There are certain tools that can save you a lot of time, effort, and money. For reloaders of ammunition, a case gage is one such tool. Have you ever gone to the range and discovered an issue with your handloads? I certainly have. While a case gage can’t prevent all ammunition problems, it is what […]
When Steve Lawrence from the 6.5 Guys asked if I’d like to shoot his AR-15 chambered in 6.5mm Grendel, I said: “Absolutely!”. We were up at the “Ultimate Reloader Outpost” working on another shooting project, and had some spare time. A great opportunity to try a new AR-15 chambering! Prior to to this experience, I […]
One of the most popular handgun cartridges in the world is 45 ACP. It has a controversial place in the concealed carry debate, and is a lot of fun to shoot at targets as well. In this post I’ll cover setting the RCBS Pro Chucker 5 up to load 45 ACP as well as full-progressive […]
Brass prep is a critical part of the reloading process, but it can be a huge pain to deal with. I’ve traditionally been a dry tumbler, but I’ve been curious to try some new processes including ultrasonic case cleaning, and stainless media wet tumbling. In this article I’ll give you the low-down on my experience […]
One of the things I enjoy most about what I do with Ultimate Reloader is meeting like minded people who share a passion for any number of my hobbies. Some of these interests include reloading, shooting, motorcycles, diesel and heavy equipment, fabrication and machining, technology, videography/sound, photography, retro iron, and the list goes on! Recently, […]
Disgusting. That’s the word I use to describe my crusty jar of mineral spirits that I use to clean dies. It’s a mess to use, and when I blow dry the dies there’s a fine mist of mineral spirits that you can smell in the shop air. You may know the feeling: the excitement of […]
In preparation for loading 45 ACP on the RCBS Pro Chucker 5, I thought it would be a great idea to “get serious” about my die cleaning setup. Well, I’m about to show you a huge upgrade from my “shake the dies in a can of paint thinner method” that I’ve used for years. I’m […]
In this post, I’ll continue where we left of in my last post (see RCBS Pro Chucker 5 Press Assembly Part 1) by taking on the assembly of the new-and-improved RCBS Uniflow powder measure. This new version of the Uniflow that’s included with the Pro Chucker 5 features some great updates that include a quick-change […]
Now that we’ve unboxed and mounted the RCBS Pro Chucker 5, it’s time to finish assembling the press so that we can start reloading some ammo! In this post (and video, see below) I’ll cover the first steps involved in assembling the RCBS Pro Chucker 5. In my next post, I’ll finish press assembly. The […]
Following-up on my unboxing video for the RCBS Pro Chucker 5, it’s now time for the important task of mounting this new press to the reloading bench. Since many of you have asked about my “Ultimate Reloader Reloading Bench System” I thought I would provide more details and information about how this system works in […]
Today is Father’s Day, and I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge all of the dads out there, and to wish you all the best today. I started today with my wife and girls, and felt extremely fortunate to have them to share life with. I am hoping that you all can be […]
They day has come: in this post you’ll get a look at the new RCBS Pro Chucker 5 reloading press. This post is the first hands-on post in what will be an extensive series on the new RCBS progressive reloading press platform (shared by the RCBS Pro Chucker 5 and Pro Chucker 7). I won’t […]
The day has finally come! It’s not too often that new progressive reloading “systems” are introduced, and this year RCBS is doing that with the all new “Pro Chucker” presses – available in 5-station and 7-station variants (and you can even convert them back and forth without buying a new press). After working with RCBS […]
My metal lathes are tools that I just can’t do without. I am frequently amazed at how often a metal lathe will come in handy around the house and shop, especially for gunsmithing and reloading accessories/tools. I’ve written several times about how I’ve machined shims for various reloading fixtures. Examples include calibrating my Hornady Lock-N-Load […]
If you are looking for the best quality dies available on a reasonable budget, it’s hard to beat Redding dies. Furthermore, the construction and features of the Redding Competition Seating Die are very compelling (micrometer seating depth adjustment, sliding collar seating stem, etc). Until recently, you had to either buy dies individually from Redding or […]
I enjoy the process of designing and building things, and I guess the “inventor” in me can’t help but want to create new products. It’s always a pleasure to see what other people come up with, and to help them market and sell their inventions (Example: Doug Williams’ 38/357 quick switch kit). Recently, one of […]
