AriM

Hope is the lack of belief in one's own abilities to produce.....man I "hope" I do well on the test wouldn't it be better to think....I WILL do well on the test WILL....I WILL IT TO BE SO!!! abandon hope, for it is the measure of the desperate and lazy

I could answer the question, but it would only be a statement of opinion. I suppose neither of us would find any Zen in the answer. .....nothing

went to my first uspsa/ipsc match yesterday.....i didn't shoot in the match....just asked questions and observed and learned the rules....they did let me shoot the stages after the match was over....i felt pretty comfortable doing it.....i really enjoy shooting the steel targets....the texas star is a whole lot of fun....everyone was friendly and helpful....i can see that getting a lot of really good magazines is key.... I'm not going to bother to post my indoor range targets anymore....I think the indoor range is good for testing ammo and gun set-up, and that's about it.... I get to shoot the steel match again on thursday.....can't wait.... thanks to everyone who made suggestions to get me to this point

A good time or a smoking time? A smoking time is under 4 seconds up to about 5 seconds (more or less). A good time is 5-7 seconds. All this is with all good hits on steel of course. 4 seconds!!!! lol, I have a lot to learn.....at least my times were consistent....consistently slow

that mouth at the bottom looks hungry....better feed it before it get's mad.... om nom nom nom

very cool!!! unique ideas.....good job....it feels great to shoot something you built your self....easy to pay someone to make something for you, but priceless to do it your self.....I did one myself recently, and am just itching to do another....I bet you are too?

the gap is supposed to be there, to clear standard/old style mags with the extended foot in front on the base....it serves a purpose, but you can just get the insert that covers it up if you like?.....what is your gripe about it? looks? or is it somehow making it function improperly? or are you just curious?

shot my first steel match yesterday.....did better than I thought I would.....what is a good time for an el presidente?

ok, here is some real world experience, from someone who owns a variety of hornady presses'......the lock n load AP, is a very nice machine....it defines the mid range segment of the market....it produces adequate ammo, just like any other press at any price point....the real key is, how do you get to that adequate ammo....the hornady presses I have are not w/o problems....they have certain design flaws, as ANY mechanical device does....rather than list those flaws and start some debate, let me just put it simply.... the hornady products are very good presses' for the money....they offer value ease of use and turn out good ammo....they are NOT precision tools, like Dillon presses'....I repeat NOT precision devices....they suffer from some QC issues and need more maint. and adjustment than a Dillion....you can't simply set-up your hornady and leave it as is for 10 years...you will have to clean certain mechanisms and adjust the timing every so often, to keep it working correctly... if I had it to do over again, I would still buy the hornady machine, simply because of cost....customer service and warranty is a moot point....I have called hornady with a few problems, and they have gone out of their way to listen to me, be courteous and ship me entire parts assemblies, no questions asked, at their expense....they didn't even ask me for registration info. or anything....the real key here is, would I have these problems and service issues with a Dillon machine....that I can't say for sure, since I don't own a Dillon....but of the folks I know who own them....I have not heard of the same kind of problems....they simply work.... I would take into account a few things....how much do you plan on loading....what kind of ammo....how much experience do you have....what is your overall goal? comparing the 550b and the lock n load is not fair....they are NOT the same kind of machine....550 vs. lock n load AP, I would pick the lock n load....hands down....lock n load vs. 650...well I would have a tough call there...by the time you factor in the other things you will need to make the lock n load function properly, and run as smoothly as the 650, cost is no longer an issue....in the long run $200 won't make a difference....that being the case...I would say 650 (yes I am a hornady owner).... also consider that Dillon has a much better powder check option, a better system of low supply sensors (low primers/low powder)....only trouble with Dillon, is that it won't be as cheap or easy to change calibers...the lock n load bushings are awesome...simply drop in new dies on the hornady and a new powder assembly and you are ready to go...if you buy multiple tool heads and measures for the Dillon, then that benefit is also moot, but at a large expense... I think your situation is one that a lot of folks find themselves in...if you are just starting buy the hornady and see if reloading is something you really want to do....if you are convinced that you will keep doing it, then just bypass the trouble and get a Dillon....I know that I will eventually wind up getting one myself...I won't throw away or sell my hornady (it's a great tool), but for volume and precision in one specific caliber, I can't imagine that ANYTHING will beat a 1050...simply the fact that you can adjust primer seating depth and that it primes on the down stroke, is enough to sell me on that machine.....as soon as I can justify the expense of the 1050 and a bullet feeder, then that is the route I will go one more thing to note....I have NEVER had a primer mis-feed or detonation on my Hornady...the dillon priming system is a bit different, and I can see that if you had a detonation on a Dillon, it might be a bit more catastrophic then on a hornady.... as far as single stage presses...I have a hornady lock n load....and it's great...soild build, easy to change dies on.....and as any mechanical device, it'e own set of problems....one thing to note....hornady paint finishes DO NOT like solvents during clean up....I tried to spray my single stage press down with solvent once and it melted the paint (no good).... to sum it up....if you plan on doing this and are sure you will stick with it, bypass the hornady and get a dillon 650 or 1050....if you aren't sure and just want to dip your foot in the pool, get the hornady and upgrade to a 1050 when you feel it's necessary....I have no doubt that you will be able to accomplish the same task on BOTH presses....again it's just a matter of how you get there... good luck

