Ever see something and think to yourself: “I need that”. That’s what I thought when I saw the rifle cartridge pen that Capital Cartridge is giving away as a bonus (through the end of the year): How can you get your own free pen you ask? Just fill your cart with $100.00 or more of […]
Tag: Rifle Reloading
Overview: iGaging OriginCal 0-6″ Absolute Origin Digital Calipers
To be honest, I didn’t spend much time “shopping” for the digital calipers I’ll talk about in this post. This last November, my father-in-law was asking for my “Christmas list”, and I thought to myself: “how about a set of digital calipers?”. I spent all of 5 minutes perusing Amazon glancing at products and reviews, […]
Inline Fabrication Micro Ultramount: assembly and bench mounting
You can’t build a good house without a solid foundation. Likewise, any seasoned reloader knows how important a solid mounting arrangement is for their reloading presses. In the last year I’ve started using the Inline Fabrication Ultramount system, and recently decided to use this system across the board for pretty much all of my reloading […]
MEC Marksman Single-Stage: Unboxing, Overview, Setup
There’s nothing like a solid piece of iron. Cast iron tools and machines are a lifetime investment, and I love it when I look at a tool and see “Made in USA”. Recently MEC (the Mayville Engineering Company) made an interesting announcement. This company which is known for top-notch shotshell reloading gear announced they are getting into […]
L.E. Wilson Full-Length Bushing-Type Sizing Die: Overview and Setup
It’s always exciting to try new products- the latest such product I’ve been working with is the L.E. Wilson Full-Length Bushing-Type Sizing Die. It all started when I asked Daniel Reichert (president at L.E. Wilson) about gear for the Ruger Precision Rifle I have in .243 Winchester. Daniel thought- why not try out the new Bushing-Type […]
Ruger Precision Rifle: Loading 6.5 Creedmoor with the Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron
It’s time to take the reloading for the Ruger Precision Rifle to the next level! I’ve been loading ammunition “factory style” (new brass) on the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP 5-station progressive, and now it’s time to go single-stage. I’ve already gotten GREAT results- with groups in the sub-3/4″ range (a first-group-of-the-day 5-shot group measured just over […]
Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron Press Kit: Mounting and Setup
I’ll admit, I’m having a hard time being patient when it comes to getting started with the Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron Press. The arrival of this press is great in its timing: I’m just about to move from progressive loading of 6.5 Creedmoor (for the Ruger Precision Rifle) to single-stage precision reloading. This will be the […]
Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron Press Kit: Unboxing and Overview
If you are like me, you’ve been eagerly awaiting the availability of the new Hornady Lock-N-Load Iron reloading press system. I have been working with Hornady on getting the first videos up for this press, and literally received the first kit off the line. In this series, I’ll cover this new press system and kit […]
Hornady Lock-N-Load AP Unboxing, Overview, and Setup
The Hornady Lock-N-Load AP 5 station progressive reloading press is a popular tool for loading both pistol and rifle ammunition. I’ve published a lot of content related to this press, but one thing I have not yet covered is unboxing- so here you go! Time to take a look up close at the very latest (2016) version of […]
Revisiting Case Lube Alternatives
Over the years, I’ve talked quite a bit about different case lube products and techniques for both rifle and pistol reloading. Depending on your goals, the cartridge being reloaded, and what you have on-hand, your options will typically be honed down to a few “best options”. But the more you talk with seasoned reloaders, the […]
Hornady Rifle Bullet Feeder Part 2: Setup and Configuration
In this post I’ll cover the high-level details outlining the setup process for the Hornady Lock-N-Load Rifle Bullet Feeder (.22 caliber in this case). Be sure to check out the video at the end of this post and the overview post if you haven’t already. Fortunately, Hornady supplies an excellent owner’s manual with this rifle […]
Starting to Loading Rifle, Part II: Video Walkthrough and Resources
In this article I’ll build on my last post which listed all of the items that you’ll need to start reloading rifle ammunition. Here are some additional resources here on Ultimate Reloader that will help you get off the ground reloading: Hornady Case Prep Center Hornady Case Prep Center – Rifle – Part II Hornady […]
