?'s about how you stop reloading.

[O2BShooting]

No the question is not as dumb as it seems. Probably a better way of putting it is what are your shut down proceedures for when you are reloading?

When I have time to reload I usually only have about an hour and a half at a time. What I've finding out is that between start up and shutdown I only actually get to load for about 30-45 minutes. When I'm done reloading for the day my bench is cleaned off, all powder is back in it's containers, primers are all put away. So when I start up again I've got to get it all back out and ready to go which is eating up a lot of my precious reloading time. I'm looking for tips &/or hints that will help me to maximize my time @ the bench and enable me to get the most rounds produced while I can.

Now this is not for switching calibers, loades or anything like that which I know takes more time and prep. As an example I'm currently set up to load 9mm & all my cases are cleaned. I want to be able to rock and roll w/ the least amount of time lost.

Thanks for any help.
O2B

 

[Jimbo357mag]

What kind of press? What is your loading procedure? :shock: :shock:

...Jimbo

 

[the fatman]

I generally do steps. First of course clean the brass. Then I size all of them and deprime. Then I will prime them all with a lee hand primer. That way I'll have a bunch ready to put powder and top them off with a bullet.

 

[mattsbox99]

With my shotshell press I leave it ready to go, so I can just pull the handle and start the process.

With my Dillons I leave powder in the hopper and primers in the tube, but usually finish the cases that have already been started.

Other presses I usually put everything away. Currently I'm working with a turret press so I can leave the dies in it or work on different stuff without tearing down if I want.

 

[Dan in MI]

I generally do steps. First of course clean the brass. Then I size all of them and deprime. Then I will prime them all with a lee hand primer. That way I'll have a bunch ready to put powder and top them off with a bullet.

+1

 

[rsc]

Sometimes the dies stay in the press, sometimes I leave the cases and bullets boxed but in the middle the bench, sometimes its messy, but primers and powder always get picked up and put away. Every time. If I'm done with all my reloading I was working on then it all gets cleaned up.

 

[sourdough44]

I do things in stages & batches. I may size & slightly bell a bunch of handgun cases. The next time I prime them all. At some point I make sure my powder measure is all set to drop my planned charge of powder. Later I charge cases, seat the bullet at proper COL & crimp as needed.

During most of my sessions I can stop in the middle if need be. I have a fairly private reloading area & low likelihood of anyone messing with it.

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

I size and prime in batches. I may take a couple evenings to load them up. I use a turret press and a powder through M-die, so I put a case in the press once to expand, charge, seat, and crimp (99% of my loading is for handguns). While I am working on a batch of ammo, I keep the 1200 DPS loaded with powder. I may load 25-100 rds at a sitting. I check scale calibration and have at it. I leave things as they are until that batch is done and then I drain the powder. Dies sit in the turret until I change calibers.

I have a six position turret. Normal "load" for the turret is Lyman M-die, last used seater, last used crimper, 45 ACP sizer/decapper, 44 sizer/decapper, 357/38 sizer/decapper.

I reload 9mm and 380 ACP, too. I do those in larger batches, like 500-600. Prime 200-300 at a time.

 

[mike7mm08]

As stated do things in batches. Or leave things setup. If you leave things setup sticky notes are your friend. Label what power is in the measure what primers etc. When I leave things setup often times what I planned to do the next day does not happen til next week helps to have notes to remember what the hell I was doing. Sometimes I have to look at the dies in the press to even remember what cartridge I was doing. :roll:

 

[WESHOOT2]

I am not a good example.

I often leave charged primer tubes nose-down in a container. My powder measures are left with powder in them. Boxes of cleaned cases and new bullets strew my bench(es).
I do not put dust covers on anything.

So when I sit down to start loading I often only need to refill the case-feeder and charge the priming system, slide a box of bullets near, and start pumping.

My shop is cyclonic in its seeming disorder; my family is not permitted entry without clearance.
It's a pig-sty of ammo.....

 

[contender]

I can say that by doing things in stages can help you get good ammo in an efficient short timeframe. Just like the many posts above.
However, I would caution you to not leave powder or primers "open" on your bench. You may plan on returning the next evening or whatever, but it may not happen. Left for a while can allow moisture, or whatever to contaminate stuff. Or worse, you could not be able to get back to it & someone else encounter it, act irresponsibily, and a fire could result. Powder & primers need to be kept in their proper storage containers until actual use, and returned to the same container any unused powder or primers after a loading session.
You can set up a schedule of time & procedures to get plenty of quality ammo.

 

[LAH]

I am not a good example.

I often leave charged primer tubes nose-down in a container. My powder measures are left with powder in them. Boxes of cleaned cases and new bullets strew my bench(es).
I do not put dust covers on anything.

So when I sit down to start loading I often only need to refill the case-feeder and charge the priming system, slide a box of bullets near, and start pumping.

My shop is cyclonic in its seeming disorder; my family is not permitted entry without clearance.
It's a pig-sty of ammo.....

The only difference I stand to load & have no seat/stool with which to fool.

 

[Ratster]

I am not a good example.

I often leave charged primer tubes nose-down in a container. My powder measures are left with powder in them. Boxes of cleaned cases and new bullets strew my bench(es).
I do not put dust covers on anything.

So when I sit down to start loading I often only need to refill the case-feeder and charge the priming system, slide a box of bullets near, and start pumping.

My shop is cyclonic in its seeming disorder; my family is not permitted entry without clearance.
It's a pig-sty of ammo.....

SWEET!

 

[44shootist]

I keep cleaned up as I go use it and put it way, I dump my powder measure back in the can the powder came out of so next time I don't forget what powder was in it.
But the real way to know when your done is when you run out of beer, then I pic up all the cans and toss them.

 

[volshooter]

Powder and primers put up and loading data left open. My place is also a pig pen. I load .308, 30/06, 25/06, .243, .44mag, .44spc, .45 ACP, .45 LC, .38 spc, .357 mag, 9mm, .380 and shot shells in .44's, .45's and 38/357. Brass is everywhere. I load till I run out of primed cases or primers.

 

[WESHOOT2]

My development bench (holding a Bonanza Co-Ax, LEE Reloader, and Lyman Crusher II) is a 'standing'; my production bench (wearing only the Dillon XL650) is my 'sitter'.

 

[tomisu]

I like many do mine in stages - clean, size, trim, bell prime - when I am ready to load I then drop powder, seat bullet and crimp. I crimp after seating as an extra step, and the crimp depends on what I am loading. Brass prep can be done over several sessions, once the powder comes out I will work until all are filled, seated and crimped. I always put everything away when done - It is too easy to mistake the powder left in the powder throw. My 2 cents worth

 

[Tellico]

Betty Ford Reloaders anonymous! OH, you mean for the day! I put all powder and primers away but have bags of cases and boxes of bullets all over the bench. I like to have primed cases ready also in case I need a quick box of some new formula I just read about and want to try. I get them ready then store in h/duty freezer bag with a desiccant pack

 

[il Padrino]

I usually have my cases prepped ahead of time, including depriming, sizing, re-priming and belling case mouths. I keep a couple hundred prepped cases ready for when I need to reload a batch. that way once I'm ready all I do is drop the powder in , and seat the bullet.
Like most others I do a batch at a time.