Author Topic: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?  (Read 961 times)

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Offline Questor

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Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« on: January 17, 2008, 09:37:44 AM »
Have you ever thought of lavishing a lot of time on each individual cartridge? With steps including not only tuning the dimensions of the cartridge, but also refining the cosmetics? For example:
1) Adjust flash hole using jig and drill press for optimal flash hole size and alignment
2) Deburring entire case
3) Trimming case to exact length followed by precision chamfering of the case mouth
4) Polishing the case, the bullet, and the primer cup to a high luster
5) Extreme diligence in priming and charging, for exceptional uniformity from case to case
6) Sorting all bullets and cases to within micrograms of uniformity
7) Engraving the cartridge with a message like "From the reloading bench of..."
8) Custom tinting the brass and bullet with chemical tints
9) Engraving the bullet with a message like "Death from afar", or "Here comes da judge"
10) Final waxing and polishing
11) Adding each finished case to a wooden or ivory custom presentation box, or on a custom cartridge board.

Figure each finished round should take 8 to 12 hours of bench time to perfect.

This could be a missing niche in the reloading market. Really! Have you noticed that you just can't find gold and lapis bullets at Midway or Midsouth? Isn't it about time?
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Offline stimpylu32

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2008, 12:25:23 PM »
Questor

Buddy your starting to worry me  ;) i think you need to start spending more time at the range and less at the reloading bench .  ;D

stimpy
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:D If i can,t stop it with 6 it can,t be stopped

Offline KN

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2008, 12:38:33 PM »
When would I have time to shoot?

Offline deltecs

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2008, 12:54:53 PM »
Not really, but I did find a little trick I use here in Alaska's temperate rain forest.  Due ocean conditions and lots of rainy weather or moisture conditions, I use fingernail polish of different colors right at the seam on the neck where the bullet goes in and around the primer pocket seam.  I've found shells that were dropped in the snow one year completely covered by water the next season, and shot them.  Not a problem with water or moisture penetration.  The different colors are assigned for different weight bullets, different powder loads, and different powder weights.  Finger nail polish comes in so many different colors that it is easy to tell from the painted cartridges exactly what load data they were reloaded with even over periods of 10 years.
Greg lost his battle with cancer last week on April 2nd 2009. RIP Greg. We miss you.

Greg
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2008, 01:08:34 PM »
I've said it before but it bears repeating.....Questor your whacked! ;D
Badnews Bob
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Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2008, 01:35:52 PM »
This reminds me of the movie Full metal jacket. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XExL7hDQtt8 Dale
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2008, 02:25:51 PM »
 Questor,

You are right about this. Everyone should try this at least once. Imagine the tremendous amount of personal satisfaction. I think I have cabin fever.

Cheese

PS, I will be in my reloading room choosing the cartridge that will be "just right " for this project.

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2008, 02:45:39 PM »
Boy now I am a little worried. :o Dale
The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work!!

Offline Scibaer

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2008, 02:51:56 PM »
Questor,

 by all means necessary, do atleast one round like this.
then post your step by step instructions and a picture..
then i will do the same, i love this idea ! seriously !
glenn

Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2008, 03:14:51 PM »
I read the original post a second and third time. Just to be sure I was not missing anything!!!!!! I have to say this is over the top. For instance if you were to engrave a bullet do you think it might throw it out of balance? This whole thing seems a little off to me. Dale
The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work!!

Offline Scibaer

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2008, 03:38:23 PM »
No way Dale, this is a great idea..
 engraving the brass would be way cool ..
 i can see a flames near the mouth and lightning bolts round the base..
Questor is  a genius, lol

glenn

Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2008, 04:44:27 PM »
I am sorry if you guy's do not agree. Maybe I am just not that far into reloading yet and hope I really never reach that point. I really do not see me ever spending 8 to 12 hours loading one round. To me this is way over the top and if I ever got to that point I hope my wife would ask me to see someone. Dale
The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work!!

Offline GREYGHOSTt

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2008, 05:34:03 PM »
Alright some body's been sniffin the new powder too long!
Put down the can and step away from the bench.. :o
third eye blinds the other two.

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2008, 05:53:10 PM »
Now look what you've started Rudy.

