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Excellent point, sv44. I appreciate the reply.

Being from the Northeast, it hadn't occurred to me that heat could impact operations. I will try again next week.

Has anybody ordered anything from Magma Engineering lately? I added a new caliber to the collection and need the appropriate sizing die. Since Lathesmith is no longer making dies, I figured I...

I just recently learned that Lathesmith is no longer making dies for the Star. Before I call Magma to order a new one, anybody here have a .430 (or maybe .431) Star die they'd like to sell?
...

Please put me down for a 3 cavity w/ 1 cavity HP'd.

thanks, Jeff

No shortage of great ideas around here..... guess I'll be mouting a metal akro-bin-holding rail to the front of my bench this weekend. Can't believe I never thought of that.

Thanks for the replies guys. I don't currently have a Lyman 358429, or I would just send it off to Erik.

It's good to know that I should be able to get enough heat in the mould while casting...

This is a question for anyone that has a multi-cavity mould with only 1 cavity HP'd:
How do you use it? I mean, do you fill all the cavities including the HP and sort the boolits later, cast...

I have a Lee 6-cavity 452-200-SWC that has over 10K. It's a bit worn, but most of that wear came before I learned to treat them properly.

Keep the moving parts lubed with Bullplate,...

hi blackthorn.
I had the same exact experience when i recently picked up a Timber Wolf in nearly unfired condition. A good cleaning and it's been flawless for a few hundred rounds. ...

ILCoyoteHunter,

I always mangle the o-rings....so I layed into a big stash here:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-EPDM-Rub...8662326&sr=8-1

100 should hold ya for a while.

Jeff

hi mstarling,

here is my best guess using the cheap calipers:

1) 0.36 base to cone
2) 0.23 cone length
3) 0.27 meplat

I don't have the mould handy to measure the ID, but it typically...

+1. azshtr is definitely a straight shooter!

vaniila_gorilla, I'll second the recommendation to get Star dies from Lathesmith. Got a .401 from him a while back and it's every bit as nice, if not nicer than the dies from Magma.

I agree they are a PITA. Tried it once without them and it made a mess.... but that was a decade ago when I first got the machine. maybe I had the pressure too high.

Next time I...

Anyone here able to remove dies from their Magma Star sizer without destroying the top o-ring?

I've pretty much come to accept I'll be using a new one with every die change.

anyways... I was...

Very nice looking bullets!

and now I have to go drill a few allen key holes in my bench... great idea.

I just started loading the Lee 401-175TC for my Glock 27 (w/ FAC replacement barrel).

Seating to around 1.125 with a light taper crimp gives me pretty good results.
I think I've had 3 (of...

Nicely done! what fraction of the 12-pack was required to complete the project? :drinks:

+1, Lathesmith is a real straight shooter.
I just got a star die from him and it is excellent. real fast turnaround, too.

Jeff

Hey all... tackled the bucket project this afternoon. The cutoff wheel made real short work of the bucket.... and the solder wasn't stuck to it at all.

As Rottweiler pointed out, the big lump...

exactly. just use it on top of the blocks, under the sprue plate, the alignment and pivot pins. No lube required for the cavities....although you may want to smoke them with a wooden match.
...

Let me jump on the Bull Plate bandwagon. Just picked up my first bottle from Dan a few weeks ago and used it to break in a pair of new Lee 6-cavities.

Threw about 1K out of each in an...

thanks for all your ideas guys. yeah, it's definitely melted in the bucket.

I did ask the guy that gave it to me and he said they normally used 60/40 solder so I could be sitting on a serious...

I was going to ask the same question since I just picked up this mold.

5.0gr of Bullseye sounds like a nice load, but might be a bit snappy for the wife.

What would be an appropriate charge of...

A while back a co-worker gave me a full 5 gallon steel bucket filled with "lead".
He told me it was from a decommissioned wave solder machine so I assume it
has a significant amount of tin.

So I...