At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Graf & Sons — Berger Bullets In Stock
⏺ High quality bullets have been hard to find; get these Bergers while you can
Components have been tough to find these days, particularly premium products such as Berger bullets. Head over to Grafs.com where they have a really great supply of Berger bullets in many popular calibers and bullet weights. As always, supplies are limited so don’t wait if you’re in need of bullets.
⏺ Ruger reliability, popular chambering, great camo finish
Here’s a nice 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle with a superb camo finish. This Ruger American Go Wild Camo/Bronze Bolt Action Rifle has a coated 22″ barrel chambered for the very popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. It features a Go Wild Camo stock with a Bronze Cerakote barrel finish. There is also a Ruger marksman adjustable trigger all making for a solid hunting rifle for an attractive $589.99 price.
3. Amazon — Lyman Turbo Sonic Case Cleaner, $106.24
⏺ High quality ultrasonic cleaning machine at very good price
Looking for a different way to clean your brass that doesn’t involve dust or loud noises? Check out the Lyman Turbo Sonic Case Cleaner for $106.24. This unit features a heated tank for cleaning of case and primer pockets. The ultrasonic cavitation lifts and dissolves carbon, dirt and any residue left on fired cases. Not only can you clean your brass, but these units are great for other items like jewelry and silverware.
4. Precision Reloading — Wheeler AR Armorers Kit, $128.99
⏺ Great $128.99 Deal for big AR tool kit — sells elsewhere for $242.99!
ARs require a lot of maintenance. And you need some specialized tools to assemble an AR-15 properly — that’s important for guys building their own lowers and uppers. The Wheeler Engineering Delta Series Ultra Armorers Kit includes pretty much all the tools you need to keep an AR15 running well including: AR combo tool, Torque wrench, Strap Wrench and Delta Ring Tool. In addition the kit includes an Armorer’s Vise, Vise Block Clamp, and Armorer’s Bench Block. Supplied in a handy carry case, the Ultra Armorer’s Kit is now just $128.99 at PrecisionReloading.com. This exact same kit is $242.99 at MidwayUSA.
5. Amazon — Frankford Universal Case Trimmer, $79.99
⏺ Smart system fits drills and trims nearly all popular rifle case types
Here is a good option for trimming cases, if you shoot many different cartridge types. Frankford Arsenal Universal Precision Case Trimmer handled most popular cartridges from .17 Rem all the way up to .460 Weatherby. Just choose the right collet then attached the unit to the end of your power drill for fast, easy trimming. The built-in depth micrometer allows for fast trim-length adjustments, and the brass-shaving ejection port ensures a clean trim. The universal collet system indexes on case shoulders for precise and consistent trimming. This trimming system works with just about any 1/2″ power drill.
6. Bullet Central — Hart Barrels Sale
⏺ High quality barrels in stock — no extended wait
Are you putting together a custom rifle but can’t find barrels in stock anywhere? Head over to Bullet Central for a major Hart barrels sale. You can save $20 on every barrel, plus avoid long wait times typically required for a high-quality barrel. A variety of contours are available in popular 6mm and 6.5mm bore sizes, with 1:7″ and 1:8″ twists, all six-grooves.
7. 5.11 Tactical — 20% OFF Everything
⏺ Big Discount on very high quality outdoor clothing and gear
You need good gear to have a successful day at the range or a successful hunt. That means more than have the right guns and ammo — you also need good clothing, packs, and footwear. Here’s a good way to get outfitted properly without breaking the bank.
Right now at 5.11 Tactical you’ll find some of the finest shooting pants, bags, boot, socks and more, all at 20% OFF Savings. This 5.11 20% Off Sale runs through Tuesday, February 15, 2021 at 11:59 pm.
