gordonm1

When I got my 6" Eagle, the longest I could load for that barrel was 1.165. I had to buy a throating reamer and ream the throat myself to load ammo out to 1.2". There's lots of room to load now I might try some garand ammo.

I don't have a wet tumbler but cases I have had that were wet cleaned and squeaky clean quickly built up brass in the powder through expander die on my 550B. Lubing the cases stopped that. I'll stick with my dry tumbling with polish and odorless mineral spirits until my tumbler breaks or I run out of media. Maybe then it will be more obvious what's a better way to go next.

Bayou, Blue, Black, Missouri, SNS, lots of places to buy coated bullets. One level of saving the most is buying the most you can get the flat rate shipping for. This is usually 2-3k. I don't go above this level but there are often large quantity discounts also. I've tried plated a few times but I have always been frustrated with accuracy with them.

Tightgroup feels kind of snappy when I get it up to major power factor in 45ACP. I feel it's rattling my bones and will use other powders in 45. I have a jacketed 9mm load that is so accurate I'll live with the snappiness in 9mm. Like others have said it's not ideal but it works.

Yeah, I had issues first using the undersize U die with oversize coated bullets and then squeaky clean new brass getting brass buildup in the powder funnel. Don't touch your flared case with your seating die/only the seating stem is about the most you can do and then crimp in another step. Lubing with a run through a tumbler with media treated with car polish helps and finally, lubing the brass before loading helps with squeaky clean brass.

Zero and Nosler are the most accurate bulk bullets I have tried compared to Precision, Bayou, plated, and Missouri cast lead. I will be saving them until I can afford to shoot them and/or my skills rise again to where they will be usefull.

I've been keeping my 220X6 unfired in the chance I get my FFL and can sell it for a good price. I did not get any bargain on it though and it is hard to imagine folks bidding it up a whole bunch. Sig squeezes you pretty good on their top guns already. I'm between jobs now and looking at thinning the herd to improve cash flow and ward off the risks of the next liberal gov.

Things got better for me loading cast and coated bullets when I started using the Redding push through die instead of undersizing/oversizing the brass with the EGW die. Now I have also ponied up the dough for the Redding seating die and things are Mucho Bueno. I think the cases should last longer using the push through die over the EGW too. I'm not seeing as many split cases after firing.

I found some at a gun show but only loaded 200g lead in 45 ACP. I found a great target load. Then Pat's had solo 1000 and Scott 453 so I got a bunch. I load the scot 453 with cast 180g in .40 to 1.135 OAL. It started getting snappy and changed gears at 4.5 grains and it was still not major for me in my 4.5 inch SIG barrel(a lot like WST). Your powder is different so be careful. You might be able to get to major more safely if you can load longer OAL.

I guess if I was a caster I could melt them down and start over.

Thanks for the expert advice. I'll shoot them or sell them as is.

What will happen if you coat a cast lead bullet if it already has a wax lube in the grooves? I think I have enough bullets to use up an order of the coating but they all have wax lube already.

Two newer powders I didn't see mentioned are IMR8208 and the CFE powder(copper fouling eliminator). 8208 is slightly fast and better with 155gr bullets. 8208 is also known for temperature stability.

I had some mystery squibs with clays in 45ACP. I was leaving the powder in the measure. Clumping, bridging, of the powder left in the measure was my best theory. Squibs are scary and the closest I have come to a KABOOM.

A lot of guns have problems feeding SWC designs such as the XD45 and my Sig P220. Roundnose are their friends. However, a lot of the 200gr roundnose designs were originally for revolver use and come with a large crimping groove to prevent bullet set back in revolver use. I not sure of any negatives for semi-auto use of a bullet with a crimping groove but I migrated to the Precision 200gr RNFP because they don't have the crimp groove, the flat point is pretty small so its almost a roundnose, they are pretty soft but don't lead, and they seem very consistent and accurate when loaded by me. I shot a ton of Missouri Bullet Co.'s bare lead 200gr RNFP's too because they cost less.