What did you do in the reloading room today?

[DerekP Houston]

coating ~20lb of dewc with hitek copper in batches. melted down some larger tin (5-6lb bars) into smaller bits to work with. next will be cleaning the reloading bench off again and picking what caliber to load up next, I think 44 magnum sounds good.

[s1120]

I cast up just under 1300 wadcutters (358495) for my 38 special. They didn't need to be sized so I tumble lubed them. When they dry they will be ready to load.
I also loaded 300 rounds for the 9mm.

How do they shoot tumble lubed? Also what do yours drop at? I have that mold, but I haven't cast any yet.

[aquarist]

Cast a few over 1,200, 124 grain TC 9mm projectiles. They came out great! Still saving for the conversion kit and dies for the Dillon but at least I'll have the projectiles ready so I can start cranking them out once the parts get here.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/9ad921b92ba1b50735b55dea3d8fba42.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/307cdf83ebfdff66a8df511f98ab19f3.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/4f6cb9fdc06612dc6a499bcc4c432940.jpg

Waiting on my 38/357 mold to be refurbished then I'll be casting a bunch of those up so I can get back to reloading.

[Amiaji]

Mixed up a half gallon of Ed's Red and a quart of Ed's lube. Also bought a toaster oven at Goodwill for 4 bucks. Soon i will try my hand at powder coating.

[flyingmonkey35]

Mixed up a half gallon of Ed's Red and a quart of Ed's lube. Also bought a toaster oven at Goodwill for 4 bucks. Soon i will try my hand at powder coating.
You will be hooked on PC

Cast a few over 1,200, 124 grain TC 9mm projectiles. They came out great! Still saving for the conversion kit and dies for the Dillon but at least I'll have the projectiles ready so I can start cranking them out once the parts get here.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/9ad921b92ba1b50735b55dea3d8fba42.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/307cdf83ebfdff66a8df511f98ab19f3.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160206/4f6cb9fdc06612dc6a499bcc4c432940.jpg

Waiting on my 38/357 mold to be refurbished then I'll be casting a bunch of those up so I can get back to reloading.

[DerekP Houston]

where did yall find the liquid wax for bll? I checked the grocery store and local wally world with no luck. Just curious if its a regional item perhaps.

[Amiaji]

where did yall find the liquid wax for bll? I checked the grocery store and local wally world with no luck. Just curious if its a regional item perhaps.

It seems J&J has stopped making the liquid floor wax. There is a thread here somewhere where they are discussing alternatives.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?259285-NEW-!-!-T-L-Liquid-Lube/page45

[Retumbo]

Cast and loaded more Lee 1 oz slugs.

[41mag]

Started off pulling out the shop vac and sucking up around a half pound of walnut/corn cob media I spilled yesterday while trying to separate some brass form it. That stuff is like little tiny ball bearings when it hits the floor form about 3' up. WOW....

Then I fired up the little shop heater, and once it got nice I hit the progressive and loaded 500 rounds of sorted 9mm ammo. Some of it was Berry's though, so only 200 of it counts right now as cast loads from the MP 356-125 mold. I'll be putting together another 2-300 after supper of powder coated Lee 124's like pictured above.

Then tomorrow, I will be pouring up who knows how many HG-68's along with another decent supply of the 130's and 78's, and last but certainly not least some of the MP 452-200 HP's. Hopefully I will be able to load these up shortly, once I finish replenishing my 9mm rounds.

[hickfu]

finished installing my bench, put up shelves, unloaded powders and put on shelves. Bolted the Breechlock to the bench. Still have much more to do before it is setup enough to start reloading... a little at a time

[TXGunNut]

Sized some 300 Savage brass, it's in the cleaner now. Range day tomorrow so I better get up early and continue up the ladder with my test loads. This cartridge and boolit like to go (relatively) fast, could be fun.

[RogerDat]

Had friends over one of whom was interested in checking out the reloading process because he is thinking of getting into reloading. He left here with 35 rounds of cast 45 ACP he made himself on my Lee turret. All plunk tested in his 1911, his wife an mine came to the bench and learned what the heck we were up to in each step then went and talked 38 revolver vs Glock 9 by comparing their respective handguns. BTW - she cooks very well too.

[shoot-n-lead]

Not today, but yesterday, I loaded some 180gr wadcutters up for the 44mag lever...and dog if I didn't go out and shoot all that I loaded. SO, now I have to start all over.

[aquarist]

Cast about 600 9mm projectiles then sat there and stared at my Dillion 650 wishing I had the conversion kit to load these bad boys up, sitting at around 2k projectiles for 9mm.

[trixter]

Saturday: Caught the mailman, and asked "No Package?", he went back to his truck and sure enough there it was, the new ram for my Pro 2000. Opened it up and installed it carefully, lubed it and the lower pin set and loaded 200, 223's. WOOO Hooo, it is good to be back in business. Then I cleaned the reloading table and Today, after church, and before Super Bowl, i'll go to Sportsman's and get some consumables.

[tazman]

Loaded up some test loads using some Hitek coated boolits I purchased at a gun show. I have used that particular boolit without the coating and it worked well so I am looking forward to the results.

[1bluehorse]

In the process of building another (new) reloading bench.....need more reloading space.

[Dirtdgger]

Loaded 100 223 coyote loads for a friend. He's got a big coyote competition coming up next weekend.

[Pee Wee]

160249
160250
Added another Star. Made the base mount with heater and now working on fabing up a bullet feeder.

[TXGunNut]

Loaded 15 "try" rds for the 300 Savage just in time for a range trip. One worked quite well. Came home and decapped/resized the cases and they're back in the cleaner with some 45-70 cases.

[brassrat]

Dried some mixed caliber range brass and sorted. I also cut around 1/4" off a .380 mag to fit another .380. I made two tiny wings to hold the slide on plastic bottom. I was 99% done when one side snapped (fell) off. The dremel wheel must have made it brittle, or the harden metal isn't made to be bent. I then re-fixed the old mag.

[hickfu]

Sat in the reloading room for hours feeling over whelmed, seems I lost my load book in the move from Ca to Oregon. I dont remember what powders I used with what calibers so I now have to start over (I bought multiple powders for each caliber to try) Primed a couple hundred each of 44 Mag, 300 Savage, 6.5x57, 7mm Mag, 45-70 and 35 Remington.

Its going to be a long road to get load data book re-done.

[s1120]

Busy weekend!! I received my new Lyman M expender dies on Friday, and messed around with them a little. Loaded some 45 for next weeks shoot, and also started working on a WC load in 38spc. I have a ladder loaded up from 2.8-3.4gr and hp38/231. now I have to find time to get to the range and test them. Did a lot more cleaning and organizing of all my stock. Getting a handle on it...

[Outer Rondacker]

Yesterday kicked out 400 9mms. My back didnt let me finish the run of 500 I was going for. So I took to the drafting table to make a new shooting bench. Got my lumber list ready will head to the yard this morning.

[Jal5]

Made another test load for Unique and Berrys 115 plated in 9mm. Also cleaned up the reloading area adding a longer bench too. Next task will be adding more shelving.

[tazman]

Sat in the reloading room for hours feeling over whelmed, seems I lost my load book in the move from Ca to Oregon. I dont remember what powders I used with what calibers so I now have to start over (I bought multiple powders for each caliber to try) Primed a couple hundred each of 44 Mag, 300 Savage, 6.5x57, 7mm Mag, 45-70 and 35 Remington.

Its going to be a long road to get load data book re-done.

Now that is certainly depressing. The only good point is it gives you a good excuse to do a lot of shooting and experimenting.

I cast a little over 500 of one of my favorites tonight, NOE-360-150-SWC. I tumble lubed them and set them out to dry. Tomorrow or Wednesday I will size them and have them ready to load.
While I was waiting for the pot to heat up, I loaded 100 rounds of 9mm for blasting/practicing. Lee 356-120-TC over 6.0 of HS6.

[obssd1958]

Sat in the reloading room for hours feeling over whelmed, seems I lost my load book in the move from Ca to Oregon. I dont remember what powders I used with what calibers so I now have to start over (I bought multiple powders for each caliber to try) Primed a couple hundred each of 44 Mag, 300 Savage, 6.5x57, 7mm Mag, 45-70 and 35 Remington.

Its going to be a long road to get load data book re-done.

Doc,
Just a suggestion, but if you go to the Castpics website, there is a tremendous amount of data there to at least get you started again. There is even cartridge specific, and boolit specific data for popular combos.

[Outer Rondacker]

This could be a nightmare for Doc if he has a lot of custom rifles and pistols. I would not know where to start if I lost my load data. I guess it would not be so bad if I only loaded Jword bullets but cast projectiles and custom guns uggg. I hope it shows up in another box Doc H.

Oh for the reloading room not sure this counts but it is where I stock my loaded ammo. I scored 12 boxes of bird shot today for 3 dollars a box. So I put it away in the reloading room. .14 cents a round not bad.

