Ammo trays

TheGunClinger · 07-23-2011, 03:48 PM

Awhile back Johnlivesforcrist (former guest?) was making some nice ammo trays. I was inspired to make some for me. I only handload .308's, 45-70 Gov. and .50 A&E's. The .50's fit the same hole as the 45-70's so I didnt have to make seperate trays although it would be easy.
First thing I needed was wood. (dont we all

) I had an old log of walnut that was just about right. I ran it through the table saw with the help of my boss (wife). Then I planed it down on all sides til it looked pretty good. Then comes the hard part which is making all the lines and the X's and so on. Next to the drill press in my very neat garage.

. Using various Forstner bits I drilled all the holes. Then as I dont like to sand, I ran it back through the planer to remove all the pencil marks. On to the chop saw and then back to the table saw where I have my Dewalt router. I ran the blocks through the router to put a nice edge on them. Doesnt need it but what the hay. I could use the trays as is but I took them out to the sunny pool area and gave them a coat of tung oil. All done! It took about 3 hours from start to finish. Fun little project. Thanks John, wherever you are.

TheGunClinger · 07-23-2011, 03:51 PM

The rest of the story.. I am now done and are sitting back and chugging beer.

TheGunClinger · 07-23-2011, 03:54 PM

Dang! forgotted the pics!

dad2thebone · 07-23-2011, 04:42 PM

nice , very nice pics clinger! good job with the woodwork too.

TheGunClinger · 07-23-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad2thebone

nice , very nice pics clinger! good job with the woodwork too.

Thanks Dad! About 20 minutes after I posted that thread all hell broke loose! Sunny Fla. my behind! Wind and rain like a tropical storm. Sure puts a damper on chugging beer by the pool.

American Leader · 07-23-2011, 08:19 PM

Nice job TGC! Rains often don't it?

jack404 · 07-23-2011, 08:28 PM

good work! , similar story here with weather

JLA · 07-23-2011, 10:03 PM

I wish itd rain here. we been bone dry for months. and the temps been 110+ for the majority of that time..

David8989 · 07-23-2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

I wish itd rain here. we been bone dry for months. and the temps been 110+ for the majority of that time..

Amen to that!

gdmoody · 07-23-2011, 10:32 PM

Those are some good looking loading blocks, maybe you should consider taking up some of John's slack and start selling some!

Claudius Valarium · 07-23-2011, 11:44 PM

Nice work Clinger. Hope you've had a chance to down that beer (or two). And as JLA says, we are bone dry over here with triple digit temps being the norm. Please feel free to send some of that wet stuff this way.

308 at my gate · 07-23-2011, 11:53 PM

I think I am more envious of the tools than the loading blocks. By the way the blocks did turn out very nice.

dad2thebone · 07-24-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 at my gate

I think I am more envious of the tools than the loading blocks. By the way the blocks did turn out very nice.

yea clinger i know bout Florida weather didnt take me long to get the he77 outta there. couldnt do much of anything out doors because it may rain. only fun i got was watchin people run to get out of it . i gave up and walked ,i mean whats the point? it's gonna get ya . first time i saw rain go sideways! so i'm back in ca NO MORE TAMPA!

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 at my gate

I think I am more envious of the tools than the loading blocks. By the way the blocks did turn out very nice.

Its too bad about the weather here. Its alot of work to get set up and do woodworking and then have to work in this heat and keep watch for rain. Suks to get those tools wet.

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdmoody

Those are some good looking loading blocks, maybe you should consider taking up some of John's slack and start selling some!

Thanks! I just do things like that for the fun of it. Johns still out there somewhere and is probably making a few bucks doing it. He just gave me inspiration. Now if only I got my butt out of gear and give making grips a shot. Woodnut was nice enough to give me a tutorial on how to do it so who knows??

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad2thebone

yea clinger i know bout Florida weather didnt take me long to get the he77 outta there. couldnt do much of anything out doors because it may rain. only fun i got was watchin people run to get out of it . i gave up and walked ,i mean whats the point? it's gonna get ya . first time i saw rain go sideways! so i'm back in ca NO MORE TAMPA!

I'm stuck here for the long haul. I have a lawn service with 100 accounts a week. Now that is when the rainy season suks big time

Claudius and JLA, you can come here with a big bucket and take all the rain you want

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 11:01 AM

Decided this morning to take my new blocks for a test drive. Loaded up a bunch of 45-70 Gov. and have a bunch to go. I also prepared a bunch of .308's for loading. Thats alotta work! After cleaning comes the lube, then the re-sizing. After that I throw them all back in the tumbler for an hour or two so that any die marks are gone. Then comes the trimming. Then I clean out any corncob left in the primer pockets and add primer. I use the Lee hand primer. Works great! Now they are sitting in the blocks raring to go. They'll have to wait until I get the smoker fired up before more of that rain hits. Gotta have something to do later other than cleaning out my already immaculate garage. I am really anal about that.

permafrost · 07-24-2011, 11:35 AM

Gotta Luv the happy face!

308 at my gate · 07-24-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGunClinger

Thanks! I just do things like that for the fun of it. Johns still out there somewhere and is probably making a few bucks doing it. He just gave me inspiration. Now if only I got my butt out of gear and give making grips a shot. Woodnut was nice enough to give me a tutorial on how to do it so who knows??

If you like wood projects here is a rife rest that I use for cleaning my rifles that you might like to try sometime.

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 at my gate

If you like wood projects here is a rife rest that I use for cleaning my rifles that you might like to try sometime.

Yeah! I was thinking of making one. Thats a nice one and looks easy and I have some oak.

