
Sinclair’s Micro-Adjust Bullet Seaters by L.E. Wilson are detent-bearing driven with positive “click” increments of .0005” – yes, that’s five ten thousandths, 5/10,000 or 5×10-4 and pretty much puts the “micro” in “Micro-Adjust.” The graduated, laser etched scale on the stainless steel seater allows repeatability for different bullets and seating depths. Available in 12 popular precision calibers, for arbor presses only. MSRP $170.
You get what you pay for, and if you want accuracy in a scale, try this: whereas most scales are accurate to within .1gr (1/10th), the Ultimate Gem Scale moves the decimal place to the left with it’s +/- .02gr (2/100ths) accuracy. You also get static-electricity resistance, 3 calibration settings, 6 weighing modes, programmable auto-off, an optional backlight, a full tare feature, a calibration weight, AC adaptor, hard case and dual-division capability (um, no, I don’t know what that is). Capacity is 772gr. MSRP $140.
Sinclair is on the brass bandwagon with jugs o’ once-fired military brass. About 1,000 pieces of mixed headstamps per jug, the brass has been washed, tumbled, deprimed, swage de-crimped, full length sized, and trimmed to SAAMI Specs. 9mm, .40 S&W and 45 ACP runs $115-$145 per jug; 5.56 NATO and .300 AAC Blackout is $175.
If you’re a precision gearhead, you might also be interested in the Ballistic Tools, Inc. Swage Gauge Primer Pocket Gage carried by Sinclair for small or large primer pockets. It works in primer pockets like headspace “Go” and “No Go” headspace gauges work in chambers. No more “crunching” primers into too-tight pockets. Also similarly, the Uniquetek Case Mouth and Neck Tension Gauge measures those aspects to ensure proper bullet seating. Available in .224” and .308/.310” for .223/5.56 and .308/7.62×39 cartridge cases. All gauges $12.
