I mostly use Unique, but that doesn't mean I didn't try stuff that was in stock at my local shop. So I've loaded Unique in all the calibers listed below, plus these...
357 Magnum
VV N110, AA #7,...
Type: Posts; User: dwtim
Forum: Cast Boolits
I mostly use Unique, but that doesn't mean I didn't try stuff that was in stock at my local shop. So I've loaded Unique in all the calibers listed below, plus these...
357 Magnum
VV N110, AA #7,...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I'm in the Northeast, and the only thing I can't find are small pistol primers. (But there are still magnum pistol primers.) The things that I can't find are factory ammo for 9mm or 38 Special. But...
Forum: Cast Boolits
My casting sessions are limited of by the amount of lead my pot holds safely--generally 12-15 pounds, depending on the shape of the ingots. In a full day session, I can fill the pot three times...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Tried many of these tips. Tried the copper-after-lead trick, but then I had copper over the lead. And the extra pressure really pushed the lead into the microscopic cracks in the bore, making the...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Hi folks,
Just wanted to thank everyone for their input. I generally changed my routine to be gentle as possible (suggestion: Hickory, Ghosthawk.) I switched to gloved hand / manually opening...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I too was wondering about AA 1680. Thanks for all of this information.
I figured it would be okay with .357 180 grainers, but primarily in my .357 Max, and for lower velocity .223 Rem. Right now...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I have the RCBS Uniflow and the 5-0-5 scale. Process depends on powder. The Uniflow binds-up with many short-granule stick powder, so I generally don't buy those. Long granule I measure every single...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Thank you, all! So many great suggestions. Some so obvious, I slapped myself in the head.
Forum: Cast Boolits
Hello Wise Ones of the Silver Stream! My casting equipment is telling me to ease up.
I busted two of my favorite Lee molds last year, and I'm looking at my equipment--it looks a lot older than it...
Forum: Cast Boolits
You described my set-up for the last 12 years. Before that, I cast on the back porch. I stopped doing it outside because of sunburn, bugs and rainstorms. Also the concrete floor is much easier to...
Forum: Reloading Equipment
Me too! I have the RCBS Cowboy set. But I use my regular RCBS .45 set, too, so I can seat and crimp in two steps with using two dies. I'm all serious bidness with my 45 Colts.
Forum: Cast Boolits
If I had to do it again, I would have bought a turret press. As it turns out, experience has taught me that most of the time saved by a progressive press is due to a lack of the penalty of swapping...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Don't forget to crush the "total metal jacket" bullets so the core is exposed before smelting.
It's probably good to have a scrap pot just for dirty range lead. The seasoned clerics of the silver...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Heard this one, too. Ask them if they allow .22 rimfire. :) Especially funny if you see that they sell rimfire ammo.
I used to shoot at a range where the owner made up a lot of rules that were not...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Heard that one too. Which is hilarious, since most of the airborne lead comes from the lead styphnate primers in just about all ammunition sold these days. (And it's close to your face, not downrange...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Let soak....though you can't do that with nickel plated guns. I use a brand new brush--the next size up if I can. (Example: .45 for the .44.) And I buy brushes in bulk. The sharp edges on a new brush...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Unique. I went crazy with testing all kinds of powders, but I went back to it in the end. It's my 'gotta-have-it' propellant.
Forum: Cast Boolits
I am not a fan of complicating things that could be simple. I have read far too many threads written by pour souls (get it?) with clogged spouts. I don't use an open ladle, so I have no problems with...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I have been using rimfire scrap lead for years, and just like the above posters, I have tested it to 7-8 BHN. I love it for .38 target loads and .45 Colts.
A pound of lead weighs as much as a...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Short answer: It doesn't matter, so long as the round is in spec based on the load data. If the bullet design is not published, compare it to one that is published, and has the same...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Each case gets rolled under the light so I can look for imperfections. When I am expanding the neck, "brittle" brass shows its weakness and gets tossed. Nickel cases go brittle sooner in my...
Forum: Cast Boolits
RCBS Uniflow and the 5-0-5 scale. I also have some Lee dippers, because the Uniflow "jams" with certain types of stick powders, and bridges with certain other powders. With rifle powders random a...
Forum: Cast Boolits
I do two sessions: one late in the Fall and in the Spring. I used to do 100-200 for each caliber in one week. But now I'm gearing up to do 1,500 total for each session--as many I can handle in a...
Forum: Cast Boolits
As you may well know, Remington went bankrupt. I know that they came back out of it recently, but some things are bound to be sold off during the reorganization. I grabbed as much Remington brass,...
Forum: Cast Boolits
Well....three of the options apply. When I cast, the first 50 or so are usually undersized and underweight, so they go in the scrap pile. Casting has a rhythm--if I don't keep the beat, the bullets...
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |