zaphar

The moving arm of the "sortinator" seems like it wastes too much time moving around. Something like this (top view) would reduce the amount of time spent per a case by having linear movement and using a series of trap doors to drop the case down into a tube chute that could be redirected to 5 gallon buckets.

From my experience Longshot works better with heavy bullets, HS-6 is better for 115gr.

If you wear gloves for reloading, give white cotton under gloves a try (they're usually sold in the same area in a store), they help when you have them on for a while.

Here's one I worked up if you're not using a comp. 6.6gr is what I settled on.

I've been using 9x23mm SuperComp brass in my 38 Super Witness (Tanfoglio), but I haven't noticed any real advantage over using actual 38 Super brass. I wouldn't bother with it unless you plan on using it in an unsupported 1911 barrel. The brass is more expensive and you can get 38 SuperComp for less, if price isn't an issue 38 TJ is about the same.

Toilet seems like a good option because you wash your hands after you touch it and you don't wash your dishes/yourself in it (well I hope not).

Thanks for checking that out, it's good to see cross-compatibility.

One thing I'd recommend is to get one or two pairs of the white cotton dermatological/inspection gloves sold at pharmacies, online or large retailers chains. They make wearing disposable synthetic gloves more comfortable over long periods of time and can be washed in between uses. These keep the inner part of your disposable gloves relatively dry/clean so you don't have to throw them out as often if you don't want to.

On the note of finding other sources, would the magazine followers from CZ magazines work in Witness magazines? I noticed that replacement followers on the CZ USA website are $3 each, at EAA they're $10 (up from $5 not too long ago). CZ 97 followers for K10 mags?

This might be interesting: http://www.ehow.com/how_7860597_use-acid-control-soluble-lead.html It states that citric acid is used as a chelating agent for lead and allows it to be absorbed by plants. Knowing that, don't dump it near any plant edibles

Sometimes payment processors will flag the transaction if your billing address doesn't 100% match the text string assigned to your card. This is normally a non-issue if you have an address that follows the standard "number and street name" format but some checkout systems will test the address you give them for validity against a database. Many times they'll "auto-correct" your address and butcher the formatting so that it doesn't match what's stored for your card.

1) .357 sig -Better performance than 38 Super but at the expense of case diameter and thus magazine capacity. Most 40S&W pistols can be converted by replacing barrel and recoil spring. Neck tension/bullet setback can be a problem, therefore it is recommended to use a powder that fills the case as much as possible like AA#9 and only use bullets with a flat meplat and short ogive. Once fired brass can be found for this caliber (for now). 2) .357 TSW -This cartridge is dead, the only time I've actually seen it was in a small box of random cartridges at a gun show being sold for collecting purposes. Seems only slightly different than 9x21mm IMI. 3) .38 super -Quite easy to load since it's straight walled, not picky about bullet or powder selection. Only drawbacks are that you can rarely get free/discounted brass and firearm selection is limited outside of 1911s.

I've tried using Longshot with 95gr bullets in 38 Super and it reached a point where velocity plateaued (bullet leaving the barrel before complete burn and leaving a small amount of unburnt powder behind). Switching to HS-6 allowed me to go higher with complete burn, Longshot does the same for heavier 158gr bullets.

It's an interior ballistics program you plug different variables into, it'll provide an estimation of pressure, velocity, etc. based on those values. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickLOAD It is quite useful in my opinion although a bit on the pricy side if you only use it casually. If you like looking at graphs and charts it'll help you figure out what to try. Here is the information rearranged for the powders you mentioned in your original post with arrows next to the ones recommended. These numbers are based on a 5 inch barrel with no comp or holes. Powder type caseFill Chg Vel. Burn max muzz B_Time % gr fps % psi psi ms ------------------------------------------------------ Ramshot Silhouette 78.2 7.8 1375 100.0 37762 5554 0.451 Ramshot True Blue 72.1 8.4 1375 98.8 36900 5883 0.454 Hodgdon Longshot 72.7 8.4 1375 98.7 36796 5901 0.455 <-- Hodgdon HS-6 76.3 8.6 1375 97.5 36377 6027 0.457 <-- Vihtavuori N350 97.3 8.1 1375 99.0 36138 5890 0.456 <---- Accurate No.5 68.4 8.9 1375 90.7 34746 6488 0.463 Alliant POWER PISTOL 88.9 8.1 1375 91.9 32625 6755 0.475

Yes, it is from QL. The warning is in relation to the SAAMI pressure rating and is issued if the loading is above the listed max (36500psi). N350 is listed as 36138PSI which is only ~600 above max so not really that extreme considering there are some people here loading close to/around 40k psi. QL is theoretical, but seems to give a good guesstimate of where the pressure is at. 36501 PSI will cause the "!DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!" tag to appear so take that into consideration. The only two powers on that list I'd avoid trying, when considering pressure, would be N340 and Universal.

