Redding Mandrels vs No Mandrels: The Data Doesn’t Lie

This video provides an in-depth look at reloading the .357 SIG cartridge, highlighting its performance potential and common reloading challenges. The instructor, an experienced reloader, details issues such as de-priming stem problems with Lee dies, the critical importance of neck tension to prevent bullet setback, and the necessity of using appropriate bullet profiles. He emphasizes the effectiveness of Longshot powder and recommends specific bullet types like Hornady XTP and Federal V-Crown for optimal results.

Instruction from a firearms enthusiast and reloader on preparing and sizing 300 Winchester Magnum brass. The video details the challenges of reloading for this caliber, including the long throat of the Thompson Center Compass rifle and the importance of proper neck tension and shoulder bumping. It covers selecting collets, setting up sizing dies, using specialized tools for case maintenance, and determining optimal seating depths for accuracy.

This video provides an in-depth look at Peterson Cartridge's rigorous quality control processes for manufacturing high-quality brass casings. It details methods like sectioning casings to inspect internal structure, measuring primer exit force to assess primer pocket integrity, checking neck tension consistency, and performing hardness tests on the primer pocket region using a Vicor scale. The use of a digital optical comparator for rapid, precise dimensional analysis is also highlighted, emphasizing their commitment to SAAMI specifications and uncompromising quality.

This guide details the process of trimming and deburring brass cases for reloading, emphasizing its importance for accuracy and safety. It covers selecting the right tools, setting up a case trimmer like the Sinclair Le Wilson, determining correct trim lengths from reloading manuals, and the necessity of deburring the case mouth to prevent bullet damage. The video highlights how proper case trimming contributes to consistent neck tension and avoids pressure spikes in tight chambers.

This video provides a detailed guide to reloading 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition using VihtaVuori N555 powder and 130gr Berger AR Hybrid OTM Tactical bullets. It covers selecting Wilson bushing dies, setting up the dies for an AR-10 platform, and the process of seating bullets with an arbor press. The instructor also presents load development data, including velocity measurements with two different primer types (CCI BR4 and Remington 7 1/2) and discusses factors like neck tension and overall length.

This guide explains the function and setup of L.E. Wilson bushing dies for reloading. It details how bushing dies offer adjustable neck sizing by using interchangeable bushings, which is crucial for managing varying brass neck thicknesses across different manufacturers and calibers. The process involves measuring the cartridge neck, selecting a bushing (typically 0.001" to 0.003" smaller than the loaded cartridge neck diameter), inserting it into the die, and setting the stem to allow for slight float. This method helps improve case concentricity and consistency, especially for precision shooting applications.

This video details the comprehensive manufacturing process of brass rifle casings by Peterson Cartridge. It covers the transformation of raw brass cups through multiple drawing, annealing, washing, heading, trimming, and tapering stages. The process emphasizes precision, quality control through extensive automated and manual inspection, and specialized treatments like neck re-annealing and anti-tarnish coating to ensure match-grade performance.

This guide details essential brass preparation steps beyond basic decapping and sizing for improved reloading accuracy. It covers cleaning, primer pocket uniforming, neck chamfering and deburring, and neck brushing. The video emphasizes that even new brass can benefit from these processes to ensure consistent bullet seating and optimal performance. The presenter, F-class John from Ultimate Reloader, highlights chamfering and deburring as critical steps that should not be skipped, regardless of time constraints.

This video debunks the myth that solid copper bullets require extremely high velocities for effective hunting performance. Through ballistics gel testing and analysis of 7 PRC loads using Barnes TTSX and LRX bullets, Gavin Gear demonstrates excellent expansion and weight retention across a wide velocity range, including lower velocities equivalent to longer ranges. The testing highlights the versatility and effectiveness of modern monolithic copper projectiles for various hunting scenarios and legal requirements.

This video details extreme pressure testing of the 6mm ARC cartridge using both a bolt-action rifle and an AR-15 platform. The experiment pushes the limits of Alpha Munitions brass with 8208 XBR powder, achieving velocities exceeding factory specifications and even 6 Creedmoor. The testing culminates in destructive attempts using a fast-burning pistol powder in an AR-15, demonstrating the significant forces involved and the potential for catastrophic failure. The presenter, Gavin Gear, emphasizes that these tests are for research only and should not be replicated due to extreme danger.