I figured out how to consistently get small groups at 1,000 yards!

[@randalljones1928]

I was sceptical when you said Harbor Freight "Precision," but when you cranked down on that 3 jaw chuck, I remembered what day it was. Very funny!

[@95GTSpeedDemon]

I'm watching a 2 years later not on April Fools. It reminds me of the concrete video and how good he is at satire

[@johnwilliams-gk1fb]

You had me right up to “harbor freight and precision”

[@rustynut1967]

Hey, the harbor freight lathe had precision written right on it.

[@ErikCortina]

@@rustynut1967 Exactly! 😁

[@billclifton8400]

yeah "harbor freight" and "precision" are oxymorons for sure

[@ArionRaine]

Take a look a Clicksprings videos if you seriously think the 7x14 isnt capable of precision work. Only non machinists would claim it isnt. The 7x14 (wherever you buy it from) is quite capable, and is as precise as YOU are. Funny video....but c'mon guys.

[@drd1924]

lol me too...when he said "High precision lathe" and went to harbor freight... I was like ok buddy but hey I'll keep watching..... But then...when he said use a 3 jaw because they're more accurate than a 4 Jaw....when any of the best 3 jaws will inherently have .003" IR....Ok this guy may have a couple lathes but doesn't know much about machining. THEN....when he cranked down on the bullet...with two hands distorting the jacket obviously....instead of using a collet chuck....I was like.....Ummmm What THE? And all the time knowing a projectile at supersonic will have air seperation at the base and the base profile only matters upon the subsonic transition phase....I was like Ok I gotta keep watching to see this guys BS claim on a 1000 yd group. 5/8" But even then....my engineering mind was still trying to figure out the reason for the obvious results since we all try different things to Eek that extra .001" out of our groups. Bore lapping, bullet coating, muzzle crowns, blah blah. BOOOM freakin got me....April Fools. Very well done.

[@miguelperaza6615]

Hey buddy 👋 this trick was used in 1942 with German snipers on the 7x57 cartridges 😮

[@FClassJohn]

Now I have the perfect excuse to tell my wife why I need to buy a lathe. Thanks Erik!!! 🤣

[@J-1911]

Harbor Freight "Precision." 🤣🤣

[@tinfoilsombrero1439]

@@J-1911 Quality tools.

[@mastermattk]

Or even a long range rifle set up...

[@charlesborders2893]

@John Beige YOU NEED A COLLET FOR THAT JOB ON A GOOD QUALITY LATHE BUT ON A PRECISION MAC-IT WOULD GIVE GOOD RESULTS THEN WEIGH AND NOT GET THEM OUT OF ROUNDNESS OR DEFORM .MAKE THEM FROM SOLID STOCK AND USE A CNC THREDING MAC WITH COLLET --MAKES A DAM GOOD BULLET IF YOU SET IT UP RIGHT THE HOLE WILL STABLES THE ROUND--- A DAM GOOD MACHINEST CAN MAKE A DAM BABY HELLO--NOW THAT A DAM GOOD MACHINEST THOUGH

[@JSomerled]

I can only imagine how many calls are going out to precision Mathew’s..They are probably thinking it’s April fools

[@carlyoung6808]

I love this. As a full time machinist and a machine shop at home. HF HIGH precision lathe ??, 3 jaw chuck with no jaws ??, crank down with both hands ??. I would imagine within the first few minutes people were ready to rush out to HF and spend money. On a serious note, Sierra designed their precision bullets with a small hole in the nose and boat tail. A small hole/cavity at the base. MM...maybe Erik has stumbled onto a top tier super secret, known to only those at the highest level, revealed to them by visitors from planet X0. A T-Shirt would be nice.

[@ronaldmontgomery8446]

He never heard of a collet chuck. Machinable any size you want and it will run perfectly concentric.

[@Cautionary_Tale_Harris]

I like to drill mine completely through. It lowers the weight so the projectile falls slower (better for long range) and the tube shape helps it stabilize in the air.

[@fentonpainter7907]

They make a cool whistling sound too

[@Cautionary_Tale_Harris]

@@fentonpainter7907 You are a man of understanding and refinement.