[TXGunNut]

Tough break, Doc. Hope it turns up soon. I spent a little quality time with my load book tonight. My new 45-70 made a big dent in the 40 hunting rounds I loaded a little over five years ago. It seems I've only fired 10-12 rounds with my favorite thumper (including sight-in rounds) over the past five years, nearly half of them put meat in freezer. That RD 460-350 is a pretty awesome hunting boolit, not much fun for plinking. ;-)

[HangFireW8]

Sat in the reloading room for hours feeling over whelmed, seems I lost my load book in the move from Ca to Oregon. I dont remember what powders I used with what calibers so I now have to start over (I bought multiple powders for each caliber to try) Primed a couple hundred each of 44 Mag, 300 Savage, 6.5x57, 7mm Mag, 45-70 and 35 Remington.

Its going to be a long road to get load data book re-done.

Wow, that's a bummer. Hopefully it'll turn up.

In the mean time, you can recover anything you've posted online. On google you can do a site selected search, like this:


site:castboolits.gunloads.com "the real doc holliday" 45-70

If you post to other sites, substitute that forum name.

[dikman]

Coated a few batches of boolits with Hi-Tek, re-sized and reloaded some .44-40 and .38 sp. Was going well until spilt powder jammed up the Pro 1000 primer feed.

[Plate plinker]

Cleaning empties right now.

[LabGuy]

Well maybe in front of the reloading room, but rendered the lead out of one and a half Homer buckets of clip on wheel weights.

[dragon813gt]

Put together three AR lowers. Put together two AR uppers. Having issues w/ the FA binding on the thrid one when the roll pin is installed. I think the FA is out of spec. Going to try to file the flat down a little tomorrow.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/Firearms/image.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/dragon813gt/media/Firearms/image.jpg.html)

[TXGunNut]

Cast boolits for 32WS, 300 Savage and 38-40. Sized the 32WS & 300 Savage boolits and HT'd them. Replaced the diaphragms and safety bolt in the air compressor for my aerobic system. Loaded 20 "try" loads with a NOE 311041 clone and a PB RD/NOE 311-165 over 10grs Unique.
38-40 boolits were cast in my new Accurate (40-180A) mould, simply awesome. 32WS mould (323-170A) from Accurate perfomed quite well also. Finally figured out the NOE RG mould and it truly does rain boolits....but I was only doing a short run so had to quit as soon as things started going well.
OK, the compressor (and aerobic system) are actually just outside my loading room....but I used my gunsmithing screwdrivers so that ought to count for something. ;-)

[Outer Rondacker]

I spent the day in and out of the reloading room. Mostly keeping an eye on the fire since it was going -40/-50 last night. No the wood stove is not in my reloading room. Hence the in and out. Anyway i had some flat wire in 18' lengths sitting around. After a few bad designs I finally got a good one. I made clay pigeon clips to hang from a branch or line. I had the idea after seeing some sure clips being used by one of the youtubers I dont care for. Some of these youtube channel guys are always plugging things buy this buy that. Instead I made a few.

[tazman]

I spent the day in and out of the reloading room. Mostly keeping an eye on the fire since it was going -40/-50 last night. No the wood stove is not in my reloading room. Hence the in and out. Anyway i had some flat wire in 18' lengths sitting around. After a few bad designs I finally got a good one. I made clay pigeon clips to hang from a branch or line. I had the idea after seeing some sure clips being used by one of the youtubers I dont care for. Some of these youtube channel guys are always plugging things buy this buy that. Instead I made a few.

I really like that idea. Great way to hang a target.

[Outer Rondacker]

Thanks. I started trying to use old coat hangers but soon learned round wire was harder to make work. Like I said had the flat stuff sitting around left over from another project.

For those who wish to buy clips these are great and priced cheap. Get the 50 round yellow bag that way you wont loose them and can send me 10 for turning you on to them. LOL Just make some its simple and well we all are DIY's that is why we are on this forum.
Link- http://www.suresiteinc.com/hangers.php

[06ackley]

I loaded 50 6.5 jdj for fire forming. Waiting for the weather to improve to try them out

[tazman]

I loaded some test rounds for my 357 mag using 296 and IMR4227 with 158 grain XTP hollow points and 359156 boolits.
Hopefully I can get out in the near future to test them. We are having heavy snow at the moment.

[Geezer in NH]

Formed and trimmed 55 8mm Mauser from R-P once fired 30-06

[lightman]

I recently decided to start collecting cartridges. I just finish and hung a "what not shelf" to display my collection on. I spent most of the day polishing individual cases and arranging them. A friend came by and brought his scrap bucket. We drank a few beers while I sorted through a 2 gallon bucket, adding a few calibers to my collection.

[Duckdog]

I loaded some 22 LR, then 100 - 44 mag. I casted up a few depth finders for ice fishing and then did a tad of cleaning. All and all, I didn't get much done.

[taco650]

Checked to see if I had a .452 sizer for my Lyman 450 and I did. Also just ordered some 45 ACP reloading dies, a Lee 453-230TC mold, some 357 gas checks and a H&I 358 die for the Lyman 450 from Midsouth Shooters Supply. I've been using them for my reloading supplies lately because their prices are better than Midway by a good bit. So far, their service has been just as good if not better and the orders I've made have shipped quicker than I was told which is always a bonus in my book.

[Plate plinker]

Cleaning more brass. Me thinks I must get a cement mixer to clean brass in bigger batches.

[Amiaji]

Cleaning more brass. Me thinks I must get a cement mixer to clean brass in bigger batches.
Check out this video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5y_dsP3dsM

[therealhitman]

Unboxed my new 6cav Lee 312-155-2R. Too cold to cast today, but I plan on dropping a bunch for moderate .308 and .300 BO loads. Ordered it based on opinions from some of the more respected (by me anyway) members here that it is a good choice for a lightweight in both cartridges.

[dragon813gt]

Moved the press so I could put two out of the three together :)
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/dragon813gt/Mobile%20Uploads/image_1.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/dragon813gt/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_1.jpg.html)

[takasaki]

Loaded up a few hundred more 38 spec with 3.5 gr red dot over 158gr swc. Now to switch to 357mag and H110 for this week

[ohiomadman]

I lubed about 100 .458 405gr. boolits with Alox last nite.

[takasaki]

Just got done casting 400 230gr boolits for the 45acp now to pc them.

[Outer Rondacker]

I unboxed a new powder coat gun from HF. Worked a bit more on the shooting bench. Its almost done.

[NavyVet1959]

Received a package from Midway today containing .38 SUPER dies, 5" & 4.25" .38 SUPER barrels, and some other stuff. Looks like it's time to start my .38 SuperComp conversion of my RIA .22 TCM / 9mm combo M1911s.

[Outer Rondacker]

Received a package from Midway today containing .38 SUPER dies, 5" & 4.25" .38 SUPER barrels, and some other stuff. Looks like it's time to start my .38 SuperComp conversion of my RIA .22 TCM / 9mm combo M1911s. Keep us posted. I am interested in how this turns out. My gun is at RIA at the moment getting a new barrel. I think I got the mid size one. Not sure I can get a barrel for that but I will have to look. Good luck and I will be watching.

[NavyVet1959]

Keep us posted. I am interested in how this turns out. My gun is at RIA at the moment getting a new barrel. I think I got the mid size one. Not sure I can get a barrel for that but I will have to look. Good luck and I will be watching.

I kept checking the advanctedtactical.com site, hoping that they would have the .38 SUPER barrel in stock so I could buy it, but they haven't had it listed as in stock for quite awhile. I ended up going with the Swenson barrels from Midway. I figured that at $45 each, it was worth a try. Unfortunately, I only bought one link and link pin. Brain fart... :(

[taco650]

Yesterday I lubed/sized some 158 gr SWC from a Lee mold. Also got a package from Midsouth Shooters Supply containing 45ACP dies, a 45 caliber Lee mold, 357 gas checks & 358 H&I die for my Lyman 450.

[ohiomadman]

I loaded up 50 rnds of 45-70 with 405gr boolits with 4.5grs of Trail Boss. My pop gun rounds.

[Outer Rondacker]

I washed all the brass from todays trip to my range. Sighted in my new 556 ranch. This is one dead nuts shooter. No trip to the range is complete without shooting off some 45acp. Good day. More time in the man cave to come. Oh that is my reloading room.

[TXGunNut]

Got a box of shiny bits from Midway. Sized, cleaned and trimmed about 60 30-30 cases. Loaded a 32 cal boolit into a 30-30 case. Oops. Put the powder away and installed GC's on some 300 Savage boolits.

[shoot-n-lead]

I counted out some brass that I am about to ship to the buyer.

[michiganmike]

Today I cast some bullets for my 338 Federal. The bullet mould was the Lee 220 gr, The alloy was WW. I cast a total of 163 bullets in a relatively short time. Why 163? Because I had to stop and pick up my wife from work.

It seems that the moon was in the seventh house and Jupiter aligned with Mars to quote the song from the musical Hair. Everything went flawlessly. That was due largely because I "read and followed directions."