8. Amazon — IRON JIA’S Waterproof Rifle Case, $42.99
⏺ Great rifle protection when it rains or snows; case even floats
There’s nothing worse than being out in the field or at a big match and having it start raining. One way to counteract that is to get a waterproof case like the IRON JIA’S Waterproof Rifle Case. With built in thick foam padding, it protects your rifles from collision damage, also providing buoyancy when it falls in a river or stream. It’s also a great case for those matches where it may or may not rain and you want to ensure your gun stays dry while you’re in the pits.
⏺ Custom-molded ear protection plugs are very comfortable
If you’re tired of ear plugs that don’t fit right or don’t work well then try something new — the Radian’s Custom Molded Ear Plugs. Follow the instructions to mold the materials to creat a perfect, custom fit for YOUR ears. These kits come in various colors. You can also add a Radians lanyard for these custom-molded plugs and a carry case. As with all ear plugs, you can double up with muffs for extra protection. These Radians molded plugs have a 26 dB Noise Reduction Rating — better than most compact muffs.
Each Wednesday, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit publishes a reloading “how-to” article on the USAMU Facebook page. One “Handloading Hump Day” article covered two basic case prep chores — uniforming primer pockets and deburring flash-holes. Visit the USAMU Facebook page for other tips.
Primer Pocket & Flash-Hole Conditioning
This week, we’ll address a question that frequently arises: “Do you uniform primer pockets and deburr flash-holes?” As we tailor our handloading methods to the specific needs of each instance, the answer, not surprisingly, is “Sometimes!” However, don’t flip that dial just yet, as what determines our approach may be helpful in deciding how to address one’s own techniques. Moreover, we have a buried “Easter Egg” morsel that may bring a chuckle, as well as useful safety information!
Generally, the USAMU Handloading Shop does not uniform primer pockets (PP) or deburr flash holes (FH) of our rifle brass. We’re certainly not against it… Rather, this reflects the very high volume of ammunition we load, the fact that very few cases are ever re-loaded for a second firing, and the types of brass we use. However, as a need is perceived, we DO deburr flash holes. Of interest, we have fired many very small, 1000-yard test groups and aggregates using weight-selected, domestic brass that had not had PPs uniformed or FHs deburred.
Before and After — On the left is a fired, deprimed 7.62×51 case with primer residue intact. On the right the primer pocket has been uniformed to SAAMI specs. Note the shiny finish at the bottom of the pocket — evidence of the the removal of metal when uniforming the primer pocket.
As to the type cases we use, many thousands of our long-range 5.56mm cases come to us from the arsenal with the primer of our choice pre-installed and staked-in, per usual practice. Obviously, we cannot uniform either FHs or PPs on this live, primed brass. However, after careful sorting, inspection and preparation, we do obtain match-winning results with it.
Shooters who reload their brass several times may decide to uniform PPs and deburr FHs, especially on their “300-yard and beyond” brass. Here, they will use the cases many times, while the uniforming is performed only once. Also, most handloaders only process moderate amounts of brass, compared to our multi-thousand round lots.
Having high quality Long Range (LR) brass helps. Many of the better brass manufacturers [make] their flash holes so that no burrs are created. Still, it does pay to inspect even THESE manufacturer’s products, as occasional slips are inevitable. Very rarely, some of the best makers will have a significant burr in, say, 1 per 1000 or 2000 cases, and it’s worth catching those.
Exceptions can always be found. Recently, we began processing a large lot of match brass from a premier manufacturer. We were startled to find that every case had a significant burr in the FH — something we’d never before seen from this maker. We then broke out the FH deburring tools and went to work.
Some observers have noted that it can be difficult to truly verify the contribution to accuracy of these procedures — particularly when firing from the shoulder, in conditions. Members of this staff, as individual rifle competitors, do often perform these operations on their privately-owned LR rifle brass. One could ascribe this to the old High Power Rifle maxim that “if you think it helps, then it helps.”