You can take for granted the fact that you can't take anything for granted. I'll grant you that one....but won't take it for granted

God knows I have tried.....but technology has yet to live up to it's promises....with you 100% on this one....thank god we still know how to think for ourselves....I hope future generations still know how to do that....

haven't tried StarLine....I have heard really good things about it....Hornady, Starline, and Speer are the only ones I don't have much experience with.... I wish the manufacturers would print specs. for wall thickness and other dimensions of their cases....

the new stuff is the stuff I like....with the deep stamp in italics....the cases just feel so much more substantial than anything else....just so well made....heavy wall thickness...thick head....concentric and deep primer pockets....I just haven't found anything else that comes close....willing to try anything though.... the newer federal gold match cases (not sure if they are different than other federals) are also very nice, but not up to par with the blazer....I have a feeling that whoever rolls out PMC also rolls out Blazer....and it's odd that the blazer is cheaper.....to me it just seems to be better ammunition....especially their 45 auto. I would take Blazer over WWB or just about anything else....if I couldn't roll my own Only thing I have tried that came close, in factory loads, was some of the premium Black Hills match ammo...

just goes to show, that we can't take ANYTHING for granted in the reloading process....I have done the exact same thing with other variables....OAL, different charges etc.....expecting that my tiny little change would equal nothing, and blammo...accident....I think one of the few facts I have come across in reloading is....YOU CAN"T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.....test test test test test test test and after all of that....test some more...

Changed that recoil spring out to a 14 pound for yesterdays range trip....really nice now...that plus the radius on the FP has balanced the gun out...loads easier to shoot well....thanks again for those tips guys....nice smooth impulse and it resets to exactly where it started....in fact it's tuned so well now....that I hardly have to look at the sight at all....aim, pull, bang, reset, pull bang....both seem to go into the same hole

Thanks for the tip....gonna try some out

I have some CCI....it's def. not as thick as Blazer....Blazer just feels right when i hold it...I will try the speer.... and I am glad we are on the same page about Blazer...it runs through the dies so nice and holds lube well, and then also cleans up well...just a pleasure to work with....I would never feel scared about loading MAX in Blazer...

that's kind of what scares me about 310.....the margin is so small...min and MAX is only a 0.7 grain spread....unless that powder meters very consistently....I dunno....I think I'll give it a go....worst that can happen is I lose an eye right? Hell i have 2 of them

