Shitty Day Outside? I Spent It Reloading

After today, I still have half a spam can of corrosive EVIL Russian (GASP!) surplus 7.62x54r that needs my conversion to non-corrosive. Also, the ammo is loaded in copper-washed steel cases... basically junk to a reloader.

The organized chaos that is my gun bench, which is made from an old base kitchen cabinet

I know, just super-duper clean your rifle afterwards and shoot the ammo as is, right? Nope. I don't even want that crap chambered in my rifles because I despise steel ammo (except some decent Hungarian made stuff I have that is zinc plated). So I recover the bullets and powder and replace it in my own primed brass cases. Labor intensive? Sure, but 50 rounds of ammo through a bolt action rifle lasts me for a couple of range outings. Plus, I enjoy reloading as much as actually shooting, so there's that. So for your reading pleasure, here is my procedure in great detail. (I used to write technical documentation, so that is part of my fun).

 

                       Military Surplus Ammunition Component Recovery and Loading

 

 

1.    Case Preparation

1.1. Assemble rifle ammo reloading platform and components.

1.2. Visually inspect all cases. Polish all case exteriors with steel wool using Lee Zip Trim. Clean all remnants of steel wool from cases and reloading area.

1.3. Lubricate all case exteriors, and inside the case mouth with a Q-Tip using Lee Resizing Lubricant.

1.4. Properly install Lee Case decapper/resizer die on Lee Reloader Press.

1.5. Decap and resize all lubricated cases (this resizes the ENTIRE case to factory ammo specs)

1.6. Use the Lee Primer Pocket Tool to clean residue out of the primer pocket. Tap the case bottom on a hard surface to remove loose debris.

1.7. Trim to length and chamfer all resized cases, using the Lee Zip Trim, Lee Large Case Trimmer, and Lee Case Chamfer tool. Tap the case mouth on the wooden bench to remove loos brass shavings. Clean up all brass shavings from cases and reloading area.

 

2.     Russian Mil-Surp Ammo Preperation

2.1. Use caution removing 20 round packs from the spam can. Edges are sharp.

2.2. Remove original packaging from cartridges and discard.

2.3. Visually inspect cartridges for corrosion or damage.

 

3.    Disassembly

3.1. Mount cartridge in kinetic bullet hammer

3.2. Strike hammer lightly several times against vise anvil to loosen the bullet. Monitor progress of bullet as it begins to separate from the case. Do not allow the bullet to completely dislodge.

3.3. Carefully remove cartridge from kinetic puller. Try to ensure the cartridge does not fall apart.

3.4. Holding cartridge vertical to prevent powder spillage, carefully remove bullet by hand. It should come free with some effort. With practice this will become easier to master.

3.5. Set pulled bullets aside for cleaning, and primed/charged shells in case holder to prevent spilled powder.

3.6. If this is the first time disassembling a particular type of cartridge, take the time to weigh a couple of powder charges to verify the charge and document. This will be important if the powder is stored for future reloading.

 

4.    Cleaning

4.1. Since this is military ammo, the bullets have a ring of lacquer paint around the bullet where it met the top of the original case. Use a rag and lacquer thinner to remove so the ring of paint does not interfere with seating the bullet.

5.    Loading

5.1. The press will need to have the bullet seating die installed and set for proper case O.A.L. before proceeding. Test fit bullets for O.A.L. using spare cases.

5.2. Insert the small powder funnel in the mouth of the case to be loaded. Carefully dump the powder from one of the mil-surp cases into the funnel. Tap the side of the case the powder came out of to ensure it all came out. Push any remaining powder grains down the funnel into the case. Remove the funnel.

5.3. Mount the freshly charged case on the press in the case holder.

5.4. Set one of the recovered and cleaned bullets on top of the case in the press, then operate the press.

5.5. Remove the new cartridge from the press and set in the cartridge tray.

5.6. Repeat the process for as many cartridges that will be loaded in this session.

5.7. When finished, remove the bullet seating die from the press.

6.    Crimping

6.1. Install the crimping die in the press before proceeding

6.2. Set a newly completed cartridge in the case holder, and operate the press for crimping. Repeat for all newly completed cartridges.

