I have a daughter with cerebral palsy, and she loves to help out with my shop chores. I'm just getting into reloading, and have begun to purchase equipment. I am able to get a bucket of mixed brass once in a while of a few different calibers. My daughter loves to sit and separate the rifle from handgun brass, but now she wants to help even more. Although the rifle is mainly one caliber, the handgun consists of .45, .40. 9mm and just a little of other stuff. My daughter doesn't mind repetition, she just loves to help. So, here's the questions:
1. Sorting the calibers-- I tried to come up with the best way to sort the calibers. I don't think she could reliably visually sort the brass, so it would need to be something manual. So I thought of making a block with a channel in it, larger at one end and tapering to a smaller end. Then, she could slide the brass into the channel, and I would have color-coded stops (i.e., red for .45, blue for .40, yellow for 9mm, etc.). Then she could drop the brass into a color coded bucket. What do you think?
2. I just bought a tumbler and some stainless media. Has anyone tried tumbling without removing the primers? The reason I ask, is once my calibers are sorted, I plan on using a progressive reloader (Dillon 650) which will remove the primers in the process. Since the handgun ammo is used mainly for close distance stuff (i.e., no match-grade required), I would think the initial tumble, plus just running it through the reloader would be sufficient. What do you think?
3. For the rifle calibers (.223, .308. .30-'06 and .338LM), I will need to de-prime prior to tumbling. Is there an easy way to de-prime which my daughter might be able to do? I think if I bought a single stage press, she might be able to deprime. And, if I really feel generous, I could get an auto trimmer and let her help with that as well.
Of course, when it comes to actually loading, she could watch.
She will not be directly involved when I'm charging the rounds.
I appreciate the insights!
1. Sorting the calibers-- I tried to come up with the best way to sort the calibers. I don't think she could reliably visually sort the brass, so it would need to be something manual. So I thought of making a block with a channel in it, larger at one end and tapering to a smaller end. Then, she could slide the brass into the channel, and I would have color-coded stops (i.e., red for .45, blue for .40, yellow for 9mm, etc.). Then she could drop the brass into a color coded bucket. What do you think?
2. I just bought a tumbler and some stainless media. Has anyone tried tumbling without removing the primers? The reason I ask, is once my calibers are sorted, I plan on using a progressive reloader (Dillon 650) which will remove the primers in the process. Since the handgun ammo is used mainly for close distance stuff (i.e., no match-grade required), I would think the initial tumble, plus just running it through the reloader would be sufficient. What do you think?
3. For the rifle calibers (.223, .308. .30-'06 and .338LM), I will need to de-prime prior to tumbling. Is there an easy way to de-prime which my daughter might be able to do? I think if I bought a single stage press, she might be able to deprime. And, if I really feel generous, I could get an auto trimmer and let her help with that as well.
Of course, when it comes to actually loading, she could watch.
She will not be directly involved when I'm charging the rounds.I appreciate the insights!
