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practical size for a loading block?

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TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 January 2007 at 15:53

i'm thinking of making a couple of loading blocks by drilling a cut and sanding length of 2x4. my first thought was to drill 20 holes, since there are 20 cases to a box of shells, but i got to thinking that if i made it that many then the block might be unstable.

has anyone else done this and does it work with 20, or would 10 be a better number?

TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote waksupi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 January 2007 at 17:01
You can pretty much make them as big as you want to deal with. My biggest holds over 60 .45-70 cartridges. don't remember how many for sure.
It does work better, if you scrounge around for a chunk of hardwood, as it will splinter less than pine.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 00:05

I like to use 30 holes, that lets me keep a row of seperation in what I have done or not done yet, Rick

I have one with 60 in it too, works the same.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tikkabuck Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 04:47
 Yep easy stuff,just listen to Wasupy very smart man,my first one was pine, Then I found a peice of hardwood. Mines 60 as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote saddlesore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 07:16
Bullets and primers come in 100's. I have about 3 or so of the RCBS ones. Can't figure out why they put 80 in. However, there are two differnt sized holes for differnt case diameters. So you usually only use 40 if the case is .06 class or larger 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 11:24

I have one made out of plywood two peices glued together, holes all the way through the top one and then glued it to bottom one, works pretty good.

Rick

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 13:10

mine are 4"x8" x1"  hardwood.  Holes are 5/8 inch and arranged in a 5x10 array (total 50).  If you have a plunger router bit (in  a drill press) it does a nice job, leaves little to sand.  I have abouot 8 of them most with the 5/8 inch holes, but I have some with the 1/2 inch holes.  If I was reloading something like the hornet or 25-20 smaller holes mean les tip.   1/2 inch hard wood would be perfect, no tipping of cases.

 

I load 50 at a time lets me change hand operations and bordom.  ( I have tow presses ( one sizes other seats).

Stained them walnut, and many coatings of spray lub has sort of impregnated the wood and gives it a dull gunstock look.

BEAR

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CB900F Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 13:23

TaZ;

 Get thee hence to the G.F. spring show.  Various sizes, in both holes & capacity available, in wood, from a guy with a table for $3.00 ea. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote varmintcaller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 13:31
I have five made out of poplar with 100 holes drilled. I use them to hold cleaned brass and as a loading block also. I got the wood for nothing from a local door manufacturer, it was his scrap wood. If you have any manufacturing  facility that uses wood in your area , they are pretty good about letting you go through their scrap pile, the wood is perfect, just too small for them to use.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rockydog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 January 2007 at 17:16
I made mine with 1/2" holes from a full 1" pine board with a 1/4" masonite backer. The backer is 1" longer on one end with a 1/4" hole in it so I can hang it up for storage. RD
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 January 2007 at 03:25

Sounds like you though bore the holes on that Rocky. Should make them cleaner than the blind holes in mine.  Good idea.  Maybe making the backer 1 inch all round bigger would make it more stable on the bench.  I hate it when I bump the block or some shells in it and the whole thing bounces around.

Ron, what ever you do lay it out on paper first.  And make sure all rows/columns are in multiples of 5.  Reloaded with a plastic yellow thing I bought  years ago and it has 8 shells in a row and 7 wide.  Drives you crazy when trying to figure out how many you did or need to do, even to the extent of figuring if it is time to add powder to the measure. Confused

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 January 2007 at 05:53

looks like a lot of good ideas here! we might ahve to sort and pick through them and come up with the "ultimate" design.

900f - the ones offered by the guy at the gunshow would be perfect, but i was figuring this would be a good "father/son" project!

TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dakotasin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 January 2007 at 06:37
i just use the rcbs ones. 80 223, 40 anything bigger. works fine, no tipping, and run just a couple bucks each.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave Skinner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 January 2007 at 16:44
The way I look at the blocks is 50 for "storage/count" and 40 for "work."
Works like this: I use a measure, and I can only reach two rows without konking the lever. So I run 20 on one side of the block, seat all those, put them in another block, run the 20 on the other side. It's also easier to look at 20 cases at a time to see if they are all charged.
Blocks over 50 I think are a little cumbersome. Pistol ammo plastic frames work great for rifle cases, and of course the 223/50s work good for that. So scrounge the trash at the range, dude.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jacobite Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 July 2007 at 10:51
Originally posted by Dave Skinner Dave Skinner wrote:

Pistol ammo plastic frames work great for rifle cases, and of course the 223/50s work good for that. So scrounge the trash at the range, dude.


That's what I use. 9mm ones work great for .223 and ones for the .45acp work well for larger cases.
Don Nelson
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