7.    Finishing

7.1. The leftover shells still have live primers that must be detonated. Because of the corrosive primers, DO NOT USE A RIFLE. DO NOT DO INDOORS. WEAR HEARING PROTECTION.

7.2. Mount the shells in a steel plate with a hole drilled in it, facing down towards the ground. Lightly strike the primer with a prick punch and hammer to set it off. Repeat until all primers are dead.

7.3. The dead cases can be discarded or drilled to make dummy rounds for training.

 

      The finished product is pictured below, next to the Lee 7.62x54r Four Die Set. I should get 2 to 4 more loadings out of these.

    

50 completed rounds and the Lee die set

The by-product of today's endeavor is this tray of fun, guaranteed to piss off my gun-hating neighbor, Mrs. Bitchy McBitchy Bitchface (H/T to Mr. Garabaldi for that little nickname).

The now empty but still primed steel cases

What I normally do is blow off all the primers which are just slightly louder than a .22LR. I will wait until I know that COTHO* is home and preferably outside before banging them off. She'll have no idea where it is coming from and hopefully look stupid once again by calling state police for someone shooting near her house. My front porch should be a good spot with cover from the forsythia bush.

After the primers are all rendered safe, the empty cases will be scattered all around my property to throw off anyone snooping with a metal detector. Even after the steel cases are gone, the leftover copper will be there and show up as a false positive.

*COTHO = Cunt of The Highest Order

Review - On Your 6 Designs Dual Mag Carrier

I decided I needed a better dual magazine carrier for my Glock 21 Gen 3 than the one I had. Made by Bianchi out of cordura nylon, it used flaps and velcro to hold the mags in place and IMHO the flaps need to be at least 1/2" longer to catch the velcro solidly. It also sat on my belt completely flat, letting me know it was there sitting all the way back in a chair or in the drivers seat of my truck. Searching for something new online, I found the offerings from On Your 6 Designs. They make holsters and mag carriers out of kydex in 12 colors and for every major manufacture. The dual mag carrier is curved to fit close to the wearer's body. And they are reasonably priced.

On March 1st I placed an order with On Your 6 Designs for a dual mag carrier, gun model Glock 20/21, left hand side, OWB, bullets facing forward, and in black, item #305013. It came to $34.01 with the 15% off first order coupon. It arrived quickly on Monday March 7th from San Antonio, TX. Since I was not off until Wednesday I had to wait until then to try it out.

I was pleased at how snug the magazines fit and click into place. When they mold it, they include indentations where the magazine catch slots are. This is my first experience with a kydex mag carrier, so they all probably do that. It comes with two sets of belt loops, 1.5" (mounted) and 1.75" in a bag with hardware. The only downside to the loops is that they are closed loops that have to be threaded onto your belt, you can't clip it on. On the other hand, it can't pop off. The loops are adjustable for cant if you wish. Me, I like it straight the way it comes. I put it on my belt and popped in 2 loaded 10 round magazines.

I wore it all day. The rig is definitey heavier (31 rounds of 230 grain JHP) than the same loadout with my Ruger SR9c compact 9mm with 3 magazines (31 rounds of 115 grain JHP), but it felt the the same because it carries so much better. I definitely like it.

Because I am so satisfied with the carrier, late yesterday I ordered a holster and dual mag carrier for the SR9c. My current mag carrier is a leather DeSantis version which does work well, but the generic leather holster for the SR9c leaves a lot to be desired. It is friction fit and has loosened up over the years. I had a $100 VISA gift card from a couple of Christmases ago and by having my cart open without checking out for so long, the standard 10% coupon became 20% off. So the holster and mag carrier came to $72.32 including shipping. I expect to see my order by the middle of next week. I'll do another review post after I wear and use the new holster and mag carrier.

