Frustrating lesson

[Engineer1911]

You can't load ammo if you don't have bullets. So after a 6 hour casting session there was 50# of 9 MM 123 gr / 125 gr from a Lyman and Lee multi-cavity molds. Only problem is a slight difference in height. This means 2 containers of bullets for the sized and lubed bullets, 1 for the Lee, and 1 for the Lyman bullets. Sorting bullet as I size definitely slows down the sizing process.

I have pulled the handle on the Lyman 450 sizer for about 4+ hours and have about 1/3 of the bullets sized. I guess this batch will take a while. I know powder coating is ............... , ................. , and ............. , but I don't need another process with 10# of bullet lube or ingredients sitting on the shelf.

EDIT: Next time I'll use 2 boxes, one for each mould.

 

[yeti]

Kudos for reloading your own cast bullets.
I like to reload when I want to reload, not when I have to. I’ll just buy my coated bullets, but I appreciate your from the ground up efforts.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Am I reading this right... you didn't sort while you cast? If not, you are a glutton for punishment.

John

 

[M1A4ME]

I used to cast and used the old Lee "wax pan" lube and push through sizer with a mallet. Several of us would sit around a big bench with an exhaust fan pulling air away from the talbe in a direction no one sat and we cast, lube and size the bullets while we talked and had a good time. Only two of us still communicating 40 plus years later but we both recall it as fun.

 

[Rule3]

You can't load ammo if you don't have bullets. So after a 6 hour casting session there was 50# of 9 MM 123 gr / 125 gr from a Lyman and Lee multi-cavity molds. Only problem is a slight difference in height. This means 2 containers of bullets for the sized and lubed bullets, 1 for the Lee, and 1 for the Lyman bullets. Sorting bullet as I size definitely slows down the sizing process.

I have pulled the handle on the Lyman sizer for about 4+ hours and have about 1/3 of the bullets sized. I guess this batch will take a while. I know powder coating is ............... , ................. , and ............. , but I don't need another process with 10# of bullet lube or ingredients sitting on the shelf.

How do you lube them. ??

Powder coat (paint) is easy. All you need is a can of powder paint and plastic jar and a old toaster oven. Shake them up with the powder paint, put on parchment paper and bake in the oven. Sill have to size them

I had some 45 acp with regular lube. I melted it off, cleaned with solvent and powder coated them.

I just buy them now with Hi Tec coating.

 

[gwpercle]

It's called ... Experience ... and it's a Hard Teacher ...
But ... Live and Learn !

I learned several lessons the Hard Way ... you tend to remember them well !

Keep On Keepin On ...
Gary

 

[rockquarry]

You can't load ammo if you don't have bullets. So after a 6 hour casting session there was 50# of 9 MM 123 gr / 125 gr from a Lyman and Lee multi-cavity molds. Only problem is a slight difference in height. This means 2 containers of bullets for the sized and lubed bullets, 1 for the Lee, and 1 for the Lyman bullets. Sorting bullet as I size definitely slows down the sizing process.

I have pulled the handle on the Lyman sizer for about 4+ hours and have about 1/3 of the bullets sized. I guess this batch will take a while. I know powder coating is ............... , ................. , and ............. , but I don't need another process with 10# of bullet lube or ingredients sitting on the shelf.

I usually use two moulds at a time; pretty easy to keep them separate while casting and doesn't slow things down at all. On an old towel doubled up to prevent damage to the hot, soft bullets, I drop one bullet design on the right and the other on the left. I'd assume this is the way most casters do it.

 

[Always Faithful Holsters]

I bought a Star Luber/Sizer years ago and, as long as the grease groove is in the same area, no problemo.

 

[venomballistics]

I've always kept the piles separated.
I can't say as I've managed to do it to myself like that

 

[newfie]

How do you lube them. ??

Powder coat (paint) is easy. All you need is a can of powder paint and plastic jar and a old toaster oven. Shake them up with the powder paint, put on parchment paper and bake in the oven. Sill have to size them

I had some 45 acp with regular lube. I melted it off, cleaned with solvent and powder coated them.

I just buy them now with Hi Tec coating.

 

[newfie]

I lube with a Lyman 450 tool. I bought it in the early seventies and it's worked perfectly ever since. I shoot lots of cast bullets, both rifle and handgun. I prefer gas check bullets and the 450 luber/sizer makes the job fast and easy.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

You can't load ammo if you don't have bullets. So after a 6 hour casting session ...

Back in the 1970s my Lieutenant (great shooter of the Cooper persuasion) was showing / teaching me about casting bullets.

I decided to go with store bought bullets for reloading. Originally, I used Speer Bullets but eventually found cheaper alternatives.

 

[chief38]

I give you guys lots of credit for casting bullets - that's where I draw the line - no patience.

 

[Skeet 028]

Sizing is the chore...For large batches I use Star sizers...I must admit I am about done large batch casting...and will soon sell one of the star sizers...for 32 bullets I use either a Lyman 45 or a RCBS sizer To be honest I have found quite a few commercial cast bullets at auctions and gun shows lately...usually cheapMore than halg the reloaers I know use jacketed in handguns..kind of a duh idea to me

 

[DAMDAN]

I started handloading and casting in 1953 under the watchful eye of our ranch manager. The cartridge was the 25-20 WCF. The rifle was a Winchester M. 92 SRC. The deal was I could shoot all I wanted, but I had to cast my own bullets and load my own ammo. My dad, a cow buyer, was gone a lot. ok'd the deal between Charley and I. As the ranch was full of coyotes, jackrabbits and prarie dogs, dad agreed to buy powder and primers. It was February when we started. Thank goodness! The ranch didn't get REA power until 1958. By spring I had a 3 pound coffee can almost full of Lyman 258312 85 grain projectles. Good enough to last all summer! All cast on a Home Comfort wood burning stove. you just DO NOT cast in the summer. I had to buy my gas checks, they were $3.00 per. 1000 from lyman. Big bucks! I have been shooting and casting since! DAMDAN