However, a World Champion and Olympic Gold/Silver medalist here commented on his own handloading (for International competition, which demands VERY fine accuracy). He noted that he did seem to see a decline in accuracy whenever he did not uniform FHs, deburr FHs and clean primer pockets before each reloading. (One might be tempted to counter that only a truly World Class shooter could reliably detect the difference.) However, with the wisdom of decades experience, our Champion also remarked that “It could have been that I just wasn’t shooting as well that day.”
For those who do opt for these procedures, note that various tool models may have adjustable depth-stops; pay attention to the instructions. Some FH-deburring tools (which enter the case mouth, not the primer pocket) are dependent upon uniform case length for best results.
Above is a flash-hole deburring tool on an RCBS powered case-prep unit. These case prep machines can save a lot of pain and misery, helping one perform various functions quickly and efficiently.
With the high cost and reduced availability of factory ammo, more shooters are loading their own ammo. When good 9mm pistol ammo was $10/box, it might be hard to justify handloading. Now that 50 rounds of 9mm can run $40 or more it certainly makes sense to reload. The same is true with rifle ammo if you shoot large quantities, or if you simply can’t find your preferred ammo for sale these days.
To increase productivity when reloading large quantities of ammunition, many shooters are thinking of getting a progressive press. Because multiple operations take place with a single pull of a lever, a progressive press can produce way more ammo in a given period of time than any single stage press. With a progressive, on the ram up-stroke, the multiple stations can simultaneously remove spent primer, full-length size case, drop powder, seat bullet, and crimp (if desired). Most progressives are also set up to prime cases with the ram in the lower position — though some guys prefer to prime manually.
Progressive presses aren’t just for high-output pistol ammo or bulk rifle ammunition. Good progressives can be adapted to do certain reloading tasks for top-on-the line match ammo. You might use a progressive for decapping, priming, and sizing, then throw powder and/or seat bullets separately. Some Champion shooters do use progressives to load their match ammo! For example 5-Time National Long Range Champion John Whidden and 2020 Berger SWN F-Open Champion Jay Christopherson both use progessive presses for some (but not all) operations.
To help you get started with progressive presses, here are five videos from UltimateReloader.com that cover six popular machines, from the elite Mark 7 Evolution to the affordable Lee Loadmaster. With many of these machines you can add separate vertical bullet feeder systems that further increase loading efficiency.
“The overturning moment MW tends to rotate the bullet about an axis, which goes through the CG (center of gravity) and which is perpendicular to the plane of drag….
Ruprecht Nennstiel, a forensic ballistics expert from Wiesbaden, Germany, has authored a great resource about bullet behavior in flight. Nennstiel’s comprehensive article, How Do Bullets Fly, explains all the forces which affect bullet flight including gravity, wind, gyroscopic effects, aerodynamic drag, and lift. Nennstiel even explains the rather arcane Magnus Force and Coriolis Effect which come into play at long ranges. Nennstiel’s remarkable resource contains many useful illustrations plus new experimental observations of bullets fired from small arms, both at short and at long ranges.
Shadowgraph of .308 Winchester Bullet
A convenient index is provided so you can study each particular force in sequence. Writing with clear, precise prose, Nennstiel explains each key factor that affects external ballistics. For starters, we all know that bullets spin when launched from a rifled barrel. But Nennstiel explains in greater detail how this spinning creates gyroscopic stability:
“The overturning moment MW tends to rotate the bullet about an axis, which goes through the CG (center of gravity) and which is perpendicular to the plane of drag, the plane, formed by the velocity vector ‘v’ and the longitudinal axis of the bullet. In the absence of spin, the yaw angle ‘δ’ would grow and the bullet would tumble.
If the bullet has sufficient spin, saying if it rotates fast enough about its axis of form, the gyroscopic effect takes place: the bullet’s longitudinal axis moves into the direction of the overturning moment, perpendicular to the plane of drag. This axis shift however alters the plane of drag, which then rotates about the velocity vector. This movement is called precession or slow mode oscillation.”
