Getting close....RELOADING.... Need more info

[metalhead357]

Metalhead357.... let me know when you have your equipment and I'll GLADLY come over and help you set up everything... one condition though... wifey HAS to be home when I come over.....

LOL! I just might take you up on that. I need your secret mix of Varget in '06 loads

[scrat]

if you need any assistance on 30-30 let me know. i have been reloading them for years.

If you get a chance pick up a lee loader in 30-30. i have a classic lee loader. and the deluxe target lee loader both in 30-30. Yet they are slow on making. They make very accurate ammo. Very very accurate. ammo.

[metalhead357]

if you need any assistance on 30-30 let me know. i have been reloading them for years.

If you get a chance pick up a lee loader in 30-30. i have a classic lee loader. and the deluxe target lee loader both in 30-30. Yet they are slow on making. They make very accurate ammo. Very very accurate. ammo.

Got a fovrite combo of powder and bullets? I'm W I D E open to suggestions. Thanks.

[mike100]

Unique works in a lot of handgun loads..makes a good 44 special or light 44 mag charge also. works great in 45 acp and will do 9mm and 38 spl also. I really use a lot of it. I think people also use it for 20 and 28 ga shot shells also.

I might suggest holding off on buying into lead casting until you get your press operation up and going. You're gonna need a resizing press and some dies for the calibers you want to cast for. HINT: just get the moulds for the slower calibers. The amount of work to get a really hard bullet for rifle and magnums is well..almost too much effort or a bit more expensive to buy the harder lead alloy. This stuff adds up...I have to tell you that while I have scored a couple hundred pounds of lead, bought a couple of new, a couple of used moulds, had my uncle give me a few old school casting things... I still haven'y saved a damn thing. I got over $300 in casting doo-dads and I have maybe barely cast about 500 bullets to date. I'd put your financial efforts into the reloading gear before the casting stuff.

One last thing: If you are going to buy into blue equipment in the future, make sure your dies that you will buy are going to work in the dillon toolheads.

[metalhead357]

Thanks Mike.....

I was debating dillion for a while but I've known too many people over the years that work/worked at RCBS. If I switch out from the Lee it'll most likely be to RCBS as they're only 20 or so miles from home......

As for the lead...I hear ya. I grew up casting aluminum, brass and lead; lead is some nasty stuff and I'm not relishing the idea a whole bunch; just having a heck of a time finding something workable AND CHEAP for this oddball I got in 8x56R.....

[scrat]

Bullet Grains Type Powder Grains OAL Velocity Comments
Cast
Lube Max Max Vel

CAST 120 rp lead trail boss 5 2.5 good lla
CAST 120 rp lead trail boss 5 2.41 good lla
CAST 120 rp lead trail boss 7 2.43 good lla
CAST 120 rp lead trail boss 5 good lla
CAST 120 rp lead trail boss 8 2.43 good lla
CAST 150
CAST 150 fp lead AA5744 16.5 2.5 1536 22.5 2112
CAST 150 fp lead WIN 748 28 2.5 1900 32 n/a
CAST 170 fp lead H4895 17.8 2.5 1390 smokes poor accuracy alox nra
CAST 170 fp lead H4895 26.1 2.5 1850 accurate, smokes, dirty brass lla
CAST 170 fp lead WIN 748 24.8 2.5 1613 Good accuracy lla 35 2270
CAST 170 fp lead H4198 15 2.485 1420 poor accuracy light 17 1616
CAST 170 fp lead AA5744 16.5 2.5 1460 22 2035

[scrat]

jacketed

Hornady jsrp 150 rn H4895 34 2.58 2390 Strong Very accurate X X
Sierra 2010 170 fn H4198 21 2.53 1800 VERY ACCURATE
150 grain JFP (Speer Jacketed Flat Point)
IMR 4895 35.5 gr. 2,315 FPS AWESOME
IMR 3031 35.5* gr. 2,370
H4895 34.0 gr. 2,409 VERY GOOD
731 32. gr 2300 VERY GOOD
748 34.5 gr. 2,310
760 35.9 gr. 2,090

[mike100]

I just cast a couple of hundred bullets here and there to supplement my 'store bought' ones. When you do find some wheel weights and lead from wherever, that's good, but the moulds, handles etc cost a lot.

the as cast diameter is wide, so you have to run each and every bullet thru a sizing press which also squeezes lube into the groove. This will allow you to use a bullet for say, 9mm at .356 and then using bullets cast from the same mould, sized at .357, for revolver loads.

The best utilization might be for 44 special and 45 long colt target/cowboy loads. 240 gr bullets cost more than 9mm so there is some savings in calibers like these that cost $30 per box.

the casting goes fairly simply. First, get the lead alloy (by weight) mix correct for a decently hard bullet. Casting manuals tell you how to mix up the right brew. I use solder flux since I can get gallons of it from work. The casting is easy, once the mould has been heated, you just pour the lead in there with your (preheated) dipper. you'll probably have to scrap your first dozen or 20 pours until the mould gets warmed up. I usually just keep making them until I get tired or the pot runs dry.

The best place to start is by reading the Lyman casting handbook. BTW, I have one you can have because they sent me 2 books because the first had a physical binding problem and cropped pages for the first 30 pages- still totally readable though, send me a couple of bucks for postage and it's yours.

[scrat]

Here is something even better.

http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/bullet-casting.htm

Ok on lubing and casting. i started to cast with about a $40.00. Thats it. i bought a mold and ladel. then started on an old propane stove. a few months later i bought a lee botom pour. i think it was about 45.00. I then bought a lee sizing kit. cost about 15.00. years later i bought a rcbs lubrisizer. You can buy a mold for about 25.00 a ladel for about 8.00 get them from midway or leeprecison. then buy a lee sizing kit. comes with the lube. Some people hate the lube some people like it. I have shot a lot of different lubes. I have litteraly stopped using the lubrisizer. the lee sizer is so easy. No leading of the barrel. check other forums. castboolits.com, handloads.com. thr. a lot of people use lee sizing kits and lee liquid alox. it works good its very inexpensive and its a cheap way to get into casting. Also for the lead. i stopped going to tire shops looking for free lead. type in lead in ebay then hunting. you will see so many people selling lead. i just buy 50lbs and it will last me sooooo long.

[metalhead357]

Thank you all gents.

Mike- when i get close to casting I'll take you up on that offer