Casting and loading

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

With the bad weather coming .

Hear in Michigan it can get  bad for a long time .

I do all my Casting , lubing , sizing and loading .

To take up the time for the long Winter .

 

My process is slow but it works for me .

 

I cast several different kinds off bullets over a couple days .

Then I sort them to be lubed .

I pan lube every bullet in a Double boiler setup  with Crisco and Beeswax .

After the first pan cools off it is just about pulling out the bullet ,

and putting in a new one in the hole and remelting in the double boiler .

Then I run them threw a Lee sizing die which helps with packing the lube good in tight in the grooves.

 

This is when I start hand priming all my cleaned brass .

Then I load everything on a Lee Turret press .

 

Like I said its NOT fast .

But helps with the long slow Winters hear in Michigan .

Doing everything is steps help to start and stop at any time with No Mistakes made .

Rooster.

 

PS. How do you load and take up the winter time ?

[Sedalia Dave]

I have to load ammo off and on year round. Loading for two people means that I go through not quire a thousand rounds a month.

 

Reason is that NE Texas has at least one and often 2 matches within a two hour drive that can be shot both days of every weekend.  At least 2 clubs have special 5th Saturday matches for those months that have them. One club also has special matches on most federal holidays. NCOWS, Cody Dixon, WB, and BAMM style matches are also available at some clubs. 

 

The bummer part is it is rather hot here in the summer and the heat kinda takes the fun out of CAS. The upside is that the winters are mild so shooting in Jan and Feb is usually not too bad.

 

Shoot too many .38s to have the time to cast and lube them so I get coated bullets from Cimarron Bullets in Wylie TX.

I have started casting and lubing for my 38-55, 45-70, and 30-06

 

Sorry Ron just couldn't help myself.

 

[Warden Callaway]

I've been building up to the right time to start casting.  I have a station set up on the back porch for the casting. I use a Lee 20 pound pot.  Lee 6 cavity molds.  I use up lead I collected from my bullet traps that I've pre-processed into ingots.   

 

 

 

I saze using a Lee sizing die in a small press mounted upside down.  I don't lube the bullets as I use them in my BlackMZ loads.

 

Sawmill Mary will only shoot Missouri Bullet Company poly coated "lipstick" bullets. 

[Tyrel Cody]

Speak up, I can't here you. 

 

It's usually warm enough around here that I can catch a match at Wartrace or North Alabama. I keep enough loaded for Mustang and myself to go shoot; if not I have enough supplies to load either smokeless or BP the night before.

 

I don't cast. Too much trouble with two kids and a busy work schedule.

[Yul Lose]

We don’t worry about winter around here and shoot all year long. My Dillon 650 is back at Dillon being rebuilt so for the last couple of matches I’ve loaded on a turret press, sure is fun (not). On Saturday at the Bandidos match a guy showed up with a bunch of lead, brass and bullets to give away so I ended up with it and may have to start casting now.

[Trailboss (Santa) Dave]

I use a Lyman 20# pot as well as an RCBS 20#,

 

I empty one and refill as I empty the other

 

I use Lyman, Lee Saeco, and H&G 4,6 &8 cavity molds

 

A Star sizer to size and lube

 

with my set up I can cast & lube 1,000 bullets in about an hour and a half

[G W Wade]

19 minutes ago, Trailboss (Santa) Dave said:

I use a Lyman 20# pot as well as an RCBS 20#,

 

I empty one and refill as I empty the other

 

I use Lyman, Lee Saeco, and H&G 4,6 &8 cavity molds

 

A Star sizer to size and lube

 

with my set up I can cast & lube 1,000 bullets in about an hour and a half

This is closer to my set up.   Seem to have endless winter up here, but don't think I could handle your hand cast and pan lube.  I run along at 1500 rounds in 3 hours. Cast and lubed.  Use a Star when my bullets need sizing but tumble lube with home made mix of Johnson Paste wax mixed with Lee Alox.      GW

[Nickel City Dude]

I think that it would be easier for you to get yourself a lubrasizer like the one from RCBS or a Star.  Pan lubing is very labor intense.  When I was molding my own lead bullets that is what I used.  Now I get molly coated bullet and use a Mr. Bullet feeder on my Dillon 650, this makes for less work and a lot faster.  I live near Buffalo NY and we get some pretty intense winters here too.

[Preacherman]

Been casting awhile and am lazy. I value my time and find that most all straight cased calibers don't need sizing or use Lee factory crimp die that sizes when crimped. Also, just use Lee's Liquid Alox and tumble lube, quick and easy. Good for black too! Try it and see. Oh, yes if sizing is needed use the Lee size die system like Warden Callaway says. Good Shootin'!

[Rex M Rugers #6621]

1 hour ago, Trailboss (Santa) Dave said:

I use a Lyman 20# pot as well as an RCBS 20#,

 

I empty one and refill as I empty the other

 

I use Lyman, Lee Saeco, and H&G 4,6 &8 cavity molds

 

A Star sizer to size and lube

 

with my set up I can cast & lube 1,000 bullets in about an hour and a half

That is some production. I cast with an RCBS electric bottom-pour pot and a 4-cavity Accurate mold. I couldn't stay with it hard enough to cast 1000 bullets in one day , let alone 90 minutes. A tip of the hat to you.

Rex 

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L]

3 hours ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

PS. How do you load and take up the winter time ?