[@johnnybarbar7435]

I wanted more precision than your lathe provided so I chose and Harbor Freight 3/8" drill with a hand chuck. It was a 3 jaw too so I figured it would be really good. My rubber palm gardening gloves held onto the spade bit really well when I gouged the base of the bullets out.

[@braedenR]

This is gold. I literally laughed out loud at 4am... woke people up. The bullet in the 3 jaw. OMG

[@1917jmb]

I wonder how many people aren’t gonna watch this to the end, or just not figure it out, and start drilling a bunch of bullets... 😂

[@danielsekera3525]

after last years concrete video I was waiting for this

[@hkguitar1984]

I was all in until he stated "Deform to perform"! LOL

[@PassionforRifles]

I was like WTF, but then i did remeber that it is the April first :D

[@zerocool46]

The first clue it was a joke is when you said to use a precision lathe like the one from harbor freight

[@mplemke]

@@zerocool46 I have to admit, I was scratching my head on the Harbor Freight lathe as well, but I still took the bait.

[@KirkA0906]

I really knew something was up when you sd the three jaw is the most precise there is. I am watching you do this and I'm thinking how in the crap does that make a difference. You had me all the way to the end Good one!

[@Johnat709]

You got me...Hook, Line, Sinker, and Bobber. Glad I watched till the end. LOL

[@GrooveyTuesday]

Me too!

[@hbudsmalley6317]

LOL Best April Fools joke I've ever seen!!

[@flinchfu]

"Deform to preform." My motto is "IT DOES WHAT IT'S TOLD!"

[@timg6252]

Nice one Eric. Easily up there with Daniels "weigh your primers" and Hornadys bullet cam.

[@glennllewellyn7369]

I measure my cases using the whistling method. Blow across the case mouth and detect differences in sound. Hope this helps, Australia

[@MichaelLloyd]

I'm surprised that you didn't tell us about powder grain reshaping tools. Those things are amazing. I'm glad that your mentioned "deform to perform" though. You're very generous with info.

[@deadnorth8333]

Wow that was insane Eric most people would have kept that to themselves my hats off to you sir for sharing that 🍻SKOL

[@1917jmb]

You have got to make a “Deform to Perform” t-shirt.!

[@drd1924]

Oh dang....laughing hard!!!

[@miguelperaza6615]

This actually makes a perfect seal against the rifling during powder explosion 🤔 thus aligning the projectile in a very defined concentricity while jumping even into an eroded barrel 😳

[@scottbeverly188]

Think mini-ball.

[@sawhill729]

You were busted with the three jaw accuracy comment.lol Great laugh.

[@taylorbokshowan5713]

That’s when I was like wtf is he on about and came to the comments to realize it’s April 1st. Now I gotta go watch the rest of video

[@rom14141]

Totally had me until the end when you mentioned it. LOL I should've known when you started off by saying the HB lathe was a high precision lathe, then talking about how a four jaw chuck wasn't as good as a three jaw. Finally, I kept thinking about how the yellow dots covered the holes, thinking he could've just put dots on the target, but your reputation kept me from questioning it. GOOD ONE!

[@davidortiz173]

You got me Eric, real good, I thought something was weird when you said Harbor Freight lathe but I was still buying it all the way to the end!

[@deangilbert7931]

I’m glad I hung around long enough to hear you say “April fools”. I thought I had watched your last video for good. lol!

[@ironbomb6753]

This one almost topped the Hornady Bullet Cam joke a few years back.🤣🤣👍 Nice one Eric, 🤭

[@jesusisalive3227]

That Hornady video was awesome!

[@beestoe993]

Damn, you figured out my secret and put it on the internet. I have been using the "deform to perform" method for decades. Doggone your hide!

[@kevinrobinson4999]

Couldn't wait till the end of the video to try this it worked great All my one shot groups out of my 6.5 creedmoor measured 264 best consistency I've ever had

[@miguelperaza6615]

By the way 🤫 will there be Some Erik Cortina's shot targets either at an Auction House someday soon?