Raise Your Ballistic IQ
Though comprehensible to the average reader with some grounding in basic physics, Nennstiel’s work is really the equivalent of a Ph.D thesis in external ballistics. You could easily spend hours reading (and re-reading) all the primary material as well as the detailed FAQ section. But we think it’s worth plowing into How Do Bullets Fly from start to finish. We suggest you bookmark the page for future reference. You can also download the complete article for future reference and offline reading.
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Brownells — Radical Firearms AR-15 with 16″ Barrel, $669.99
⏺ Good AR value given current market, very trustworthy seller
We know many readers are looking to add a basic .223/5.56 AR to their collection. Many vendors are pretty much sold out of complete rifles, but we found a good deal at Brownells. The Radical Firearms 16″ SOCOM 5.56mm AR-15 rifle uses MIL-STD Upper and lower receivers. The metal free-float handguard offers a 12″ RPR top rail providing plenty of options for optics and accessories. The MFT Grip and MFT Stock provide a comfortable hold on the rifle. Complete price is $669.99. Sights and/or optics sold separately.
2. Grafs.com — Redding Dies in Stock!
⏺ Very large selection of Redding Dies — your search ends here
Graf & Sons just received a large shipment of Redding Reloading Dies — both sizing and seating dies. You’ll find a large selection of types, basic sets as well as micrometer seaters and bushing FL dies. Graf’s has Redding dies in a myriad of sizes from .17 Fireball up to .338 Lapua Magnum. You’ll find dozens of popular type including: .204 Ruger, .22 PPC, .22 BR, .223 Rem, .224 Valkyrie, .22-250 Rem, 6PPC, 6BR, 6XC, .243 Win, .260 Rem, .284 Win, 7mm WSM, .308 Win, .30-06, 300 Win Mag, and countless more. Prices vary considerably based on cartridge choice. The selection is very good (except for 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor).
3. Natchez Shooters Supplies — Sig Sauer Whiskey 5 Scope Sale
⏺ Best Sale in many months on quality Sig Sauer riflescopes
This week Sig Sauer Whiskey 5 riflescopes are on sale at Natchez. Rugged and reliable, these Whiskey 5 scopes are justifiably popular with tactical shooters and hunters. Right now you can get huge savings — $300, $400, even $500. For example, the 5-25x52mm Whiskey 5 is now $889.99, marked down from $1399.98 — a $509.99 savings! Use the money saved for a spotting scope, Kestrel, or other gear.
⏺ Owners praise this pistol for accuracy, ergos, trigger
Do you shoot IDPA or 3-gun matches? Then take a good look at this 9mm Canik. Shooters report exceptional accuracy. We shot this at Media Range Day in 2020 and can confirm the ergonomics, balance, and trigger are good (much better than a typical stock Glock). Right now the 9mm Canik TP9SFX is just $499.99 at KyGunCo, including TWO 20-rd mags plus a polymer holster. This pistol features a grey cerakote finish and 4 Red Dot interface plates. TP9SFx Owner Reviews: “For the money [it] absolutely can’t be beat. The Canik is on par with $1500 setups!”; “Trigger is extremely light and crisp with hardly any reset.”
⏺ Great deals for AR500 steel targets — watch video above right
On sale now at Midsouth Caldwell’s new bright, easy-to-see targets come in all shapes and sizes for competition, training, and recreational use. Made of AR500 hardened steel, these targets can withstand thousands of rounds. Rated up to a 3000 fps impact velocity and a 3500 ft-lb impact energy, these targets come in seven various sizes with three hanging solutions. These bright yellow AR500 targets are On Sale now at Midsouth, starting at just $14.79 for 5″ Gong Target.