This may be useful for figuring out a powder to try (I would use it to find a powder and then look it up in a reloading manual). There are a few newer powders that are missing so not sure about them. Cartridge : .38 Super Auto +P (SAAMI) Bullet : .355, 124, Hornady HP/XTP 35571 Useable Case Capaci: 12.436 grain H2O = 0.807 cm³ Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.260 inch = 32.00 mm Barrel Length : 5.0 inch = 127.0 mm Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders. Matching Muzzle Velocity: 1375 fps or 419 m/s These calculations refer to your specified settings in 'Cartridge Dimensions' window. C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations. USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON ! Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time % Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Accurate No.7 85.4 10.6 0.68 1375 82.3 32946 6867 0.474 ! Near Maximum ! Vihtavuori 3N37 93.5 8.3 0.54 1375 98.8 35619 6015 0.461 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon Longshot 72.7 8.4 0.54 1375 98.7 36796 5901 0.455 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Winchester 540 71.0 8.4 0.54 1375 98.9 36915 5876 0.454 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Ramshot True Blue 72.1 8.4 0.54 1375 98.8 36900 5883 0.454 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Alliant POWER PISTOL 88.9 8.1 0.52 1375 91.9 32625 6755 0.475 ! Near Maximum ! Hodgdon HS-6 76.3 8.6 0.56 1375 97.5 36377 6027 0.457 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Alliant BLUE DOT 110.9 10.4 0.67 1375 81.6 33934 6801 0.470 ! Near Maximum ! Vihtavuori 3N38 106.0 9.9 0.64 1375 87.0 34355 6553 0.466 ! Near Maximum ! Alliant UNIQUE 95.2 7.0 0.46 1375 100.0 36906 5578 0.460 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Hodgdon Universal 93.2 6.9 0.44 1375 100.0 42164 5010 0.441 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Accurate No.5 68.4 8.9 0.57 1375 90.7 34746 6488 0.463 ! Near Maximum ! Ramshot Silhouette 78.2 7.8 0.50 1375 100.0 37762 5554 0.451 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Vihtavuori N340 95.5 7.3 0.47 1375 100.0 40265 5164 0.442 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Winchester WAP 78.4 7.8 0.51 1375 100.0 37696 5579 0.451 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Vihtavuori N350 97.3 8.1 0.53 1375 99.0 36138 5890 0.456 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE! Alliant HERCO 105.5 7.6 0.49 1375 99.9 35608 5921 0.468 ! Near Maximum ! Vihtavuori N105 111.3 10.0 0.65 1375 89.1 30505 6984 0.480 Ramshot Enforcer 108.2 12.7 0.82 1375 72.3 32573 7024 0.471 ! Near Maximum ! Accurate No.9 94.7 11.6 0.75 1375 76.0 34788 6707 0.463 ! Near Maximum !

I wonder from where they retrieved that tolerance. In the SAAMI specification for 38 Super (page 42), it lists the bullet at .356-.0060 so 0.356 to 0.350. It also lists the bore at .346 and grove at .355. The SAAMI chamber dimensions look like they are for the old barrels that head space off the rim so who knows. My barrel has .356 grooves so that would be out of spec. There are many others barrels like this so there seems to be some variation.

Not only that, but then they have to compete with the salvageable lead from those batteries.

Are all these the same caliber? If they're something you can use, you could first plunk test them to see if the OAL works for you. If it passes that, work up to the loading on the box using the components he has to see if it's safe. If all is well, you could then try a few rounds and see if they work alright. It might also be a good idea to check what powder was used and how much since some are more forgiving than others.

That mag count may also includes replacement barrels and/or conversion slides.

Are the coated bullets with the lube grooves noticeably longer than their jacketed counterparts? This would be a concern to me in addition to the points you mentioned.

There's http://www.cabelas.com/product/Herters-Select-Grade-TNJ-Handgun-Ammunition/1261880.uts but it's nylon coated?

Wow, the powder is made 400 miles from where I live, and here it costs more in €uros (40€) than it does in $ after travelling 10 000 miles. Thats funny, I wonder if I could ship it back here and save even more money... If it helps you a little, VV is 45 Euro per pound in Germany..... Wow, even if that includes VAT at 19%, that's still almost $50 pre VAT. Are there any specific fees/taxes applied to components?

What lot # did you get? It's on the bottom of the box. The ones I have are 42-13. I'm guessing 13=2013. Week 42, Year 2013 Many manufacturing codes are usually some variation of batch/lot-week-year

Anyone have access to a mass spectrometer?