[@sherm43150]

I knew this was an April fools joke the second you considered your Harbor Freight lathe a precision instrument... Thanks Erik! Had a good laugh

[@fisherus]

Last one of your videos that I am going to watch. You suckered me in so bad on this one that I was writing you to find out why the difference in weight wouldn't make a huge difference on where the bullet landed at a thousand yards and you do this to me!

[@ErikCortina]

😂 Sorry. 🙈

[@lastcat]

That was good. When you started to crank down on the 3 jaw, I was losing you there (3 jaws marking the bullets? hahahha). Then the 3/4" dots over the target, ya, sure, all bs. The ending is the best. That was too cool, great sense of humor.

[@guyfranks4354]

Well Eric, you had me going there for a minute. Turning a 1/4 MOA group into a 2/3 MOA group just by machining the freedom seed bases. I think you are employing psy-ops on your competition. So that you always win. I am a new subscriber and I am thoroughly enjoying your little pearls of wisdom that you are providing to us all. Congrats on your victory in South Africa P. S. Anyone who follows your April Fool's info deserves to lose.

[@pyro323]

Man next year, Erik's gonna show us how to curve bullets midflight like in the movie Wanted. 🤣

[@BlakeKillam]

You can actually cure bullets mid air

[@JR-lg7fd]

dude don't get my hopes up. haha

[@russtuff]

Catching up here as I just found your channel the other day and decided to start at the beginning. As soon as you said the 3-jaw is the most accurate I figured something was up.... then noticed the date :)

[@Rubble1]

I figured out it was an April fools thing with the 3 jaw being better than the 4 jaw.

[@stevelessard6216]

I was thinking the same thing - what about a collett chuck?! And precision Harbor Freight! Haha!😜

[@rickw6521]

Any machinist know it was a joke when he said a 3 jaw is better then a 4 jaw. And yes i can see guys now drilling their bullet out and thinking they will be shooting as good as Eric lmao.

[@bandito85fx]

I’m calling B.S. on the three jaw. They come with the lathe because they are cheaper to make. For precision applications use a six jaw or a collet. Four jaw chucks are used for awkward to hold parts. Yes you can get precision out of them if you want to take the time and indicate them every which way from Sunday.

[@charlesborders2893]

JUST SAVE ON SET UP TIME AND ----O

[@charlesborders2893]

@@stevelessard6216 JUST GET A CNC THREDER MACHINE [PRECISION-ONE THEY MAKE GOOD BULLETS FROM SOLID STOCK

[@troy3456789]

@01:32 - I laughed out loud when you said "This is what I use; I use my harbor freight ..." I had a feeling you were not being serious.

[@barryoakes5976]

Lmao,, I’m looking for my waders now,, the crap is getting deep. “The key to success.. is precisely that!”

[@LeverPhile]

Yeah, chest high waders ...

[@wyattlarsen3880]

You had me for the first few seconds. You really are sick. Love it! Favorite line: Deform to perform. Lol!

[@fentonpainter7907]

Thought it was to good to be true. Even Eric wouldn’t give away THAT kind of secret.

[@vernonhelms2316]

I don’t have a lathe so I just did mine in my drill press , worked really well awesome 😎

[@Hooligan6]

"Key word right there" *"Precision"* Ha! Thanks for the laugh Erik

[@skully.3n]

LOL, that's too funny! Almost got me, I looked up the Lathe at Harbour Freight and everything, glad i watched until the end. I was thinking as I was watching it, he's spinning us... lol

[@ErikCortina]

I’m glad you watched till the end! 😂

[@skully.3n]

@ I’m glad I did too. I’m just starting to get into reloading. I have everything needed for reloading. Next thing I need for range purposes is a good tuner, looking forward to purchasing the EC tuner, and I need a chronograph, what do you suggest? I will be reloading 6.5mm creedmoor.

[@CCW1911]

Thanks for sharing your secret, I am going to try this along with neck sizing, going for a half inch group.

[@pstewart5443]

I found if I do this process Erik shared plus I shoot a perfect 0.51875" group, at 1k yards even if move my reticle I still end up with a 200-20X score. It's like impossible to miss!! Neck sizing was the other key, and using battery acid to clean my grooves. That was prob the hardest part, only getting the acid on the groove portion.

