Hello everyone! I wanted to give you all a quick update on what’s coming here on Ultimate Reloader, as well as some pretty awesome changes to the GavinToobe YouTube channel (home of Ultimate Reloader). Here are the updates! GavinToobe YouTube Channel Refresh GavinToobe started out as the YouTube channel for Ultimate Reloader videos (mostly). In […]
Category: Reloading Blog
The Ultimate Reloader Reloading Blog
Big Grains: Big Bore Ammo without the Big Bore Price
I’ve got to admit something: I’m totally obsessed with 500 S&W Magnum. Seems like every time I go to grab a handgun, it’s at the top of my mind. And I guess it’s not hard to understand why- it’s big, it’s bad, it’s powerful, and it’s just pure fun. But what’s not fun is paying […]
Lyman Brass Smith Ideal Presss: From Unboxing to Loading
Ever since the SHOT show this year, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get hands-on with the new Brass Smith reloading presses from Lyman. Well that time has come! Last week I got my Lyman Brass Smith Ideal press, and this week I got my Inline Fabrication Mounting plate (Brass Smith presses have same […]
Alliant 2400: Versatile Magnum Pistol Powder
There are some powders that are so versatile you’ll always want to have a supply on hand. If you shoot any magnum pistol, Alliant 2400 is one of those powders! I’ve been using Alliant 2400 for a decade now, and have gotten some great results using it for both 357 Magnum, and for 44 Magnum. […]
Overview: Hand Reloading Press from Buchanan Precision Machine
Working up and testing loads can take what feels like an eternity. When I lived in the city, working up a rifle load could take weeks. Amidst the chaos of a full-time corporate job and busy family life, the opportunities to load and shoot were difficult to come by. Let me sketch out a typical […]
224 Valkyrie: Coming Your Way!
Since I heard about 224 Valkyrie, I’ve been wanting to get hands-on with it. It’s taken a while, but I’m getting close to kicking-off a content series that will go in-depth on this exciting new cartridge. But I need your help! I’d love to hear your feedback, and get ideas on what exactly to show! […]
More Updates, and How to Support Ultimate Reloader
Hello everyone! It’s been a crazy couple weeks, but things are moving along, and I wanted to give some quick updates! First, thank you to everyone for your support! I appreciate all of the kind comments, and the loyalty many of you have shown. Video Hosting Backup Plan: Success In the last couple days I […]
Speed and Precision: Wilson Case Trimmer Power Adapter
What’s better than slow precision? Wait for it…….. Fast precision! And that’s what the Wilson Trimmer Power Adapter gives you. You start with the Wilson Stainless Trimmer, which gives you the highest level of precision for case trimming, and then “turbo charge” it with a power screwdriver. If you are unfamiliar with the Wilson Stainless […]
YouTube Firearms Ban and Ultimate Reloader: Here’s What’s Happening
Hello everyone- I wanted to pro-actively reach out to let you all know about how the YouTube Firearms Content Restrictions announced this week will affect Ultimate Reloader, and what I am doing about it. Here’s a brief message I put together explaining this new policy, and my action plan: Over the next two weeks you […]
Best Day Ever: Shooting Clays with the MEC 100E ATA
After a long cold Winter, each sunny day feels like magic. And it’s even better when you can get outdoors and do something fun with friends to enjoy the experience. This was just one of those days. I had recently put my MEC 100E ATA together, and was very eager to try it out. A […]
MEC 100E Clay Thrower: Unboxing and Setup
An unfair advantage. That’s what I want when I go to shoot clays with friends. Like the guy that has a Donkey Kong console in his man cave- and then invites friends over so that he can beat them. Oh, and I also just want to have fun shotgunning, and share that fun with friends. […]
Pistol Case Expanders: Overview, Comparison, Setup
Case expansion is critical when loading pistol ammunition. Too little case mouth expansion, and you’ll fail to place/retain bullets, and you’ll also shave the bullet if you’re loading hard cast lead bullets. Too much case mouth expansion, and you’ll over-work the brass and cause it to fail prematurely. So let’s take a look at some […]
Lyman Borecam Digital Borescope: Overview and Comprehensive Test Drive
Have you ever wondered what’s going on inside your rifle’s barrel? Is the bore in good condition? Is the bore clean? You may have wondered the same things about your pistol barrels. Until recently, borescope tools have been beyond the reach of everyday gun owners- not now! Since Lyman has introduced the Borecam Digital Borescope, […]
