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Post by neilrr on Aug 20, 2015 12:12:45 GMT -5
I recently came across the following website, that offers a 22 LR reloading kit. That is right, a commercially available 22 LR reloading kit for the average hand loader. After watching the various videos on the site I am some what interested to try it for use with my .22/410, especially with the price and scarcity of 22 LR ammo. The kit contains a combination bullet mold/crimper, combination case scraper/primer tamper, plastic funnel, double ended powder measure, glass eye dropper for acetone dispensing, and detailed instructions. The kit is only good for reloading 22 LR and will not work for 22 S or 22. The price for the kit is $75 and $20 for the repriming compound which consists of several inert chemicals until you mix them together to form the primer compound. Add another $60 and you can purchase a die and shell holder for resizing the used casings. I really do not think you will need this last item. You then need to supply the powder and lead for the bullets. The amount of priming compound is estimated to be good for about 2,000 rounds. The estimated cost is to produce 50 rounds is less than $1.00. My question is has anyone purchased one of these reloading kit and if so what has your experience been? |
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blaze
Frequent poster
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Post by blaze on Aug 20, 2015 18:42:32 GMT -5
The reloading of rim fire cartridges has a very long history. Heck, the native Americans were reloading the 44 Henry rim fire for their Henry/Winchester rifles 150 years ago! The old .32 rim fire cartridges were also reloaded. The Backwoodsman magazine has had several articles on the subject. The real question is "is it worth the effort" The former examples were used because there was no alternative supply of ammunition. Survival situations so to speak. Even with the cost of .22 rim fire ammunition being what it is, and it's coming down and more available presently, I don't think it would be cost effective. And a lot of work IMHO. And yes, I have done it in .32 rim fire when there was no factory ammunition available.
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Post by neilrr on Aug 23, 2015 15:18:33 GMT -5
Blaze, I appreciate your response, but unfortunately the supply verses demand in my area is still not caught up. 22 LR rounds are still in short supply and range in price from $6 - $8 or more per box of 50 rounds, when you can find them, and then not in any great quantities. Since I am retired I have the time to pursue this potential 22 LR shortage remedy. I know you can reload rim fire rounds, but I was hoping that some one has tried this specific product and could give me some feed back. I am hoping that this product makes reloading 22 LR rounds easier and more liable since properly cleaning out the old primer within the rim, crimping the bullet correctly to the case, and ensuring that the primer is evenly distributed within the rim are the key factors to making a good reliable 22 LR reload. Even us old guys like to learn something new now and then. Hell after a 42+ year career in engineering I became a certified master gunsmith and I love it.
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Post by bigkelly on Aug 24, 2015 6:33:59 GMT -5
I don't see a link to the site???
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Post by neilrr on Aug 24, 2015 8:24:33 GMT -5
bigkelly, sorry about that. My unedited post had where to look for the site, but it got lost during editing. The manufacture of the 22 reloading kit is Sharp Shooter and their website can be found by looking up "22lrreloader.com" on Bing, Google, etc. After you look at it let me know you thoughts. Thanks.
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blaze
Frequent poster
Posts: 108
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Post by blaze on Aug 25, 2015 12:21:21 GMT -5
For general information: These "kits" are available on Ebay at discounted prices. The several online reviews I've read seem to be favorable with reference to these kits, but mention that it is a lot of work. Best for the use of the survivalist/hunter rather than a range shooter and best used in a single shot or bolt action rifle (the reloaded cartridges must be aligned so the firing pin does not hit the case rim where it has been hit before). Also, I believe, that the priming would be corrosive so cleaning after shooting would be a must.
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Post by neilrr on Aug 25, 2015 13:16:33 GMT -5
blaze - I also checked the internet for reviews and potential cheaper sources for the kits. My findings agree with your assessment 100%. These kits seem ideal for use with the single shot 24's when used as a survival/hunter weapon and the reloaded rounds can easily be positioned to miss aligning the rim on a previously hit rim section. I agree with the potential corrosive issue and plan to clean my guns within a couple of days of using them. This is a habit instilled in me by my father. I plan to purchase a kit and will advise on how it works in a follow up post in the future. Thanks for your responses.
