For me,it's got to be weighing charges.
But, still better than working <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mike

case trimming is a pain in the a$$.

Uniforming primer pockets and deburring flash holes.

With out a doubt, case trimming.

Deburring and chamfering.

Primer Pocket uniforming. My RCBS power case trimmer with a triple cutter head trims, chamfers and deburrs in one step and makes quick work of a normally boring job. I know that primer pocket uniforming may not really be always necessary but I do it any way - maybe that's why I like it the least.......DJ

Paying for the components!

Have started buying powder in the 5-lb and 8-lb containters and my hunting bullets run about $1 each.

Trimming!

Deburring & chamfering are just the final touches, they`re all part of the job........

Mike: I agree about weighing carges. So tedious that I am switching to powders that meter well and throwing all my loads. The process is easily twice as quick now.

Trimming cases.

Hands down winner is checking water capacity with a new brand or batch of brass when your 18month old wants to help. Fortunatley he is easily distracted by using a bullet puller to smash bugs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anything having to with case prep.. It take tons of time..
That's why I shoot so much 22 Rimfire...
Don

Getting corn cob media out of cases and flash holes. This is why I rarely tumble cases.

Growler

Growler, I use an air compressor with a rubber tipped nozzle. Works great. I leave the tumber running with the top off and pick each case out, hold it upside down and let it vibrate against the threaded rod sticking out of the tumbler and then just give it blast of air through the case mouth.

Case prep. (uniforming flash holes, primer pockests, neck thickness, and trimming)

Case trimming <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Mikeone
Weighing powder charges, most boring thing in the world. I'm using a lot of Ramshot powders now, they throw more accurately than I can weigh.
Charlie

Charlie, do you find that Ramshot, when loaded to the same velocity in a like case and bullet, seems to recoil more? I loaded some Big Game in my 7-08 with 120gr BT's and I couldn't believe the recoil and muzzle jump compared to RL 15 when loaded to the same velocity.

708fan
I havent been able to tell any difference. Same velocity and powder charge should equal same recoil. aaaahhhhh, wish you hadn't brought that up, more test to do.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Charlie

I dislike case prepping the most. I should just quit whining, and buy a Gracey(or some similar product), but have yet to shell out the bucks.

I used to hate weighing charges till I discovered the joys of powder measures and good ball/short kernal extruded powder. Now I only use the scale to confirm my measure settings.

Jeff

Used to be case trimming until I got those Lee trimmer's. Whew! What a difference!

Huntr

Removing the lube from cases after sizing. I really don't mind any of the other steps, much.

This thread is going to be expensive... For me... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I'll spring for some case prep equipment and quit complaining......
Don

I agree with you walker. Does anyone have a btter way than wiping the cases down after sizing? tom

I give each a quick wipe, then re-tumble after all other case prep.

Would probably be more efficient to resize all, then wipe all.

pumpgun,

I use RCBS Case Lube-2, which is water soluble. After resizing I simply wash them in a bowl of water then dry them in a warm oven for a few hours. You have to be carefull to not let the oven get too hot else you can ruin the case annealing. I try for a temerature of 190-210 F and haven't had a problem.

For me, the worst part of reloading is case prep, especially with a new batch of brass that I have (or rather want) to deburr the flash holes. YUK!

Gotta agree with case trimming, even when using the power conversion from Lyman in my mill, it's a PITA...

Growler, try walnut media instead of corn cob. Much easier to dump from cases and I almost never have a flash hole plugged.

Using the spray dry-lube keeps the final wipedown to a minimum.

Getting started ( paying for everything ). Other than that.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

BP...

I use the water-soluble RCBS case lub, too... it's a big improvement on the oil-based case lub, but it's still a big pain in the fanny to wipe the case lub off the cases. I use a damp towel followed by a dry towel to get the job done.



Of course, with straight-walled cases (like most pistol cases and rifle cases like the .444), the use of a carbide-lined re-sizing die eliminates the need to lub the cases and "shines" them up a bit to boot.



I use to dislike case prep, too... but as I grew older, I stopped being in such a big hurry and started to enjoy the reloading for itself as a relaxing hobby.



It's kinda like they say about "taking time to smell the roses that grow along the side of the road-of-life" rather than rushing down that "road" wtihout noticing the beauty that lays on either side of it.



Perhaps that's why many of us enjoy the solitude and peacefulness we find in the woods during hunting season... 'cause we aren't in any hurry... and we're satisfied to just sit there or walk slowly through the woods... and let things happen in their own "time" rather than pushing them to their conclusion. It gives a man time to think and reflect on "things"... something many of us don't take the time... or MAKE the time... to do during our busy lives.



I've found one way to "enjoy" the various phases of reloading is to never do it under duress or in a hurry. Taking the stress outta reloading puts the ENJOYMENT back into it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />





Strength & Honor...



Ron T.

The whole friggin process!

Been loading for only sixteen years but I don't find any pleasure in it anymore... it's just a "means to an end" for me.

Priming. I don't know why, but I hate priming cases.

seating the bullets





<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


not really it's trimming

Chamfering,de-burring,wiping case lube off,etc etc. And last night,trying to remember where the **** I'd put the stuck case remover thang, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and after looking for 45 minutes finally remembering what it looks like and realizing I'd already found it 3 times! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Decided to go to bed at that point.

Ditto Walker and Pumpgun, "Cleaning lube after resizing"

I hate case trimming with a passion!

