Sometimes I think I'm doing this backwards

[Shak3s1977]

Some of the things I do when reloading appear to be backwards to most of the people I know who reload/cast lol.

1. I actually like 700X. It seems alot of people only like it when it's the last powder on the shelf. That's good for me because it usually means it's in stock.

2. I started powdercoating bullets. I've now just ordered a RCBS lubesizer. (It should be here tomorrow!!!!)The people I know are now powdercoating instead, but oddly didn't want to sell their lubesizers. I must be on to something.

3. So I finally tried the old Win 231 with 45acp. I got a feeling it's going to quickly be a favorite powder for 45. I still like my True Blue loads, 700X loads, and #2 loads, but boy that 231 is sweet. I do plan on trying Bullseye next, if I can ever find it.

4. Started out on a progressive press, a Dillon 550. I did finally buy a single stage though. I picked up a 1970 RCBS JR. It's a oldie, but it has a lot of life left in it.

Anyway I think that's it. I sure am glad my dad got me into this hobby. I went from shooting, to reloading, to casting. Each one brings me joy. I have my wife and both my kids shooting now, which I probably couldn't afford if I didn't reload and cast. Anyone else go down this road backwards?

 

[splattergun]

There's a contrarian in every group!
You'll like W231 in .45ACP. Try it in 9mm as well.

 

[AJC1]

I went from competition shooting to plinking with my son. The good brass sits in the safe. I've left behind matchkings for cast boolits. I have a lubrasizer at my dad's but I powdercoat cheaper than the shipping to get it here....

 

[P Flados]

At one time, 700x was one of my favorites. As I was getting low, I opted to go with the nearly identical Promo (bulk version of Red Dot) instead just based on availability, cost and amount of load data for handguns. Promo quickly became a favorite, but I will admit that this not because the actual powder is any better than 700x.

Both of the above are less than ideal with respect to metering. I understand this and just "deal with it".

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

At one time, 700x was one of my favorites. As I was getting low, I opted to go with the nearly identical Promo (bulk version of Red Dot) instead just based on availability, cost and amount of load data for handguns. Promo quickly became a favorite, but I will admit that this not because the actual powder is any better than 700x.

Both of the above are less than ideal with respect to metering. I understand this and just "deal with it".

The debates I’ve had over 700X vs Red Dot have mostly centered around packaging, not performance. 14oz vs 1lb canister for the same price and the “ideal” load for a 230gr FMJ, 4.5gr 700X vs 5gr RD. My FiL and I went round and round over both. Still do just for fun when the ladies are chatting and we’re bored.

 

[P Flados]

The 14 oz vs. 1 lb would never cross my mind. Promo is 8 lb jugs only and has always been a low cost per pound option (when you can find it). I just hope price and availability improve before my current stash runs dry.

 

[.38 Special]

I'm new to 700x. It is one of the many dozens of powders I ignored back when I could get Alliant products on demand. I'm now burning the stuff like crazy and haven't found anything at all wrong with it.

I jumped onto all the bandwagons when I was new to the game, and so have scraped all sorts of nonsense out of my barrels. I'm not planning on trying powder coating. I have multiple lubrisizers set up with various lubes, and they all work perfectly.

231 is a massively underrated powder. I used hundreds of pounds of it with the .38 Special, back in my Bianchi Cup days, and I still have a soft spot for it.

I sold my Dillon 1050 when I quit competition, but I still use my original SDB - and in fact have just recently begun loading the 10mm in volume, and may order another SDB just for the purpose. On the whole, though, I've gone back to using my ancient single stage press, doing it just like Skeeter and Elmer and all those other old timey fellows.

I don't think of it as going at it backwards so much as coming full circle. Sometimes the old ways are indeed the best ways.

 

[.38 Special]

Oh, and Bullseye... It is one of the best and most dangerous powders available. I have no idea how many 2.7/148 HBWC I've loaded, but it's a lot - and that load is one of the few perfect things available to us in this life.

It's critically important, though, to remember that while we talk about the risks of double or triple charging a case, Bullseye makes it possible to septuple charge, octuple charge, or whatever bit of nuclear-level destruction comes after that. So use it, by all means - but look into those cases before seating!

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm a fan of 700-X. It is my main "go to" powder for 230 grain RN 45 ACP ammunition since the early 1980's.

