CURMUDGEON’S – LEVELS OF RELOADING

Level One.   The hairy armed reloader puts together loads using:

(1)  A fired hull, (2) a new primer, (3) propellant, & (4) shot.

That’s it!  This load may be passed through a progressive multi-station reloading device or a single-stage reloading tool.  Few complications here.  About the only ingredient pushing the reloading person toward the single stage tooling (and a scale) is the SIZE of the shot to be dropped.  (Note: The smaller the gauge being reloaded, the smaller the drop tube’s diameter).  The progressive stage reloading tools are NOT designed to handle multiple component loads OR large shot sizes.  Any attempt to ignore CURMUDGEON’S truths may drive you mad. 

Level Two:  The user makes loads needing a single additional component.  You now enter level two.

Progressive loader words of caution:  Even the addition of an overshot card becomes difficult to insert when using a progressive loader.  This is because no “extra” open stations are included in the current designs of progressive loaders.  Progressive loaders also assume the user will be reloading previously fired hulls having an imprint of a fold-crimp.  [Not new, unfired hulls]

A. Often a new, unfired hull requires several “BUMPS” into the crimp-starter to CONVINCE the never-fold-crimped hull - to properly fold crimp. 

B. Several insertions INCREASE the length of the fold-lines forming a positive crimp.     

C. SHARP edged crimp starters (see BP catalog item SUPER CROWN CRIMP STARTERS) are more successful in producing fold-crimps in new-unfired hulls. 

D.  The SIX-point fold crimp produces LESS resistance in forming a fine fold-crimp than an eight-point fold-crimp. 

E.  A sharp-edged crimp starter either of eight or six points is better than a dull-edged crimp starter.  (A dull edge crimp starter is to “remind” the hull of a previous crimp.  A new hull has no memory of a previous crimp).  

LEVEL Three:   Multiple component reloading requires the skilled load-maker to use “POKE” and “NUDGE.”  These are helpers and key steps to better reloading.  The POKE  pushes components down into the hull.  A felt or cork cushion perhaps.  Something small that may wish to twist or turn getting itself out-alignment.  Not going where you want it to.  POKE requires a poker.  Use a wooden dowel about 3/8” to ½” diameter and 3” long.   Perfect!  Now POKE away. 

NUDGE requires the use of the reloading tool.  CURMUDGEON uses either the primer knockout station or the shot drop tube station.  The idea is to forcibly NUDGE  multiple components into compaction before the finished crimp is pressed down. 

Nifty hunting loads and many magnum type loads may contain multiple components OR stiff cushion wads.  A stiff wad as in the MG42 or the CLBC wad needs to have the cushion area flexed (if thinking in Italian, imagine the wad getting it’s “legs broken”).  NUDGING is done before dropping shot.  Once shot is falls into the shotcup the shot acts as a pillow.  Shot blunts the downward impact (SQUEEZE-down) of the FOLD crimp.  Blunting prevents the compacting of the propellant plus pressing wad column into full union.   [CURMUDGEON hears of too many “I can’t load it” messages because of the LACK of a simple NUDGE.  (Or several nudges, as it may be.) 

(NOTE: Roll crimping also requires the NUDGE to compact the load column plus another NUDGE down after the shot is dropped and the overshot card is applied. The NUDGE is paramount part of ALL roll-crimped loads. And remember, the roll-crimp head spins COUNTER-CLOCKWISE!)   

Before dropping shot, press the shot tube down into the inside of the hull and NUDGE the internal stack DOWN.  NUDGE SEVERAL TIMES before dropping shot. 

Many embarrassing, “I can’t load it” calls will be saved.  Besides, loose confederations of components damn near guarantees cool weather “bloopers”.  CURMUDGEON wishes reloaders could look over the shoulder of our ballistics people and observe the UP & DOWNS of pressures and velocities the results of identical load recipes HOWEVER these loads have NOT been NUDGED and/or SQUEEZED.  Slow burn rated propellants (STEEL, LONGSHOT, BLUEDOT, SR4756 and others) are MORE susceptible to LARGE swings of pressures and velocities  (usually dropping far down) when NUDGE & SQUEEZE is NOT applied.  NUDGING also applies to SLUG and SABOT loading also.   The other day CURMUDGEON was advised of a BluForce Dangerous Game Slug “can’t-load-it.”   CURMUDGEON would like to bet on these - say CURMUDGEON pays you $10 if you are right and the reloader pays CURMUDGEON $40 dollars if (NUDGING & SQUEEZING) fails.  Goofy changes in shot sizes doesn’t count.   Of course with three (count them) three NUDGES with the reloader de-priming column, the BluForce slug load roll-crimped down.  Perfect.  Next please! (CURMUDGEON could retire early with this plan.)  

A cry of, “Hey, I crimped it, and that’s enough”.  This is NOT sufficient.   Was it a solid crimp (SQUEEZE down) crimp and was the column NUDGED?   CURMUDGEON hears from reloaders who are not getting velocities they should achieve .  When these loads are ballistician EXAMINED, the loads are found to have been put together with FAULTY RELOADING PROCEDURES.   Number one FAULT; Loose confederations of components in the load. (LCC). Think of large scale factory loading machines.  Do factories drop components and then just pop a crimp on the hull?  HELL NO!  Factory loading machines have MANY more loading stations than your home reloader.  Even simple factory loads (hull, primer, powder, wad, shot, crimp) run through numerous stations to shake, NUDGE, poke and apply SQUEEZE (in steps) producing dense interior columns plus ending with a deep and solid crimp.  So make YOUR loads like FACTORY loads.  The least you can do is NUDGE and SQUEEZE.   (And no loose confederations, please.)     

CURMUDGEON