Cnc cut loading blocks

[MOA]

I just brought home the first of our CNC cut loading blocks. It's a prototype so some adjustments may occur, but that's the reason for the test run. Depending on how this goes I'm thinking of offering these blocks for sale as a vendor after I find out what becoming a vendor entails. We may do a mixed caliber block as you see here, and also dedicated caliber blocks for pistol, rifle, and yes, one for shotguns too.

[6bg6ga]

Nice looking

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Yes nice looking

[15meter]

If you're doing rifle blocks, make them tall enough that cases filled to capacity won't fall over if you pick up a loading block with charged cases and try to move it.

Got rid of my commercial SHORT loading blocks years ago and started making my own tall blocks.

Tall blocks will also let you put the cases in upside down.

Typically, the only time you will see a case right side up on my bench is immediately after charging with powder or it's a fully loaded case.

First couple of blocks I made, I used white oak, too much tannin in the wood, stained some cases I put in blocks and then didn't get around to loading for a couple of weeks.

Something about a boss who thought it was more important to go see a customer halfway across the country instead of doing important stuff like loading ammo. Talk about the fun police.

[Uncle Grinch]

Are these made from wood or some type of synthetic material?

[sparky45]

I make mine out of Walnut that's 1.5" thick. While not CNC'd they turn out nice.

[MOA]

Are these made from wood or some type of synthetic material?

These are made from exterior mdf sprayed and buffed with a sanding sealer. These also have internal steps to accommodate different rim sizes.

[MOA]

This is same material I used 4 years ago for my shotgun loading blocks. The current layout for shotshell blocks has the holes much closer together so materials are used more efficiently, and the blocks can be shipped in the usps flat rate priority boxes. I think the multi-caliber block I just brought home to work with can be loaded 5 or so to a flat rate medium box. Here's the early version of my 12 ga block.

[onelight]

Here is a couple I made from a cedar 2X4 for 45-70 many years back , each block for 40 cases.


Blocks for large cases might be a good choice to have in the CNC lineup.
I couldn’t find any when I made these.

[MOA]

Onelight, I know what you mean. I have 50-70, 9.3x 74, 400 jeffery, 50 alaskan, I was lucky I had blocks made for 10 gauge through 410 bore so no issue for me, but for many others that ends up being a DIY project because there is not a lot to handle those sizes out there. We plan on offering up to BMG blocks along with shotgun shell dimension blocks. Of course hole count per block limited by shipping container.

[MOA]

This is a 10 gauge block.

[onelight]

Nice looking block , those would be a niche to get started for sure.

[Conditor22]

I love MDF for cutting profiles on/in it's a sawdust/glue mix that is heat pressed into sheets.

A member I did a deal with sent me this butcherblock loading block made out of different wood.

[sparky45]

Butcher Block appeals to me; very nice.

[rfd]

easy enuf to do with a drill press and a forstner bit. i've literally made dozens. i like nice wood grain but even a fir or pine 2x4 gets the job done for making what is in essence just an accessory tool.



















yadda yadda yadda

[C.F.Plinker]

For the mixed caliber blocks, have you considered putting the larger holes on one side and the smaller holes on the opposite side. Sorta like the old Flambeaux Twin-60 loading blocks. This way the larger cases would sit lower in the block because you wouldn't need the steps within the hole to accommodate different size bases within one hole.

[onelight]

That is some great Boolit porn.!!!

[1Hawkeye]

Those blocks are nice looking Iv'e made a bunch of loading blocks from red oak 6" base plate material scraps leftover from stair railings using a forstner bit in the drill press.
Using a piece of plate 6" x 11" you can get 50 holes that are large enough for a .50-70 or larger. I make them in 3 different sizes for .30-30 /.38-55, anything with a .473" rim i.e. .22-250 -.30-06, and .45-70. They work pretty well but they are thin 3/4" so the loaded .38-55 and .45-70 rounds are a little top heavy but they don't fall out. 11" may seam a little large but it gives you more room between rounds. With all the scrap I have access to at work Iv'e often thought about asking the boss about us opening a side business. I never thought about using mdf for a block but then at work I'm surrounded with red oak,white oak,Brazilian cherry,sepele,hickory,pecan and once in a great while maple. A while back I made the frame for my drop tube from sepele that stuff is so dense the frame must weigh 3 pounds.

[Walter Laich]

to keep the bottoms of my holes smooth I would drill all the way through and put a thin piece of wood on the bottom.

[MOA]

That's the beauty of cnc, the bits leave a flat bottom. I'll be playing with the proto today thru Sunday.