Categories
Reloading

RCBS Introduces Bullet Feeder for Progressive Presses

RCBS bullet feederWith the promise of increasing your loading rate by at least 50% on most progressive presses, RCBS has introduced a new electric bullet feeder.

The feeder fits most progressive presses that use 7/8″-14 threaded dies, including the RCBS Pro 2000.

Designed to work with jacketed pistol bullets only (no lead), the feeder ships with adapter plates for the most common handgun rounds: .355-357″ (9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum), .400″ (10mm and .40 S&W) and .451 (.45 ACP). The feeder holds about 200 bullets in the hopper.  According to RCBS, you should not use this feeder with cast or swaged lead bullets.  While technically not jacketed, I imagine plated bullets like those from Berry’s are probably good to go.

The feeder runs on 110v AC, and features a two-year warranty. MSRP is $495.95.

2013 Update

The shipping version of the bullet feeder comes with a country adaptable plug to handle 120 – 240v AC.  This means non-US residents can also use this with their reloading press.

The RCBS bullet feeder kit for progressive reloading presses now carries a MSRP of $541.95.  Compare that to the MSRP of the Hornady Lock-n-Load bullet feeder which is $363.52.  Like the RCBS bullet feeder, the Hornady feeder is designed to work with any press using 7/8″-14 threads.  while I like RCBS products, I don’t know what their bullet feeder is offering for your extra $200.

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Categories
Reloading

Barnes Buster Bullets

barnes_buster_bulletsBarnes has introduced their new Barnes Buster line of bullets designed specifically for hog, moose, bison and bear hunting.  The Buster bullets are “heavy-for-caliber” handgun and lever gun bullets that are designed to penetrate these notoriously tough animals.

The Buster line of bullets use a heavy lead core with a thick copper jacket for “minimal expansion, deep penetration and maximum weight retention.”  The bullets will track straight through dense muscle and heavy bone.  Barnes reported that using a T/C Encore, a .45-70 drove straight through a bison, which was anchored on the spot.

The bullets will be available for .44, .45, and .500 magnum revolvers and .45-70 rifles.  The .45-70 bullets (.458” @ 400 grains) are available at the Barnes site now.  The handgun bullets should be available sometime during the middle of the year.  The bullets are designed for deep penetration, especially on potentially dangerous game like bear.  The loads would also be good for other tough critters like feral hogs and the like.  I would expect that these rounds would do quite well against all of the feral hogs that we have here in the south eastern United States.  We seem to be overrun by the darn things.

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Categories
General Information

May Preview

The Stark SE-1 Grip

Welcome to May.  This month I have some exciting evaluations planned for you.  Included in this month’s evaluations: custom hearing protection, zombie killing flashlights, and AR accessories.

Hearing protection may not be a sexy topic, but it is a serious one.  For you to keep your hearing and to enjoy a lifetime of shooting, some type of protection is a must.  There was a time that custom-molded earplugs and electronic ear muffs were out of reach for most shooters due to their high prices.  Well, this month, I take a look at some custom-molded earplugs that sell for less than $15 and electronic ear muffs that go for less than $50.

I also have an evaluation of a new tactical flashlight that runs on AA batteries, but throws more than 600 lumens! To describe this light as bright is a major understatement.

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Categories
Ammunition

Hornady Dangerous Game Series Ammunition

Hornady's new 404 Jeffery loading.
Hornady's new 404 Jeffery loading.
Hornady’s new 404 Jeffery loading.

One of the things Hornady is known for is the manufacture of its Dangerous Game Series ammunition: serious cartridges for hunting the largest game on Earth.  These cartridges are loaded for the traditional big guns used to hunt elephant, hippopotamus and other large African game.

Expanding the line in 2009, Hornady has added four new calibers to the Dangerous Game lineup: 404 Jeffery, 416 Ruger, 470 Nitro Express, and the 500 Nitro Express.

All of the new offerings are loaded with both the DGS and DGX bullets.

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news

Tuff Quick Strips: Reload Your Revolver

The Tuff Quick Strips are injection molded from a flexible urethane material

For years, Bianchi Speed Strips have been an effective method of carrying an extra load of ammunition for your .38 or .357 revolver.  I have personally used and recommended the Speed Strips to a lot of people needing extra ammo when carrying concealed.

However, for calibers other than .38/.357, shooters were out of luck.  That has changed with the introduction of the Quick Strips from Tuff Products.

Tuff Products has brought a line of ammunition carriers to market that appear to be very similar to the old Speed Strips, but the Quick Strips are available in a wide range of calibers.  The currently available calibers are:

  • .22 rimfire (10 rounds)
  • .327 Federal Magnum (8 rounds)
  • .38 Special/.357 Magnum (6 rounds or 8 round models)
  • .410 shotshell
  • .44 Special/.44 Magnum (6 rounds)
  • .45 Colt (6 rounds)
  • .460 S&W Magnum (6 rounds)
  • .475 Linebaugh (6 rounds)
  • .480 Ruger (6 rounds)
  • .500 S&W Magnum (6 rounds)

Additionally, new calibers are scheduled for release in May: the .41 Magnum, .45 AutoRim, .500 Linebaugh, and .50 Bowen Special.

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