[@reevinriggin3570]

Holy Crap! You're the barndominium guy! You shoot too? Heck even more of a reason to get a quote from you when I get ready to build. You have some great barndo's.

[@allee6096]

you had me going for a bit LoL.. I almost went and drilled out some bullets 😂

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@johnfrederikson2002]

Eric: How could you do this to all of us who hang on your every word? It nice to see that you have a sense of humor. All the best. J.

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@ronniemonday]

Oh My Goodness, more magic self leveling powder!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@VIKING-SON]

Oh man you really had me Erik dang you should have seen what I was really going to write for a comment. Good one Erik stay safe God bless and have a great Easter weekend...

[@michaelkaiser1864]

LOL! So much wrong with this lol. When he measured the stickers....not the holes? I knew something was SURELY up lol! well played Mr Cortina! :)

[@ThatGuy3714]

Just ordered a TSUGAMI B0265-II Swiss lathe. Can't wait to test this out myself. Thanks Eric

[@stoker7211]

Reaming us all a new ballistic A-hole for April Fools Day, Eric?

[@miguelperaza6615]

I did some experiments with annealed cases and regular new brass cases (223) , and during full sizing , the annealed cases were harder to work with , eventho I had a hard cam over , had to size each case twice or even 3 times to get correct chamber length. Separating diffrent brand cases is very impormant ! Do not size as bulk ! or chamber length will vary according to brand 2.5 to 3 thousands 😮 if my shells seem way long? I put scotch tape on my shell holder to gain .001 or even .0015

[@paulmorgan1897]

By the way, I wonder what those Bullets really did. It would be interesting. I remember you concrete slab April Fools joke. You are real good at keeping a straight face.

[@tyler6147]

I think he backed off of this one because of that concrete slab joke. A TON of people were mad at him for months after that.

[@CCW1911]

Thanks for sharing your secret, I am going to try this along with neck sizing, going for a half inch group.

[@450ktm520]

Actually here's the funny thing. Americans are years behind. The Italians have a patent on what he's joking about and has been used successfully. So to answer your question, you have to do it with longer bullets but it does perform and theres several tricks to add to what has done. Just it's not financially acceptable for production use.

[@larrydesantis9800]

Eric...you are soooo Baaaadddd !!!!! . I would like to know how many people went out and bought a #4 Center drill.

[@user-cq6km9vq2m]

"First you need a high precision lathe...." **Shows Harbor Freight lathe.*** No seriously man how did you do it.

[@LeverPhile]

But it says "precision" ...

[@user-cq6km9vq2m]

@@LeverPhile Checks out.

[@bryanohalloran9001]

you almost got me, but when I looked at the date 3/4 way through the video I began to wonder. Very Very well done

[@charlesspringer4709]

Ah yes. The "Hollow Back" phenomena was only recently declassified due to its use in those stealth torpedoes that can carry a pair of Navy Rangers.

[@tylerepperson4381]

I use the same process with a factory Remington 700 etronx with great results.

[@x223blackwolf]

Bruh. The people that watch this in a few months from now, and don't check the date it was published, is going to be hilarious. But in all seriousness, I was genuinely curious to see how these shoot... Once the gas entered that simple, it would probably blow the skirts out lol

[@MichaelWright-l5o]

I have a recommendation that you may want to try . Use soft jaws bored to the outer diameter of the bullet . This will ensure the hole is concentric and the geometric tolerance is correct .

[@lukewarm_fuzz]

I forgot what day it was for about, the first 30 seconds and man was I confused.

[@TheMerlinmk19]

You had me til you showed the HFT lathe...at that point I figured out where this was headed lol. For some reason it did not occur to me that it's 4/1. Nicely done Erik.

[@ScottPriestley]

Harbor Freight "Precision" :D

[@buckfiden9913]

Lol, you got me good. I watched nearly the entire video then paused and came down to the comment section, I'm thinking... he cant't be serious! Someone has to call him out on the Harbor Freight lathe, deforming the bullet with the chuck jaws, drilling out the rear.. I mean everything is flawed! Then I saw all of the April fools comments... then I finished watching the video til the end. Lol, well played sir.