⏺ Match-grade ammo for less than cost of just the Lapua Brass and Bullets
If you shoot a .308 Win, check out this deal on ammo loaded with premium Lapua cartridge brass and true match-grade Lapua Scenar bullets. You could pay $90/100 for Lapua .308 Win brass and $67/100 for the Scenar bullets (if you could find them in stock). That would be $157 per hundred, or $1.57 for just a case and a bullet. Here you are getting a fully loaded round (with primer and powder) for $1.50 — less money! Choose 155gr .308 Win, 167gr .308 Win, or 175gr .308 Win — all top-quality stuff.
7. Frankford Vibratory Tumbler ($48.99) or Wet Tumbler ($99.95)
⏺ Wet Tumble or Dry Tumble — you choose and save either way
Do you prefer vibratory tumbling with dry media, or wet tumbling with a rotary system? Either way, Frankford Arsenal has you covered. And right now you can enjoy big savings on either Tumbler system. The Quick-N-EZ Vibratory Case Tumbler is just $48.99 (or $58.94 with media separator). Or choose the excellent Platinum Series Rotary Tumbler Lite for $99.95.
⏺ Great Value on versatile security cabinet — good secondary safe
In addition to a heavy, primary gunsafe, many gun-owners can use a smaller security cabinet for another area of the house, for the garage, or even for an RV. If you’re looking for a good basic gun locker, check out the SnapSafe Premium 12-Gun Tactical Cabinet. It has a simple key-lock system and can fit in most closets. Purchasers praised this unit given the low cost: “For a gun case below $200 you can’t get much better than this” and “More of a light-weight gun locker … it is well made and sturdy though, and is much better than I expected for the price.”
⏺ Sweet deal on Ear and Eye Protection — good spare set for friends
Every shooter needs good eye and ear protection. Get BOTH the E-Max Muffs and Shooting glasses for just $32.79 on Amazon with free shipping. This combo can be an affordable spare set for yourself or to have on hand for your guests. The E-Max earmuffs offer a 23 dB Noise Reduction Rating while allowing you to hear range commands.
For the past three weeks, the most-read article on the Daily Bulletin has been a discussion of how ammo/reloading component shortages will persist well into 2021. So we know you guys are concerned about finding ammunition. With demand pushed by widespread worries over social unrest and the prospects of radical gun control laws, Ammo is definitely in short supply. The high demand is also driven by new gun owners: “NSSF estimates that 8.4 million people bought a firearm for the first time in 2020. That’s 40 percent of all purchases.” (Source: NSSF.org)
Certain types of ammunition are in short supply — particularly 9mm pistol ammo, .40 SW, and 12-gauge shotshells. And even .22 LR ammo is becoming harder to find, so you may want to stock up. Thankfully, if you shop around a bit, you can still find most types of defensive ammunition and .22 LR rimfire ammo, though prices are considerably higher than in 2019.
Find All Types of Ammunition Fast with AmmoSeek.com
Here’s a great search service that can help you locate hard-to-find ammunition and reloading components — while saving money in the process. AmmoSeek.com monitors dozens of online vendors — checking current pricing and available inventory, for pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition. Looking for .22 LR ammo for your rimfire trainer or .45 acp ammo for your 1911? Just select the cartridge type from AmmoSeek’s “Quick Seek” menu. Likewise you can find .223 Rem and .308 Win Rifle ammo with just one click.
9mm Ammo in Stock Now
And here are the 2/6/2021 search results for 9mm Luger (9x19mm) ammunition, the #1 most desired pistol ammo right now. These are five of the 406 entries, starting with the least expensive (click image to get latest update):
LAMENT: These prices are depressingly high. Not that long ago, you could get a 50-round box of CCI Blazer or Sellier & Bellot 9mm ammo for under $10.00/box. Now a “good deal” is three times that price — and some places are charging $60.00 for 50 rounds — SIX times the price.
.223 Rem Ammo in Stock Now
And here are this morning’s results for .223 Rem ammunition. You can get significant savings by buying in bulk, that’s for sure. CLICK HERE for latest update.