AA #7 give it a shot Stay away from Blue Dot

I have only had experience with the brass colored Wolf LP primers....and so far, after over 12,000 of them....not ONE single misfire, missing anvil, missing compound or anything bad at all.....only trouble is that they don't seem to like seating all the way in progressive machines....after I run my loads...I like to go back and use a hand primer tool to make sure that the anvils are contacting the bottom of the primer pocket....then again, I would do that with ANY primers I am loading....probably not necessary, but better safe than sorry....I would hate to have a high primer and some kind of round going off out of battery.... I had a round go off on me that way once.....it was someone elses re-load and gun. (kimber tle2 if I remember crrectly)...the gun double fed and the first round that came up had a high primer....the second round that popped out of the mag and caught that primer, set round one off.....the gun was not in battery....scared the crap out of me and the guy who owned the gun...those weren't Wolf primers....Win. LP.....so just goes to show....ANY brand of primer can be dangerous or unreliable, if you don't catch a improperly seated primer.... I will continue to use Wolf, and see no reason to use anything else at this point....unless Win. LP goes back to the $25/1000 range

does anyone know where to get, or who makes the brass for Blazer brand, factory ammo? my gun loves that brass....it's super heavy duty.....the base is re-enforced, consistent lengths....has never shown me any signs of anything even marginally bad....all I have is the stuff I bought as factory loads....I would love to have a few thousand pieces of it.....any ideas on where to find that? or can someone recommend something similar? I have tried damn near every brand and make of case out there....nothing seems to be built as well (cept' some federal I had once)....strange that it's the bargain ammo thanks!!!!

what's the application....and desired power factor? what kind of gun? barrel length? how is the chamber cut? ramped/supported or not? what is the brand of barrel (some twist backwards), what is the rate of twist? is the gun compensated? what spring weights are you running? etc etc etc...... lot's of good loads out there....probably hundreds of combos that will give excellent results.... also what are the conditions in your area? is it cold? humid? lot's of wind? bright or overcast etc etc etc....

Yeah I was reading TGO's loading data....and he uses 310 in almost all of his guns...from 9 to 45.....at first I thought it was an expensive powder.....$98 for 4 pounds....but then I did the math....I may be able to get a different powder for less (American Select is $96 for 8 pounds)......but after you do the math....and compare charge weights for equal velocities....the VV310 still works out to about 1.2 cents a load....the American Select is WAY cheaper, but you need 5.7 grains to make Major....and even then, we are talking about less than half a cent difference per round.....it's easy to get caught up in the big numbers, and fail to see the small....I wish I would have tried a can of 310 on this hazmat order....now I have to burn through another 10,000 primers and 8 pounds of American Select, before I order again.....DOH!!!!!! Really anxious to try 310....I hear it's super consistent, and meters very well....can anyone tell me what it's size and shape are?? I would really like to find a small ball powder that meters well, that is reasonable in price, makes MAJOR and has a high safety margin.... asking too much? I gave up on 231 b/c you can never get it....

That's exactly the way the market should work for the most part. I get in fights with my brother about this all the time... he's into "salary caps", "price control", "regulation" and on and on. If you got a company/product... the goal is to maximize profits! When competition comes in (Solo, etc).. you may need to make adjustments otherwise you will price yourself out of the market. Seems so simple to me. Self correcting... only trouble is, the wealthy don't want to get beat out of their market share, by the small guy....so they invent governmental systems, to scare us all into thinking the world will end, if XYZ goes under.....the real scam, is that life will go on....but everyone is so afraid of losing their leveraged house and BMW, that they just shut-up....watch TV, pay taxes, gte fat on their couch and turn soft....the next thing....they take away our means to rebel (gun control etc....)....it's just the same old scam....the feudal system lives on.... "those who beat their swords into plow shares, will plow the field of those that do not".... WE THE PEOPLE....dictate the price of goods and services....regulation exists, because we can't self regulate....do you know what they call self regulation??? Marxism....sorry to burst the bubble.... and folks....PLEASE stop paying $30 for 1000 primers....it's insane....I still manage to get mine for $25.....don't let dealer hype fool you into thinking they are worth more....they are worth what YOU are willing to pay....ok this is drifting WAY of topic....sorry