Just a little nerve in trying something new.
ACC
The cheapest place to get the flat mats and cube trays is ePay. I don't have any of the waffle type. I have seen those at WallyWorld, but not in a size I could use.
If you have a Costco ours was selling a package containing two 1/2 baker's sheet size and one smaller mat for $10. These are high quality 500 degree silicone mats. I have been using these same mats since 2012 when I first posted about my wife suggesting I use silicon mats instead using up all the non-stick foil. They are easily cut to size without issue. I use a paper cutter for clean straight lines.
Well, I also jumped into PC today. I had been reading and collecting everything needed for the past couple years. It went well. I shot 46 of them and the barrel was pretty clean! Baked 2 little batches of JD green (Smokes), 198 ct, sacrificed one to the smash test, looked fine. 4.1 of WSF, sized to .358", all feed, fired and ejected fine, all on target. Seems too easy! Maybe just good prep work, thanks to all those who had the courage before me!!!! Nothing to be scared about. Temp was low 50s and humidity 64-66% in my garage today.
One issue, I used parchment paper and the cured boolits pretty much stuck to the paper, I was hoping they were not going to be incendiary rounds going into my backstop. Getting NS tin foil for the next try.
Take a kid to the range, you'll both be glad you did.
Congrats on taking the plunge and you are right start off with a good powder and you are halfway there.
I only use parchment when I spray hollow points to shield my "Bed of Nails" from having the powder cook on it as well as my bullets. Otherwise I use and recommend silicone baking mats over parchment or non-stick foil. I purchased mine in 2012 at Costco, two large and one small for $10. Costco still sells these, but you can find equal quality at Amazon. I am still using my original mats after tens of thousands of bullets. Just make sure you get the ticker mats these lightweight grill mats do not hold up at all and especially on the grill.
Good question. Yes, the mats at Costco are what I refer to as a thicker mat. They can be cut to size ( I use a paper cutter for straight cuts) and you can cook on either side. They stay in place and do not slide. The bullets do not slide like they do on parchment or foil. After cooking the bullets are adhered very lightly to the mat, but release easily with gentle pressure. The larger mats are 1/2 baker's sheet size. I use bakers' pans in my 30" oven. In my toaster ovens I have wrapped the racks with roof flashing giving me a flat, strong & durable surface. I lay cut to size mats on these racks.
I see Amazon carries several options of the MIU brand as well as others. I can only vouch for the MIU brand as they are the only ones I use.
One other thing you might want to consider if going to Amazon is a SS baker's cooling rack for spacing bullets, especially the smaller bullets that can topple easily going into the oven. Once there the rack can be lifted off and used to load another tray. The photo is 1/2 sheet bakers pans that hold 700+ bullets sitting on the silicon mats that unaltered fit these pans.
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 |