endeavor to persevere - an inaugural 5k run for var targ ** FINALLY CROSSED THE FINISH LINE**

[232]

Stroke recovery is coming along. Not 100% but much improvement. Have come a long way since the middle of August.
Finished turning the last of the 5k+ a couple of nights ago.


Still have to anneal, final trim. and tumble around 2,750 pieces before crossing the finish line.
Should be a cake walk from here on!

 

[RegionRat]

Stroke recovery is coming along. Not 100% but much improvement. Have come a long way since the middle of August.
Finished turning the last of the 5k+ a couple of nights ago.
View attachment 1489956

Still have to anneal, final trim. and tumble around 2,750 pieces before crossing the finish line.
Should be a cake walk from here on!

Wow, that chip pile tells the story.
I saw a little video tour of Blake Machine et al, by @F Class John where they mention some future plans to add capability and functions to the Autodod that included a mention of a three-way trim among other things. It was an excellent shop tour if you appreciate that type of machine work, I'll try and add a link.

 

[232]

RegionRat:
Thanks for sharing that video! I received the case kicker upgrade before my stroke and had not mounted it yet. After setting it up, it really helped in processing the 5k cases, as my right hand/arm were not working well to knock cases out of the machine

Here is the chip pile from the autodod started in April.
This is from around 7,700 pcs or so turned from vt cases, less the small chips the vacuum ate. 1.3 grains cut from each case.

 

[RegionRat]

Keep up with the physical therapy.
I have seen friends with strokes and soldiers recover the use of their bad side after pushing themselves and their brains to re-learn how to move. Keep pushing!

 

[232]

^^^
Keeping on top of the PT/OT and great improvement, but have a way to go to 100%. Occupational therapist is impressed and credits working on the brass as very beneficial. Walking is coming along also.
Lung cancer and vascular problems have been discovered and am waiting for more tests and results. Just more fun thrown into the mix.

 

[232]

Late start this afternoon. Got 500 stacked on Giraud and annealed.
750 pcs tumbled, awaiting final trim.

More coming.

 

[232]

Finished annealing the last of the bunch on the 12th of Nov.
Trimmed the final case of this saga on the 24th of November, the day before our first snow of the season.

Unforeseen circumstances delayed the conclusion of this 5k run, but I did beat a winter finish. Hopefully it will be a little while before I need to start more.

Now on to other projects needing attention

 

[bobcat93]

And just like that you can't keep a good man down..
This is why it's so important for every man to have a project..it keeps him going...
Like seriously..who here is going to his grave with out a lot of brass completed..its like having a flip top ammo case with one pc of brass missing..it just isn't right..
Sick..dieing..debilitating disease..
So what..I got brass to prep
Hahaha

 

[bobcat93]

Done a lot of smaller runs from a few hundred to 2 thousand at a time.
This is a first for me and a lot of work ahead before the 20vt finish line.
Ready for the hacksaw!
View attachment 1462123
This is new same year LC

What forming dies are you using?...I bought the ones from redding and I just crush 223 cases tile an accordion. I have bushing neck dies those seem to work better..
I would love to take 223 and turn them into 221, .20 VT, 17
How do I do this?..is it a special set of dies
Thank you

 

[titus123]

Rather than use a hack saw, invest in a mini chop-saw from Harbor Freight, and get a jig made for 17 Fireball (replaces the clamp) off Ebay, to cut all those suckers. Then use a trimmer of your choice from there, etc.
It's worth it, save you from getting carpel tunnel in your hands, at least helps.
View attachment 1462126

Serious question, how do you cut anything with that little saw? I ask because I have one, and it has been damn near worthless for anything but cutting delrin. It even locks up when cutting carbon fiber tubing.

 

[232]

Bobcat:
Any 221 fb dies should and will work.
Starting out with new LC brass makes a world of difference. I do not anneal when forming as that can cause crushed cases. I also believe good lubing is the key.

 

[232]

tutus:
I have no idea why your mini saw will not work.
Wore the motor out on one, and the gears went out on another.
Both had cut many thousands of case necks off. Still have an extra belt and blades stashed somewhere here, but never needed to replace either.

 

[snert]

What forming dies are you using?...I bought the ones from redding and I just crush 223 cases tile an accordion. I have bushing neck dies those seem to work better..
I would love to take 223 and turn them into 221, .20 VT, 17
How do I do this?..is it a special set of dies
Thank you

Your redding dies should work ok. Use Imperial inside and out, go slow, and when it seems to be difficult, stop, pull case out, lube more, repeat, slowly.

 

[searcher]

https://www.fclassproducts.com/autodod

Here is a little more tool porn…

I drool all over my keyboard every time I look at one of those.....

 

[searcher]

Nice batch of brass there, 232. That Lake City brass is thinner than, say, Lapua and a few others that are pretty meaty in the neck. Are you taking them to 100% clean? What is your finished neck thickness?

 

[JSH]

Serious question, how do you cut anything with that little saw? I ask because I have one, and it has been damn near worthless for anything but cutting delrin. It even locks up when cutting carbon fiber tubing.

I got one and have had zero issues. Maybe 1000 cuts now.

 

[titus123]

I got one and have had zero issues. Maybe 1000 cuts now.

I'm thinking mine may be defective, honestly. The thing bogs down cutting even soft materials. Perhaps I need a different blade?

 

[232]

Searcher:
My finished neck thickness is .0125"
100% clean up in and out on 98% of the cases on necks. The few outliers might have a small spot that does not clean up bright, but you can't feel it.
When formed down to fireball or vartarg, the LC is thicker because you are into the body taper.