Lapua makes top-shelf brass, and their 6.5 Creedmoor offerings are no exception. If you’ve used this brass, you’re probably aware that it’s available only with small primer pockets. Well, that used to be true, but recently Lapua released large primer pocket 6.5 Creedmoor brass, and it’s given me stellar results this last year with long-term […]
If you’re a fan of Starline, I’ve got some exciting updates to share with you! An all-new website, updates to brass offerings, and new cartridges added to the Starline brass lineup! Check it out: All-New Website Starline just launched a complete redesign of their website that’s better looking, easier to navigate, easier to shop on, […]
If you’ve been shooting rifles for a long time, no doubt you’ve said to yourself at one point: “I can’t figure out why this rifle won’t shoot!!!”. This story documents “one of those times” for me. I recently got a HOWA 1500 heavy barreled action in 6mm Creedmoor from Brownells, and built up a pretty […]
I’ve formed cases by “necking up” and “necking down”, but this is the first time I’ve formed cases from blanks (a straight-wall version of a bottleneck rifle cartridge). I’m talking about my recent interest in forming 25-45 Sharps cases from Starline 223 Basic cases. In the process of working on this project, I learned a […]
RCBS is constantly looking at ways they can make their products better. One such example is their latest die set: “MATCHMASTER”. Aimed at people reloading long-range precision ammunition, this die set builds on the familiar RCBS Gold Metal die set SKUs with a few key refinements. Here I’ll show these dies loading up some Starline […]
Here we are! Time for another UR update. Hope everyone is having a great summer, I am for sure. I’ve been shooting pretty much every day, and have been working on some great projects and stories. In this update, I’ll announce the Lyman All American 8 turret press winner, and give you all a chance […]
There are many times when I have need to clean small lots of previously fired brass. It could be for load development, a cartridge that I don’t shoot much of, or it could be separate cleanings for each headstamp for a particular cartridge (sorted by headstamp). In these scenarios, I prefer a moderately sized cleaning […]
For a LONG time I’ve wanted to build my own HOWA 1500 rifle, and I decided now was the time! HOWA actions are known to shoot really well- they are made in Japan, and the quality shows. But what if you want to build something “just the way you want it”, and you don’t want […]
Quick update for everyone- less than a day after posting a video and article describing some dangerous looking pressure signs with 44 Magnum, you all helped me track down the problem with help from my iGaging 400x WiFi microscope! You’ll want to read my previous story to get a complete run-down on the issues I […]
Ever go about your day doing the same things you’ve done a thousand times before and then WHAM! something unexpected happens? That’s what happened to me recently when I was shooting some 44 Magnum handloads. Having just gotten my S&W 329 PD setup for summer carry, I thought I would test some ammo with it. […]
Ever since I tried 6.5 Grendel, I’ve wanted to get hands-on with it here on Ultimate Reloader, and NOW is that time! In this article, I’ll give an in-depth overview of my new AR: the CMMG 300-series Resolute mid-size AR chambered in 6.5 Grendel. 6.5 Grendel is a fascinating cartridge, and the CMMG 6.5 Grendel […]
Bigotry and discrimination are ugly realities in this day and age. These injustices seem to be affecting lawful gun owners more and more with no sign of letup from those that hate guns. Recently, an Ultimate Reloader subscriber and follower was discriminated against in a public place, and I wanted to show my support. Here […]
With a 22 caliber high-power rifle like 223 Remington, you’ll start running out of steam beyond about 500 yards using conventional factory ammunition. Traditional 50 grain 22 caliber bullets just don’t have the momentum or aerodynamics (Ballistic Coefficient) to penetrate the wind much further than that with predictability. That’s really where cartridges like 224 Valkyrie […]
Hello everyone! Time for another weekly update, this time with a chance to win 250 pieces of Starline 223 Brass! (who couldn’t use that? 🙂 ). Last Week’s Winner: Inline Fabrication Ultramount The challenge last week was to share which press you’d buy based on the 14 press shootout that I recently published. We had […]
Flying blind. That’s a fair description of my pistol accuracy evaluation until this point. Here’s some things I have thought more than once: Is my handgun sighted in? I think so. Is my handgun grouping well? Either it isn’t, or I’m having a bad day, not sure. All that has changed in the last couple […]
What a week it’s been! I’ve published a couple fun stories: The Lyman Brass Smith Powder Measure Overview, and the Super-In-Depth Precision Matthews PM-1440GT Metal Lathe Overview on http://makingwithmetal.com. Here’s this week’s update! Last Week’s Winner: Charles Morris! Charles Morris shared the best “tip that every reloader needs to know” and has won an Inline […]
What a week this has been! Lots of snow at the Ultimate Reloader Outpost (including getting my backhoe stuck), testing 224 Valkyrie 90 grain SMK bullets and ammunition, and much more! Time to announce last week’s winner, and give you all another challenge for this coming week… Congrats to Andrew Hensley, LEO Appreciation Winner Congrats […]
A while back one of my viewers on YouTube said: “You’ve got to check out the Präzipress, this thing is AMAZING”. So I looked it up on the internet, and found the product page on the Turban CNC website. I was immediately intrigued- this press design looked different. And I wondered how these presses would […]
As you all know, I shoot a LOT of Starline brass! And this year while at the SHOT Show, I had the opportunity to talk brass with Starline’s Hunter Pilant! As I mentioned, I’ll have a lot of cool stories this year featuring Starline brass including 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39mm, and more! So please […]
It has been an insane week! I launched my weekly giveaways last week, got two presses, dealt with more snowfall (removal, etc), published some great stories, and started filming new defense content. It’s been exciting! Starline Brass Winner from Last Week Congratulations to Jared Budzinski who won last week’s challenge for 250 pieces of rifle […]
As promised, I’ll be doing a giveaway on Ultimate Reloader EVERY WEEK in 2019! (unless I’m unable to move with the flu 🙂 ). Here’s the first challenge, share your Starline story on the UR Facebook for a chance to win! Share Your Story For a Chance To Win Click here and add your own […]
So far with 224 Valkyrie I’ve been focused on rifle builds and load development. Now it’s time to take a look at precision reloading for 224 Valkyrie, and this time I’m mixing it up with some new hardware and supplies from MEC and Primal Rights! Most everyone in the reloading world has seen the MEC […]
6.5 Creedmoor has been perhaps the most talked about cartridge over the last few years. And it’s not hard to see why! This cartridge is very good for long range shooting, has taken PRS competitions by storm, and is a very good all-round medium-to-large game hunting cartridge. So when Starline approached me about putting together […]
Reloading 224 Valkyrie is pretty much the same as reloading most other bottleneck rifle cartridges. However, there are some unique considerations when you’re dealing with a “hotrod” magnum cartridge like 224 Valkyrie. One of these considerations is brass life/longevity- namely the primer pockets. I’ve heard a lot of stories of 224 Valkyrie brass only lasting […]
224 Valkyrie is all about pushing heavy high-BC bullets to crazy-long ranges with an AR-15, or even a bolt gun. For 224 Valkyrie, I started working with a mid-weight bullets (Nosler 70 grain RDF), and have been working my way up in weight- and hope to top out at about 95 grains. While the Nosler […]
