What did you do yesterday?

[6bg6ga 272]

Got a hobby outside of tractors, yard work, or gardens?   Spent two hours with the casting machine yesterday morning cranking out some 9mm bullets. 1/2-3/4 hr of time was spent in the machine getting up to temp.  Now to size and lube them on a different machine.

 

35 lbs of 9mm 124gr bullets spread out on my cookie sheet. should be around 1950 + bullets.

 

The machine with the pot is the casting machine with PID temp control. The sprew material is deposited in the white pan in front and the cast bullets go down the shoot to the rear.

 

The machine with the handle is the sizing/ lube machine in which the bullets are forced thru a sizing die and lube is injected into the lube groove.  The end product is ready to start loading.

 

 

Edited June 5, 2017 by 6bg6ga

[Racinbob 11,925]

Nice setup. A far cry from the way I did it. I still reload but I got away from casting the bullets.

 

[6bg6ga 272]

I used to cast with 4 bullet hand molds which you know makes for a long day. Next to casting I hated the sizing / lubing with the Lyman 450 I had. The Star is a simple machine which allows one to simply pull the handle and a finished bullet goes out the bottom into a collection pan. About 600 an hour without breathing hard. The bullet feeder makes life simple as one simply loads the plastic tube and bullets are fed into the sizing die. My time actually casting was about 1 1/4 hours.  I can make a lot more per hour but that requires a second person to keep adding lead to the 50lb pot and to inspect the finished product.

 

I cast for 9mm, 40 cal, 38/357, 44 mag, 45acp, and 45 long colt.  Casting for 380 wasn't worth my time so I just buy them.  The Dillon 650 does my pistol stuff and I reload the rifle stuff 308, 300 blackout, 22-250, and 5.56 off my Lyman -T-Mag press.

 

Unfortunately its never ending. I have other Star or Magma sizers for other calibers simply so I don't waste time setting them up going back and forth to different calibers. Made my own PID temp control that runs the 1/4"X 4" 400 watt heater inside the thick aluminum plate I mounted the sizer to. Most of my stuff is Star. Magma, or Ballisti-cast in name only because I have modified them extensively.

 

Thinking back to what I have done to this stuff makes me appreciate the modifications and or additions people have done on their Wheel Horses.. 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2017 by 6bg6ga

[slim67 2,809]

That's a good hobby and talent to have.

[Racinbob 11,925]

That's exactly what I used, a 4 bullet mold and yup, it makes for a long day. I use a Dillon but the smaller Square Deal since I only load .38/.357, 9mm and .45 ACP. I've thought about a 650 several times but just never did it and probably won't because I don't shoot as much as I used to. I'm curious, why do you use the Lyman for your rifle cartridges?

[6bg6ga 272]

I know a lot of people that reload .223/5.56 and 300 blackout on their 550's and 650's and don't have a problem. The reason I reload on the lyman -t-mag is it forces me to measure out every load so I get a precise on the money load every time. I won't do rifle cartridges because I feel it stresses the press and for the fact the powder dropper is only capable of dropping within .1 grain and that is depending on the type of powder. Some powders just don't throw right period.

 

The 22-250 on a windy day is capable of 5 shots at 100 yards that you can cover with a nickel and that is with a 24 power scope.  I made a setup for my RCBS 5-0-5 scale so I can set it for the desired load throw the powder a little lite with my RCBS powder dropper set the load on the pan on the scale hit a button and have the powder trickler automatically finish the load. I incorporated a sensor and control so at the touch of a button powder is trickled and when the balance been hits zero the trickler motor shuts off and the cycle is reset for the next cycle. So, to answer the question I guess I am finicky and don't want to chance either a lite load or a load that might be above loading guidelines.

 

Another reason for the 650 is I added a bullet dropper and  cartridge collator.  With a second body to keep the bullet dropper tube filled and the primer tube filled I can manage 1K in an hour  then its nap time..lol.  The 650's however require concentration or you can make junk or break things. I have made a few rounds that I had to take apart because of missing primers.

 

I don't need a 650 but when there was nothing to be had on the shelves I was sitting with thousands of rounds.

Edited June 6, 2017 by 6bg6ga

[Aldon 4,828]

This thread makes me want to dust off the reloading equipment and get my butt back out on the range! I have not been in awhile.

[6bg6ga 272]

14 minutes ago, Aldon said:

This thread makes me want to dust off the reloading equipment and get my butt back out on the range! I have not been in awhile.

 

If I didn't live so far away I'd be knocking on your door dragging you out. 

[slim67 2,809]

2 hours ago, 6bg6ga said:

 

If I didn't live so far away I'd be knocking on your door dragging you out. 

Im glad you dont mean literally! Hes got guns to! I try to go once a week since I joined a club instead of the indoor ranges where Id go broke going that much.

[Aldon 4,828]

I have a Hornady progressive and a Forster single stage press. 

 

9mm, 45 and .308 and wildcats. 6.5-06AI is my all around hunting rifle.

 

I have lots lots of different powder and projectiles for both short and long arms. Case lathes and all kinds of equipment including brass annealer.

 

When I was into it, before my eyes went to %~^|^ I liked shooting for extreme accuracy. 

 

My favorite past time was taking a used rifle and braking it down, rebuilding it and accurizing it. Both mechanically by free floating barrel, steel or glass bedding receiver and fine tuning/matching powder type and load for different projectiles. And shooting 3-500 yards. About as long as you can easily find a range out here....

 

When I was out west it was 1k yards.

 

When I started having to wear glasses, I was never able to enjoy it as much as previously.