 

Here in the Houston area the winter months are some of the best in which to shoot.  Summers here are brutal.

 

during summer I cast, powder coat and size about 15 lbs then repeat.  Did that for about two weeks straight before went on to reloading.  

With progressive I just load about 2-300 hundred rounds at a time--after that I get even more brain dead and that's when I do stupid stuff.

 

 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Cast pistol bullets from a 20# RCBS pot in 90 minutes - mostly 3 cavity Accurate molds.   Size with Star in another 90 minutes.  You can figure out how many bullets that yields.

 

When I cast rifle bullets, mostly with 2 cavity NOE, Accurate, Saeco, RCBS or Lyman molds, I'll need 3 hours to cast a 20# pot out.  Sizing also slower since gas checks go on all my rifle slugs, using Lyman sizers.

 

Cast all year long here.  I've learned how to do it with a little snow on the ground - it's not hard to cast fast then - molds cool quick.

 

Just hauled in another 600+ pounds of bullet alloy.  That will last about 2 years.

 

Yeah, being (newly) retired does make spending the time making my own much easier.

 

Good luck, GJ

 

 

 

[Springfield Slim SASS #24733]

Trailboss; So you can cast 1000 bullets  and then get them all sized in an hour and a  half? Better than I can do, and I use 2- 6 cav's at a time and a Star.

[Michigan Slim]

My family and I shoot and Ice fish. After deer seasons end of course. 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

6 hours ago, Nickel City Dude said:

I think that it would be easier for you to get yourself a lubrasizer like the one from RCBS or a Star.  Pan lubing is very labor intense.  When I was molding my own lead bullets that is what I used.  Now I get molly coated bullet and use a Mr. Bullet feeder on my Dillon 650, this makes for less work and a lot faster.  I live near Buffalo NY and we get some pretty intense winters here too.

I tried a lubersizer  for a wile . ( Did not like it )

I guess I have been doing it my way for so long .

Im just used to it .

Like I said .

Its Slow .

But it works for me .

Thank you for the suggestion.

Rooster  

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

I buy reclaimed lead shot  & use that for shotgun as well as melting down for casting in a Magma caster, I have 40 different molds  if required.

Also use the  same brand lube sizer..retired now so can set the time aside to do it but must admit since we moved house nearly 12 months ago I haven't melted anything but I have plenty of lead for when I start again..I enjoy casting & loading etc.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

1 hour ago, Painted Mohawk SASS 77785 said:

I buy reclaimed lead shot  & use that for shotgun as well as melting down for casting in a Magma caster, I have 40 different molds  if required.

Also use the  same brand lube sizer..retired now so can set the time aside to do it but must admit since we moved house nearly 12 months ago I haven't melted anything but I have plenty of lead for when I start again..I enjoy casting & loading etc.

I own and run  a full service fast paced business all by myself . 

So Cow Boy Action shooting and Casting and Loading  is my relaxing time . 

 

Hence the reason I dont practice .

If i needed to practice and work on transitions.

It would be more  like having another job  !

 

My loading is done in stages .

Yes I know there is faster ways .

Like I said 

it works for me.

Rooster 

 

[Michigan Slim]

I love casting. Wish I had more time. Soon maybe. 

[Smoky Pistols]

I just acquired enough brass so that I think I can load for the year with no problem.  Now to find the time to implement the program!

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

3 hours ago, Smoky Pistols said:

I just acquired enough brass so that I think I can load for the year with no problem.  Now to find the time to implement the program!

I think I got enough brass to last a lifetime .

I'm pretty sure I got enough Lead to last a lifetime .

I'm probably close to having enough everything to last a lifetime. 

So I load all winter long and shoot when I can .

Rooster 

[Warden Callaway]

Just below freezing but sun was bright and no breeze so about 10:00am I turned on the Lee 20 lb pot and after it started flowing,  cast bullets for an hour. Using my Lee 200 gr 6 cavity 44 mold, I estimate I made over 500 bullets.  The breeze picked up and my back was giving out.  It wasn't as much fun so I shut down the operation.   Sizing is an inside job that I do in my insomniac hours. 

[John Boy]

Quote

PS. How do you load and take up the winter time ?

I cast & reload throughout the year.  In the winter, in the evenings:

* Clean the reloading room

* Take inventory of bullets & powder

* Check all the firearms in the safes for any surface rust

During the days - go hunting

 

[Buffalo Bill Mathewson, 37826]

18 hours ago, John Boy said:

I cast & reload throughout the year.  In the winter, in the evenings:

* Clean the reloading room

* Take inventory of bullets & powder

* Check all the firearms in the safes for any surface rust

During the days - go hunting

 

I MUST NEED COLDER WINTERS I HAVENT CLEANED THE RELOADING ROOM FOR YEARS

[Matthew Duncan]

On November 5, 2018 at 2:52 PM, Michigan Slim said:

My family and I shoot and Ice fish. After deer seasons end of course. 

The five on the right are the ones you caught?

[Red Cent]

"During the days - go hunting "

 

There is deer in joisy?

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

6 hours ago, Red Cent said:

"During the days - go hunting "

 

There is deer in joisy?

They drive Cabs lol 

[Michigan Slim]

On ‎11‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 6:02 PM, Matthew Duncan said:

The five on the right are the ones you caught?

Uh, NO. Hunting -she usually gets a bigger buck or doe. Shooting? Well, you seen that.... We wont go there.  Ice fishin? Mine baby!