Ok, so here's the deal....
I'm a new C&R holder and though I have read these (as in gun/reloading sites on the web) forums for years, my hands-on experience is limited to Lee Loaders.
I like the Lee for my .44 spl/mag with store bought bullets and the 30-06 likewise, but these last two weeks have forced me to gear up all at once.
You see, I had plans for that C&R and put both feet in, as my budget got right.
Yugo SKS, Yugo 48, m/n 91/30, m/n 38, Swiss k31 and oh yea, a really nice, if unplanned for, FN Belgium m35 Mauser in 7.65.
Every one of these are going to need feeding and so I went with Lee dies, press(s), case prep and powder measure/dippers as starting tools.
I also have an RCBS 505 and Redding trickle and know how to use them
For a melting set up, a Wal-Mart hot plate and an RCBS iron pot with dipper. I also have a small iron smelting pot with a rounded bottom and will keep using that as well.
For wws' a stainless kitchen pot, unhandled and decommissioned years ago!
I ordered up the RCBS .44-250k two holer I’ve lusted for these last few years and will never, ever buy another .44 cast bullet again.
Yea me!
From the Lee line 324-175-1r, 312-185-1r and the 312-155-1r.
I think these will cover everything, for now, but if not I'd sure like to hear back. I’ve heard the opinion that the Lee .30 caliber bullets do not do well in the 30-06.
Truth or Fiction?
I would like to find a good, light cast bullet for a 25-06 Remington but otherwise, I think I'm set-up for my first attempts at casting/reloading for these rifles.
There are, of course, other odds-and-ends, like Marvelux, calipers and micrometer (Frankford and Hornady) mica and, oh yea, a RCBS Berdan decapper.
I really don't know how much use that last item will get, but I do pick up brass at the range and if I can, I will reload the two-hole monsters.
I ordered some 7.5 Swiss (GP-11) from Aim and wonder out-loud if I will be able to reload this stuff?
What Berdan primer wills I need for the stuff and where can I find more info on using/buying these primers? Any info links?
I did get new brass for most, but for the 7.65 Belgium, I ordered a couple of boxes of Graffs' Hornady 7.65 loads. The 7.62x54r gets forty bright, new rounds of Winchester and I hope to get several reloads from that brass.
Do any of you know about resizing 30-06 brass to 7.65 Belgium, using the same method as for the Win. 284 brass to 7.5 Swiss?
Can the Lee die handle that chore, or should I call for a RCBS Resizing Die?
For reference books, the Lee book and Lyman’s' 48th, Lyman’s' cast handbook and Loadbooks I have on hand. I also have a small number of powder suppliers’ data booklets and a 5th edition of “The ABC’s of Reloading”.
How am I doing so far?
I did not order any sizing dies, as I want to slug the barrels first, and I really do not have the budget for a 'hard' lube/sizer. I will go for the Lee sizer kits, but if I wanted to use these bullets without sizing, how do I attach the gas checks?
Do I need to use gas checks all the time with these rifles/loads? What are the limits of velocity with these cast bullets/rifles?
I am hoping to use the Lee liquid Alox for now and I have looked at the homemade soft lube on 'Cast Boolits' with interest.
Lee universal dies for opening up case mouths and decapping and a Lee hand priming tool, with shell holders.
Will this priming tool handle Berdan cups?
I've hoped to stick to the Alliant Powder line, so I can keep things simple to start out with, though I am given to understand that the Lee book uses Hodgdon data so I cannot say that is a hard, fast rule.
Any thoughts?
I haven’t decided if I can afford a ‘crony’ yet, but Midway sent me an email/flyer today advertising the F1/F1 Master on sale at 'dealer' rates.
Can I work out accurate modern loads without the use of one of these in your opinion?
If so, what methods should I employ?
Even though I only use iron sights and am not setting out to be a sub-moa benchrest or competition shooter, I really want to hear any suggestions you might have on any aspect of this reloading hobby and the guns, tools and toys involved. I love to shoot and as has been said often been said elsewhere “only accurate rifles are interesting “so I want to do what I can to get the best from my guns.
Cheers,
Eli