Brass, Barrels, and Bureaucracy #15

We’ve missed a few weeks of updates. Not completely intentional, but not without reason. There’s been quite a bit going on in the background as we try to get a few projects off the ground. That, coupled with a week-long trip down to Atlanta, Georgia, with family to catch the IMSA races, threw the routine off.

That was a hoot and a half. Now we’re back home and trying to settle into something resembling normal again. The fall foliage has long passed its peak, and we’ve officially rounded the corner into “stick season”. That awkward stretch when the trees are bare but there’s still no snow to make it look justified.

Website Updates

We didn’t go live with any new updates, though I have a few new articles I’m finishing proofreading on. Expect to see those posts in the next week or so.

Time at the Bench

I keep finding new casualties from the past few moves. Things that went missing somewhere between basements, garages, and workbenches. This time it was a .338 Lapua Magnum die set and its shell holder. That one stung. The frustrating part is that I only realized I was missing the shell holder after I’d already bought a replacement die. I replaced the RCBS Die with an LE Wilson Bushing Full Length Sizing Die.

Reloading wasn’t a total loss, though. I made progress on annealing a batch of .300 Blackout brass fresh out of the tumbler, and a few new case trimmers arrived for the upcoming Case Trimmer Showdown. Everything I got was dedicated to a specific cartridge, except for the Franklin Arsenal Trimmer, which is suppose to do pretty much everything. I am excited to see if it will do 338 Spectre

On top of that, I finally got the drill press wired and the motor turning under its own power—a slow-burn project I’ve been meaning to wrap up so I can actually use it for the trimmer testing.

Lastly, I ended up breaking down and purchasing a new tumbler. It was a hotly debated topic which one to get. Keep in mind I’d had Berry’s 400 tumbler for the better part of 15 years, and it served me well. At the same time, that little nagging voice in my head said, “If a $70 tumbler is good, what am I missing with a $200 one?” That voice won, and I now have a Dillon CV-750. I’ll do a full write-up later, but the initial impression is that I can see where the extra cost went. Everything is thicker, and the motor is a proper enclosed unit, not a repurposed bathroom fan.

I’ve only run one load through it so far, so I can’t comment yet on whether the tougher build translates to better cleaning performance.

Industry and Legislative News

The big story everyone’s probably tired of hearing is California’s latest crusade—banning certain Glock models because their design allegedly allows easy conversion into full-auto weapons with a so-called “Glock switch.”

All eyes were on Glock to see how they’d respond, and we didn’t have to wait long. They blinked. Glock announced its halting production on nearly all current pistols and will release a new series that removes the design feature that allows a Glock Switch to function.

From a business standpoint, Glock’s about-face makes sense. Fighting the state would mean years of legal battles and millions lost in sales. Still, it’s hard not to roll your eyes at yet another California overreach. Hopefully, the courts see through this one.

Some folks are criticizing Glock for throwing in the towel, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. Big gun companies, Glock, SIG, HK, Colt, Ruger, etc., aren’t going to stand on principle when faced with a choice between profit and loss. A few smaller manufacturers might still fight that fight, but once you’ve got a boardroom and shareholders in the mix, principles usually come second to the bottom line.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether Glock “V” this turns into a “New Coke and Classic Coke” situation. I’ll call it a win, if the new fire control group produces a Glock trigger that actually feels good from the factory.

State Department to Loosen Restrictions on Exporting Firearms

While most of us care more about loosening import restrictions, it’s worth noting this change. The Biden Administration imposed several export rules that restricted firearm sales not only to “high-risk” countries but even to U.S. allies. The restrictions covered sporting shotguns and optics. These rules were more of a cudgel to U.S. manufacturers than a meaningful tool to curb crime or misuse abroad.

En Banc Review of New Jersey’s Assault Weapons Ban

The full panel of judges is reviewing New Jersey’s Assault Weapons Ban. Regardless of outcome, this will likely go to the Supreme Court. From a gun rights perspective, a win here would (1) strike down an unconstitutional law and (2) create a circuit split, increasing the odds that SCOTUS takes the case.

The Bruen decision hasn’t moved the needle as much as expected; some appellate courts have ignored it entirely. Even a loss could still push the case onto the Supreme Court’s docket as a chance to remind lower courts that Bruen wasn’t optional.

Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38)

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025 has cleared committee but hasn’t yet been put up for a full House vote. I’m not overly confident it’ll pass without near-unanimous Republican support, and even then, it faces an uphill climb in the Senate. Still, this is the furthest such legislation has advanced, and with midterms next year, it’s not impossible to imagine progress before the end of Trump’s term.

New Guns and Gear

Hornady’s New Product Announcements
Hornady dropped several new product announcements for 2025, and a few caught our attention.

Versa-Prime Bench Priming Tool

A few years ago, Marc was eyeing a bench priming unit that looked suspiciously similar—probably the Primal Rights Competition Primer Seater. I thought $700 for a bench primer was nuts, but it stayed on our short list. Looks like Hornady thought so too. It is worth noting that Lyman has it’s own take on this that might be worth a look.

Details are scarce beyond the marketing materials, but it looks solid in theory. We’ll reserve judgment until it hits stores, and if we can get one, we’ll put it through a full shakedown.

Hornady 12th Edition Reloading Manual

For those of us who still enjoy a “dead tree” reloading manual, Hornady’s 12th Edition is on the way. It’s a solid reference for anyone loading Hornady bullets, or plays with any of the Hornady family of cartridges like the ARC, Creedmoor, and PRC.

QuickLOAD October 2025 Update

For those of us who use QuickLOAD the forth update of the year is out. This update focuses on Nosler, Sierra, and Hornady bullet files. I’m still waiting on new double-base propellants to show up in the powder file, so I’ll probably skip this one and see what we get next year.

That’s all for this week.

If you have questions, comments, or ideas, we’d love to hear from you.
Jay – jay@theballisticassistant.com
Marc – marc@theballisticassistant.com

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