What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[DsGrouse]

This is my thread that covers my search for a good 45c bullet powder combo for subsonic loads.

viewtopic.php?p=220389#p220389
The best overall is cast performance 265 and 300grn they've been most consistent at subsonic speeds.

[5shot]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[5shot]

Cast.jpg (108.9 KiB) Viewed 565 times

So...Here's what I did at my bench today. 255 gr, Lee RF's for the .45 Colt. I prefer iron molds and really despise this particular Lee mold but during certain phases of the moon after swinging a rubber chicken overhead and doing incantations....I sometimes manage to get a few keepers with it. Several times it has even produced six good bullets in one pour.

[DsGrouse]

Ah ive not gotten into casting.

[Vaquero]

Cast.jpg

So...Here's what I did at my bench today. 255 gr, Lee RF's for the .45 Colt. I prefer iron molds and really despise this particular Lee mold but during certain phases of the moon after swinging a rubber chicken overhead and doing incantations....I sometimes manage to get a few keepers with it. Several times it has even produced six good bullets in one pour.

I've never used a 6 hole mold, all of mine are 2 hole.
Mostly Lee and a coup;e of Lymans. I have a Lee 250-45 that O have never even used.
Actually forgot I even had it til last year I stumbled across it cleaning up.
Heck I don't really even know how long I've had it.

Do you lube yours or do you powder coat? I like powder coating better myself.

RP

[.45Steel]

Tonight after work I cast 100 c358-200-rf. for 35 Remington. I got them sized, checked with Sages gator checks and the first coat of Bens liquid on them.

What's your powder of choice?

RP

They are for a friend of mine. He plans on using 3031.

[Vaquero]

Tonight after work I cast 100 c358-200-rf. for 35 Remington. I got them sized, checked with Sages gator checks and the first coat of Bens liquid on them.

What's your powder of choice?

RP

They are for a friend of mine. He plans on using 3031.

It's a good one, I use it in mine, around 34.0 grs. is the sweet spot in my two Marlins.

RP

[Hatchdog]

Nothing. I had intended to work on some loads but the weather took a turn for the better so outside it was.

[5shot]

I've never used a 6 hole mold, all of mine are 2 hole.
Mostly Lee and a coup;e of Lymans. I have a Lee 250-45 that O have never even used.
Actually forgot I even had it til last year I stumbled across it cleaning up.
Heck I don't really even know how long I've had it.

Do you lube yours or do you powder coat? I like powder coating better myself.

RP
[/quote]

I'm a fan of powder coating too and with several of Lee's bullets with their shallow lube grooves that's the route I go. One exception is the Lee 125 gr. RF which IMO is one of the best Lee's ever. They put a decent crimp and lube groove in that bullet and it performs well in every .38 and .357 I've tried it in. Even does well through a couple 9mm 1911's. I use White Label Carnauba Blue in a Lyman 4500 for that bullet.

Somehow over the years I've acquired 5 lube sizers. A Star, RCBS LAM II, 2 Lyman 450's and a 4500. As much as I like powder coating it would be a shame to see all that equipment and the drawer full of White Label lubes just gathering dust.

Not meaning to turn this into a long winded post but... ...I don't have much money invested in those 5 lubesizers. I walked by a table at a gunshow just as the guy was unpacking stuff for display. He pulled out a like new San Diego Star complete with a .358" die in it. Tag said $45.00. I think some of my shoulder problems are from reaching for my wallet so fast. The Lyman 4500 came from walking into LGS right after someone brought in a bunch of casting "stuff" from an estate. The counter guy said "Are you a bullet caster? You can have the box of casting stuff for $75." In the box was a 4500 with several dies, top punches, gas check seater and other various trinkets.

[Vaquero]

Cool deal there 5shot, nothing like being in the right spot at the right time.
Several yrs ago I walked into a pawn shop that is owned by a I grew up with.
Someone had brought in some stuff to pawn and I guess threw in the reloading things.
I walk in and she says don't you reload? Me; yeah. She says here I got some stuff that I can't really sell.
So I gave her $5 for a Contender reloading manual and she threw in almost a whole lb of W 748, some reloaded ammo and brass and seems like something else, but I can't remember at the moment.
Tore the ammo down and gave the bullets to a friend as it was something I didn't use, trashed the cases, the majority were split and salvage the 40-50 primers. Pretty good deal for $5.

RP