First-timer...

[phaessler]

Been reading and watching for about a year now, finally got up the nerve to try it.
Smokes powder, Miha's mold. Wasnt bad actually, and not even as messy as it could have been. Need to practice more and try some other methods to get better coverage. Did the shake method, and rubber glove placement on the cooking tray. Open to any suggestions.
But happy just the same, range time Monday I hope.
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[Hickory]

I guess you're not a virgin anymore, how's it feel?

[phaessler]

HA!!!! I dont know , like I betrayed my ol' 450, and my pants are covered in lube wipe off......

[Smoke4320]

Looking pretty good to me
Now Choot 'em

[LAGS]

Try Curved Nose Hemostats to place your Shake and bake boolits on your baking tray.
I took a dremmel tool to mine and sharpened the edge to reduce contact on the boolit and it fits in the Lube groove on the boolit.
I also use them to transfer the ESPC'ed boolits from my Spraying tray to my Baking tray.
You did right by starting off with Smokes powder.

[Grmps]

Those look great, especially for the first time.
You never mentioned the smash test.

You can still use the 450 BUT, not for lubing, just sizing don't pressurize the lube.

I prefer using a lee push through sizer in a converted upside down press

It's really tough not having to deal with lube, sticky boolits, wiping the bases. You don't have to worry about the lube drying out over time now.

You mix 3 parts smokes white PC with that red and you'll have a nice pink for the missus.

[second chance]

I just bought some powders from Smokes, and if my first try turns out as nice as yours, I'll be happy. Those look very good!

[runfiverun]

check the diameter.
I could possibly just load mine as is how is but they also drop from the mold at 3565 to begin with.
I still get one that is harder to push through the size die every handful or two.

[MyFlatline]

Try Curved Nose Hemostats to place your Shake and bake boolits on your baking tray.
I took a dremmel tool to mine and sharpened the edge to reduce contact on the boolit and it fits in the Lube groove on the boolit.
I also use them to transfer the ESPC'ed boolits from my Spraying tray to my Baking tray.
You did right by starting off with Smokes powder.

I took some big tweezers and bent the tips in just a bit, they pick up the bullet and it swings..

[phaessler]

Thank you for the suggestions, some hemostats or tweezers are in order for sure.

Did the smash test on the worst looking 4 hit them from the side, face-on, from the rear, and a glancing hit, no chipping or peeling, coating seems to take a licking and keep on sticking.

The diameters did surprise me , as cast was 0.453, after coating was at 0.456-0.457, squeezed down to 0.452 and only a little loss of gloss in the sized areas.

Hopefully can get some range time in this week.
I was really surprised, unlike most things I do, no smell or fumes, it is possible I am nose blind, but the wife didnt notice it at all, another plus.

[Tripplebeards]

I use a small needle nose with a return spring from the dollar store to pick mine up. They look great...no more leading! Mine don't loose any shine when sizing. I spray them with wd40 before running them through.

I also bounce the boolits in another container after removing them from tumbling to knock off the excess PC before standing up. Might be why you have a thicker build up than me?

[Smokin Gun]

I also just started this PC craze with HF Red. Yours look professional compared to mine. As a matter of fact, I would not post pics of mine. I just ordered some powder from Smoke and am anxious to see if I cant do better.