mullet

Has anyone had any experience loading 223 with lee collet dies in a 550. Any sugestions as to the best dies to use ( cant afford carbide dies).

14.5 gn H4227 with a 158 gn roundnose works well with a .38 +P case, will probably make major in a .357 but may need an extra grain.

WST is definatly the best powder I have used in the .38.

Do not worry too much about how much of the case you fill . Any powder that will not allow you to fit in a doublecharge in a 38 case at minor level will not give you the consistancy that you really need.Take the time to get your press working properly,realise that machines dont make mistakes, people do and you will love that powder.

Loading data for the 38 is so conservative that that small difference in OAL will not bother any decent revolver. Much of the published data will also chrono way low because of the cylinder gap,rather than the pressure barrels on test guns.

As an aside I dont think primers squashed sideways are likely to go off, have done that dozens of times over the years in a Lee 1000 using Federal primers with no bangs

I am either going to buy a 550 or 650 but everyone I know with a 650 (admittedly there are only 4 of them, but they have all done it - we all use federal primers -we are revolver shooters) has blown up a tube of primers, why doesnt this happen with the 550.

I really like a power rib mainspring with a 12 lb rebound spring on a gun that is well run in, should bring you down to about 6-7 lb in a K frame.

What model is it and why do you need it so loose?I'm looking for a new holster for a bull barreled revolver. Feedback from anyone would be appreciated.

I've been looking at the Gilmore, any opinions?

Is there a consensus on which is the best red dot these days?

The worst feature of S&W revolvers of the present era is the barrels,they are not as good as the cut rifled barrels , particularly with lead bullets.The double action pull can be made just about as good and the surface hardness of the MIM trigger ensures that it will stay that way.The extractor system is far more robust than the previous design with its dinky little alignment pins. The new stainless steel also seems to be much more resistant to corrosion.