 

But I keep hoping they advance science enough that I can get my vision corrected with lower risk etc. so I can go back to it. I used to hit range at least twice a week.

 

Im a Sig Sauer fan and with long arms either Rem 700 or Winchester 70 but prefer aftermarket barrels, triggers etc.

[slim67 2,809]

23 minutes ago, Aldon said:

I have a Hornady progressive and a Forster single stage press. 

 

9mm, 45 and .308 and wildcats. 6.5-06AI is my all around hunting rifle.

 

I have lots lots of different powder and projectiles for both short and long arms. Case lathes and all kinds of equipment including brass annealer.

 

When I was into it, before my eyes went to %~^|^ I liked shooting for extreme accuracy. 

 

My favorite past time was taking a used rifle and braking it down, rebuilding it and accurizing it. Both mechanically by free floating barrel, steel or glass bedding receiver and fine tuning/matching powder type and load for different projectiles. And shooting 3-500 yards. About as long as you can easily find a range out here....

 

When I was out west it was 1k yards.

 

When I started having to wear glasses, I was never able to enjoy it as much as previously.

 

But I keep hoping they advance science enough that I can get my vision corrected with lower risk etc. so I can go back to it. I used to hit range at least twice a week.

 

Im a Sig Sauer fan and with long arms either Rem 700 or Winchester 70 but prefer aftermarket barrels, triggers etc.

I'm not in the same league as you and 6b,but I improve every time I shoot. My eyes aren't great either as I wear contacts but I do like shooting with irons as opposed to optics.

[ohiofarmer 3,372]

My first rifle was a Remington 788 in .222. Right out of the box it would group MOA In 1969 that rifle sold for $79.95

 

Some years went by and we wanted to go on a prairie dog hunt, so i figured i would glass bed the 788.  Holy Crap on a Cracker. it will now shoot consistent groups that a dime will cover at 200 yards. . We all bought muzzle brakes and had a local gunsmith thread our barrels. Even though I had varmint weight barrels on the other rifles, the gunsmith made an adapter for that slim little tube so I could use the same brake.

 

 What a pleasure to watch the vapor trail of the bullet to the target because of nearly no recoil. That little rifle still holds a place in my heart

[6bg6ga 272]

Unfortunately my sight isn't what it used to be. I thought I was going blind when it went from 20/10 -20/20.  I have to rely on the 24 power scope to improve what would have been a very poor score. Anyway, its all about the fun the ability to go up against the wind the elements, a fellow shooter, or just the chance you might improve on your last score. I have some nice 1911's some worth thousands and one a basket case that I brought back from the grave one that the slide was frozen in position and wouldn't move.

 

I'm glad I started this thread a chance to read others thoughts and feelings on firearms and the joy of shooting and reloading. I'm probably nuts because I have a lot in firearms and reloading equipment. I find myself being like a little kid in a candy store when I see a gun I like the ability to resist purchasing it kinda goes down the drain. I can now see the joy you guys get from your pleasure hobby the joy of yet another tractor purchase a new hood a set of tires. Its probably never ending just like it is for me when I purchase another piece of equipment or another 1911 or 9mm or 308.

[slim67 2,809]

7 hours ago, 6bg6ga said:

Unfortunately my sight isn't what it used to be. I thought I was going blind when it went from 20/10 -20/20.  I have to rely on the 24 power scope to improve what would have been a very poor score. Anyway, its all about the fun the ability to go up against the wind the elements, a fellow shooter, or just the chance you might improve on your last score. I have some nice 1911's some worth thousands and one a basket case that I brought back from the grave one that the slide was frozen in position and wouldn't move.

 

I'm glad I started this thread a chance to read others thoughts and feelings on firearms and the joy of shooting and reloading. I'm probably nuts because I have a lot in firearms and reloading equipment. I find myself being like a little kid in a candy store when I see a gun I like the ability to resist purchasing it kinda goes down the drain. I can now see the joy you guys get from your pleasure hobby the joy of yet another tractor purchase a new hood a set of tires. Its probably never ending just like it is for me when I purchase another piece of equipment or another 1911 or 9mm or 308.

Its a fun hobby and there is a lot of choices in what you want to shoot.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

When I find time I try to reload a bit, but I'm cheap all my stuff is Lee single stage press and dies, and my rifles are Savage Model 10/110 with Simmons scopes (max 10x) but here's a target from before I switched triggers (was pulling at about 7 lbs then) always got a flier on the 5th pull  ,Jeff.

[6bg6ga 272]

That is a great looking group especially with the trigger pull and the 10X scope. What do you have for a trigger now?  There is nothing wrong with Lee products that I know of. You have other interests also and there is so much money to go around between those different interests. If you don't load a lot you don't purchase an expensive press heck some people I know that can easily afford progressive presses still choose to use single stage presses. I personally use my Lyman -T- Mag for rifle reloading verses using my Dillon 650 to load. Also the conversion caliber change over kits aren't cheap and when you purchase the die holding block @ $29.95 plus the changeover kit @ $77.00 and then a powder dropping measure it starts to add up. With single stage presses you simply unscrew one set of dies and screw in another and change the shell holder and your ready to go basically other than checking each die for possible small changes needed for crimping of OAL.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,376]

I bought Rifle Basix drop in triggers for a couple of the 5 Savages (.223,.243 Win,two .260s Rem and 7mm Rem Mag) got them down to 2.5-3 lbs now no creep or over travel either all these are pre accu-triggers rifles, and "tuned" the .243 factory triggger, still have 1 .260 and the .223 to do, Jeff.