The new Lee sizer are just like the old ones, only they are a cheaper bushing, rather than an entire die. The push rods are the same, they operate the same.
When I cast pure lead I'm usually around 820 degrees F as a starting point. I hardly ever have to go higher than that, and often I'll back off to 780-800F when my molds get up to temp. Round ball you can get away with a much wider range, but 800-820 is a good range for bullets.
In all, the .41 Magnum would be one of my top choices for an all-around handgun if I were allowed to have only one. - Bart Skelton
You are correct. Minie type hollow base bullets to not get wads.
The card wads are used to keep the powder gasses from the base of the bullet. When fitted well they also 'scrape' a bit of fouling back down the barrel as they are seated. Lubed felt wads are for lube, especially important when shooting paper patched bullets since they do not carry any lube. The lube keeps the fouling softer.
Go to the Buffalo Arms Co website
https://www.buffaloarms.com/reloadin...ries/wads.html
Basically card wads (veggie fiber or cardboard or cork/gasket material), approx 1/16" thick.
Felt wads, usually 1/8" thcik, with or without lube. Felt can be just about anything. It is just to hold some lube.
Poly wads. Modern stuff but works really well. Use instead of card wads. I've used it in straight wall pistol cartridges, like .357mag, instead of gas checks.
For thicker you can also use the overpowder wads made for shotguns.
Last edited by charlie b; 08-26-2022 at 09:18 AM.
Thank you, good info there!
In all, the .41 Magnum would be one of my top choices for an all-around handgun if I were allowed to have only one. - Bart Skelton
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 |