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blaze
Frequent poster
Posts: 108
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Post by blaze on Aug 25, 2015 13:28:06 GMT -5
neilrr: I very much look forward to and will appreciate your review on this reloading kit.
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Post by jeffb1911 on Aug 30, 2015 20:11:11 GMT -5
i've thought about getting one of these for the 22lr bullet mold. I've read a few things on using the "blanks" for nailguns with 22 pellets. Even the heaviest pellets are light compared to 22lr bullets, and achieve such a velocity they vaporize on hitting anything. Wonder what a regular weight bullet will do with the blank loads.
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Post by captcapsize on Aug 31, 2015 21:18:03 GMT -5
You Tube vid on nailgun blanks and pellets. Looks like fun, I have all the ingredients to give it a try. They are shooting pellets though what looks like a 1/8" stainless steel plate. A .22 LR will not do that.
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Post by neilrr on Sept 1, 2015 11:50:58 GMT -5
captcapsize - I think you hit the nail on its head, no pun intended, with you statement that "A .22 LR will not do that". The pressure developed by these nail gun .22 blanks is much higher when compared to a normal .22 LR cartridge. Remember, the nail gun blanks are designed to propel a fastener through a 2x4 and then solidly into cement as where a .22 LR bullet will not even come close to doing that.
I agree that the You Tube vids on this subject and other various forum discussions are very interesting. However, if you try this I would recommend using a break open single shot rifle that you are not especially fond of in case it becomes a junker. In my younger days I did some stupid things without serious injury that I would certainly not do today. There are some real dumb You Tube vids out there and just because the first guy didn't get hurt doesn't mean that it is safe for others to try the same thing. If you do decide to do the test please post your results and be careful.
Anyways, I still plan to purchase the .22 reloading kit and will post how it works or doesn't work sometime in the future.
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Post by captcapsize on Sept 5, 2015 7:03:07 GMT -5
I have an old .22 bolt action that isn't good for much else, no big loss if it turns to junk. I don't think that will happen though. The pressure from the blank pushing a 14 grain pellet will not reach any where near what launching a steel spike that weighs several ounces.
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Post by neilrr on Sept 5, 2015 16:38:35 GMT -5
captcapsize: I found the following color coding information for nail gun 22 blanks. Nail gun 22 blanks that are usually available to the public are brown, green and yellow, and come in brass casings. The following velocities are based upon using a 350 grain slug from a test device. Based on the information found below I would definitely stay away from any nickel or silver cased nail gun 22 blanks and try testing with the grey brass casing. If the initial testing is successful I would then try the brass casing in brown and green. Good luck with your tests.
Color coding brass casing : Velocity
Grey : 315 ft/s (96 m/s)
Brown : 385 ft/s (117 m/s)
Green : 490 ft/s (150 m/s)
Yellow : 575 ft/s (175 m/s)
Red : 675 ft/s (206 m/s)
Purple : 755 ft/s (230 m/s)
When the blanks are in a nickel or silver casing the color coding is as follows:
Color coding nickel or silver casing : Velocity
Grey : 845 ft/s (258 m/s)
Brown : 935 ft/s (285 m/s)
Green : 1,025 ft/s (312 m/s)
Yellow : 1,115 ft/s (340 m/s)
Red : 1,205 ft/s (367 m/s)
Purple : 1,295 ft/s (395 m/s)
As an aside, I ordered the 22 reloading kit and primer the other day, no shipping date yet. I will keep all updated once it arrives and any results. I try to make the range at least once a week, more often if test firing repaired guns.
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Post by captcapsize on Sept 9, 2015 20:53:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. I have brass case in brown and yellow. Haven't had time to play with this. Wish I had my chrono up here in Pa. with me. Maybe get to it next week.
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Post by neilrr on Sept 10, 2015 10:38:27 GMT -5
I am located just off 78, about 15 miles from the PA border. If you are close and would like some company when you test the blanks let me know, and I will see if I can make it. Either way, good luck and be safe.
Also, I was got an email earlier today informing me that I should be receiving the .22 reloading kit today or tomorrow. Hopefully, I will have time next week to look it over, get what other items I need and try doing some reloads and test firing.
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