Recent content by Sky King

Get a thermometer. Best to start casting when temperature is between 750-800. Otherwise you'll get wrinkled bullets or bullets that are not filling out. Lay your mold on top of the pot while it's heating up. It will help getting your mold up to temperature. Not quite but helps.

I've been casting about 40yrs, .380, 9mm, 38-357, 44 and 45's, but I'm more than an hour away. I'm near Joliet, IL.

Thank's all for the info. ADI's site lists the same info as Hodgdon's site. 9mm data is for lead and plated bullets

Picked up some Universal for reloading 9mm Hornady 115gr FMJ and 124gr FMJ. Reloading manuals are all over the place (I have manuals from just about everyone) as to starting loads and max loads. Example Hornady's list 4.5gr as max for 115gr FMJ, Lee's lists it as starting load.

I use Lyman's Ammo Checker. Cover 8 different calibers. Works better for me than taking the barrels out for the plunk test or dropping them in the cylinder of revolvers

If a Mak makes it to the sizing die, I can usually feel more resistance in the sizing as the Mak's are a larger diameter making it harder to size.

I deprime my cases first, then wash them with Dawn after drying for a couple of days they're then tumbled. If I do get scratching it is usually do to me not putting enough lube on the cases before sizing. I spray lube them. I feel the dirt on a uncleaned case will scratch the die.

Next question will be, "Why am I getting bulges on one side of the case." SOP on 9mm's

If all you want is plinking rounds, I use Hornady 55gr FMJ's with H335 works fine in my Colt 6920

I use Titegroup or HP38/231

For jacketed bullets. Precision Delta and Zero

You could try loosening the locking nuts on all dies then with a case in all stations raise the cases into the dies and then tighten the lock nuts.

I didn't think it made any difference for just blasting. Thanks

After sizing, trimming and removing crimp is it worth time to sorting .223 brass by head stamp before reloading. I don't for .380, 9mm, 40 S&W or .45acp.

I had that happen on a 30 Carbine die. Now I use it as a depriming die.