I pre-heated the mould, fluxed the pot of alloy twice and kept up a steady pace. The bullets needed at most a light tap or two to fall from the mould. Whenever I added more alloy to the pot I fluxed again. They were lovely.

Of the 163 bullets cast:

74 weighed 217 1/2 grains +/- 1/2 grain
53 weighed 218 1/2 grains +/- 1/2 grain
24 weighed 216 1/2 grains +/- 1/2 grain

2 weighed 215-216 and went back into the pot.
4 weighted 219+ and went back into the pot.

6 only had flaws significant enough to go back in the pot.

The 217 and 218 grain bullets have been lubed with BLL and are drying in my shop. I set the 216 grain bullets aside and will add to that lot until I have enough to lube and attach gas checks.

Tomorrow, God willing, I will attach gas checks to the 217 and 218 lots and lube again with BLL.

It was very enjoyable and satisfying to have a casting session go so well. To top it off, both bullets shoot extremely well in their respective rifles. Fun from beginning to end. :D

MichiganMike

[TXGunNut]

Loaded 20 30-30 try loads to verify one promising load and try a variation of another. Taking a break while deciding what to try next in 300 Savage, will load a few of them next, cast with the cup point pin in my RD/NOE 310-165 RG mould. Range day tomorrow.
All this casting and loading is darn sure cutting into my drinking time lately. ;-)

[JWT]

Tried the old Outers Foul Out III to remove lead from my 1884 trapdoor. Showed clean in 5min. Barrel looked clean but in a rifle that old I was expecting more... I did get the staff on the buffington sight to start moving tonight though.

[Jal5]

Been modifying my Lee LM press. Added LED light strip tonite to check powder drops easier. Looks good.

[trails4u]

Loaded the last of my prepped .223 brass....maybe 150 or so. Ran out of prepped brass, so started prepping another 250 cases. No range time in the near future (hip surgery)....so working on the 'concerned citizen' stockpile while I have the downtime. Wife bought me some ammo cans for Christmas....my hip surgery goal is to have one filled with .223 before I'm off the crutches. The challenge at least gives me something goal oriented to do........ :)

[TXGunNut]

Been modifying my Lee LM press. Added LED light strip tonite to check powder drops easier. Looks good.


Pics?

[TXGunNut]

Got the 300 Savage loads done. Load notes caught up as well. Range day tomorrow should be very interesting.

[coxa2]

Cleaned roughly 1000 pieces of 45acp brass. Now to find time to get them reloaded.

[mdi]

Pulled and reloaded 50 .44 Magnum rounds from '96. I had some in the bottom of my .44 ammo can and no longer use the bullet (a dry lube 240 gr. SWC BB). Pulled all bullets, resized and reflared, charged with 9.0 gr. Unique, seated .431", 429421s with my Speed Green lube and profile crimped. I'll use these for my 629...

[HangFireW8]

Tried the old Outers Foul Out III to remove lead from my 1884 trapdoor. Showed clean in 5min. Barrel looked clean but in a rifle that old I was expecting more... I did get the staff on the buffington sight to start moving tonight though.

Might be very little lead, might be oily.

[aquarist]

I did this:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/f6d0f6e03871e0b97e4cbcbe20ccf0ce.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/fcc05206431b46775c09e0686dd6688e.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/4e7dc5792c722be61a221f004b9398c7.jpg

[Outer Rondacker]

Nice.

[websterz]

Last night I loaded up 1204 rounds of 9mm. I used my own powder coated Lee 124 grain truncated cones over 3.8 grains of Titegroup. 800 rounds went into the safe, the rest are for a range trip today with my wife and daughter. :bigsmyl2:

[youngda9]

Strangely pretty.

[Outer Rondacker]

Last night I loaded up 1204 rounds of 9mm. I used my own powder coated Lee 124 grain truncated cones over 3.8 grains of Titegroup. 800 rounds went into the safe, the rest are for a range trip today with my wife and daughter. :bigsmyl2: Add dinner to it and call it a date.

[gwpercle]

Today is Sunday, the wife and daughter are out of town, it's not freezing and/or raining. Finally got the chance to try out the NOE mould I got as a Christmas present to myself. It's NOE's 358 124 TC GC design , 4 cavity, aluminum . It's a 9mm design but I'm also going to use it in 38special and 357 magnum, the reason for the GC is I want to try softish alloy and +1000 fps speeds. Prior to this I have only had 1 and 2 cavity Lyman and Lee moulds, I cast with a Lyman ladle from an open top Magnum melter. It is a nice mould and not many rejects, no tricks to it. It's much heavier than I expected and glad I didn't get brass, I'm over 60 and need to build up more strength in my left hand. That rascal wore my hand out but I'm learning some tricks to help that.
Very nice mould, I like it . Once heated up , good keeper bullets are the norm. First test run I cast 145, only 4 went back in the pot!
Before I bought it , I tried 3 different Lee moulds to see which design I favored, at $20.00 each that was an investment of 60.00.
The NOE mould wiped out a 100.00 bill, so I'm glad Lee moulds were there to help me decide. If I had blown 100.00 on a mould that wouldn't work in my guns I would be quite upset with myself.

The NOE spue plate, thick, large diameter sprue hole and large angled place to put the ladle spout really helps casting.
I'm going to investigate getting an aftermarket thick plate for the Lee moulds I still use regularly, it makes a big different.

Gary

[Jal5]

Pic of LM with lights sorry for the lousy picturehttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/fe59e78784a36665d73e7ea18cafb0b2.jpg

[goryshaw]

Loaded 40 rounds of .30-06 for a Garand match on saturday. NOE 311299 with 40 gr of IMR 4350 and lubed with BLL.
Resized / deprimed about 150 .223 cases, until one of them got stuck in the die. Have another 250-300 ready to go, need to find my stuck case remover then get to work again. Not really pressing, already have 1k+ primed and ready, and about 250 loaded.

[shoot-n-lead]

Actually, yesterday, but I loaded 100rds in the morning to use when my daughter and I worked on her self defense training, over in the afternoon.

[Outer Rondacker]

Pic of LM with lights sorry for the lousy picturehttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160221/fe59e78784a36665d73e7ea18cafb0b2.jpgMy I ask what the dowel is for going to the floor? Thanks and It looks good.

[dragon813gt]

The dowel is to steady the press. You don't want that press moving at all.

I went to load some 10mm rounds and couldn't find the dies. None were on a labeled turret like they should be. Didn't even have the original box they came in. It appears I sold them off at some point. That's what happens when you load up a couple thousand for your Uncle and didn't have a firearm in that cartridge until recently. I proceeded to go to Cabela's and buy a new set of dies. Should be ready to load after my son goes to sleep for the night.

[Jal5]

Dowel is homemade version of magic mike's stabilizer for the press. I use his turret plate too. Those lights were simple to setup and plugged into an old 12v adapter i had.

[Retumbo]

Replaced heating elements on my homemade casting pot then cast 100 1 oz slugs

[Jal5]

Dowel is homemade version of magic mike's stabilizer for the press. I use his turret plate too. Those lights were simple to setup and plugged into an old 12v adapter i had.

[GONRA]

After some decades, GONRA finally resumed casting boolits today:
150 + Lyman 457127 for .455 Webley & Scott auto,
150 or so Lyman 32361 for 8mm Nambu pistol cartrdgs.

[robg]

Loaded 20 .223 lead GC 55gr boolits ,5x 7gr true blue 5x8gr 5x8.5gr 5x9gr report on results when I get a chance to try them . first time trying a powder not normally used for rifle boolits .burning rate is very close to unique.

[flyingmonkey35]

Loaded 20 .223 lead GC 55gr boolits ,5x 7gr true blue 5x8gr 5x8.5gr 5x9gr report on results when I get a chance to try them . first time trying a powder not normally used for rifle boolits .burning rate is very close to unique.
Photos please and report sounds great

[Outer Rondacker]

Do not feel like starting an new thread for this question. I built a new reloading bench. Oak 1" plywood top with 2x6 framework. Would you guys stain it poly it or put the Rust-oleum Grey Professional with hardener oil based down? That stuff is like nails after it dries. I am thinking the good old rustO.

This falls under what I am going to do in the reloading room.

[NavyVet1959]

Do not feel like starting an new thread for this question. I built a new reloading bench. Oak 1" plywood top with 2x6 framework. Would you guys stain it poly it or put the Rust-oleum Grey Professional with hardener oil based down? That stuff is like nails after it dries. I am thinking the good old rustO.

This falls under what I am going to do.

I would just put a Danish oil finish on it. But then again, I have gallon of it that I bought for a project 20 years ago and I'm still trying to use it all up... :)

[Harter66]

I took off work 2 hr early because Ms went for a little spontaneous reroute to take some deer pictures and got her Ranger hung up ....... throttle is always a good answer on hard base desert .......

