Recent content by RichardDBeck

Neither... If you want a Lee go with the Load-Master. I just got one and it works like a dream. :)

If you don't have friends who shoot 9mm and will give you their brass for free then I would hit up your local gun shows. I just got 500 rounds of 9mm brass for 25 bucks. That's only $.05 per round. Most other places charge $.20 per case. I've also seen good deals on 9mm brass on Amazon.

Keep in mind thickness makes a really big difference in carry comfort. A 1911 is much thinner then a full size M&P. Having said that, the right holster can make all the difference. My friend carries a Glock 19 inside the waste band with a Crossbread holster and he says that he forgets he has...

If you really have to have super hot 9mm ammo why not just buy a .40 cal shield... That's essentially what a .40 cal hand gun is. What is the primary reason people don't buy a .40 cal handgun??? 1. Concussive blast forcing the involuntary closing of the shooters eyes requiring more time to...

My shield 9mm trigger SUCKED!!! it was around 8lbs and really gritty. Now it's about 4lbs with smooth take up and crisp break. I didn't modify the reset. I need to get the correct file to do that. I do my own trigger jobs. It cost less and is really easy. If you screw up you can always buy...

I've have bent a Fiocchi case trying to load my S&W Shield 9mm mag. :/ It seemed to be really thin. I was putting that last round in and the force on the bullet second to the top bent the brass. Having said that I shot all 50 rounds and reloaded them with no problems...

You could go with a faster burning powder. :/ I'm using 4.0 grains of Alliant Bullseye for my 115 grain FMJ RN loads that I run in my Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm and it works great.

I would also agree that a spinning bullet would reach disintegration velocity faster then one that is not spinning because of compounding of motion which should increase frictional drag. Another big factor is drag while inside the barrel. No two barrels are exactly the same. All in all I...

I would have to disagree. As an engineer who has spent lots of time making projectiles go supersonic and hyper-sonic. Frictional drag in the air can cause disintegration of and object. I've shot a ping-pong ball through a piece of .250" thick plywood. I would post the high speed footage but...

I've got a Lee Loadmaster that I really like. Having said that there are better presses out there. they were just out of my price range. :( I would just recommend you get one that auto indexes.

Thank you all for your very helpful feed back. I shot the rounds I loaded and they had a really nice tight grouping. The gun cycled but did not stay open on the last round every time. Also the brass was falling next to my feet. That was with the lower charge. The last shot hold open was...

I loaded 65 rounds at the lesser charge because like you said none of the manuals had the brand specific bullet. Some of the manuals had an identical bullet of a different brand (I assumed that would be ok) and they recommended a lower charge. Also I don't have a chronograph yet so I don't...

I'm pretty new to reloading and I am doing so for my Smith and Wesson shield 9mm. I'm trying to stay close or under normal factory ammo pressures. I still want my gun to cycle properly. The reloading manuals all have different recommendations for a 115 grain fmj 9mm load. Some say 3.9 grains...

This is a freaking gold mine!!! This needs to be pinned if it's not already.

It depends if it's your carry gun, your home defense weapon, or if it sits in the safe and only get shot for fun. If it's your carry gun I would check it every couple moths. Fine sand, dust, and lint can gum up the action. When your life is on the line your gun should be clean. Home defense...