gnappi
Member
It's cool to see so many are PC'ing their bullets. I even bought a .223 mold for when I run out of bullets to PC.
Weekendreloader...
I already had two Star sizers, but got a third so I do not have to switch out caliber dies.
Why not sell them and just buy cheap Lee presses and cheap Lee sizer dies? Inquiring minds want to know!
I'm not trying to dog on you, but am I to understand you're using $900 worth (3 x $300) of Star lubrisizers, which ironically are the fastest way to lube and size a cast bullet, to size PC'ed bullets?
Why not sell them and just buy cheap Lee presses and cheap Lee sizer dies? Inquiring minds want to know!
35W
Can you REALLY see me or anyone else with even a bit of grey matter changing over to... LEE???
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LOL....ironically, my Star lubrisizer is the main reason I've never messed with PC.
>>SNIP<<
35W
Wow! Visit castboolits. The Star is the "Star" of the "coatings and alternative" crowd there. You'll never use wax based lube again, trust me.
But push-thru bullet sizing dies are pretty hard to mess up; all one has to do is drill a round hole of a specific size through a piece of soft steel with 7/8-14 threads.
Being retired, to me production is nearly meaningless. I generally only go to the range once or twice a month, once a week at most and then maybe 200 rounds per trip. I can and often do easily make several times that amount in a month. When I can cast faster than I consume I'm GTG. You read right the PC bullets do not smoke, only the powder does, ranges have sufficient ventilation but despite that, I've had to stop shooting momentarily due to the lube cloud.
Anyway, I've been casting some 40 years all that while with lube (nevermore), and only recently joined castboolits and then because I wanted to PC. I use the same user name across the web, CU over at castboolits.
I've never used one. I tumble lube and use Lee push through dies.I disagree completely with this. Have you looking into the cost of a lube/sizer?
It's labor intense and slow. Your average newbie isn't going to tolerate that nonsense when they can tumble lube and leave it on a pan for a week.As for how to recommend it to new casters? Easy, they made it that damn far to have been able to cast a good bullet. It’s not rocket science.
That's not what I said.Powder coating is as cheap as it gets.
I started with a free toaster oven, a plastic container saved from sour cream, a $6 bottle of Harbor Freight powder, and a piece of parchment paper from the kitchen drawer. Other than maybe buying a funnel, it was the least expensive thing in my reloading hobby I ever did.
One pound of Eastwood powder will coat thousands of bullets. I have used and recommend: Eastwood's Mirror blue, Mirror Red, Lime Green. Recently purchased Eastwood's copper Penny (tried a sample batch and it looks pretty good), Mirror Black (have not tried yet) and Clear (have not tried yet).
I just received my LEE 356-125-2R 6-cavity mold in the mail yesterday. Hoping to get a semi-warm day soon so I can cast a bunch and try out my new powders.
In the end all that matters is how it shoots. I’m not casting an reload to save time lol
I've never used one. I tumble lube and use Lee push through dies.
It's labor intense and slow. Your average newbie isn't going to tolerate that nonsense when they can tumble lube and leave it on a pan for a week.
That's not what I said.
Powder coating is expensive in terms of your TIME.
How long do you have to work to lube/coat 1k bullets? Not counting Lee sizing. From bucket of cast to bucket of lubed?
I've never timed it, but I could get 1k of a 38 Special/357 Mag boolit lubed and on the pan to dry in under an hour. I only need to go outside in the winter cold to dump them onto the pan. Then come back in a week.
I have zero problem with leading with my lube formula. (Johnson's paste wax, a little Vaseline, and a touch of Allox) Accuracy is always what fails first. Usually at pressure/velocity I shouldn't be running in the first place.
Most of us are though. Reloading saves money, which is what we get in wages for selling our time.
Instead of spending time at a job to earn money to buy ammunition, we are spending time at the reloading bench and earning amunition.
I see you also stand them all up... several peoples testing says the basket method works functionally just as good but I dont like the blemishes where they stick together. It's worth the extra effort to make them beautiful....200 LEE 356-125-2R coated with Eastwood Copper Penny. Fresh out of the toaster oven.
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I’m with you. I’ve tried using a basket but didn’t like problems it caused. The only ones that are a pain to stand in end are the rifle bullets. I’d rather take the extra few mins to have them come out without blemishes.I see you also stand them all up... several peoples testing says the basket method works functionally just as good but I dont like the blemishes where they stick together. It's worth the extra effort to make them beautiful....
I stand them up for a few reasons:I see you also stand them all up... several peoples testing says the basket method works functionally just as good but I dont like the blemishes where they stick together. It's worth the extra effort to make them beautiful....
I’m with you. I’ve tried using a basket but didn’t like problems it caused. The only ones that are a pain to stand in end are the rifle bullets. I’d rather take the extra few mins to have them come out without blemishes.
It's labor intense and slow. Your average newbie isn't going to tolerate that nonsense when they can tumble lube and leave it on a pan for a week.