Not 1 to let hooky go to waste I went down to the shop and knocked off 15# of 2 alloys and ran some NOE 311-230 fp,301618 sp and 279-124 fp . I still have a time keeping the sprue plate hot on the 230 .......
Good afternoon any way.

[lolbell]

Cast, lubed, sized, and gas checked 50 - 200 grn RFN 35 cal to try in the Marlin 35 Rem

[taco650]

Cast a few Lee 45-230 TCBB. Mold worked great, no complaints.

[sandman228]

between yesterday and today powder coated 4200 9mm 120 gr tc bullets now to size them all .

[high standard 40]

I did a little more work today on the automated annealing machine I am building. I'm taking my time and moving slowly and carefully on this project so I can take pride in the finished product. I'll post photos when it is completed.

[Budzilla 19]

Loaded 250 .38 spcls, mostly 148 grn button nose wad cutters PC'ed in HF red with some Herco. Boy, do they shoot good! Next up, some .45's with Herco! Haha, found out how good it is! (Don't want to open that new 8# of Unique)!! I guess I'm still learning!

[robg]

Flying monkey I'm not able to try them till Sunday after next I will try to get my wife to do the photo thing . the Lee .223mould was the easist mould I've ever used after two casts great boolets just fell out on opening .

[HangFireW8]

Do not feel like starting an new thread for this question. I built a new reloading bench. Oak 1" plywood top with 2x6 framework. Would you guys stain it poly it or put the Rust-oleum Grey Professional with hardener oil based down? That stuff is like nails after it dries. I am thinking the good old rustO.

This falls under what I am going to do in the reloading room.

I would stain it, then mix a little stain into the poly and put several coats of that on.

For me, battleship grey looks best on steel furniture.

[triggerhappy243]

[QUOTE=Outer Rondacker;3553507]Do not feel like starting an new thread for this question. I built a new reloading bench. Oak 1" plywood top with 2x6 framework. Would you guys stain it poly it or put the Rust-oleum Grey Professional with hardener oil based down? That stuff is like nails after it dries. I am thinking the good old rustO.

If it were mine, it would be multiple coats of clear polyurethane. radius the edges with a router before coatings. this will seal the pores of the wood from stains from coffee or beer...... whatever floats the boat.

[Jal5]

Removed military crimp on about100 cases; made some test rounds for those 223 cases with CFE 223 and Xtreme 55 gr. and cleaned up the bench

[coxa2]

Loaded 150rds of 45 acp. Then proceeded to unload 100ish of them with my S&W 625, along with some 9mm and 38spl.

[tazman]

I loaded 100 rounds of match 38 special target wadcutters in RP wadcutter brass provided by two generous gentlemen on this site. I hope to try them out soon.

[NavyVet1959]

Installed a .38 SUPER barrel in my mid-size RIA .22 TCM/9mm M1911. I had tried installing the 5" full-size barrel in it, but because of the difference in the part of the barrel that holds the link & link pin, the guide rod stuck out slightly and that resulted in me not being able to rotate the barrel bushing.

[philzilla]

Tested hardness of lead and loaded some 357 for new dan wesson

[warf73]

Loaded just over 250 357mag rounds, 150gr RN, Mixed brass, WW primers, and CFE Pistol powder.
Then poured around 500 more 150gr RN and will probably pour another 600 more today so I can PC up just over 1k this weekend.

[Black Powder Bill]

Loaded a few hundred 12 ga 18.5 gr GD 1oz of 8's and 7.5's
Lubed and sized 38 162 gr hp
Readied a ML for shipment

[shoot-n-lead]

Actually, yesterday, I loaded some 75gr wadcutters for .357.

[John in AR]

Not 'in' the reloading room, but 'for' the reloading room; ordered a bunch of X-Lox liquid lube to make up some Ben's Liquid. Have a good number of ingots made up and plan (at least, hope) to do my first bullet casting within the next week or so.

[John in AR]

Actually, yesterday, I loaded some 75gr wadcutters for .357.

Is that 75 grains a typo..? (Never loaded anything lighter than 110 in 38 or 357 myself.)

[Outer Rondacker]

So far today I walked into the reloading room and checked on my 357/38 projectile stash. It was lacking very much so. I broke down grabbed some Jword bullets. 200 bucks worth will last me the year. So I will restock with 5k 158g for now and keep shopping for lead locally. I am not sure where all the lead is going in my area but I can not get my hands on any.

Not in the reloading room but I did build this fast. Still need to finish the seat so picture the seat done.

[coxa2]

Loaded up 100ish 357mag rounds after test firing the first 25.

[warf73]

So far today I walked into the reloading room and checked on my 357/38 projectile stash. It was lacking very much so. I broke down grabbed some Jword bullets. 200 bucks worth will last me the year. So I will restock with 5k 158g for now and keep shopping for lead locally. I am not sure where all the lead is going in my area but I can not get my hands on any.

Not in the reloading room but I did build this fast. Still need to finish the seat so picture the seat done.

Where did you get 5k 158g boolis for $200?

[62chevy]

Last several days cut up old T-shirts for cleaning patches.

[TXGunNut]

Did a little case prep for 35 Rem and tossed them in the cleaner with a few 300 Savage cases. Will load them up tomorrow for the next load test range trip.

[TXGunNut]

Loaded up the 35 Rem cases for Scopekiller, 300 Savage cases still need more cleaning.

[taco650]

Loaded up the 35 Rem cases for Scopekiller, 300 Savage cases still need more cleaning.

SCOPEKILLER? Care to explain?

[shoot-n-lead]

Powder coated and sized some .357 and .44 bullets.

[takasaki]

just fired up the pot, going to make as many tl358-158-swc and 401-175-tc as i can in the next 2 hours then busy the rest of the day

[rbuck351]

weight sorted some 224 boolits. not a lot of fun. Had to use my mechanical scale as my cheap digital won't weigh the same boolit the same twice in a row.

[Outer Rondacker]

weight sorted some 224 boolits. not a lot of fun. Had to use my mechanical scale as my cheap digital won't weigh the same boolit the same twice in a row.
I would toss that scale in the trash can.

[MOA]

I just added a few ammo boxes I needed so I could have someplace to store my reloads, never enough boxes to put your reloads into!!!!!!
:bigsmyl2:

http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab136/nitroexpress450400/Hand%20loading/20160210_182620_zpsry19omwd.jpg (http://s857.photobucket.com/user/nitroexpress450400/media/Hand%20loading/20160210_182620_zpsry19omwd.jpg.html)

[taco650]

Did some much needed organizing and cleaning. Now I'm ready to finish some 38 special reloads.

[Ola]

Took out the extractor of my 9mm CZ and tried to fix it. Tomorrow I'll try it out, hopefully it will work. If it won't, I'll have to order a new one.

[NavyVet1959]

I just added a few ammo boxes I needed so I could have someplace to store my reloads, never enough boxes to put your reloads into!!!!!!
:bigsmyl2:

That's a lot of styrofoam... At some point, you just have to break down and just pour them into ammo cans in bulk.

[C. Latch]

I bought a 6-cavity Lee 358-125-rf to use as a combo 9mm/38 bullet. I am new to reloading 9mm; I have drug my feet on that caliber but am wanting to shoot my 9mms more.

Anyway, it showed up today. I cleaned it, put a new set of Lee handles on it, and heat-cycled it on the kitchen stove, several times, then warmed up a pot of wheelweights. I started with a Lyman pot full and stopped when it was too low to dip out of; I refilled it with different alloy, cast some .45 bullets, then when it was nearly empty I filled it back up with wheelweights and a couple of isotope core ingots, and made more 9mm bullets.

I am flat-out impressed with the new Lee mold. I made a whole lot of bullets with it in a short amount of time and they turned out very pretty with few rejects. They dropped between .359 and .360 and weight around 132-133 grains.

[StuBach]

Cast some 429244s and cleaned part of lead haul from the scrap yard.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160228/36196170ea909d38118ebc8979cbdd11.jpg

[Outer Rondacker]

That's a lot of styrofoam... At some point, you just have to break down and just pour them into ammo cans in bulk.
I had the same idea years ago. I have since gave up on ammo cans and moved to 3 gallon buckets.

[tazman]

That's a lot of styrofoam... At some point, you just have to break down and just pour them into ammo cans in bulk.

That's what I do for large quantities. For test quantities I use Zip LOC freezer bags. Easy to write on and they pack tightly in a ammo bag.

[Scharfschuetze]

Several hundred rounds of 38 Special HBWCs. Fodder for this coming spring's shooting activities.

[TXGunNut]

SCOPEKILLER? Care to explain?

Have a thread about it over in Leverguns. Used to be a great rifle until it decided it didn't like scopes.

[TXGunNut]

Loaded some 300 Savage try loads. Loaded my first 38-40 rounds today. :bigsmyl2: Figured out where I hid the brass from myself, sized & cleaned 20 pieces, lubed 20 boolits and eventually had 19 rounds loaded. (long story ;-) ) Didn't have the correct shell holder for my Lee Auto Prime but got it done anyway. Not a very productive day but very entertaining.