Starting to Loading Rifle, Part I: What You’ll Need
So you want to start loading rifle ammunition! Soon you’ll be realizing more accurate ammunition, complete control over cartridge characteristics, and also save a bunch of money. But first, there’s a bunch of information to absorb, and a bunch of things to buy. But what things to buy? That’s the reason for this article! There […]
Hodgdon Overhauls Reloading Data Center
It goes without saying that reloading data is one of the most important aspects of reloading for pistol, rifle, and shotgun. I spend a lot of time finding and keeping track of load data– it’s an imperative part of how I manage my workflow and cartridge knowledge base. In case you haven’t seen it yet, […]
Tips to Optimize Progressive Rifle Loading
If you’ve loaded rifle ammunition with a single-stage, you know just how long this process can take. Separate sizing, priming, charging (sometimes weighing each load), seating, and crimping can really take a long time. In some cases, this extra time and effort is worth it (long-range competition shooting for example). It’s also possible to crank […]
Ultimate Reloader Moves to the Country
Anyone that lives in the city can tell you just how difficult, limiting, and expensive shooting can be when you don’t have access to the country. I once joined a shooting range with the understanding that I’d be able to shoot photos and videos for this website, only to find out that they would later […]
Do I really need a bullet feeder?
So there you are sitting at your reloading bench cranking out some ammunition and a thought comes into your head. What if I added a bullet feeder to this press? I could really speed things up, and it would be fun to get a new press accessory! But you may also ask yourself: Will it […]
How to weigh the costs and benefits of reloading your own ammunition
We’ve all been there- walking past that neglected tool in the garage or exercise equipment in the den with accumulated dust so thick you could write your name in it. Then, you think back to the weeks that you agonized over which make/model to go with, and the rush of excitement when the delivery truck […]
5 Tips for Reloading Accurate Rifle Ammunition
There are many reasons to handload your own rifle ammunition. It’s fun, it’s economical, and you can attain maximum accuracy by carefully loading custom ammunition for your rifle. If you’re new to handloading rifle ammunition, here are some basic considerations for accuracy: Start with proven loads and load data Fire form your brass Optimize bullet […]
Tips for Preventing Stuck Cases
Excited to get started loading, I grabbed some .223 Remington brass that had been sitting for months since being sprayed down with lube. I prepared to validate my powder charge by running a single cartridge through the RCBS Pro 2000 progressive press. I pulled the lever to size the case, and *POP*, when trying to […]
2013 New Products from Hornady
If you are a fan of Hornady products, you’ll want to check out the wave of new products that Hornady just announced this month… There’s a lot of new ammunition and products in this release, and I thought I’d focus on the new reloading products that are a part of this announcement. Here’s a quick […]
RCBS Lube Die- Lube While You Load
In my last post, I gave an overview of some of the case lube products that I’ve used personally. These are the spray-on and wipe-on products that a lot of reloaders use on a regular basis. But there’s one more product that I use that’s interesting for those that want to load bulk quantities of […]
Some Case Lube Products I’ve Used
Reloading ammunition involves forming brass. Forming brass involves a lot of force and friction- this makes case lube a vital part of the reloading equation. Now, talk to a motorsports enthusiast about engine oils, and you’ll get opinions: strong ones. Likewise, when discussing case lubes, you’ll get passionate opinions as well. It’s not surprising people […]
Quick Tip: Indexing Your Dies
If you are reloading rifle ammunition on a progressive reloading press, you just may be one of those “attention to detail” kind of guys. Rifle reloaders tend to be a bit obsessive about their reloading supplies, equipment, and processes. But some times we overlook the simple details that can make a difference. If you’re loading […]
Dreams of loading the big 50
Everyday shooting is fun, but some times I just want to experience something extreme- something that few people experience. When it comes to rifle shooting, the big 50 BMG definately falls into this category. What’s so exciting about the 50 BMG? (Doesn’t take much imagination, but I’ll elaborate none the less 🙂 ). The 50 […]
