SHOT Show 2012 – Reloading: New components, equipment for handloaders
For shooters who like to “roll their own,” 2012 will provide a plethora of opportunity, made even better by the introduction of new reloading components and equipment during the 
annual SHOT Show held in Las Vegas, Jan. 17-20.
Just in time for the event, Hodgdon (6231 Robinson, P.O. Box 2392, Dept. TGM, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201; phone: 913-362-9455; on-line: www.hodgdon.com) has introduced its 2012 edition of the popular magazine-style Annual Manual, a publication that TheGunMag.com staff has found indispensable over the years. In its ninth edition, the Annual Manual offers new loading information on 30 Hodgdon, 19 IMR and 10 Winchester propellants. There is data on the new .300 AAC Blackout cartridge, and new lead-free loads for 21 different rifle cartridges. This year’s edition includes data for the new CFE 223 powder with 147 loads covering 27 different cartridges.
And speaking of CFE 223, which stands for “Copper Fouling Eraser,” it’s a spherical powder that helps maintain accuracy without having to wipe the bore so often. Data is available for 27 different cartridges and 147 different loads. It is designed to produce maximum velocities in the .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington and .308 Winchester. Available in 1- and 8-pound cans, CFE 223’s formula includes an ingredient developed for use in military propellants.
Nosler (P.O. Box 671, Dept. TGM, Bend, OR 97709; phone: 541-382-3921; on-line: www.nosler.com) is at it again with the introduction of an entirely new line of devastating varmint bullets and additions to the Nosler Custom Brass line. Enter the Varmageddon line, with new projectiles in .17, .204, .224 and .243 calibers. They feature a lead alloy core and copper alloy jacket for high velocities and devastating impact on varmints.
Nosler has also added a .338-caliber, 300-grain AccuBond to the lineup, along with a .358-caliber, 200-grain AccuBond, and in the Ballistic Tip line, there’s 
a new 6.5mm/140-grain bullet. Three new pills have also been added to the Custom Competition line: a 6.5mm/123-grains, 7mm/168-grains and a .308-caliber/140 grains.
Nosler Custom brass has added the .17 Remington, .221 Remington Fireball, .222 Remington and .270 WSM unprimed cases to its line, and 100-count packaging in select calibers.
Lastly, Nosler has added a 230-grain .45-caliber hollowpoint in 250-count boxes.
New from Federal (900 Ehlen Drive, Dept. TGM, Anoka, MN 55303; phone: 612-323-2300; on-line: www.federalcartridge.com) are packages of Gold Medal brass in two new calibers: the .223 Rem. and .22-250 Rem. Both will be offered in 100-round bags of unprimed brass.
Barnes (P.O. Box 215, Dept. TGM, American Fork, UT 84003; phone: 801-756-4222; on-line: www.barnesbullets.com) has announced the return of its Varminator bullet line, discontinued in 2007, with one new addition: a .20-caliber/32-grain pill good for the .204 Ruger. In addition, there are projectiles in .22-caliber/40-grain and 50-grain, and 6mm/58-grain and 72 grain. All are hollowpoint flat base bullets with lead cores and gilding metal jackets.
There is also a new 171-gain boattail Match Burner in 7mm, and three new offerings in the LRX long-range hunting bullet family: a 127-grainer in 6.5mm, a 168-grain bullet in 7mm and a 280-grain projectile for the .338 Lapua.
There’s a lot of new stuff from Hornady (P.O. Box 1848, Dept. TGM, Grand Island, NE 68802; phone: 308-382-1390; on-line: www.hornady.com) including bullets, equipment and two new reloading kits. The new Lock-N-Load Classic Kit includes a single stage press, powder measure, digital scale, Hornady reloading manual, priming tool, kinetic bullet puller, powder trickler, chamfering and deburring tool and more.
There is also a Lock-N-Load Precision Reloader’s Accessory Kit, which includes a concentricity tool, steel dial caliper, Cam Lock trimmer and power adapter, and Lock-N-Load OAL gauge, comparator set, headspace kit and Case Prep Trio.
Six new rifle bullets have been announced, including a .224-caliber 50-grain GMX; a 6.5mm/.264-caliber boattail 100-grain A-Max; a new .30-caliber, 150-grain SST with a long boattail and a crimping cannelured; a 200-grain FTX in .348-caliber with Flex Tip design for safe use in a tubular magazine; a 9.3mm/366-caliber DGS bullet weighing 300 grains; a .30-caliber/195-grain boattail with an AMP bullet jacket and swaged lead core.
Hornady is also introducing the hand-operated Lock-N-Load Quick Trickle tool. It allows a reloader to dial an initial charge and then refine it with precision metering of small amounts.
The latest from RCBS (605 Oro Dam Blvd., Dept. TGM, Oroville, CA 95965; phone: 916-533-5191; on-line: www.rcbs.com) includes a pair of case trimmers and other reloading accessories, including a new die set for the .280 Ackley Improved.
The Trim Pro-2 manual case trimmer kit includes pilots for .22, .24, .25, .27, .28, .30, .35, .44 and .45 caliber cases. It features an improved spring-loaded universal shell holder, and it can hold cases ranging up to the .338 Lapua Magnum. There’s also a Trim Pro-2 power trimmer, which comes with the same pilots and same spring loaded universal shell holder.
Other new gear includes a die plate/shell plate rack for the Pro2000, PiggyBack-3 or PiggyBack-4 die plates and five-station shell plates, a primer pocket swager and a rifle bullet feeder adapter for the Dillon RL550 and XL650 progressive presses using Dillon powder measures.
Lyman (475 Smith Street, Dept. TGM, Middletown, CT 06457; phone: 860-632-2020; on-line: www.lymanproducts.com) has announced Deluxe 3-Die Rifle sets. They include a Deluxe carbide expander assembly, a Neck sizing die, standard full length sizing die and standard bullet seating die. There’s also a Deluxe neck sizing die with carbide expander button.
Two new Turbo cleaners are also appearing, the Turbo Sonic 6000 with a 6.3-quart tank and the smaller Turbo Sonic 700. For use in these units is Lyman’s line of Turbo Sonic cleaning solutions for cartridge cases or steel gun parts.
Lyman’s Orange Turbo concentrated case cleaning solution is for cleaning brass without a tumbler.
There is also a new aluminum Pistol E-ZEE case gauge for accurate case measuring for 18 popular handgun calibers.
Lyman is unveiling a Case Prep Multi-Tool for the .50 BMG cartridge. It features inside and outside chamfer tools, a pocket reamer and primer pocket cleaner.
Sierra (P.O. Box 818, 1400 West Henry Street, Dept. TGM, Sedalia, MO 65301; phone: 660-827-6300; on-line: www.sierrabullets.com) is introducing a new 125-grain, .30-caliber MatchKing hollowpoint in cooperation with Remington Arms and Advanced Armament Corporation specifically for the new .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. The new bullet is available in 100- and 500-count boxes.
Redding (1089 Starr Road, Dept. NWS, Cortland, NY 13045: phone: 607-753-3331; on-line: www.redding-reloading.com) is introducing form and trim die sets for making .300 Blackout cases from .222 Rem. and .223 Rem. brass. In addition, Redding is unveiling national match dies for the .300 Blackout. The die set includes a full length sizing die and Redding Competition seating die, plus a taper crimp die.