[flyingmonkey35]

Made some gallery loads & shotshell loads for my 45 lc

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160228/e47c5376f56fed6e3a963ec36662ade2.jpg

.450 round ball over 3 grains of unique.

OK results at about 10 feet
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160228/f11f5164b487443a0a4a96a86a8a1c28.jpg

I forgot to take photos of the shot loads.
But I got good results with 9 grains of unique. Card board wad fill to brim with reclaimed shot and second cardboard wand crammed in and crimped I. Place.

Nice shot pattern at about 10 feet deffently kill a coke can or other things.

[RogerDat]

95 lbs. of scrap COWW lead and plain became 50/50 + tin to 1.4% as a stack of 12 lb. ingots for storage. Then I did the fun stuff broke in my new NOE 225 - 70 gr. mold by cranking out a little over 1,100 of the little buggers. Just filled a small bread loaf pan.

That NOE mold cast real nice, hot they came out easy and looked pretty good. Had to run the lead at 700* or a little over to keep the mold temperature up. Wishing now that I had purchased one with more than 3 cavities. Same number of cast would have been 1,800 if I was using a 5 cavity. On the other hand that 3 cavity mold was pretty easy to handle as far as weight goes.

[David2011]

Cast about 600 .38/.357 158 gr RNFP, recrowned a barrel and taught a friend how to use a Dillon 550. The boolits all came out really shiny.

David

[Outer Rondacker]

95 lbs. of scrap COWW lead and plain became 50/50 + tin to 1.4% as a stack of 12 lb. ingots for storage. Then I did the fun stuff broke in my new NOE 225 - 70 gr. mold by cranking out a little over 1,100 of the little buggers. Just filled a small bread loaf pan.

That NOE mold cast real nice, hot they came out easy and looked pretty good. Had to run the lead at 700* or a little over to keep the mold temperature up. Wishing now that I had purchased one with more than 3 cavities. Same number of cast would have been 1,800 if I was using a 5 cavity. On the other hand that 3 cavity mold was pretty easy to handle as far as weight goes.
We need to see some pics of the bullet. Well I do. :}

[Ola]

Took out the extractor of my 9mm CZ and tried to fix it. Tomorrow I'll try it out, hopefully it will work. If it won't, I'll have to order a new one. Victory!! Works like a dream! The extraction has been unreliable for years and all it took was 1 minute with a small file. Why did I wait so long?

[DerekP Houston]

finished off the hopper full of bullseye, planning on casting a bunch of 380acp and coating in green so I have some test rounds for zip powder.

[Alan in Vermont]

I finished up a batch of 45 ACP after sizing/decapping/PP swaging most of them before they went over the progressive. Somewhere near 700 rds total with CCI SP primers, 200 gr Lee SWCs and FREE powder. Loaded with some old Hi-Skor(pre 700X) at 4.7 grs. Powder came from a buddy who bought one of the old tin 8 lb size just for the can, 2# 12 oz of free is pretty hard to beat.

Now to swap over to the 223 dies & shell plate and go after a bunch of 223/5.56 cases that have been sitting for a few days.

Just got in one of the RCBS trimmer attachments that trims to length and does in/out chamfers in one step.

[RogerDat]

We need to see some pics of the bullet. Well I do. :}

Well since you asked.... :D
162187

Small bread loaf pan - 1,100+ cast with NOE 225-70 using home mixed Lyman #2 alloy at 700* +/- 10* bottom two have copper gas checks installed using a Lee push through sizer. Destined for powder coating post gas check & sizing.

[Drew P]

Motorized my powder tricker, using stuff I had in my junk pile entirely, except for the 3v lithium battery and the holder for it. Has a USB charge port too!

[NavyVet1959]

Made up a piece of .38 SUPER brass from .223 brass and tested it with a powder coated Lee 358-105-SWC bullet. It would not chamber, so used the FCD to reduce the diameter of the round a bit until it would eventually chamber. It made for a strange looking round since the base was still the diameter of the .223 and the part where the bullet was loaded was noticeably wider. I had loaded it with a 9x19 Red Dot load. After firing it, the case was fire formed and looked more normal.

[taco650]

Made up a piece of .38 SUPER brass from .223 brass and tested it with a powder coated Lee 358-105-SWC bullet. It would not chamber, so used the FCD to reduce the diameter of the round a bit until it would eventually chamber. It made for a strange looking round since the base was still the diameter of the .223 and the part where the bullet was loaded was noticeably wider. I had loaded it with a 9x19 Red Dot load. After firing it, the case was fire formed and looked more normal.

That's an interesting use for 223 IMO. Can't speak for others but I would like to see before, during and after pics of that process.

[NavyVet1959]

That's an interesting use for 223 IMO. Can't speak for others but I would like to see before, during and after pics of that process.

I guess what I'm actually building is a .38 SuperComp. The RIA .22TCM/9mm that I have is already setup to handle .22TCM brass and 9x19 and since .22 TCM brass is formed from .223 brass, it made sense to base any new ammo on the .223 also. I didn't see any cheap 9x23 barrels, but I did find a cheap .38 SUPER one, so I decided to base the round off of it without even knowing if what I was creating had a proper name for it or if it was a true wildcat. Best I can figure though is that this might be what they called the .38 SuperComp at one time.

The .223 brass is stronger than even the 9x23 brass, so having a non-ramped barrel will not be an issue even with extremely high pressure rounds. I'm limiting myself to 9x19 level loads right now since I haven't decided on what weight recoil spring to order. I figure that this gives me another way of recycling .223 brass that cannot be reloaded due to neck damage. I figure shoot it was .223 until damaged, then convert to .300 AAC. Shoot .300 AAC until damaged, then convert to .22 TCM or .38 SuperComp.

[MOA]

That's a lot of styrofoam... At some point, you just have to break down and just pour them into ammo cans in bulk.


Yes, that is true. I've been doing that, and the zip lock bag also. I just have this thing about trying to keep thing neat and orderly. You know ship shape.

[therealhitman]

Sorted my .223 brass. Really just pulled Lake City cases out to cut down for 300 BO. Wound up with close to a thousand LC out of about 3000 cases.

[high standard 40]

Putting the finishing touches on my automated cartridge case annealer. I still need to mount the propane torch.

http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/highstandard40/Annealer_zpsut6djqcv.jpg (http://s532.photobucket.com/user/highstandard40/media/Annealer_zpsut6djqcv.jpg.html)

[shoot-n-lead]

Loaded some rounds for a new .357 that I recently bought and have not worked out a load for. This one kind of has me undecided as to what is the best bullet...kind of giving me mixed results between light and heavy bullets. It shoots some heavies pretty well, others, not so well and same for light bullets. I have about decided that whatever weight I land on, it will be a swc rather than a wfn...it just seems to show a little preference for the swc.

[Outer Rondacker]

Putting the finishing touches on my automated cartridge case annealer. I still need to mount the propane torch.

http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee324/highstandard40/Annealer_zpsut6djqcv.jpg (http://s532.photobucket.com/user/highstandard40/media/Annealer_zpsut6djqcv.jpg.html)
Looking good. Wish I had the skills.

[Plate plinker]

HS 40 that is so simple but should work wonderfully. Way to go! Please post a video when the machine is finished.

[Plate plinker]

I tumbled some 40 S&W cases that was about it.

[Outer Rondacker]

Well since you asked.... :D
162187

Small bread loaf pan - 1,100+ cast with NOE 225-70 using home mixed Lyman #2 alloy at 700* +/- 10* bottom two have copper gas checks installed using a Lee push through sizer. Destined for powder coating post gas check & sizing.
That is a nice sight to look at. I might have to see if I can try some of these one day. I did not have much luck with the 55g. Thanks for the pic.

I played with the Lee Load Master I picked up. I polished everything that makes contact while moving. Set up the dies. Other then that not much. Oh I finished my seat on my shooting bench.

[aquarist]

Cleaned about 5k 9mm casings.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160229/d5f470755beeafd1cdf13ae2ca148ed8.jpg

[warpspeed]

Motorized my powder tricker, using stuff I had in my junk pile entirely, except for the 3v lithium battery and the holder for it. Has a USB charge port too!

That is cool!

[high standard 40]

HS 40 that is so simple but should work wonderfully. Way to go! Please post a video when the machine is finished.

I make no claim to this design. I found the plans on the net. Here is a link to a video showing it in operation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzM7ArN9fOs

[Alan in Vermont]

Just got in one of the RCBS trimmer attachments that trims to length and does in/out chamfers in one step.

I am in LOVE!!! The RCBS 3 in one trimmer gizmo works well way beyond my expectations. Easy to adjust so it cuts just enough to break the sharp edge without making a funnel.

I stuck a regular 35 caliber pilot in it, the inside deburr function uses a special pilot which they don't offer in 35 cal., and tried it on 38 Sp. cases(I trim all mine to length). No burr formed on the inside and the outside burr was just gone! I can live with a little inside burr, those trim off easily, it's, or it was, the outside burrs that were giving me fits.