It was case trimming, but I replaced my RCBS trimmer with a Wilson and now enjoy the process.

Anything that has to do with brass. trimming cleaning or whatever I hate it. It would almost be worth it to pay someone to do it for me..... Almost <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Brian

prepping 100 rounds of brass. leaving for dinner and come back to load powder. done. seat bullets. done. first 50 rounds are loaded and ready to rock. start putting finished rounds into ammo box and realize you missed the primer step. done it more than once and it really pi$$es me off.............
woofer

Humorously, sounds like some folks have made an enjoyable pass-time into a career at Lake City Mfg..:(..

I enjoy it all..
I usually do about 50 centerfire rifle cartridges at a time..and try not to pile up more to avoid the mental pressure associated with a large grueling task..:)

Sometimes IF the weather is nice, I clean the rifles and deprime and prep the cases right at the range, readying them for new primers and the next reloading..All of my reloading tools are manual..

I used to reload common handgun ammo and still have the tools for it, but that was real drudgery..:)
I also don't reload for any of my semi-auto firearms other than for the 6,5x55 Ljungman..jim

Seems we all have something in common. I also hated cleaning the lube off the cases. The water soluble lube is a big help. The worst part in Canada is paying for the components. Powder is running about $34 a pound, and those TSX's go for $1.05 apiece. I use Hornady's for practice, but the TSX's shoot so good, they always go hunting.

You guys have got to stop this. Your making me hate reloading. I hate seating short fat bullets like for my 44 magnum and 45-70. If you don't get them perfect, you get that damned unsightly bulge on one side of the case.

My wife dismisses the whole process, saying "Reloading is the most boring part of the world's most boring hobby".

For removing lube, I take one of our many old "dog" towels, dampen it with camp stove fuel, put in a batch of cases, fold the towel lengthwise and rock it back and forth, so the cases tumble from one end of the towel to the other. Works slick.

Paul

No matter what I do,case trimming is still the worse,closely followed by chamfering and de burring.
Frank

Cleaning up the powder that I always spill on the table while spooning to the scale. Wish I could make myself trust powder measures....

try seating 223 bullets with a cast on a broken hand. made bullet seating twice as long and frustrating to boot. i got to hold the bullet and the mouth of the case reach over and use my cast to pull the ram down. its real a new twist on bullet seating. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

TRimming cases, followed by deburring and chamfering.

Without a doubt! Just another reason I like straightwall pistol calibers and mil-surp ammo.

mikeone,

Running out of supplies.

Hate weighing powder, trimming, & trying to reset the measures. I will use Lee dippers if I can, but they are not always accurate, and practically never the right size. Another pain is loading something new, and then having going to the range (only 4 miles) to try them. (I guess I should set up a portable loading rig of some sort, then the shed will probably be locked, the I cannot get in.) Another gripe is trying to find a new powder, advice and the books leave a lot to be desired. I end up with cans I don't like, but usually find a use for it. I disliked Varget until I got a .300 Savage, and found it to be just right.

Trimming cases, followed by removing lube. The second is seldom done anymore, they just go back in the vibrator for a second pass. Weighing charges is up there too, especially when you nearly finish a block just to notice that you have bumped one of the poises over a couple of notches! Not that it ever happens to me. GRRRRR.

I've already posted once on this topic, but didn't really answer the question as it was posed. For me the worst is cleaning the carbon off the case neck, especially the inside. I use gun cleaning solvent and fine steel wool, steel wool wrapped around a q-tip for the inside. Then, I have to use clean q-tips to get the residue left inside from the previous step. Grrrr!



Paul



p.s. My wife is sitting at her desk as I type this, and says that she stands on her original statement about the whole process of reloading. "B-O-R-I-N-G".

[quote] For me the worst is cleaning the carbon off the case neck, especially the inside. te]


Ever try a stainless bore brush chucked up in a variable speed drill? That makes the carbon fly, and there is no cleanup! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cleaning the lube off,I use Lee white stuff,it washs off,but.......

Model70Guy,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think I'd be comfortable spinning a stainless steel brush inside my cases. No doubt it gets them real clean real pronto, but I'll bet it wears the heck out of them too. I'll just stick with the labor intensive method, but I'll keep bitching about it.

Paul

Taking the time to trim cases has always been a pain it the azz, 'till I broke down and bought an RCBS electric trimmer...Still don't like to mess with trimming, but at least it goes faster now... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Virgil B.

Cleaning the cartridge cases for my 45-110 Sharps. I have to use blackpowder only. Gotta clean 'em.

I will have to say cleaning primer pockets or trimming.

Chamfering case mouths, and flash hole deburring new brass. Thats what wives are for! Bill T.

Used to be wiping the lube off.--Switched to Lee Collet dies.
Triming cases and preping primer holes.-- I do trim the necks one time on brand new brass and never do it again until that batch of 100 brass is down to 50 brass.

I quit doing primers pockets all together. I experienced no loss of accuracy and the only brass prep I do now is size the necks and reprime with Lee tools.

Weighing charges. When I can I use ball powder and throw 50 at a time.

Repititious boring stuff like seating bullets and sizing is now handled by my 13 year old apprentice. He now has over 5 years experience. I just do the setup and do quality control. Working as a team 100 rounds in seasoned brass can be done in 1 hour or so.

My next toy is going to be an automatic powder measure.