Originally Posted by
rfd
there is considerable subjectivity concerning BPCR cartridge components and build methods. most all are valid and will get the job done if yer up to the task. my starter recommendations follow ...
for 200 yards and under, and yer not yet a "serious" match shooter, the lyman 457193 will do very nicely, it's a match winner.
cast at 30:1 for starters, no sense in wasting expensive tin.
pan or dip lube - do not waste money on a lubrisizer that's never needed. if yer not considering a DIY lube, buy/use SPG.
you should drop fill the powder, that compacts it. making a drop tube is easy with a funnel and 2' of brass tubing or an aluminum arrow shaft. add a wad over the powder, then use slight compression for starters. for compressing the powder, a press mounted die is great to have, but a 7/16" dowel with a mark on it works well, for starters. buy or punch out .460" x .062" wads from milk cartons or light tag board. yep, all this is for starters to get yer foot in the bpcr door.
if the brass is already fire formed, use it as is, don't bother sizing. if the bullet seats but is loose in the case mouth, use a taper crimp or sizing die to Very Slightly squeeze in the case mouth so the bullet won't fall out, and will turn in the case. the best neck tension is none. if the brass is new, you might be able to expand the mouth to accept a thumb seated lubed bullet.
greaser building means creating a completed compressed powder cartridge with an OAL either just before, or engraving the rifling. all part of experimenting. this means building a dummy cartridge in order to figure out how much weight bp is compacted in the case, and then compressed with a wad, and the final OAL with a seated greased bullet. this is the first requirement for building consistent bp cartridges. take a spent primer and seat in a case backwards and use that to build a dummy cartridge.
you will absolutely need to address between the shot fouling control by blow tubing or wiping, try both, see what works best for you and yer gun. i vastly prefer wiping for both greasers and PPBs. enjoy the cartridge build process, good luck, have fun!