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@dang3]

The words Harbor freight and precision don’t seem to go together.

[@bayoumike544]

I refer to them as "Hobo Freight".

[@angelaprater2679]

Assuming bullet get rear presure and swells rear part of the bullet to expand a tight fit in the barrel as flys out to the end of barrel forming a prefect fit. Would be wise to set up gel block to caught bullet to see how it formed at that distance. Very interesting and even more interesting to see what the bullet looks like after being shot. Kiitos to you dude

[@Not-the-only-one]

Almost like a reverse hollow point. This has to be an April fool’s, and then I made it to the end.

[@davidclemens4662]

You should work around the chuck and tighten each jaw screw equally. You should also turn the jaws before clamping the bullet, to minimize concentricity and runout.

[@Longshothawk]

I almost couldn't take it, then I heard the motto "deform to perform" and I couldn't stop laughing

[@jerseyjoe2684]

If I didn't see the date this video was uploaded, I would have left an ass-blistering reply. Well done, buddy!

[@nemsisbusa]

Very funny Eric, but now can we all bow our heads for the poor little freedom seeds that tragically lost their chance to fulfill their destiny and hit the X ring 😢🙏

[@tompuckett9937]

Great video Erik!!!! This process in not new to me. I do this process on all my little Chinese harbor freight lathe also. I find you don’t have to tighten the chuck as you recommend. I use my favorite two jaw chuck as it produces two beautiful longitudinal grease grooves which I suspect stabilizes the bullet in the air. My go to rifle for 1,000 shooting is my 1892 25-20 Winchester carbine. After many hours of testing my load of 14.3gr. of H110 and my 65gr. Cast lead bullet, and my Remington bench rest small pistol primer plus center drilling the bullet like you recommend my groups aren’t quite as small as yours. I can consistently achieve 5” groups. Before modifying the base of the bullet my holdover was about 42 feet, and now it has been reduced to 38 feet, + or - a foot. Hope everyone sees your secret method and is successful like you and me!!! Thanks again for your super great video!!!!

[@michaelschmit9470]

Happy April fool's day

[@Dmushroomhunter]

🤔🤔😁😜😝🤣...... Fast forward 6 hours later after I've binge watched the last six or eight videos!! I'm glad to see you still have a sense of humor!! This made me laugh. I was on you right away but when you kept tightening the chuck on the three jaw I was laughing my ass off!! I was waiting for you to either say it helps engage The rifling or see you put it in a vibratory polish machine!

[@paulblair7515]

I watched this a week after the video came out and was like WTF is this dude talking about. You got me good bro lol

[@danielllewellyn5720]

I just watched this 10/24/22 I'm thinking to myself the whole time, WTF? You gotta be kidding me. What about concentric balance, what about the weight of the five projectiles, what about the CG, ect...Then near the end I'm like this guy has the driest sense of humor and is just F'ing with people. Good job!

[@johnx6061]

LOLS... esp the "precision" lathe, then a 3 jaw over a dialed in 4 jaw is the most precise, just drill it to the chamfer, but the best one was I "deform to perform"..... then the added "no evidence of shots, a perfect center, nra 1000yd target to determine the range, patch measuring, then close enough and allow for a bit for error.... stop! it was just too much, LOLS.... GOLD my man.... Thanks for the laugh, I needed it today ;-)

[@aussiefarmer8741]

I loved The "precision lathe" with a 3 jaw chuck bit.

[@ronnydowdy7432]

Great content. Most would not share this. Thanks for sharing

[@motox103]

OK Eric sorry to say but a 4 jaw chuck is much much more accurate than a 3 Jaw!!! But a 4 jaw takes a dial indicator to true up the part. I have seen 3 jaw chucks run out more than .010 and the best I have seen run out about .002 - .003. Removing the Jaws is a good idea to get better precision on a 3 Jaw.. I recommend if your gunsmith trues your action and bolt and does his barrel work in a 3 jaw look for a different machinist! A 3 jaw could be used accurately to cut and thread the tennon, IF, IF the barrel is turned between centers, but thats about it!