NOTE to Dale: It's a joke.  ;D


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Offline Questor

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2008, 04:01:47 AM »
It's only with some levity that I brought up the topic. It seems a bit extreme as written, but with so many people finding reloading to be an end in itself, why not concentrate on making cosmetically fine cartridges just for the fun of doing so? I don't think anyone would be interested in using such rounds as their favorite rapid fire IPSC ammo, but even if its uncharged and purely ornamental, it may give some pleasure to the maker.

For example, cartridge boards are always fun to look at and most of them are made with cartridges that are of a factory finish that's not really as attractive as it could be. If a loader has a set of favorite cartridges, why not make a personalized cartridge board with just those cartridges in it, and presented beautifully?
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Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #15 on: January 18, 2008, 04:02:48 AM »
I am sorry the. I just can't tell when people are kidding. Sorry Dale
The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence.

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Offline jhalcott

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2008, 09:57:59 AM »
I hate to admit it BUT I did 7 or 8 of those things when loading for benchrest and many of them for "sillywets". I even went so far as to weight sort my primers.. I would "orient " my cases when shooting silohouettes by putting the "I" in WIN at the 12 oclock position. I don't KNOW if it helped but it made ME feel better!

Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #17 on: January 18, 2008, 10:08:39 AM »
It might be a good idea for all of us to check air quality in our reloading rooms !
i will after i get this exceptional little 308 worked up !
 maybe a calendar would be nice !
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Wynn

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #18 on: January 18, 2008, 11:48:37 AM »
 :P You guys need some strong, adult supervision! ;D
American by birth; Southern by the Grace of God

Offline Lead pot

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #19 on: January 18, 2008, 12:22:35 PM »
I do most of those things and a few more steps for my Black powder cases I use for the 1000 Buffalo shoots.
I take a number drill that fits the largest flash hole and make the rest that size.
Primer pockets get a uniform depth. flash hole gets deburred inside of the case.
Cases get trimmed after two firings before sizing.
Separate the cases by inside volume not by weight of the case.
Separate the cases by rim thickness.
Turn case necks.
After cases are fired I will not size them again.
Chamfer the case as needed only so I dont shave lead when I seat the bullet with an inline bullet seater.
Bullets are pan lubed as they come from the mould, there groove diameter.
I do this for the four sharps I use for match shooting and each rifle has 400 cases.
Yes it's a lot of work but it needs to be done.
The .44-90 sbn takes more work to make the cases work.
They need to be worked over with the lathe to get the proper head space for the cases I use for that.
cases get washed in a case tumbler with ceramic media and come out like new.


Kurt
Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.

Offline Scibaer

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #20 on: January 18, 2008, 01:29:53 PM »
im going to take a few cases to the mall, there is a kyosk what can laser engrave metal, mostly for keepsakes.
im going to ask if they can laser engrave something like " Glenn's Best" or whatever on my brass..
cost be damned ! ;D

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #21 on: January 18, 2008, 06:30:34 PM »
AArgh Rudy you've gone and created a monster.  ;D


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline Lead pot

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #22 on: January 18, 2008, 06:58:30 PM »
 ;D What else is there to do when your retired and the outside temperature is -12 degs and wind blowing snow into big piles  ::) ;D
Sure beats looking at that one eyed monster in the other room or the one in front of this keyboard. ;D

Kurt
Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.

Offline huntswithdogs

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #23 on: January 19, 2008, 10:23:25 AM »
The benchrest shooters I kow do most of this stuff already!

Kurt, If it was minus 12 here, I could see spending time doing something like this. There wouldn't be anything outside that I'd care to do!

Questor,
Man, keep these questions coming. I enjoy the responses and it gives me something to think about, other than lifes little side roads.

HWD

Offline Lead pot

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #24 on: January 19, 2008, 11:11:17 AM »
 ::) Just think what you guys are "missing" ;D by not doing those things ;D

Kurt
Dont go were the path leads,go were there is no path and leave a trail.

Offline Questor

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Re: Individually hand crafted shells of exceptional brilliance?
« Reply #25 on: January 20, 2008, 04:53:34 AM »
There is some precedent for this. I believe Dean Grennel used to polish cases with bullet seated  for photography.
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