.22 LR Rimfire Ammo in Stock Now
And here are recent results for .22 LR rimfire ammunition. There are often supplies of .22 LR at major vendors such as MidwayUSA and Midsouth, but it sells out quickly so you need to check often.
These results are from 2/6/2021 in the morning. CLICK HERE to get the latest updates.
Brownells is once again offering fans the chance to win a barrel full of freedom with its Super Barrel III contest. In connection with Super Bowl on Sunday February 7, 2021, Brownells will give away one huge red barrel full of 14,000 rounds of Winchester 55-grain FMJ 5.56x45mm M193 NATO ammunition. Right now through 11:59 pm CST on 2/7/2021, you can sign up online for a chance to win the big barrel of ammo.
One lucky Brownells fan will bring home the championship-worthy trophy of a barrel full of 14,000 rounds of ammo. With current prices of about $1.00 per round for Winchester 55gr 5.56x45mm (.223 Rem) ammo, that big read Winchester barrel could be worth $14,000.00!
The contest concludes at 11:59 PM on Sunday, February 7, 2021. To enter you must provide your email. Be aware that you will be added to Brownells’ email lists and will then receive messages from Brownells until such time as you unsubscribe. Is it worth being put on an email list for a very small chance of winning a very big prize? Only you can decide that. As Dirty Harry famously said: “Are you feelin’ lucky?”
If you want a chance to win, you can sign up at the Brownells Super Barrel III webpage. One lucky winner, name drawn at random, will win the big red barrel full of Winchester ammo.
Those 14,000 Rounds Could Stretch 870 Yards
Containing enough ammo to fill 70 standard-length belts for an M249, the Winchester barrel weighs more than even an NFL football lineman. If all 14,000 cartridges contained inside were laid to end-to-end, they would stretch over 870 yards — almost twice as far as the most passing yards ever in a modern pro football championship game.
About Brownells — 82 years in Business
Founded in 1939 by Bob Brownell, the Brownells enterprise has, for 82 years, been a leading source for guns, gun parts and accessories, ammunition, reloading supplies, gunsmithing tools, and outdoors gear. With a large selection of both common and hard-to-find items, and an extensive collection of videos, articles, and gun schematics, Brownells is a good source for everything shooting-related. For more information or to place an order, call 800-741-0015 or visit Brownells.com.
Vihtavuori is introducing a new double-base powder for magnum and large-size cartridges. This should be good for large hunting cartridges, such as the .300 Winchester Magnum, and bigger cartridges used for ELR competition, such as the .338 Lapua Magnum. VV N568 reloading data will soon be available on both the Vihtavuori website and Vihtavuori Reload App.
The Vihtavuori website states: “We are proud to introduce a new heavy weight champion in our N500 rifle powder series: the N568. The slow burning characteristics and short-cut grains of the new Vihtavuori N568 high-energy gun powder provide extremely consistent metering for long range competitive shooters, accuracy enthusiasts, and hunters alike. Vihtavuori’s N568 excels with heavy-for-caliber projectiles and provides exceptional temperature stability. As with all our reloading powders, new N568 is also insensitive to humidity changes.”
Vihtavuori N568 looks to be a good choice for popular large capacity cartridges, including 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, .338 Lapua Magnum, and an assortment of classic belted magnums such as 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum. Reloading data for various calibers and bullets will be coming soon.
Vihtavuori N568 will be available in Q2 of 2021 from major retailers such as Grafs.com, Bruno Shooters Supply, Midsouth, Powder Valley, and Precision Reloading.
Visit Vihtavuori.com to Learn more about Vihtavuori’s propellants, download Vihtavuori reloading data, or install Vihtavuori’s Reload App. N568 Reloading Data will soon be available on both the Vihtavuori website and Reload App (click below).
Many shooters, particular those who shoot vintage military rifle matches, reload once-fired military cartridge brass. This brass may be high-quality and stout, but you may encounter a primer crimp that interferes with the seating of a new primer. There are a variety of dedicated, military-crimp tools on the market, such as Dillon’s excellent Super Swage 600 tool that “rolls the crimp away”. But the Dillon tool costs $119.99 and takes quite a bit of room on your reloading bench. If you don’t want to drop a C-note and give up valuable bench space — here’s another (much cheaper) solution.
