[BJung]

Two days ago I did yardwork for my mother while letting my lead pot melt a bag of range lead I collected. After a few hours I had 35lbs of lead ingots. The next day I separated a 50cal can and 30cal can full of Rem 9mm brass from prestine 1x fired and previously reloaded brass. I had a 30cal of previously reloaded brass and will used those with the lead ingots I plan to cast/pc 9-120 tc and .45-200 swc bullets with later.

 

[BJung]

My neighbor left with his kids for the week so I'm going to break out my lead pot and lead ingots and cast 9mm bullets.

 

[BJung]

I can use those Makarov cases. Care to trade or sell them?

 

[BJung]

Well, I goofed. The first few I checked said S&B 9mm Makarov, so every S&B I saw after that, I chucked in the tub for them. Turns out there were a few 9mm Makarovs and a bunch marked 9mm Br.c.. So I figured it wasn't .380 AUTO. I told my son about it, and he contacted the seller. Then he sent me a webpage that showed S&Bs headstamps. Turns out that the Br.c. is actually .380 AUTO. I think out of 1,000 there were only about 8, 9mm Makarovs. Sorry. However, I did learn something today. And for a 70 year old, that ain't bad.

Good news. Who did you buy you brass from? I assume the seller has more 9mm Makarov brass

 

[BJung]

Millworks Brass - Reloading Brass, Brass Cases, Brass Cartridge Cases, Rifle Brass Cases, Pistol Brass Cases My son said he didn't get 9mm Makarov in quantity and was surprised when I said I had that much of it. But check'em out.

Thank you.

 

[BJung]

I separated two 50 cal cans of .40 S&W brass between Rem and Win by headstamp and then 1x fired and 2x or more plus cases showing marks. I'll use the second batch first for practice loads. Then, I then took any loose brass and added them to the correct ammo can.

 

[BJung]

I resized .38 Spcl and .40 S&W brass today so I can prime them in my car tomorrow while my daughter is at her soccer practice.

 

[BJung]

Let me tell you of a great job! Security Guard! I once got this job and was assigned to an office building at night with the break room next door to my desk. There was a high counter so you couldn't see anything below my neck unless you leaned over. I'd make coffee and mix it with the cocoa that was offered for free. My job was to sit at that desk and every so often walk around and shake door knobs. Sometimes I'd go outside for fresh air. As soon as the last employee left, I walked to my car and carried in a box full of reloading supplies. I separated cases and bullets by weight and bagged them up. Then, I started turning the necks and primer pockets. I had a lot of brass and blemished bullets to do. And, I was getting paid while doing it. Ah, that was a great job.

 

[BJung]

You use your press while sitting on your front porch swing? I was priming brass last night while sitting on the front seat of my car and tossing the primed brass under a jacket on the passenger front seat. Where I live, it is very Liberal, politically. Some woman parked next to me in her SUV and was looking down at me wondering what I was doing.

 

[BJung]

I resized and de-capped 5 baggies of 9mm S&B and PMC brass today. This should keep me busy priming while sitting in my car while waiting for my daughter practice soccer next week.

 

[BJung]

The more you powder coat the same bullets, the thicker it'll be.. Are you tumbling your bullets in a #5 tub? Instead of using plastic bb's, I use pieces from a styro-foam cup to increase the static charge. Be sure the lead is clean. Don't handle them too much.

 

[BJung]

I started priming 9mm cases yesterday and have only 300 small pistol primers left. I hope this shortage ends soon or at the least find more primers. I guess I'll have to start casting bullets for those empty casings I've primed.

 

[BJung]

You need to slug your barrel. Find a black powder shooter with .40cal lead balls, grease it and force the ball through your barrel with a wooden dowel. Measure the slug with a micrometer. Your ideal bullet should be around .001" over that measurement. Lead bullet sellers sometimes sells these lead balls too.

 

[BJung]

What might work if you want to shoot them is coat them Lee Alox

 

[BJung]

I shake my bullets in a tub too. The #5 I'm referring to is the recycle triangle under the plastic tub with a #5 in it.

 

[BJung]

I've been pondering over a non-lead bullet for the last few days. I've read that Bismuth shatters under impact. And so, maybe pouring it into a bullet casing and swaging it into a bullet shape. The copper would hold the bismuth together. Or, maybe the zinc alloy wheel weight material? What do you bullet casters think? Moroco Mole, where do you buy your swaging dies to make .223 jackets? Maybe a custom dies can be made for other calibers? Or could Hornady or Sierra.. sell their empty jackets?

 

[BJung]

@runfiverun is the one who makes his own jackets
. That post was taking a stab at him.
He is actually well connected to a group of fellows that are experimenting with that stuff right now.
He used to run a custom bullet manufacturing company, and rubs shoulders with the likes of Glen Fryxell, and the ben that invented BLL.
Runfive run would be a much better source for your questions then I.

Now you can cast Zumac or Zinc bullets but they come out light and you have to use a iron or ceramic pot and a dipper set up to pour them. The temp is a bit higher then lead, and the zinc can eat right thru a Lee pot, and wear out a mould.. A large amount of work for a bullet that just seams to fall on its face after 10 yards. Elvis Ammo has posted a lot of videos about zink bullets.

Pluss Roto Metals has a new lead free alloy that you can get at a respectable price. It is in the experimental stages, but avalible. Some of fivers friends are experimenting with it right now for Roto.

Thanks, I'll look for him

 

[BJung]

Harbor Freight 6' Work benches are solid and well made. They sell for $129-$190. I have 2 of these they are a bargain.

I like my sturdy bench design. It is secured to the wall studs. My house holds the bench down. My old bench where I once lived was the same but the legs that extended out ran from the concrete floor to the ceiling rafters. The table edge was made of 2x4's turn on it's side so it was 4" thick with plywood on top.

 

[BJung]

With the shortage, maybe everyone should do the same and trade off what bullets they've tested, don't like, and trade it..

 

[BJung]

I categorized Hornady 162gr bullets by weight and ogive to base length.