[DerekP Houston]

Tested out some western "zip" powder at the range in 380 acp and 9mm. Same POI for me as bullseye, no smoke or soot on cases so I guess it works! Unfortunately discovered my last batch of 38 special DEWC is too long to chamber. ~200 rounds to go back thru and seat the boolit ~1/4" shorter. Thought it was the infamous lead crud ring in the chamber but I couldn't scrub anything loose. Appears to be the die loosened up a bit as I was loading and ~1/2 of them are slightly too long to chamber in the model 10.

[amc401]

Modified a dillon shell expander so I can expand the brass larger than normal so it won't squeeze the cast bullet. I plan on sizing the brass in four of the five stations on the dillon 650. Start out at .353, then .355, then .356 and finally .359.

[Outer Rondacker]

I am making a new reloading room. First was to build one of the benches. Then paint it. Still needs one more coat. Then empty the area the rest of the way and set up the bench. Build a wall dividing the room and call it my reloading room. New bench with one coat is as far as i got today.

[Rio]

Finally cast some decent bullets today. Learned today that you can just get a bad mold. Been fighting with a lee mold for months. Today I grabbed one I knew was good because I had made good bullets from it in the past. Perfect bullets. So happy I mounted my pulled out of storage rock crusher and made room for the sizer... Good hour spent in the shop.

[StuBach]

Dummied up a HB pin/handle to get my original Ideal 429422 working after casting a few 429244s for Dad. Still working on specifics before I start looking for a permanent solution.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160302/b9a9b082d3b180c16e5ab8fb6e0b28d7.jpg

[SSGOldfart]

I started digging out the mountain of boxes I've I collected from buying stuff here,piles up quickly,trash collector won't be happy Thursday but I will be able to get through my shop again:holysheep:oops:

[TXGunNut]

Lots of goodies from Larry and some alloy from RotoMetals came in today. I rinsed some cases that had been in the vibratory cleaner and spread them out to dry. Finished cleaning a rifle. May get to load a bit tomorrow night.

[StuBach]

Researched next mold as well as looked into getting a new ProMelt to upgrade my vintage Saeco pot.

Just wanted to point out how bad of an influence you all are. I joined in December after lurking for 6 months and thought you all were crazy with how many molds you all had. Figured my 8 molds were all I needed. Since then I have purchased 4 molds with another delivering today, two more on their way from Slovenia next week, and I'm looking for another one cause wife wants a nicer mold for her 40. She hasn't even shot the Lee mold I bought in December for her. That's on top of the above mentioned ProMelt I'm looking to order.

The addiction has me bad. [emoji12]

[avogunner]

Finally got my ventilation fan setup for basement casting and cast 20lbs of .45 (454190 & Lee 255-RF). Going to do another pot of .38 tomorrow (358311 & 358342). Man it's nice not have to schlep all the casting gear/supplies upstairs and set up outside whenever I wanted/needed more boolits. Life is good!!

[TXGunNut]

Sized some 38-40's and tossed them in the vibratory cleaner with the cases from the sonic cleaner. Dunno how they'll shoot but they'll be shiny!

[trails4u]

Absolutely nothing.....dangit. Looked longingly at the loading bench as I loaded the wood furnace this evening. (Yeah...they're in the same room...I'm a bit crazy that way.) Tomorrow is three weeks since hip surgery...weather is supposed to be nice, and I'm taking the day off work. Might just finish working up my ladder for the new Tikka 30-06 in the morning, maybe load a few more for the .43 Spanish, grab the new to me Colt Walker and might just head to the range tomorrow! :)

[62chevy]

Fixed my computer so now I can return that slow boat to China back to server duty.

[edadmartin]

Its been great temps this week in co springs so Im setting up a dedicated area for my reloading in the garage/woodshop. I built a 4x8 foot wall parallel with the garage door,about 3 feet in,on one side all my garden tools on the other my reloading bench and wall cabinets from the rehab store. All is now painted white and Ill be adding a LED shop lite soon. The wall in front of the bench uses the french cleat hanging system which allows much flexibility.It will be nice to be organized, and seperated some what from the woodworking.When I get done Ill post pics.

[chucky64]

Had bought this Ranch Dog mold around the time that he was going out of business. It functions well in all my
9mm and 357sig pistols. The mold hasn't been used much because I am not a fan of the smell of LLA.
But every once and a while I have to remind myself that yes indeed LLA still stinks but does a good job.
The boolit cast at 135 grns and since there is not any published data I always have to work up a
load with the powder I am currently using, right now that's 5 grns of BE86 for 9mm. Great load by the way.
162764162765

[Hickok]

Been loading up some 200 gr Lee 309-200-R PCed for the .308 Win. and getting ready for the next range test, weather permitting.

[TXGunNut]

Went in there to put away a new set of RCBS Cowboy dies and a few other new shiny bits. Up to six sets of Cowboy dies now, this one replaces a set of standard RCBS 30-30 dies. Had to do a bit of rearranging to shuffle the idle sets to the back of the compartment. I could spend the day in there straightening up, doing a bit of loading and maybe even casting but I can't. :-( I have some major paper-shuffling to do to get income tax stuff off to the accountant. One more cup of coffee and I'll get to work on those taxes. ;-)

[mdi]

I sorted, by headstamp and tumbled 500+ 9mm cases. Yep, nuttin' much to do when you have a bunch of reloading time and too much rain to go shootin'...

[DerekP Houston]

Took inventory and cleaned up the shelves a bit. Dont really *need* to reload more...but the boolits are already cast and coated might as well.

waiting on my order from smoke to try out some pretty new colors.

[Hickok]

Txgun, I really like the RCBS Cowboy dies, just wish the expander was like the Lyman M dies, with the "step" portion. They are still great dies!

[Jal5]

Prepping some 223 cases to get ready to reload. The trimming is a pita using Lyman Accutrimmer. Inside and outside deburring is easy chucking the 2 way head in my drill press.

[Reverend Al]

One of my brother in laws is out here visiting us from Manitoba right now, so I took him down to my reloading shop and sat him down at my Rockchucker and I had him size and deprime about 250 rounds of .45-70. Then we degreased the cases and I had him bell and prime them all. Tomorrow I'm going to get him to charge them (Unique for my Trapdoor and IMR4198 for my Browning B78) and seat some 405 grain hollow base Lee bullets for my Trapdoor and some 405 plain base bullets for my B78. On Monday I'm going to take him out to one of my local ranges and make him shoot ALL of them!

:Fire:

(He has 3 grown kids and just turned 60 so he's getting back into a bit of hunting with his long time buddies out in Manitoba. He was too busy with work and family to do any hunting or shooting for about the past 35 years.)

[TXGunNut]

Txgun, I really like the RCBS Cowboy dies, just wish the expander was like the Lyman M dies, with the "step" portion. They are still great dies!

That's odd, I never liked the Lyman stem's profile. Step seems too abrupt for me. IIRC the BACO ones are somewhere between the Lyman and RCBS. Figured out I need a new one for my 35 Rem. The one from my 38/357 die set expands the neck just a bit too much. Guess I could just chuck it up in the drill press.

Loaded 20 "try" rounds each for my 300 Savage and 35 Rem (Scopekiller) projects. Getting real close on these two. Awesome day at the range today on the skeet field; tomorrow it's rifle day.

[shoot-n-lead]

Beautiful day here and I cast, powder coated and sized 800 .357 bullets, this afternoon.

[granville_it]

Sorted some wheel weights from the local garage. Some steel , mostly "lead", no zinc.

Cheers Mark

[clum553946]

Going to cast some 44-40 bullets from my trusty Accurate 429165C!

[hickfu]

sized 210 7mm Mag cases.... Im finally going to work up a load for the 7mm and I will be testing about 6 different powders. Its going to be a long day working up loads for 3 different bullets with 6 different powders.

[tommag]

Cast 200 Lee 44 rnfp from a new mold, ended up with 115 keepers. Had to beat the snot out of the hinge to get them to release, until I upped the temp to 820 or so. Not sure if it's the temp or just break in time. Lubed with Ben's liquid lube and shoved them through a 430 sizer.

[StuBach]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160307/44a962fcbb5f1ec7a3959e814baa722a.jpg

Finished tweaking with replacement HB pin as well as PB pin for Ideal 429-422 mold and got a small supply ready for testing (25 HB and 35 PB, not all pictured). Man is that thing finicky with no vent lines.

Sized, Lubed, boxed up to send to Dad.

Also dropped 75 to 100 of my 429-244 GCs to help build up my back stock.

[TXGunNut]

Resized the 40 cases I fired today; necks need annealing on a few but I sized and popped them into the ultrasonic cleaner anyway. These projects (300 Savage and 35 Rem) are winding down so brass will be retired soon anyway. Will be casting and loading up some for inventory and moving on to new projects soon. Looks like 38-40 and 45-90 next, will have to check my list, lol.

