Winter upgrades

What kind of upgrades or winter projects is everyone working on ? I'm upgrading my reloading gear a bit with simple stuff like a better scale, caliper, and a better suited die for my most serious rifle.

 

Prepping brass and double checking components for a couple of new builds, prior to taking them to the smith. Also, sorting and coating a new bunch of bullets, plus my shop needs a bit of reorganizing. Plenty to do!

 

I am doing a lot of brass prep, tweaking triggers,general duties . I still get out back to my 100 yard range on the days when it's warm enough...main thing is keeping a trail packed down,my days of wading through snow up to my waist are pretty much over. Almost 4 am here,woodstoves are cranking and the coffee is on...135 brass prepped and ready for loading sitting on the bench waiting for me.

 

I’m not doing the work, but I’m having my old LV 6PPC Panda converted to a 13.5 pound 30BR for score shooting. On the SR group shooting front, I’ve got a couple new PPC barrels in the works for my Borden LV gun.

I’m sitting on about 4000 6mm custom bullets, so that will get me through the year. I’ve got some Cheek 30 caliber bullets in the works, so hopefully those will show up here in time for the completion of the 30BR.

Other than that, like you other guys, I’ve been busy prepping brass. Was down there the last two days making 30BR and PPC brass. Brass prep takes me a long time.

 

I have been doing some equip. upgrades when the opportunity presents itself. I think I may sell a gun. Doing the finishing touches on a 6ppc rail built by Ulrich that is looking to be a good one........Watching it snow...

Regards
Rick

 

Was Tigging up a stock in letting fixture last night. The fixture pops into a mill vise.

So,that's sorta what's going on here meaning,building a few fixtures and madrels N such. Not that interested in "smithing"..... just,a lot of what I need isn't available or the job is too small to sub it out.

 

I usually start with a new gun build, but this year I'm in good shape. So I buy other neat things, AMP coming Wednesday.
Been cleaning house too, pitched all bullet molying stuff, old anealer, my first cleaning in 4 yrs and it feels good.

 

Well might as well join in.
1) Went through and sorted all my bullets with my comparitor.
2) I have prepped all my cases and reloaded everything I have. Enough for at least 4 plus matches.
3) Converted my Inline Fab stand to a quick change setup to switch from one press to another. Will add additional mounting plates for other items as well.
4) Added a K&M arbor press with indicator and a LE Wilson seating die to my process.
5) Built a new reloading bench for the Pilothouse. Much more stable than the old one.
5) My rifle uses a XLR chassis with a mag well even though I shoot single shot. So I added a Mag Well block that I can easily mount to the side of my bench with star knob so that I can work on my rifle easily. Just mount the block and drop the rifle on to the block and I am all set.

 

Turning case necks.. oh joy! Got 100 to do today so lots of fun! In Louisiana it’s not snow but lots of rain!

 

Building a new light weight 308 hunting rifle with a titanium action.

Finished all load testing for 3 223 ftr rifles and loaded close to 500 rounds.

All supplies ready for next season,plus all clean up done.

Is it time to shoot yet???

 

Magnet up grade on my extra 1010 scale.

 

Set my action into a new stock,
Had bolt lift and action timing done, raised my scope, installed a windage top on my rest,bought wind flags, purchased new Berger Bullets and powder for the year.
Bought all new Dies for another rifle and started load development.
Sold a truck, sold a car, put $2500 into my good truck for tires and repairs , brakes, bearings , trailer stuff etc.

pissed off my wife several times!

Oh yeah" i still work for a living

 

Put together another 204R, but this one a walk about sporter barrel for hiking on shoots for calling coyotes and jumping jack rabbits.
Also getting all my 17 & 20 caliber brass loaded and set for the upcoming squeek and rock chuck hunts. Those alfalfa pivots are calling..SMILE..

 

Tumbled 3 different calibers this week. Enough cases to get me thru the spring

 

Clean all rifles thoroughly.
Check all torque values
Clean, clean and clean the room.

 

Just pillared and glassed a 700SA into a 40-XBBR stock (stock purchased on this great site). Forming Lapua brass to 243AI today. Day dreaming about snow melting and killing chucks this summer.

 

I’m going to lock myself in my shop and make stocks. Two for the site, two for kids I mentor and two for me.

 

The USPS has been holding a stock I bought 2 weeks ago hostage, and according to them it could take up to 60 days to show because of the "inclement weather" . I bought it as a winter project, and if it ever shows... I plan on stripping the kool kamo spray job with hopes of finding a decent stick underneath to put an oil finish on.

 

So far I have modified and refinished a Kimber 82G Walnut Stock. Also started stripping a CZ 527 walnut stock and found some decent grain hiding under the factory mud finish. Decided to stop to clean and organize my work space before finishing that one.

 

I sold both of my 1,000 yard rigs and I'm waiting on the new ones to be built. In the meantime, I've fully prepped 500 6BR cases that will end up as 6BRA's. Next on the agenda is sorting a couple thousand Vapor Trails and a several thousand primers. I just received 720 vials that will be used to pre-charge when I travel to matches this year and load onsite to allow me to compensate for unexpected weather conditions. I switched over to carbide neck sizing bushings this winter. I have also stocked up on H4895, IMR8208 and Varget for testing as the 6BRA is a new cartridge to me.

I just picked up a used Leupold 45X that is being sent off to be frozen so I can test all my scopes with a scope checker in the spring before matches start. I guess I read too much about scopes not holding POA, so even my March's will be tested yearly moving forward.

Hey, right now it's 4 degrees and we got over a foot of snow here today. It's a great time to be working on projects like sorting in a nice warm reloading room!

Dave.