New Ad For Pfizer

So not content to earn the billions for their jab(s) of DNA changing gene therapy poison being pushed by complicit bureaucrats and medical tyrants, Pfizer is now pushing their new COVID pill called Paxlovid. The jist of the commercial I heard and saw to push the pill by continuing the panic porn was this; If you are sick, even with just a cold, go get a Chi-Com Xi Flu test and then go see your doctor to get Paxlovid. I guess the sheep are no longer rushing out to get themselves and their kids jabbed. I heard that here in Kommiecticut thousands of doses are going to expire unused and have to be destroyed. Aw, that's so sad AWESOME!

No fucking way, Jack. At the height of the moronic variant, I had minor cold symptoms starting the morning of December 27th and ending the evening of December 29th. I continued working and did not even consider getting tested, because I refused to be a statistic in the panic porn and simply did not care since the symptoms are exactly the same as the common cold. The Branch-Covidians can play along, I will not.

Opinion Post - Administrative Gun Handling

Definition - "Administrative Gun Handling" is the area of gun handling where most "accidents" (negligent discharge or N.D.) happen. It is loading and unloading, cleaning, transporting, holstering, or unholstering. As a matter of fact, its anything you do with a gun besides shooting it.

There is a school of thought that administrative gun handling (AGH) should always be minimized. I disagree. As long as Cooper's Four Rules of Gun Safety are ALWAYS observed, the more you handle your firearms, especially your EDC, the better. I am constantly swapping guns around; loading and unloading, changing magazines and holsters on my EDC, switching between EDC and bedside gun, switching between semi-auto and revolver, etc. In my opinion, each time I handle my firearms by AGH, and conscientiously do so safely, I am training. I never let my guard down and allow my self to become complacent or flippant. To me it is no different than the safety procedures I always follow when shooting or reloading. My club range had a couple of chamber flags on the back bench in the range house for members to use. I bought a good supply off eBay for myself and engraved them with my initials.

That said I have the "advantage" of having my own N.D. in 1984 that luckily went harmlessly into the ground, and learned from it. It was multiple failures on my part with a 1911. Call it being scared straight because it was my one, as in "everybody gets one." But I actually got two, because I should be at worst dead and at least a paraplegic from someone else's N.D. in May of 1989. Inside my car. My 7 month old new car. But I was lucky. The lumbar support in my drivers seat deflected the .22LR bullet away from my spine and harmlessly to the floor and then into the door. It cost the shooter $1000 to repair my car.

A couple of detailed examples:

Pistols; when I clear a semi-auto, I drop the mag, rack the slide and eject the round into my hand, and lock the slide to the rear. Then, maintaining muzzle and trigger discipline, visually inspect the chamber AND the mag well to ensure both are empty. If I am placing the gun into storage, the slide is moved forward and the gun goes immediately into storage or a carry case. If the gun is left out or handed to another person, the slide stays back with the chamber open. If the gun is left out on the bench assembled, it is flagged. If handed off, the other person is reminded to maintain muzzle safety and trigger discipline, and to inspect the chamber and mag well themselves. I watch to make sure that they do. It is the same with a revolver, with the cylinder remaining empty and out of the frame. The photos below were taken in my hardened gun closet.

 

Glock 21 Gen 3, empty chamber... CHECK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And empty mag well. Firearm CLEARED!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chamber flags fit nicely in an empty Berry's Bullets container

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleared and flagged, Cooper's 4 Rules of Gun Safety still apply!

