For this Saturday-at-the-Movies session we offer a selection of videos featuring interesting tools and products for handloaders. These tools will help you save time and load better ammunition in less time if you spend a lot of time in your reloading area. The featured products today range from premium tools like the 21st Century powered-neck-turning-lathe to basic add-ons like Lee Breech Lock Bushings that are very useful if you load different cartridge types. 21st Century Neck-Turning Lathe
The red button at the end of the blue horizontal feed handle activates the power: Do you neck turn hundreds of cases each year? You deserve this amazing tool. The 21st Century Innovation Powered Neck Turning Lathe is probably the best system for uniformly and precisely reducing the neckwall thickness of cartridge Brass. We own the original manual 21st Century Neck-Turning Lathe and can confirm that it works well. This powered system allows you to turn necks more quickly and efficiently with less effort. It’s like switching from a manual transmission to an automatic. The cases feed very easily and the results are stunning. Note: The videos are of the version that was first marketed by 21st Century Shooting. This company now operates under 21st Century Innovation. The Powered Neck Turning lathe is a modular design. Swing the bar left to right to feed the case. The power head (with the case holder) glides along stainless steel rails to ensure smooth movement. This allows for a very precise feed rate. The power is supplied by a button built into the end handle. To spin the case, push the red button. It’s that simple. Steve Ostrem, Gun Tech at Hornady, explains how to use the Hornady Overall Length Tool and Hornady Bullet Comparer to accurately determine length-to land. The OAL Gauge is a “Modified Case”, which threads onto the tool, and holds a single bullet. Push the gauge back until you feel the tip of the bullet touch the rifling. We tap the rod gently to align the bullet at first. Once you have the length, use the tool and a comparator with your calipers. NOTE: We recommend measuring the length 3-4 times to get a reliable result. After a little practice, you should be able get repeatable measurements to within.0015″. Henderson Power Case Chamfering/Trimming Machine Test F Class John tests some of finest reloading equipment and shooting gear you can buy. He recently added the impressive Henderson Gen 3 Powered Trimmer. John is now a Henderson enthusiast. He likes its speed, precision and repeatability. The $779.00 Henderson machine trims to length and chamfers case mouths all in one pass. The Henderson trims the case by the total length, not the shoulder. John found that this worked perfectly for his.284 Winchester Brass, which had all been sized to full length prior to trimming. Watch the video below to see the Henderson Trimmer in action. Dual, parallel horizontal support shafts ensure precise alignment of the case when it moves toward the cutter blade. The Taper-Lock cutter offers a 14-degree chamfer on the inside and a 30-degree chamfer on the outside. The trimming process is consistent in every case, and Henderson’s design effectively captures brass shavings. This video compares the popular Giraud Powder Trimmer.
John, as noted in the comparison, liked the Henderson trimmer’s precision and the overall design, which offers good ergonomics, and very precise alignment for the cases. As you can see in the videos, cycling is smooth and positive. The Giraud also makes a great machine for bulk trimming/chamfering, but the Henderson offers some advantages. Accuracy One Gauge for Concentricity Checking Every serious handloader needs an accurate concentricity gauge. The Accuracy One Concentricity Gauge features a smart design which delivers repeatable, precise results. The unit is easy to adjust and can be used in many different configurations. The Accuracy One gauge measures the internal and external neck runs of cartridge cases, as well as seated-bullet runout. It can also measure runout on the ogive of bullets, as well as the bearing surface and boat-tail. It can even measure the runout of your primer pocket. This detailed 15-minute YouTube video from Bolt Action Reloading Channels features a variety lower-cost tools and products that assist with key reloading duties. The video examines hand priming tools and case prep tools. It also includes Lyman stepped load blocks, powder tricks, expander mandrels powder tricklers long-tube funnels, and more. This video is very helpful if you are just getting started with hand-loading. It covers a wide range of topics, including the different types of tools.
This 15-minute video reviews a variety of products, including the Lyman Case Prep Tool.
