Hi Casters! My first post, but I'll be around quite a bit more!
So I'm looking to hear from the Star Sizer cheer team. I am getting into my first casting shortly, I've already perfected my range scrap collecting and melting down / clean up into ingots. After thinking I was facing a choice between the RCBS LS2, or the Lyman 4500 -- I came to realize that the Star is going to be the way I should go. I'm the type of guy that if I'm going to spend $40, I might as well get the better unit for $60; can i get an AMEN?
Okay, so I've been shooting Single Action / Cowboy Action for many years, and finally have decided that buying .358 cal 158grn RNFP from various vendors just to have them ship to me and run my costs up to $0.10/round, I probably should get cracking on a casting mold. I decided on a 5-cavity Accurate Mold, and that's special-ordered and on the way! (3 weeks out)
Sadly, Magma Engineering is out of stock and back ordered already (from the Xmas rush) for the Star Sizer. I guess I need to wait; they say 3-4 weeks for new models to be fabricated. That being said, I should start getting my dies and lube ordered; I'd like to hear from ya'all about who/where I should get these. I hear/tell that there might be a forum member or two that are the go-to guys for these items -- Please chime in. Thx
Lastly, a question about gas checks. I reload .44Mag cartridges now too; and likely would like to try a stronger Magnum load than the lame ducks I've been shooting out from the first recipe I came across in the Speer Manual; lol, My S&W model 629 (3" fluted barrel) shoots like a 44S&W now!! disappointing. My feeling now is that if I don't want to shoot copper jacketed for target fun, that I'll need to get my hands on a .44Mag mold as well, but this time of a design with gas checks.
Does the star sizer also install gas checks while sizing; as does the Lyman or RCBS? Or is this where the comparison between the two systems really part ways? So far this answer hasn't presented itself in the few days of online shopping that I've done. Please let me know.
Looking forward to your input, Thanks guys!!