New Bald Eagle Acrylic Loading Blocks from Bullets.com
High-quality loading blocks precisely sized for your cartridge types make the reloading process easier. Bullets.com now offers acrylic loading blocks that set new standards for this kind of product. Precision CNC-machined from solid acrylic, these beautiful loading blocks were designed by a member of the U.S. Shooting Team. Dimensions are ultra-precise and these blocks even have a primer recess in each hole so the cases sit perfectly. You can order blocks for a variety of rifle cartridge types: .223 Rem Family, .308 Win Family, .308 Tall (.30-06), RSAUM and WSM Magnum, Magnum Tall, .338 LM Family, .50 BMG. In addition, there are blocks for most popular pistol cartridges: .380/9mm, .38 SPL, .38 Super, .40 SW, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP. These blocks are affordable, starting at just $10.95.
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Tech Insight — Acrylic Machining Process
The folks at Bullets.com tell us that machining acrylic is not as easy as it seems. Making precision blocks is a multi-stage process involving special equipment. Solid slabs are first machined flat so they are parallel. Then several custom cutters are employed to craft precisely-arranged holes with nice chamfers on each hole as well as the outside edge. Every hole bottom has a secondary primer pocket milled in so the primers do not contact the bottoms. The see-through blocks are finished to a nice sheen.
Cost a bit more the Sinclair`s. I guess a second option.
Acrylic material is more expensive than HDPE. The machining time is slower on the Acrylic and requires special cutters. HDPE is very easy to machine and the CNC speeds can be faster. Also, there is a much larger selection of the Bald Eagle ones, and in my opinion, they look “cooler”
Shiraz – link, please since they seem to be the same company.
ELR – don’t know what you mean? If you click the top picture, it takes you to the page that lists the various sizes.
Shiraz – your earlier comment appears to suggest an alternate product in HDPE. That’s the link I was asking about. Seems you were referring to the Sinclair products. I just did a comparison of the 50 BMG trays and found the Sinclair model to be less than half the price and they have handles on the ends to facilitate moving the trays around, an excellent feature for those that actually intend to use the trays for reloading rather than display. Acrylic is certainly “cooler” for display.
I have one of those ..50 BMG HDPE trays. They are also a lot shorter than ours. Perhaps you should hold them (any model) side by side and then make your assumptions about which one is better. I have a bunch of those white HDPE ones and had to put all of them on the milling machine to round off the corners as they were very sharp 90 degrees and uncomfortable to hold (for me). The bottoms of the holes are coned as they have been drilled out. Our hole bottoms are flat with a secondary primer pocket flat clearance hole. Perhaps you should buy one to look at!
I’ll stick with what I have for .50 BMG-based cartridges – MTM Shotshell Trays, 50 Round, # ST-10-40 – square bottoms, solid hold (no tipping), with care can be lowered right into one of the MTM SF-100-12-09 cartridge boxes and I’m off to the range. And the trays are $5.49 each at Optics Planet.
I personally would have brought aluminum ones to the market, just my flavor though.. The acrylic does look cool, but I would lean to a nice piece of aluminum..
I see two magnum selections which one is for 300 wm? is it the same for the short mag?
Also why no 100 round holder, I am Using MTM box inserts because I load lots of 100. Would definitely o with these in 100 and willl get the 50’s for 300 wm and 223.
Ray – Yes, I have the aluminum ones as well from that guy that does a real fine job of them. They are very nice, but I found them to be heavy, so went searching for a similar product in a lighter material. That’s what brought these about. They are selling very well, already sold out of one model and have to wait a couple of months to replenish.
Jerry – BE1204 is for the .300 WSM family. I shoot that caliber so I wanted something that fit perfect, and this does.7RSAUM, etc. all same magnum bolt face calibers will fit. The BE1205 is for the same caliber, except the block is taller so the cases don’t move side to side too much and if you bump the tray by mistake, the cases have more side support and powder spilling can be avoided.
Also, the 100 would be too unwieldy in size and currently there are no plans for it. All the sizes are selling well as they are very nicely designed and built for practical use. Thanks.