My Ruger GP-161 revolver in .357 Magnum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With rifles, it is just a little different. My chamber flags are used more regularly. Whenever the gun is moved out of the safe or carry case, the removable (if there is one) magazine is removed or if integral emptied, the action is opened and then both are inspected. On a loaded lever action, you must ensure muzzle and trigger discipline, and work the lever until the tubular magazine is emptied and no more live rounds are ejected. You should be able to observe the magazine follower in the receiver if the magazine is empty. If the gun is going back into storage or into a carry case, the action is closed and the safety engaged. If the gun is to remain out, a chamber flag is inserted in the chamber and the action stays completely open. If I am shooting multiple rifles at the range, each one is uncased, action opened, a chamber flag is inserted, and the rifle is placed in the rack at the rear of the firing line. If I have to go down range, any firearms left set up on the bench get a chamber flag in the open action, and range rules state no one touches any firearms. Since I am usually at the range by myself, this is not a problem. If there are others shooting at the same time, I will insist they follow my practices.

My Marlin 1894CB in .38SPL/.357Mag. Empty mag, action open and flagged

 

IMHO... if you are not confident enough to regularly handle all of your firearms, then you need to up your game, or think about selling them.

Since this is a gun post, I will also write about my new dual mag carrier from On Your 6 Designs for my Glock 21. I had one from Bianchi forever that used velcro flaps to hold the mags in place. It was bulky and flat and even though it was made for the Glock 21, the flaps seemed too short because the velcro barely mated up. The flaps popped open on me a couple of times, which was not acceptable. So today I am carrying the Glock with the new mag carrier to see how it does. It's only been a couple of hours, but so far so good.

On Your 6 Designs Glock 20/21 dual mag carrier in black Kydex

They are custom made per your order; firearm, single or double, left hand or right hand, bullets facing forward or backward, and lots of colors to choose from. They come with 1.5" belt loops mounted and 1.75" optional belt loops for you to install. You can also adjust the cant if you wish, but they come straight (and that's how I like them). With the Glock magazines, they molded an indentation to match the catch slot. The magazines lock into the carrier with a positive click. This particular one cost me $34.01 with the 15% off first time order coupon and flat rate shipping. Turn around was less than a week. The curvature is great and way more comfortable than my Bianchi carrier was, especially sitting all the way back in a chair. I will give a full review in a subsequent post.

The gun is carried in a Blackhawk CQC holster #2100298 with a position 1 forward cant and the belt loop mount because I did not care for the paddle mount. There are many places that ban these holsters for what I am going to call a fucking myth. Supposedly, in excitement or stress, shooters somehow hook their finger used on the release button on the trigger and N.D. themselves in the leg or foot. With my gun empty, no matter how hard I try to fuck up or purposely drag my finger from the button position to the gun on draw, I am nowhere near the trigger. My finger normally lands right in the take down button groove. If I look down and try to force my finger in alignment with the trigger, because my finger is still straight from pressing the release, my finger lands on the forward portion of the trigger guard. I can't quite figure out what these people are possibly doing wrong, but I doubt it is caused by the holster design. N.D.'s are caused by the shooter themselves 99% of the time, not equipment failure.

My typical load out with the Glock is three 10 round mags with one in the pipe, for a total of 31 rounds of SIG 230 gr JHP V-Crown ammo. It felt really heavy with the old setup, but the new one doesn't feel much different than my 9mm Ruger SR9c and the same load out. I believe it just carries better on my belt. Since Kommiecticut banned dreaded 13 round high capacity magazines for this gun (all mine were lost to the bottom of a lake in that canoe accident) I am down 9 rounds from my optimum, which in the eyes of the gun-grabbers means the world is now safe from me committing a mass shooting because I would have to reload. Certainly not the fact that I am not a criminal or murderer, right?

WTF? Is Congress REALLY That Useless?

While the world burns, congress-crittters think it is more important to pass laws pertaining to activities that haven't been practiced since 1955? Do we really need federal laws making lynching a hate crime? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? It's called murder you assholes, and no matter who the victim is, it is still illegal and the perpetrator should pay the same price.

But no. Putin is rolling across Ukraine and soon eastern Europe, our national economy is in the shitter, U.S. energy independence has been trashed, violent crime is rampant, illegal immigration goes unchecked across unsecured borders, etc. etc. and all those pieces of shit in government are more concerned with virtue signalling with useless legislation.