I've use it in other applications as well.

 

[Pottimus]

You have options, that is not such a bad deal... I started powder coating before I even broke in the lubrisizer. I won't mind even tumble lubing now and then.

 

[entropy]

1. I love 700-x, as I do most powders that are good shotgun and pistol powders. The "It's too dirty!" comments usually come from people who hated cleaning their guns.

2. When I started reloading, powder coating wasn't a thing. Alox was the shizzle. Tumble lubing was more common.

3. 231 is a great pistol powder, but I have always had a pound of Bullseye and Unique each handy.
5.0 gr. of Bullseye and 230 gr. FMJ, the classic 1911 load.

4. I started on an 'old' 1970 ('72 actually) RCBS Jr., except it was still new when I did. I've never used any other metallic press. I also use the shotgun press I started on, a MEC 600 Jr., same age, also bought new. I actually do have a "manual" progressive MEC 650, but it only use the crimp 'coning' die on it, after I load on the 600.

Like you, my dad taught me how to reload, it's his presses that I still load on; he gave them to me when he retired to Texas, thinking he'd never load again.

He now has a Rock Chucker. He bought a MEC Sizemaster in 20 ga., but only loaded about 5 boxes on before he decided it was too much work for the few rounds of Trap he shoots, so he sold it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

1. I love 700-x, as I do most powders that are good shotgun and pistol powders. The "It's too dirty!" comments usually come from people who hated cleaning their guns.

2. When I started reloading, powder coating wasn't a thing. Alox was the shizzle. Tumble lubing was more common.

3. 231 is a great pistol powder, but I have always had a pound of Bullseye and Unique each handy.
5.0 gr. of Bullseye and 230 gr. FMJ, the classic 1911 load.

4. I started on an 'old' 1970 ('72 actually) RCBS Jr., except it was still new when I did. I've never used any other metallic press. I also use the shotgun press I started on, a MEC 600 Jr., same age, also bought new. I actually do have a "manual" progressive MEC 650, but it only use the crimp 'coning' die on it, after I load on the 600.

Like you, my dad taught me how to reload, it's his presses that I still load on; he gave them to me when he retired to Texas, thinking he'd never load again.

He now has a Rock Chucker. He bought a MEC Sizemaster in 20 ga., but only loaded about 5 boxes on before he decided it was too much work for the few rounds of Trap he shoots, so he sold it.

The uncle who taught me reloading also taught me casting - even though he hadn't been casting for pistol for years himself, I needed to know how to do it, by golly! He taught me how to pan lube. What a pain. It works but it's tedious. Johnson's Beeswax and Vaseline plus something else (escapes me, now) for a good, hard, functioning lube and a Lubrisizer were the new hotness when I got off on my own. Still have the Lyman 450 and a few sticks of lube but I buy my cast now. There's so many really good casters out there these days it's just not worth my hassles.

Pops in law turned me onto 700X. He was right, it's a good powder. It's not Red Dot, though.
I started with Bullseye and Unique. For years loading .38Spl and .357Mag they were all I needed. Then I started going to the rifle & pistol club on my own and the old timers got hold of me. Hercules 2400, IMR 4227, Winchester 296 and 231... they totally corrupted me.

 

[Shak3s1977]

Maybe it is just coming full circle. I'm glad I know what I know now. I do sometimes wish I would have gotten in this hobby 20 years ago.

The people I know that reload, told me I would save all kinds of money reloading and casting.
I'm beginning to think they just didn't want to be the only ones who fell for that old saying.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Maybe it is just coming full circle. I'm glad I know what I know now. I do sometimes wish I would have gotten in this hobby 20 years ago.

The people I know that reload, told me I would save all kinds of money reloading and casting.
I'm beginning to think they just didn't want to be the only ones who fell for that old saying.

Its like drinking. Codependency is so much more fun.

 

[Shak3s1977]

Its like drinking. Codependency is so much more fun.

I will agree there lol.

 

[Dudedog]

W231/HP38 (same powder, buy whichever you can find or whichever is less expensive)
Works great for me in .45, my go to powder.
4.7 or 5gr with a 230gr bullet, 4.7 of course is softer, 5gr is a hair more accurate.
5gr worked well for me with a lead 200gr SWC as well.