If you already have a Wilson case trimmer set-up, you can ream away those military crimps using an affordable Wilson accessory — the Primer Pocket Reamer (large #PPR210, small #PPR175). This $32.65 accessory is used in conjunction with a Wilson case trimmer and case-holder as shown above.
In the respected Riflemans Journal website, the Editor, “GS Arizona”, showed how to use the Wilson primer pocket reamer to remove military crimps on Lake City .30-06 cartridge brass. He explains: “The case goes into the Wilson case-holder, the same one used for case trimming, and the reamer replaces the trimmer head in the tool base. The threaded rod on the left side, which is normally used to regulate trim length has no use for this operation and it is simply backed out. Hold the case-holder as you turn the reamer into the primer pocket, it cuts easily and quickly. The reamer will stop cutting when the proper depth is reached.”
Do you really need to do this operation with military-crimped brass? Yes, and here’s why: “Any attempt to prime the case without removing the crimp will simply result in a mangled primer that cannot be expected to fire and certainly won’t fire reliably.”
Vintage Military Rifle shooters often utilize surplus military brass with primer pocket crimps.
Why does military brass has a primer crimp? GS Arizona answers: “The crimp is nothing more than an intentional deformation of the case around the primer pocket, the purpose of which is to retain the primer in the case despite high pressure situations in machine guns and other automatic weapons where a loose primer may cause a malfunction. As reloaders, our task is to get rid of the remnants of the crimp in order to allow re-priming the case.”
Right now reloading presses are in high demand. If you are shopping for a single-stage press, here’s a good press you may still find available at many vendors. The Hornady Iron Press™ features a super-strong, pyramid-style cast-iron frame with an open front. A clever optional “automatic” priming system shuttles primers from a vertical tube in the back to the shell-holder in the front. This is very clever engineering. You really should watch the video — it shows the patented auto-priming system in action. The Auto-Prime system is sold separately or as part of the Iron Press Reloading Kit.
Watch this Video to See Gravity-Fed Shuttle Priming System (00:45, 01:00):
Optional Automatic Priming System
The optional auto-priming system is a real selling point for this new press we think. When you move the press handle rearwards, a horizontal bar toggles back to pick up a primer from the column in the rear of the press. Then this same bar move forwards to place the fresh primer in the center of the shell-holder. Hornady explains: “The available gravity-fed Automatic Priming System (sold separately or with the Lock-N-Load® Iron Press™ Reloading Kit), combined with the Accessory Mounting Deck, increases reloading efficiency by allowing more processes to occur simultaneously. The Iron Press™ is the first of its kind to allow the ability to deprime, pause, and remove the case to chamfer & deburr … then replace and prime.” Do watch the video to see the priming system in action.
The broad top of the beefy (26-lb.) Iron Press can hold case prep tools (such as chamfer tool and case-neck brush) and/or a box for bullets or brass. NOTE: This is NOT a turret press — you can only use one die at a time. However, Hornady offers an accessory “Die Caddy” (sold separately) that can hold up to three (3) more dies. That way you can quickly switch from a sizing die to a seater die (or vice-versa). What Hornady calls the “Accessory Mounting Deck” gives quick access to items such as trays for bullets or cases, chamfer and deburr tools, case neck brushes, primer pocket cleaners and other accessories. The Iron Press comes with the Lock-N-Load® bushing system which allows for rapid die changes.
You need good gear to have a successful day at the range or a successful hunt. That means more than have the right guns and ammo — you also need good clothing, packs, and footwear. Here’s a good way to get outfitted properly without breaking the bank.
In the respected Riflemans Journal website, the Editor, “GS Arizona”, showed how to use the 
