Adding an automatic powered bullet feeder to my menagerie
While my SKS modification project is temporarily on hold due to budget constraints, I recently picked up two new additions for my reloading setup: an automatic powered bullet feeder and a newer case prep box. Both items were purchased through eBay and are produced by George at Reaper Reloading.
Before committing to the purchase, I had several conversations with George, during which he patiently answered every question I had. His responsiveness and willingness to address concerns went a long way toward easing my initial hesitation about investing in large-scale, 3D-printed reloading equipment.
The primary reason I pursued a 3D-printed solution was simple: Lee does not offer a powered bullet feeder, and most commercially available alternatives are priced north of $400. I ultimately narrowed my options down to two products, with the Crow’s Nest from Reaper Reloading emerging as the clear winner. The competing option—which I will leave unnamed—relied on rubber bands and featured exposed wiring. That design appeared amateurish and raised concerns about durability and potential damage over time.
George also accommodated a custom request by producing a larger tower strut. At the time of ordering, I had not yet finalized whether the Crow’s Nest would be freestanding on my workbench or mounted to either an Inline Fabrications mount or directly to the Load-Master itself. This flexibility was greatly appreciated and allowed me to adapt the setup without compromise.
The second item I purchased was the case prep box known as the Black Box. Construction is solid, and the unit has a relatively small footprint, making it easy to integrate into an existing bench layout. It features six powered tool heads with respectable torque, though no formal specification sheet was provided. My only minor criticism is that it does not ship with rubber feet; however, this was easily remedied with self-adhesive rubber feet sourced from a local hardware store.
An unexpected bonus was discovering that the Black Box power supply is also compatible with the light sources used by Inline Fabrications. Since the Black Box sits on the same bench as my second Inline Fabrications universal mount, this worked out perfectly and eliminated the need for an additional power adapter.
Overall, both pieces have proven to be well-designed, thoughtfully executed solutions that integrate cleanly into my existing workflow, and they represent a strong value compared to much more expensive commercial alternatives.
 |
| Stock photo of Reaper Reloading Black Box from eBay |
Moving on to the Crow’s Nest itself: the unit is well constructed, lightweight, and cleanly executed. There are only two external wires, neither of which feel unnecessary or poorly implemented. One is the main power lead; the other is the sensor wire. The sensor wire must remain external by design, as the sensor needs to be swapped when changing calibers.
I purchased the combo pack, which included feeder plates and sensors for .22 and .45 caliber. The unit ships with the 30–35 caliber feeder plate and corresponding sensor preinstalled. Caliber changeovers are straightforward and tool-free. To remove a feeder plate, you simply apply a combined twisting and pulling motion until the plate disengages, then install the replacement using the same motion.
The sensor—similar in appearance to a 3.5 mm audio jack—plugs directly into the base of the unit. Changing calibers requires unplugging the existing sensor and swapping in the correct one for the intended projectile. The sensor is plugs directly into the presses bullet feeder die and the spring tube, allowing it to properly detect bullet presence and regulate operation. When switching to .22 caliber, the spring tube must also be replaced with the smaller-diameter tube, which is included in the kit.
Overall, caliber changes are intuitive, fast, and well thought out, with no exposed wiring concerns or fragile components that would raise durability issues over long-term use.
Below is a photo of my Crow’s Nest after trimming down the tower strut and working out a temporary mounting solution while I finalize its permanent placement.
The Crow’s Nest follows a deliberately simple design philosophy, which I consider a strong advantage. In reloading workflows, complexity often introduces unnecessary failure points. This system keeps things straightforward and purpose-driven. The unit supports both nose-down and nose-up feeding ports; for my application, I am running bullet nose-up.
The spring tube interface is equally uncomplicated. The tube connects to the feeder with a half-turn motion that locks onto two alignment pins. At the press end, the spring tube is simply pushed into the bullet feeder die, where it is retained by spring tension alone. No clamps, fasteners, or adapters are required.
There are a few calibration steps required to dial in the bullet flip feature. This is handled via a flip card that is adjusted using a large thumb screw. The card must be positioned so that bullets consistently rotate into a nose-up orientation as they cycle. In my case, it took approximately four test runs to achieve reliable and repeatable orientation. While I have not yet confirmed whether this adjustment must be repeated when changing calibers, it is reasonable to assume that some fine-tuning will be required due to differences in bullet length, weight, and profile.
I recorded three YouTube Shorts demonstrating the Crow’s Nest in operation. Two of the videos show test runs while I was actively adjusting the flip card, and the third captures a short live reload test producing five rounds of .45 ACP. These videos clearly illustrate both the tuning process and normal operation once dialed in.
One particularly well-implemented feature is the system’s response to bullet hang-ups. When a bullet becomes stuck, the motor torque momentarily backs off, allowing the obstruction to drop free before rotation resumes. This behavior is audible in the videos and prevents jams from escalating into stalls or requiring manual intervention. It is a subtle but important design choice that significantly improves reliability during continuous operation.
It is worth noting that the videos were recorded before I finalized my mounting approach for the Crow’s Nest and before trimming the tower strut to its final length. During this interim phase, I disassembled the unit to make a few practical refinements that would simplify future maintenance.
While the Crow’s Nest was apart, I shortened the two internal motor wires and soldered connectors onto both ends. This modification allows the unit to be disassembled and reassembled without cutting or desoldering wires each time, significantly improving serviceability and reducing the risk of wire fatigue or damage during future adjustments.
Once the wiring changes were completed, I cut the tower strut down to a final length of 14 inches to better suit my bench layout and mounting height. After trimming the strut, I drilled a new hole for the retaining screw to ensure proper alignment and secure mounting. This resulted in a cleaner overall profile and a more proportionate setup relative to the press and feeder height.
These small but deliberate changes made the system more modular, easier to maintain, and better integrated into my workspace, without compromising the original design or functionality of the Crow’s Nest.
My final mounting solution will involve fabricating a custom sheet metal cradle rather than permanently attaching the unit to the bench or press. I plan to cut flat stock to approximately 6.6 inches by 8.6 inches, then bend it into a rectangular U-shape. The Crow’s Nest base will slide into this channel, providing lateral support while still allowing easy removal for servicing or reconfiguration.
Once formed, I will drill two mounting holes into the side of the U-frame so it can be bolted directly to the articulating arm of the Inline Fabrications Universal double component tray system. This approach keeps the feeder elevated, adjustable, and fully integrated with my existing Inline Fabrications hardware without requiring permanent bench modifications.
I will make a separate post detailing the fabrication and final mounting solution once it is complete. In the meantime, I am using trigger clamps to secure the Crow’s Nest to the bin holder on the articulating arm. While clearly a temporary arrangement, it has proven stable enough for testing and setup validation.
Comments
Post a Comment