techj

I use a salad spinner to get most of the water out and then just lay the cases on a towel for a day.

Since you're using mixed already fired brass, do you case gauge each round to make sure that the rims aren't too damaged?

Front sight - fiber optic rod fell out...now I bring a spare and a lighter.

FWIW - I found that the blue bullets don't have as strong of an 'aroma' as the hitek coated ones..especially at indoor ranges.

Check with some local ranges - the one I belong to allows members to buy their IDPA cardboard targets at cost...that way you don't get gouged for shipping.

For jacketed I would try Montana Gold bullets...if you were able to shoot coated lead then the blue bullets.

On the primer system they redesigned the anvil - it is now a solid cylinder vs being shaped like a "T". If you call them and ask for the new one (both large & small) it greatly reduces the number of times that the primer system will jam up due to powder/crud as it can't get under the anvil anymore. I do agree that the bullet collator is very loud. I just have a lid over it and stop it after the spring tube fills just to reduce the noise.

All I've fed my 17 is coated (the blue bullets) for the past 2 years without a hitch.

I run the full LNL AP and use the bullet feeder for 9 & 45. Currently reload the following on it: 9, 357, 38, 44, 45, 308 & 30.06. It is my only press - and my first press - for reloading. It did take some tweaks but with a couple of exceptions they were all related to my lack of experience - didn't have the benefit of a mentor to show me the ropes. On the bullet feeder it works well once you understand how to set-up the dies. Initially I was using it for jacketed in 9 & 45 without a problem. I now run coated (the blue bullets) in 9 & 45 without a problem. To get coated to work for me required some adjustment to collets in the die but they now work 100%. Only reason I don't use one for 38/357/44 or the rifle feeder dies are that I don't load that many in these calibers. I will say that for me the weakest point is the spring tube from the bullet collator to the die - I have to duct tape it to the die to keep it from slipping out. The only problem I had with the case feeder was real slow feeding of 357 cases. When I contacted Hornady they id'd that they had a newer case feeder (different angle) and sent me the entire case feeder assembly for no charge. As others have done I also use a shotgun case on the drop tube which stops cases from moving off of the subplate. Since I got the timing set properly a couple of years ago I haven't had to re-adjust the pawls. Overall I'm very happy with it and wouldn't change unless I could afford dedicated presses for each caliber.

Thanks. I own 1911's in 45 so know and am comfortable with that platform - just the recoil is becoming more of a problem for me. In 9's even the recoil/flip from my Glock 17 bothers me from time to time and I would much rather shoot a steel gun in competition as the weight isn't a problem. Understand the weight vs recoil aspect being about the same, but didn't know if the slide in frame design of the CZ would reduce the perceived recoil or not. I've been able to handle and shoot some of the CZ's in plastic but haven't been able to do so with the SP-01 Shadow or even a regular 75.

Question for the CZ experts: how would you compare the recoil of an SP-01 Shadow vs a steel 1911 (all 9mm, would be 125gr running PF of 130 using Power Pistol)? I'm trying to decide between these 2 for IDPA & speed steel and recoil is a consideration (just getting old and worn-out ​). I do realize that the Shadow would allow me tyo play in producton as well which is a minor consideration - recoil is more important to me. Round capacity isn't a big factor. Also, looking at the Shadow as I'm not interested in a decocker. ​

9, 45 and either 357 or 44 - tough choice between these 2.

I've got the 2L Hornady unit and use it all of the time for cleaning brass (w/ the hornady solution). It's actually my only brass cleaning system. I always run large, multiple batches and so the cost of the cleaning solution is negligible. If I had to do it over again I would have instead gone with the stainless steel pin system as I think it produces better brass cleanging results. However, I'm happier with the U/S system vs the media tumbling approach. FYI - being retired, the extra time involved for drying is neglible given that I can clean each batch in less than 30 minutes. Will typically do 4-5 batches at a time and then discard the solution. I lay out the brass (after running them through a salad spinner to get most of the moisture out) on a workbench (on a towel) for a day to dry. Possibly 2 days in cold weather. To be honest, I haven't used it for cleaning gun parts as I don't think it would save me any time.

Well, I've got one of the daily regimes down... time to work on the other one .

I use 4.0 gr of Bullseye under a 230 gr RN from the Blue Bullets.

