Casting Quandry

[grizzly]

I have been casting for about a month now and have reached what I call a success. I've been working on 45 Colt. I've been a .45 ACP and 9mm shooter for some time. I recently picked up a Ruger BH in .45 Colt and now the .45 ACP and 9mm's have laid to waste collecting dust in the safe. I decided chasing brass, picking up wasn't as much fun as shooting.

I've enjoyed shooting the 45 Colt so much I decided to pick up on in a rifle also. Now double the fun!

Shooting these 255 SWC's it's dawned on me that my lead supply is quickly dwindling. I am shooting it faster than I can cast and PC it. I must devise a better plan to use less lead.

I am considering picking up a 9mm Lee 6 cavity RN mold. Likely the DC 356-125-2R. Looking for any input on this mold for 9mm. I will be powdercoating the bullets.

[runfiverun]

they make 165 gr rnfp molds for the 45 colt....
and as far as chasing brass.. my 9's dump the brass into a nice little pile about 2' to my right and about 1' behind me.
I'm getting close to there with my 45 acp it's just finding that node, a decent accuracy node, and the one powder that has enough oomph for it to operate all of my 1911's.
I'm at about 99% function right now and have most of the brass in the pile and a decent group size.
I think a powder change is in order or I might need to pull some brand out of the mixed brass pile.

[upnorthwis]

I've got the Lee TL356-124-2R in a 2 cav. Was also thinking about getting it in a 6 cav. It works flawlessly in my S&W M&P. Just wish they would make it a .358 dia. then I would also use it in .38 Spl. and let the taper crimp die size it in the 9MM. Could PC them or Beagle the mold to make the .356 bigger too. Also thought about getting the 358-125-RF but Lee said the 1 ogive radius may not work in a semi-auto. The other molds in .358 are heavier than I want to go.

[daloper]

I just picked up the Lee 356-125-2R in the 2 cavity mold. I just over 1000 cast and am waiting for my sizing die to ship. I have my lube for the Star sizer that my uncle gave me. The bullets look really nice but still waiting to see how they shoot. Have never tried pc but I just might have to give it a try. Will be stopping at the thrift shops to see about getting an oven to bake with. Never realized how much stuff I was going to need once I started casting my own. Most of the basics were supplied by my uncle when he stopped casting. I do know that the wife is tired of seeing the boxes showing up at the door.

[jimb16]

If you don't like having to pick up all that brass, try putting down a tarp. It makes it a lot easier to just pick up the tarp and dump the brass into a bucket.

[whisler]

A tarp works great except for .380. Those things fling in all directions. you need to be surrounded by tarp for .380.

[runfiverun]

the 125 rf will work in your 9mm's it does have to be seated pretty deep though, so you'd have to re-work your loads.
I dunno if I'd mess with anything though as long as you don't shoot that 356 diameter in any of my 9's. :lol:

[jimb16]

whisler.....you just need a bigger tarp! *LOL*

[whisler]

Yea, about 24 X 24 feet.

[farmbif]

I have a Mihec 4 banger that is either 359 or 360-125 round nose flat point cast solid and penta point and they shoot great in both my 9mm's , SR9 and G22 storm lake conversion barrel , lube sized to .357 and in 38 spl S&W Lend Lease 4" lube sized .359. I use straight clip on wheel weights air cooled

[popper]

Get more lead!

[Walter Laich]

and stand in the middle of the tarp.

[mdi]

I started shooting revolvers, which allows brass to be deposited back into a box with one swift move. But I had a hankerin' for a 45ACP. I figgered chasing brass was just part of shooting a semi-auto, just like stuffing rounds in a magazine. I worked out a "system"; shoot 2 magazines, leave pistol w/slide back, chase empties, restuff 2 magazines. By this time gun is cool and ready for another round. Really doesn't take much extra time as the empties are fairly close together and I made a "brass picker-upper" (plus I tumble my 45 ACP brass up shiny so they are easy to spot in the dirt). My Garand is shot the same way; shoot a couple clips, leave bolt open, find empties, shoot again.

I figger it's just part of the game. Kinda like riding a motorcycle, if you ride, expect to have a few bugs in yer teeth...;-)

[grizzly]

Believe me all. I have used many of all the techniques described. Sometimes they work, while other times (when the range is busy) they just aren't as useful. But, it is what it is. The point I was trying to make was that I'm not as interested in picking up brass all the time. Which the revolver proved. My shooting days are typically 200-300 rds so I'd rather be shooting more than picking up. I have been constructing a catch that I'll be testing very soon.

But back to my play to cast more bullets.

[farmerjim]

I use the Lee 358-125-RF for all my 9mm, 38, and 357 plinking loads. I use 2 6 cavity molds at a time casting 6 boolits every 25 seconds. 56 boolits per pound of lead.

[avogunner]

Picking up brass was killing my back....I got one of thesehttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161006/3ae119da0aa34198d9bd5a59a7ec3a81.jpg
I works great

Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk

[mdi]

Unfortunately, a nut-picker-upper doesn't work too well in the dirt, rocks and stuff at my "range". That would be nice though. I took a telescoping handle squeegee, removed the squeegee. Drilled the plastic insert in the end for a 1/8" rod with a tapered end bent at 90 degrees. I can now extend the handle to a comfortable length, walk around and stick the rod's tapered end in a case mouth and transfer the case to my free hand. Saves my back and is fairly quick...

[Shiloh]

Where do you shoot?? I mine the berm every couple of trips. All range lead mind you, but it can be sweetened with lino or WW.

Shiloh

[grizzly]

Where do you shoot?? I mine the berm every couple of trips. All range lead mind you, but it can be sweetened with lino or WW.

Shiloh

I do the same when the opportunity presents. Pretty much all of my lead is from the berm at the pistol range. My last trip yielded 80 lbs of 18bn lead. It's isn't easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

[Harter66]

I like the 6 c I have it casts almost 360 and has to be pretty deep to run in all of the available pistols .
Mine thankfully ran well right out of the box .

I dont worry much about my brass it all seems to fall pretty regular into a space just a hair bigger than a 5 gallon bucket .

I had for a long time a 3 gallon bucket with the bottom out and some 1/4" screen hooked to it . Scoop shake dump repeat . There is still sorting to do but when you hit a rich 45 cal vein or a slug pit the dump bucket fills up in a hurry.

[HeavyMetal]

When I cast for my 9mm I use a pair of the Lee 6 cavity 356-125-2r molds they shuck castings like peas from a pod and I can empty a 10 pound pot in minutes with them! Dipping won't get you anything with this site mold you need to bottom pour!

20 pound pot minimum

HM