BobSanders
02-15-2013, 08:05 PM
Hey! My dad and I are new to casting and reloading. I wanted to give everyone here a rundown of our operation and solicit comments and suggestions to improve.
First, we cast to save money, secondly, my dad enjoys it. Myself, dad, and two teen sons shoot USPSA, with three SA XDm .40 4.5" pistols, and one XD Tactical 5". We run minor loads, with 3 gr regular Clays, under cast Lee tumble lube bullets, 1.125 OAL. All guns run a reduced weight recoil spring, and run well.
Now, for our setup. We had a bit of lead. Mostly fishing sinkers dad cast years ago, some lead solder, pipe, battery posts, and such. I wouldn't let dad use the battery plates. Basically, dad melts and fluxes in a pot over propane and casts ingots. I have him wear a 3M half mask with organic vapor filters during this. Unless he sneaks and does it when I'm at work. He is 77, and I figure he really doesn't need the exposure. Then, into a Lee electric pot, more flux, and into the 6 cavity Lee mold. Dad air cools, but I think water would be better. Then, tumble lube with Lee Alox, size, and another dose of lube. I think the lube is too much. Next batch we are going to try the 45-45-10 recipe I read about here.
We have no knowledge of hardness, (although I know what it means), and I'm not really sure if I would recognize barrel leading. Only shot about 1000 rounds so far, but summer is coming, and expect to shoot 10 times that. Tried Tightgroup, and it was like shooting smoke bombs. Clays is much better for us. Right now, I get a 3 inch group at 10 yards offhand, shooting 16 rounds pretty quickly.
That's about it! Any comments!
Thanks,
B
First, we cast to save money, secondly, my dad enjoys it. Myself, dad, and two teen sons shoot USPSA, with three SA XDm .40 4.5" pistols, and one XD Tactical 5". We run minor loads, with 3 gr regular Clays, under cast Lee tumble lube bullets, 1.125 OAL. All guns run a reduced weight recoil spring, and run well.
Now, for our setup. We had a bit of lead. Mostly fishing sinkers dad cast years ago, some lead solder, pipe, battery posts, and such. I wouldn't let dad use the battery plates. Basically, dad melts and fluxes in a pot over propane and casts ingots. I have him wear a 3M half mask with organic vapor filters during this. Unless he sneaks and does it when I'm at work. He is 77, and I figure he really doesn't need the exposure. Then, into a Lee electric pot, more flux, and into the 6 cavity Lee mold. Dad air cools, but I think water would be better. Then, tumble lube with Lee Alox, size, and another dose of lube. I think the lube is too much. Next batch we are going to try the 45-45-10 recipe I read about here.
We have no knowledge of hardness, (although I know what it means), and I'm not really sure if I would recognize barrel leading. Only shot about 1000 rounds so far, but summer is coming, and expect to shoot 10 times that. Tried Tightgroup, and it was like shooting smoke bombs. Clays is much better for us. Right now, I get a 3 inch group at 10 yards offhand, shooting 16 rounds pretty quickly.
That's about it! Any comments!
Thanks,
B