I load 9 & 45 the blue bullets using the bullet feeder collater + dies (lnl press). I had to gently (or they'll break) open up the lower collet on each. also, for the 9 I ended up opening up the top with a Drexel very slightly. If you check the fit with the collets out of the die it is pretty easy to tell when you have them set correctly.

I use a cheap salad spinner to get most of the water out and then just set the brass on a towel (single layer) for a couple of days...never had a problem.

+1 on duct tape ... I've been using that for the past few years.

Other than pellet guns never handled a firearm until 2012 @ age 53. now own a few (well maybe more than a few) and started competing in 2013...mostly speed steel. If it weren't for some medical problems I would have started idpa last year but hopefully will be able to start next year @ 57.

I just put dots on the bottom with nail polish (white) followed by nail hardener. Last a LONG time.

I never wanted the rainy season to be in full force more than right now...we really do need it. Yesterday & today we have a lot of smoke & haze from the fires in the Vancouver and PDX areas.

Like others have said - check crimp and OAL; make sure it passes the plunk test. I load mine like regular lead...there is maybe a 10-15fps difference...maybe...if that. I prefer the Blue Bullets for 9 & 45...will take a little smurf dust while loading vs the smell while shooting. For my 38/357 I use the Bayou SWC as I need to roll crimp into the groove. I deprime, resize and final clean (ultrasonic) all of my brass so that there is no lube left on the brass and so that I can use all 5 of my stations (Hornady LNL) for loading which is as follows: expand, powder drop, bullet feeder, seat, crimp (FCD). Only wish I had 1 more station so that I could use a powder cop rather than just a visual check - but I'm not going to spend the $$$ at this point to switch presses. I found that expanding during powder drop led to some inconsistencies and prefer to expand by itself. BTW - love the coated bullets - so much less expensive for the bullet and less powder as well.

56....but it's the miles, not the years...

So last year I missed out on competing and general shooting for nearly 4 months due to treatment and side-effects for my prostate cancer. This year will be the year I thought....just some tendonitis. Then in Feb I started having some GI problems which included pain after bending over (to pick up brass )​. Between the pain and the tests I didn't get much shooting or competition in and my surgery for a hiatal surgery repair was scheduled for mid-August. Then in late July had to go to ER due to unbelievable pain. Long story short, spent a week in the hospital and they moved my surgery up and it's over with. Lost nearly 40 lbs. (guess I had plenty of reserves ) and now am in week 4 of recovery having finally gotten to soft foods instead of liquids. Still can't sleep and have to lie in bed elevated for nausea. For now at least I'm so beat I can barely do the walking I need for exercise and haven't even been up to dry firing. So at my post-op asked the surgeon about activities such as shooting. They weren't real specific but said I could probably do some moderate shooting in about 6 weeks but nothing intensive for at least 3 months! On top of which I'm not supposed to lift or carry anything over 8 lbs. for 6 weeks and then nothing over 15 lbs. for an additional 6-8 weeks and then nothing over 35 lbs. forever if I want to minimize the risk of needing another surgery....they put that risk 0 if I'm careful - at 20-30%. I'm also supposed to minimize bending over for 6 weeks and to not lift anything while bent over. Which means that anytime I receive reloading supplies I'll need someone else to get it into my reloading area and unbox/separate it into manageable portions. Worst than that, I'm severely limited into how much I can carry at the range - whether in my range bag, on my body, etc. I'm also going to need to have my better half or son come over to reorganize my ammo storage as those 50cal cans get quite heavy when fully loaded. I'm also going to need to get a foldable range cart that weighs well under 35 lbs. and is easy to push to haul my bag, ammo, steel targets (those that are within my new weight limit at least), etc.. around. If anyone has a good recommendation for one that will hold up to a lot of gear, is easy to pull (range I use is gravel) and can haul a bit I'd appreciate it...I'll also be searching the forum for ideas. Thanks for letting me rave....just hoping that nothing else breaks in my body for a while so that I can at least shoot regularly for a year or so uninterrupted.

When I was loading Blue Bullets 200gr SWC, I ended up at 1.224 for reliable feeding. Even then I would have the occasional hiccup (about once per 200 rounds) and just went back to the Blue Bullets 230gr RNFP which run 100% for me.