[Digital Dan]

Case forming w/Hornady hydraulic form die. It's an outdoor sport.

[therealhitman]

Made up a few hundred pieces of 300 Blackout brass. But it is officially warm enough here to start casting on the back porch in the mornings again! [smilie=w:

[robg]

Loaded 50.223lee 55gr lead gas checked boolits over 9 gr true blue .then I sized and decapped 300 .223cases.if its dry I hope to do some casting ,taken a days holiday.

[Cleve Branch]

Prepped and primed 800 38 spec. Brass for my wife. Then 300 44 brass for myself. Getting ready for a good loading session.

[taco650]

Cast 200 Lee 44 rnfp from a new mold, ended up with 115 keepers. Had to beat the snot out of the hinge to get them to release, until I upped the temp to 820 or so. Not sure if it's the temp or just break in time. Lubed with Ben's liquid lube and shoved them through a 430 sizer.

I've got a Lee 358-158 SWCGC two cavity thats like that. I polished it with toothpaste & it's a little better but not to my liking yet.

[Jal5]

Shot 50 test rounds in 9mm today and settled on one load. Came home and reloaded 75 more till i ran out of plated bullets.

[robg]

Sized and recapped 80 357cases couldn't do any casting cold and wet today.

[Outer Rondacker]

Got all my presses screwed down made my first run of 100 something 45acp on the Lee LM. Some fast advice to anyone building a new reloading bench. Make the top overhang by 1" or more. Most of the presses out today do not sit flat. They need to stick out a bit. Nuff said.

[tja6435]

163017Sized, lubed and loaded 200x LBT 360-200-LFN/GC .45 nose into some virgin Starline .357 mag brass. Went with Federal small pistol match primers (all I could find for a while). These were seated to an OAL of 1.745" and crimped with a Lee collet crimp die. Lube is a 5:1 mix of LBT Blue and Commercial Red from White Label.

[taco650]

Loaded a few 38 Special with the Lee 358-158GC I cast a while back. Used 4.0 grains of Trapper 100.

[JSnover]

Found a cache of LC 72 7.62x63 brass and 163gr black tips. There was only one right thing to do!

[Outer Rondacker]

Fedex came and dropped off some 357 Jwords I had ordered. They where cheap dont hold it against me. 40 something a thousand anyway. That was one box the other was my RIA 1911 that I had sent out for repair. I really do not want to turn this into a rant.

They scratched it not in one place but three. It now has the worlds worst trigger for any gun ever. No lube on it what so ever. They claimed to have shot 30 rounds with it. Told me they gave me a new mag well I do not thing so. I marked the old one before I sent it back and dont you know its has the mark on it. Who ever took my gun apart and worked on it was a moron. I am in the reloading room tonight very unhappy. I have to now tune it up myself. Oh and ask for another set of paperwork for the gun since they kept mine. That is what I get for sending a well tuned gun in for a new barrel. Poor 22TCM. Oh and did I mention they scratched the dickens out of my VZ's. I called them but like normal no one answers the phone. Hope you guys have a better night in the reloading room then I am having.

[birdadly]

...I have another problem... now I'm casting bullets that I don't even have a gun to shoot them in!!! A few Midway orders ago I thru a couple 2-cav Lee molds into my cart to fill it up a bit, one being a 358-158. Tonight I decided to take it out and test it. I was AMAZED! It's the cheapest mold I own, and it was a DREAM to cast with. I don't know if stars aligned or what, but they were falling out with ease, filled out nicely and looked great! (in my opinion)

So i acquired 226 good ones. it was so fun because of the ease that i didn't want to stop! I hope to surprise a friend that reloads for his 357. I know he doesn't shoot it much, but at least they'll have a home. I'm guessing I'll PC them and size to .358 and hope they shoot ok for him. If not, not much lost. It was a fun evening. -Brad

[dondiego]

I've never met a caster........or a shooter for that matter that doesn't own a .38!

[flyingmonkey35]

I've never met a caster........or a shooter for that matter that doesn't own a .38!
I don't ..... Yet.

[dondiego]

We haven't met...........yet!

[Smk SHoe]

well, cast about 700- lee 240grn tc for my .45 and about 300 155grn 308's for a new 300 blackout build i just finished. Now everything is being PC'd and gonna feed the dillion 650 tonite all the .45 i have cast up. the 650 is a beast trying to keep it fed.

[JeffG]

Tossed some 7.62x25mm brass into the tumbler that I shot during lunch.

[popper]

Converting 223 to 300BO today with new HF chop saw. If the 223 sizes hard - DON"T use it - copper flashed STEEL.

[StuBach]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160310/2439b73351445e4fa73b0375c310e1f1.jpg

I don't cast in nearly the same quantities most on here do but enjoy my little 10lb vintage Saeco pot. Today I had my first perfect casting session, and I've seen the light.

Started out blending some of my favorite Lino/COWW blend.

Then wanted to start out easy so I grabbed Grandpa's original H&G 130 6-cav (his and my favorite mold) and started out. Everyone from the start dropped perfect and only tossed back the first 6 plus another 6 later when I didn't pay attention to my flow.

Then switched to my MiHec 360-93 with HP pins installed which has been known to not drop very easily. Tonight was an exception. Dropped great and again maybe a dozen rejects.

Finished off the pot back on the 130.

All in all, not bad for a small pot and about 2 hours. Now it's time to think about a ProMelt.

Update: Didn't feel like stopping so I turned some of tonight's drops into some PCs ready to go. For the Dillon.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160310/2cd0b1197a74ef499fb0146e5b9b1179.jpg

[taco650]

Wish they had a "like" button for posts like the one above^^^^

[Outer Rondacker]

I like the above as well. Not so sure on how I feel about the button.

[dverna]

Love the H&G molds. Like a fool I got rid of my 10 cavity. It was a casting machine!!!

[dondiego]

Converting 223 to 300BO today with new HF chop saw. If the 223 sizes hard - DON"T use it - copper flashed STEEL.

A magnet is your friend in this case!

[StuBach]

Love the H&G molds. Like a fool I got rid of my 10 cavity. It was a casting machine!!!

This is one of two Grandpa left me (also have a 4-cav #50) and I just picked up another one a little while ago from a member on here (#12 6-cav in rough shape). #12 has some more polishing on the cavities but it's almost dropping good clean drops now.

I'm looking forward to being able to afford trying one of the Accurate molds (or finding a good deal on one, if anyone's looking to sell one let me know) as I hear his are as close as you get to original H&Gs. If wife gets her way I'll be ordering it for her 40 but not sure I'm ok with that [emoji12].

[1989toddm]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160307/44a962fcbb5f1ec7a3959e814baa722a.jpg

Finished tweaking with replacement HB pin as well as PB pin for Ideal 429-422 mold and got a small supply ready for testing (25 HB and 35 PB, not all pictured). Man is that thing finicky with no vent lines.

Sized, Lubed, boxed up to send to Dad.

Also dropped 75 to 100 of my 429-244 GCs to help build up my back stock.

Got any pics of that mold and replacement pins?

[David2011]

Went in there to put away a new set of RCBS Cowboy dies and a few other new shiny bits. ;-)

Ooh. Just got a new set myself. Purty. Can't wait to use 'em. Maybe tomorrow. Watching the Trump protesters tonight.

David

[StuBach]

Got any pics of that mold and replacement pins?


Have a thread where we talked about these old molds that can be found here with several photos:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?300949-Original-Keith

End result was this though:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160312/171be4b288d3f0268b5dd85093676659.jpg


Handles are a work in progress.

[1989toddm]

Thanks!

[C. Latch]

A couple of weeks ago I got a Lee 6-cavity 358-125-rf mold and today my new Lee 9mm 4-die set showed up in the mail.

I had cobbled together a few rounds for testing before the dies came in, so I knew what load I wanted to use; I got the dies adjusted quickly and put together 60 rounds, tested them this afternoon, then tonight loaded 140 more (yes, on a single stage).

FWIW, the 358-125-rf fed perfectly in both pistols I tested (a BHP and a Ruger LC9).

[TXGunNut]

I've never met a caster........or a shooter for that matter that doesn't own a .38!


Have four, I think. Don't cast for or shoot any of them. Fired upwards of 200K rounds of 38 as a PPC competitor, could go the rest of my life without firing another.....unless I score a nice Rossi in .357 of course. ;-)

[TXGunNut]

Loaded some final test loads for 300 Savage and 35 Remington. Those projects are winding down, looking forward to moving on. Wanted to size & load a few 38-40 rounds tonight but a dinner date ran late. Wanted to install a tang sight on the 38-40 but it was getting late. Have a scope back from repair but that, too, will have to wait for another day.

[Butler Ford]

Match prepped 100 new Lapua 30-06's. Ready to start the loading process tomorrow.

BF

[shoot-n-lead]

Loaded some .357 ammo...