Expanded 10-Shot Load Development for 6.5 Creedmoor
Loading your own ammunition enables you to achieve results with your rifles that are simply not possible with factory ammunition. The key to achieving optimal results is the painstaking process of load development for each scenario and firearm you need to load ammunition for. Here’s the big challenge: there are so many variables you can […]
Ultimate Reloader Deal: 10% off Quick Change Ultramounts from Inline Fabrication
Have you been wanting to upgrade your press mounting situation? Does your press wobble? Do you have two presses, but only one spot on the bench? The Inline Fabrication Quick-Change Ultramount is the answer! For a limited time (until March 12 2018) you can save 10% on Quick-Change Ultramounts from Inline Fabrication! Just add a […]
Precision 6.5 Creedmoor Step by Step
This story is a part of a larger series pertaining to 6.5 Creedmoor- but for this particular “installment” I wanted to do something a bit different. So this time, I’m going to show a single cartridge as it makes its way from cleaned-and-fired brass all the way to being ready to shoot (all condensed down […]
Inline Fabrication Ultramounts Compared Side-By-Side
If you’ve been watching and reading Ultimate Reloader stories for long, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a familiar presence on my reloading bench- the Inline Fabrication Ultramount system! I’ve been using the Ultramount system for years, and have “standardized” on the quick change Ultramount as my press mounting solution. Just recently I added a “Junior” Ultramount to […]
SHOT Show 2018: A Brief Recap
Let’s just say this: The SHOT Show is absolute insanity. Last year (2017) saw 65,000 attendees, and the 2018 SHOT Show was most likely close to this number. I heard from someone that if you walked all of the aisles and saw all of the booths, you’d walk a total of about 6 miles! It […]
New Lyman Brass Smith Presses: See Them First Here on Ultimate Reloader
OK Guys- 2018 is going to be EPIC here on Ultimate Reloader! Seriously, lots of cool new products, and some new adventures I’ll be talking about soon. One of the exciting new partners I’ll be working with this year is Lyman Products! Lots of cool things to talk about, one of them is the new […]
SHOT Show 2018: What do you want to see?
Well, this is the exciting week of the SHOT show! I’ll be there, and can’t wait to check out all of the new gear, meet some amazing people, and hang out with friends! The big question for you all: What do you all want to see? Please leave a comment, and I’ll do my best […]
Don’t Blow up that 1911: Reload 45 ACP the Safe Way
I haven’t blown up a gun, but I know it happens every day. Usually, reloaded ammunition is a part of the equation when a gun goes “Kaboom”. Reloading ammunition is a serious responsibility and isn’t without danger. Perhaps that’s part of the appeal- you’re literally working with explosives and building ammunition. While it’s possible to […]
In Memory of Jim Findlay, One of the Greats
It’s hard losing a friend that you enjoy spending time with, one that brings out the best in you and challenges you to excel. Recently, I lost such a friend: Jim Findlay, A.K.A. “Jim the Plumber”. Jim meant a lot to a many of the people in the Pacific Northwest Shooting scene- he’ll be missed […]
L.E. Wilson Stainless Case Trimmer: Overview, Setup, Trimming
Any shooting sport that takes precision to the extreme will involve exacting brass prep as a part of the reloading process. In order to achieve such exacting standards, case length and case squareness must be held to exacting tolerances. L.E. Wilson has spent the last 81 years perfecting their case trimming system, one that was […]
Ultimate Reloader LEE Give-Away: Winner Announcement
The first Ultimate Reloader giveaway has ended, and I wanted to share with you all who won the awesome prize! I’m very happy for Judd Harris of Louisiana, congratulations! Judd plans on loading 308 Winchester with his new kit, and will use handloading as a hands-on compliment to his ballistics studies at the Sonoran Desert […]
FORSTER Reloading Dies: Overview and Setup featuring 6.5 Creedmoor
Reloading dies are perhaps the most critical tooling component involved in the loading of precision ammunition. Reloading dies have a huge effect on brass concentricity, case sizing dimensions and consistency, bullet seating depth, and bullet runout. So when you chose reloading dies for your rifle, you need to ensure you are getting the quality and […]