[@stephenembrey883]

I get wonderful results by putting a 30-06 crimped very solid down on the shoulder using a 708 die, it holds the bullet very tight though there are some wrinkles but man that thing shoots groups all day long. Of course the groups or just horrid pressure signs are in sane, but hey it's all in accuracy!

[@jaywright2276]

just tried your ectuner brake today just to see how good brake was still developing load. but wow brake works great and it looks sexy on my rifle. I mean thats all i care about. But honestly its a nice break I am very pleased with is so far

[@ErikCortina]

Thank you.

[@Madmartigan1]

hahahahaha - hooked me are reeled me in - good one....right up to the very end...good job and excellent delivery.

[@dennism8346]

"I mean, that's what it takes. These little things are what's gonna separate you from the rest of the competition". Can't stop laughing.

[@bertall1ca]

I'm only now seeing this more than three years too late but the first WTF I had was when you said the stamp was the key then said it needs a dimple. The stamp is not shaped like a dimple what so ever. BUT I was thinking "ah, maybe a dimple would work like the dimples on a golf ball. Then you said HF precision lathe & I knew for sure something was up.

[@tonybrock5288]

Welcome to April 1! :-) And I've only just started watching but I have an idea as to how this turns out. 🤣

[@deeeeeeps]

LOL my BS meter was going off like crazy. Glad I stayed till the end :D

[@jamesbarrett223]

Okay so not gonna lie when you don’t watch this on April 1st you go hmmm! Nice one Erik you had me going for a while

[@JohnSmith-nh9vr]

My harbor freight tile saw was so precise that when the blade cracked it missed my neck by 0.1 inch - a specially designed Chinese brittle plastic blade shield did nothing to stop it !

[@timg9448]

The Target Does Not LIE!!! And he laughs as he says it ;-D

[@Nonedw]

I remember his concrete pad joke. I saw that twinkle in his eye and knew it was going to be good. Way to go EC!

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@trentwong4437]

Set up a 5c collet with a dead stop from the back, you will need a collet hub with a draw bar, will hold t.i.r. better and 10 times faster, you can see you have run out, conversely, a three jaw is not accurate unless it's an adjustable.

[@ErikCortina]

Watch entire video please.

[@JCulpepper73]

Man I gotta tell ya… the whole time I’m watching I’m thinking… man I really like Erik… he’s a jam up guy , but I’m smelling some BS…. Just so happen to not get the video evidence… precision (harbor freight) lathe… clamping down on a bullet like that… 😂😂… and I was still trying with everything in me to believe you… I was so relieved when you dropped that last line.. This was a good one, my friend😂😂

[@stevejacobs9747]

Mr Cortina , the four jaw chuck is actually the most accurate to use , you can indicate it to absolutely perfect concentricity , a three jaw chuck you are at the mercy of factory production. Three jaw chucks can have a few thousands runout.

[@ErikCortina]

Watch the entire video please. 😁

[@stevejacobs9747]

@ sorry Eric, watched to the end, you got me.

[@RobertLowery]

You got me. I watched this on April 6th and was taking notes and thinking of ways to use my CNC machine to crank out lots of modified bullets.. (-:

[@spartus56996]

I will be honest, you got me for a few minutes !! I was thinking maybe the rear of the bullet will fly differently if there is a void, but then I thought, wouldn't the bullet manufactures know this, Eric isn't that smart :)

[@randytolle6706]

I respect Erik's advice and was slow at shifting into, "He he isn't serious is he, Harbor Freight may sell serviceable tools but?" Now I always check the date first.

[@elmerfudd7674]

Finally looked at the date. Good One

[@bcoorough]

That’s awesome, I can hear all the precision harbor freight lathes firing up now. Lol

[@duvielhernandez2887]

Erik is was watching the video with my wife and I had her convinced that I needed a lathe amd after your comment that it was an april fools joke she just standed up and said no you don’t 😂😂😂😂 i should have ended the video sooner 😂😂😂

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@cmb7481]

You had me for a minute... That's a good one!!! Cheers

[@wesmatthew7860]

Great to see 1849 technology designed by Claude Minie still works today.