[Bmi48219]

Loaded 50 rounds 9 Luger - 5.2 gr unique & 125 rnl clad, another 50 with 5.4 unique. Trying to get a load that will cycle reliably in a Stoeger stainless Luger 6 inch barrel. Tried 5.3 herco but a lot of fte's. It functions fine with factory ammo. My other 9's (s&w 59 & Astra 600/43 seem to digest anything but the Luger is finicky.

[wawoodwa]

Loaded 100 9mm 115gr LRN over 5.7gr Power Pistol.

[Outer Rondacker]

Loaded up 500 45 acp. While doing my after inspection I found five that did not crimp the bullet. Two different head stamps. One was R&P and the others are TZZ 84 on the head stamp. So I set to size with the mic and then ran into a TC Die on the single stage. Still the bullet will not stay put. I ran it tighter and tighter. I grab another one and put a fresh bullet in it. Same dag thing. So here I sat trying to figure out why these five cases will not crimp the bullet. The answer is I have no clue. Hours of pondering and trying different thing in the reloading room. Im stumped.

Also fired up the lead pot for a bad run. Had to clean the tip. That is always fun. Ran about 60 357 hoping for it to clean out. No luck. Some reloading days are great others no so great. Life is good tomorrow will be better.

[trixter]

I reloaded 100 rounds 223, Cast about 100 452 200gr SWC boolits cleaned up the press, tumbled about 150 45ACP cases. Then sorted out of my junk brass 25 380ACP cases and tumbled them overnight, and now I'm going to get them out and then lube about 250 of the TL 452-200 SWC and get them ready to size. Busy, Busy, Busy. It has been raining for 3 days, I can't get outside so catching up on inside stuff

[drklynoon]

I poured a few .358's and I built a shelf to put my dies, powder measure inserts, and shell plates in. I also deprimed a gazillion (give or take a few) .38 special/ .357 brass. I reorganized my ammo cans and bench shelf. I also put up two shelves over my new bullet prep bench. It felt like I did a lot more but that is... oh I casted 300 .41's and coated them. Ok, that is it. 163493163494

[skeettx]

Loaded some 22 CHeetah Mark 1s for a friend
Mike

[rockrat]

Loaded some 7mm Br for my long range handgun XP100:)

[Lucky Joe]

Took the .44 Mag. barrel off my Handi Rifle and put the .357 Mag. barrel on. Deer season is over and time to plink at Starlings, 74 gr. WC's.

[Outer Rondacker]

Took the .44 Mag. barrel off my Handi Rifle and put the .357 Mag. barrel on. Deer season is over and time to plink at Starlings, 74 gr. WC's.
Now that just sounds like fun.

[taco650]

Took the .44 Mag. barrel off my Handi Rifle and put the .357 Mag. barrel on. Deer season is over and time to plink at Starlings, 74 gr. WC's.


Now that just sounds like fun.

Sure does!

[robg]

Cast and tumble lubed 80 180gr .357 and 80 .224 55gr boolits.

[berksglh]

Cause ya gota have some 38 and 357 mag ready ta go....

Ran myself clean out of small pistol primers yesterday.

Some hollow points from my modified Lee mold as well.163765

[ghh3rd]

Mixed up some citric acid and soaked almost 500 pcs of .45 acp for my Walther PPQ 45 (my first .45) that s/b here in a couple of weeks. Man they sure clean up fast in that stuff!

I'm glad that I saved up .45 brass, even when I thought I'd never own a .45 :-)

I drained them, and am trying to decide whether I can deprime them while they are still damp. The only drawback that I see in doing so is the moisture in my decapping die, which can easily be eliminated by dissembling and hitting with a blow dryer for about 5 minutes.

[sparky45]

Fabricated some reloading blocks. 1" thick Walnut with a hand rubbed oil finish. Couple more coats of oil and they will be done. Made for my 6.5 Creedmoor.
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb351/glynnm1945/WBlock2_zps1nhlwp1a.jpg (http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/glynnm1945/media/WBlock2_zps1nhlwp1a.jpg.html)

[HangFireW8]

I like that case loading block!

What do you use to bore the blind holes? I was thinking of modifying some Forster bits for the right diameter and a flat bottom.

[RogerDat]

Sorted and cleaned a bunch of brass, 9mm, 38, 40 S&W, and some 44 & 45 acp. Started copy of my paper lead inventory to a spread sheet. Thinking I'll do powder and primers too. Thinking I might be able to add a formula to calculate number of rounds amount of powder on hand would yield for different calibers using my "normal" recipe.

Maybe just a simple plug in the grains of load. Total on the bottom for larger or small, rifle or pistol. My goal would be to keep balance between powder and primers. Having a 8# of a pistol powder that yields 2000 loads per pound is sort of pointless if you only have 3,000 pistol primers to go with it.

[Wis. Tom]

My wife bought me a Dillon Swager 600, just got done over 4000 Lake City 556. Very nice, it does a great job, easy, and lot faster than on my lathe.

[JSnover]

Reloaded some .308 for a buddy of mine. He returned the favor with a jar of his homemade corn liquor.

[dragon813gt]

It was yesterday but that's close enough: http://s198.photobucket.com/user/dragon813gt/media/TimeToMakeAmmo/A46CAC34-4B3F-4CB1-B823-4797783DDE1C.mp4.html

Everytime I try embedded videos they don't work so a direct link is what you get ;)

[Outer Rondacker]

That is a nice video.

[StuBach]

That's pretty sweet rig for your Star.

[robg]

Loaded 150 357mag 100 195gr boolits 50 165gr.

[Tom W.]

Just cast some 195 gr boolits for my .45 and a few 9mm.....

[David2011]

Set up a toolhead to load boolits from a Lee 358-158 RF mold. I'm not a fan of the mold but like the boolits from it. The meplat is huge. The seating punch didn't fit so I thought, "No prob; open it up on the lathe." Find a 1/4 tool bit and grind it to reach inside the seating punch. Figure out the angle. Figure out the depth. Opened up as far as I dare the edge of the punch was now sharp and the meplat still didn't contact the flat center of the punch. It was still contacting the ogive. Shortened the rim of the punch until everything fit, polished and smoothed the edges. Tested it on the Dillon 550. No more marks and gouges on the ogive. Good start.

Get out the new RCBS Cowboy dies. Since the Dillon has its own expander that may defeat the purpose of using the Cowboy dies but they sure are purty. They're heat treated to a brown finish with brass lock rings and set screws. Installed and adjusted the sizing die and used the seat/crimp for crimp only. Loaded about 3 dozen rounds with 2.8 grains of Bullseye to try. I've shot lots of wadcutters using 2.3-2.8 grains of BE but this mold is new so I haven't shot any of its boolits yet. I'm still working on a cardboard canister of Bullseye with the plastic plug cap that I bought in about 1982. The price was $9.45. Primers were 69 cents/100. I never dreamed of buying a thousand at a time back then. The primers were consumed as soon as they were bought but the Bullseye still works the same as new.

David

[shoot-n-lead]

Loaded some 22 Hornet...then loaded some more 22 Hornet.

[Budzilla 19]

Sorted, remelted a whole 5 gallon bucket of wheel weights I bought for $35 at a local tire shop! Rough estimate so far is 65 lbs of ww lead after fluxing with sawdust and removing clips! Some more ww with clips are left to go so I may end up with about 90 lbs of ww lead and maybe 15+ lbs of stick on weights !! Not too shabby! Just got some foundry type in a trade, so off to lasc to figure up some recipes!
Update;87 lbs of WW ingots, plus 22 lbs of stickons!! Hmm, what to do with that pure? Lol

[allen16323]

Put more equipment in it and still need to finish the new bench to mount it too. I put a bought second hand but new L-n-L AP press (was bought 2 wekks ago) and put an automatic case feeder that I found on sale, and stacked 4 shell plates on top of it and 2 powder thru expanders. This reloading room is turning into a boat, you know a hole in the water you endlessly toss money into!!!! Think I will paint the sign or the door that will say "SS Lead Pot".

[Jack Stanley]

Finished casting over thirty pounds of 311291 bullets .

Jack

[DrDucati]

Cast a pile of .36 for 1864 police revolver repro

[tazman]

Loaded 350 rounds of 9mm on my Lee Classic cast turret.

[edctexas]

Cast 225 boolits today. 0.359 dia NOE LRN 125gr. Only 5 rejects out of the batch. Finally getting better and this. Mold kept cooling off so I had to take several breaks.

Ed C

[StuBach]

Powder coated a bunch of MP360-93 TCs and HPs to be ready for next reloading need.

[Don Purcell]

dragon, have the same set up for my Star also. Went to Lowe's Home Improvement and bought some plastic tube for plumbing and cut them off to @ 30" and fill them with bullets and have several setting and ready to go. As far as in the shop I slugged the barrel and cylinder throats on my Colt Single Action .44 Special. Barrel is .428 and cylinder throats go .433. Have an N.O.E. Keith hollow base ordered in the group buy which should help alleviate the discrepancy between the two.