TheGunClinger · 07-24-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by permafrost

Gotta Luv the happy face!

I did that happy face with my Mossberg 500 at 50 yds. I had a scope on it. Couldnt do it again in a million years!

woolleyworm · 07-25-2011, 01:33 AM

I've been busy the last few days and just caught up with this thread, very nice job GC ! Nice documentation also. Those blocks will last a few lifetimes.

The Duke · 07-25-2011, 07:42 AM

Nice job on the blocks!!! May add some class to my loading bench one day and make some out of walnut or cherry instead of scrap...

But on the other hand, if it rained here, think I would take a chair outside, sit in the rain and chug me a beer or two..

NoNoBadDoggie · 07-24-2012, 10:34 PM

Dam GunClinger....you made me so jealous I'm gonna have to get off my butt and get back to reloading...Been slacking lately but after seeing all that nice work I'm going to get some sleep and then get to work!! I think it was how nice the garage was that really got me...

BETH · 07-24-2012, 11:41 PM

hey clinger how did u get pool area covered?

07-23-2011, 03:48 PM	#1
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,378	Ammo trays Awhile back Johnlivesforcrist (former guest?) was making some nice ammo trays. I was inspired to make some for me. I only handload .308's, 45-70 Gov. and .50 A&E's. The .50's fit the same hole as the 45-70's so I didnt have to make seperate trays although it would be easy. First thing I needed was wood. (dont we all) I had an old log of walnut that was just about right. I ran it through the table saw with the help of my boss (wife). Then I planed it down on all sides til it looked pretty good. Then comes the hard part which is making all the lines and the X's and so on. Next to the drill press in my very neat garage.. Using various Forstner bits I drilled all the holes. Then as I dont like to sand, I ran it back through the planer to remove all the pencil marks. On to the chop saw and then back to the table saw where I have my Dewalt router. I ran the blocks through the router to put a nice edge on them. Doesnt need it but what the hay. I could use the trays as is but I took them out to the sunny pool area and gave them a coat of tung oil. All done! It took about 3 hours from start to finish. Fun little project. Thanks John, wherever you are. Attached Images __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year. -->

07-23-2011, 03:51 PM	#2
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,378	Re: Ammo trays The rest of the story.. I am now done and are sitting back and chugging beer. __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

07-23-2011, 03:54 PM	#3
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,378	Re: Ammo trays Dang! forgotted the pics! Attached Images __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

07-23-2011, 04:42 PM	#4
dad2thebone Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,357	Re: Ammo trays nice , very nice pics clinger! good job with the woodwork too. __________________ 9-11-01 we will never forget.And then we have dec 7 now it's Nov 6th all sad days for our country. And dont whizz on my leg then tell me it's raining.

07-23-2011, 08:19 PM	#6
American Leader Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,630	Re: Ammo trays Nice job TGC! Rains often don't it?

07-23-2011, 08:28 PM	#7
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Ammo trays good work! , similar story here with weather

07-23-2011, 10:03 PM	#8
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,287	Re: Ammo trays I wish itd rain here. we been bone dry for months. and the temps been 110+ for the majority of that time.. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-23-2011, 10:32 PM	#10
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,306	Re: Ammo trays Those are some good looking loading blocks, maybe you should consider taking up some of John's slack and start selling some! __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

07-23-2011, 11:44 PM	#11
Claudius Valarium V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Central Texas, AKA the Middle of Flyover Country Posts: 459	Re: Ammo trays Nice work Clinger. Hope you've had a chance to down that beer (or two). And as JLA says, we are bone dry over here with triple digit temps being the norm. Please feel free to send some of that wet stuff this way. __________________ CV "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." Patrick Henry, 1788

07-23-2011, 11:53 PM	#12
308 at my gate Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lost in SW USA. Posts: 847	Re: Ammo trays I think I am more envious of the tools than the loading blocks. By the way the blocks did turn out very nice. __________________ You got to love it.

07-24-2011, 11:01 AM	#17
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,378	Re: Ammo trays Decided this morning to take my new blocks for a test drive. Loaded up a bunch of 45-70 Gov. and have a bunch to go. I also prepared a bunch of .308's for loading. Thats alotta work! After cleaning comes the lube, then the re-sizing. After that I throw them all back in the tumbler for an hour or two so that any die marks are gone. Then comes the trimming. Then I clean out any corncob left in the primer pockets and add primer. I use the Lee hand primer. Works great! Now they are sitting in the blocks raring to go. They'll have to wait until I get the smoker fired up before more of that rain hits. Gotta have something to do later other than cleaning out my already immaculate garage. I am really anal about that. Attached Images __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

07-24-2011, 11:35 AM	#18
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: Ammo trays Gotta Luv the happy face! __________________ Stand and Fight

07-25-2011, 01:33 AM	#22
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,882	Re: Ammo trays I've been busy the last few days and just caught up with this thread, very nice job GC ! Nice documentation also. Those blocks will last a few lifetimes. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-25-2011, 07:42 AM	#23
The Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 813	Re: Ammo trays Nice job on the blocks!!! May add some class to my loading bench one day and make some out of walnut or cherry instead of scrap... But on the other hand, if it rained here, think I would take a chair outside, sit in the rain and chug me a beer or two..

07-24-2012, 10:34 PM	#24
NoNoBadDoggie Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: PA Posts: 7	Re: Ammo trays Dam GunClinger....you made me so jealous I'm gonna have to get off my butt and get back to reloading...Been slacking lately but after seeing all that nice work I'm going to get some sleep and then get to work!! I think it was how nice the garage was that really got me...

07-24-2012, 11:41 PM	#25
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,666	Re: Ammo trays hey clinger how did u get pool area covered?