jonk
02-20-2012, 11:09 AM
I sometimes dry my brass in the oven on warm, at around 150 or so degrees.
A few years ago, somehow a 45/70 shell fell down into the oven itself. I didn't notice it and it got subjected to several high temperature bakes. I didn't want to load it after this due to possible case head softening, but I didn't want to throw it out either.
Having recently gotten a Beretta .45 Colt 1873 clone, I'm now loading for the .45 colt, which nominally uses a .454" bullet. I find that my Lee 200 gr semi-wadcutter drops at .453", and will shoot over trail boss with no leading IF I don't size it. I had been tumble lubing them.
Then this last weekend a light went off.
I cast up some bullets and melted a batch of Felix lube in the double boiler. I had previously stopped using this batch as it was getting kind of goopy (and old) but thought it might still be a treat for pan lubing.
Lined up the bullets in a shallow tray and poured the lube over them to just cover the lube grooves. Set aside to let cool.
Now here comes the cool bit. The 45/70 case I had sitting around was just perfect for use as a cookie cutter. I drilled a hole through the head on my drill press and slipped a carriage bolt through it to act as an ejector; I then used it to cut the bullets out of the lube. Quick as can be! I KNEW I'd find a use for it if I sat on it long enough.
Only complaint is this is a slightly bevel based design and has a small ring at the base, but I just loaded and shot anyhow, no worries.
A few years ago, somehow a 45/70 shell fell down into the oven itself. I didn't notice it and it got subjected to several high temperature bakes. I didn't want to load it after this due to possible case head softening, but I didn't want to throw it out either.
Having recently gotten a Beretta .45 Colt 1873 clone, I'm now loading for the .45 colt, which nominally uses a .454" bullet. I find that my Lee 200 gr semi-wadcutter drops at .453", and will shoot over trail boss with no leading IF I don't size it. I had been tumble lubing them.
Then this last weekend a light went off.
I cast up some bullets and melted a batch of Felix lube in the double boiler. I had previously stopped using this batch as it was getting kind of goopy (and old) but thought it might still be a treat for pan lubing.
Lined up the bullets in a shallow tray and poured the lube over them to just cover the lube grooves. Set aside to let cool.
Now here comes the cool bit. The 45/70 case I had sitting around was just perfect for use as a cookie cutter. I drilled a hole through the head on my drill press and slipped a carriage bolt through it to act as an ejector; I then used it to cut the bullets out of the lube. Quick as can be! I KNEW I'd find a use for it if I sat on it long enough.
Only complaint is this is a slightly bevel based design and has a small ring at the base, but I just loaded and shot anyhow, no worries.