RanchRoper's Reloading Ruminations

[Ojaileveraction]

The wheel of my desk chair rolled over a primer and it went pop. Wasn't sure and then I smelled it.
I've used the hand primer it works but the with lever action ammo I bell and prime in the same swing of the press .
I did prime a couple hundred 223 case with my Lyman hand primer.

[RanchRoper]

I don't have my dies yet but from what I see I can size, de-prime and prime at stage 1.

[Rifletom]

A bit late here, and others have covered/answered pretty well.Must say tho, Lee makes some very good handloading tools, but, some of their opinions on items, like primer usage/handling and other 'concerns", are kinda out there. I use the RCBS hand held primer deal and have never had an issue with it. Many here have mentioned handling primers with your fingers is fine, as long as your hands are basically clean. Totally agree. RR, it just takes a little while to muddle thru the learning curve and things become way more simplified. Keep asking.

[RanchRoper]

The way some of the info is presented you are holding a case of nitro when you have a primer in your hand. I can only go by my experience with factory ammo and although I don't toss it around the boxes get bumped once in awhile and don't seem to blow up.

[RanchRoper]

My new Lyman tumbler is cleaning the first load of brass as I post this....

Digital scale arrived too. Just waiting on dies.

*after only an hour I pulled one out. Not bad at all, before and after.

[BigAl52]

Did you use any wax at all in the media?

[RanchRoper]

Nope. But they all look clean and I am a patina kinda guy anyway. Don't need them too shiny.

Had a few with a tiny piece of walnut shell stuck inside the primer pocket...got most out. Guess press will push that out during de-prime....very very small. I like the idea of a die just for de-priming dirty cases and then tumble the brass. Might look into that.

250 cases ready to size and prime once dies show up.

[Rifletom]

RR, one more small thing that I don't recall reading here. Take notes on what you're doing. More on load development than anything. Those will become your own "manual" over time.

[Mistered]

I gotta have them shiny!

[BruniX]

lube on lead bullets seem to be used to reduce leading of barrel...
on internet, all people that cast seems to lube their bullets...

i have made a mix for that :

1/3 bee wax (the cheeper one, not white wax...)
1/3 parafin
1/3 lithium grease (mecanical)

be careful with fire risk when "cooking" that and use mask for smoke....
do that outside, if possible , never inside home

a good exemple , here :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxE-BH- ... MspNW&t=0s

[Mistered]

all people that cast seems to lube their bullets...

It is essential cast bullets be lubed however lube in itself does not prevent leading.
Leading is caused by velocity and heat stripping lead from the bullet depending on its hardness.
Do you know the hardness of your lead you are casting with?

[BruniX]

all people that cast seems to lube their bullets...

It is essential cast bullets be lubed however lube in itself does not prevent leading.
Leading is caused by velocity and heat stripping lead from the bullet depending on its hardness.
Do you know the hardness of your lead you are casting with?

Sure...
One serial at 18 brinell, an0ther one 15 and à serial at 13 , 13.4 To test...
Projet le To male 3 of à hardness and décline thay for 6 range of charge To compare ...
(Thé 6 range given vu lyman for this mold...
However the mold is calculated for 405 gr.
But with alloy , bullet are à little less heavier:
485 gr.
So pressure will be less ...

[BruniX]

all people that cast seems to lube their bullets...

It is essential cast bullets be lubed however lube in itself does not prevent leading.
Leading is caused by velocity and heat stripping lead from the bullet depending on its hardness.
Do you know the hardness of your lead you are casting with?

Sure...
One serial at 18 brinell, an0ther one 15 and à serial at 13 , 13.4 To test...
Projet ls To make 3 of à hardness and décline this for 6 range of charge To compare ...
(The 6 range given by lyman for this mold...)
However the mold is calculated for 405 gr.
But with my alloy , bullet are à little less heavier:
485 gr. (Less lead)
So pressure will be less ...also....

[RanchRoper]

This old cowboy won't be casting bullets anytime soon. Store bought lead for me.

Tonight I will clean more brass. Dies hopefully show up by weekend.

[ESquared]

Tonight I will clean more brass.

How's the tumbling going? Pretty neat to experience the Before & After, huh? It's with that very first step that the sense of accomplishment and rejuvenation can hit you!

[RanchRoper]

Ya it's pretty cool.

[Carver]

As a first time novice reloader, I have the same questions and concerns. I have the same reloader that you have and am re loading 45 ACP,
so far I have loaded about 500 rounds and have shot about 350 with no problems and a lot of enjoyment. I still have my concerns about double charging so have been weighing every 10 loads, I use both a digital and beam scale and have been right on with all my powder charges.
As for the primers I have in the past loaded a ton of shotgun shells and never had a problem with any of them. I find that the primer setup on the Lee loader takes a little time to get the hang of it but so far has worked great for me.
Bill

[RanchRoper]

Appreciate the feedback. Good luck with your loads.

[Cofisher]

So, RR, no pics of you over the camp fire melting lead? Maybe someday.

[RanchRoper]

Maybe as one of Beelzebub's minions one day but that's about it.