JohnnyD

I shoot either CCI Blazer (stuff in 50rd boxes) or CCI Mini Mags, both in 40gr. They all work well through my 10/22, 15-22 and 22/45. I generally shoot the Blazer for practice and save the Mini Mags for matches. Honestly no issues with either, I like how your hands stay slightly...ever so slightly cleaner with the Mini Mags since they are copper plated.

I'll concur with that. Their single stages and turret presses work nice, I still buy their dies. I'd go with 750 if you can afford it.

My main 2 divisions are PCCO and RFRO. I always shoot PCCO first as the times I ran RFRO first I found myself trying to shoot and swing faster than the PCCO allowed causing bad runs...but it's been a few years since I've done it to see if it matters anymore.

Nice, I've thought about doing this with my APP but I really don't wanna dumb nasty range brass in my case feeder. I've done it before and yah wasn't fun...especially with my low basement ceiling getting up there to clean it out is no fun... I've had pretty good luck with the collator and tubes with 9mm...at some point need to switch it to 233 (honestly might just buy another one and not fiddle with it).

Running them in a Taccom 13/16 and ULW barrel and no real issues. Some build up in comp but not bad. In the 13/16 barrel I'm running 115's at around 1200fps.

Thanks, I haven't noticed too much issues with TG and Blues in 9 and 40 in terms of smoke or leading. I will start with Unique though so I can burn through the last of that, hoping to start setting up the 550 tonight for that (new caliber to me) and clean some brass.

So I'm looking to load up some 230gr Blues with one of the above powders. I don't have a ton of Unique but I wouldn't mind using it up. Any one of these better or worse for making major out of a 5" 1911? I probably will only shoot it now and then in IDPA/USPSA for a change of pace, mainly will just see fun range time now and then. Thanks

I've only used CCI 400's so far but once those are gone I'll be trying probably 450's and some old Tula's I have. I'm shooting these in a PCC with a Hyperfire trigger so it beats the snot out of the firing pin so no issues. Gonna try them in my lightened spring Glocks when I think about it.

Thanks to both of you...I'm going to try some loads starting in the high 3gr area and not down that low, hopefully it will be semi consistent. If not I might just stick to 125gr that I will be using in my USPSA PCC and drop the powder down a few .1's of a grain so it's slightly lighter...will give me one less bullet to stock as well. Hoping to try Saturday if weather cooperates. These 115's are some tiny bullets. Loading at 1.1 OAL" they are so lil and cute

Praise Jeebus! I thought BE was gone forever...I love this place for competition focused reloading and other topics.

Not shooting a CZ but I love the 135 Blues. Once the 147's I have are gone I'll be going back to those. Few bucks a thousand cheaper as well.

I honestly thought about running one but went with a Cmore instead. Half the price and they just work.

Awesome I'll hold off then. Hopefully you still have bolts in stock when that happens. Debating on the air cushion as well have your 3 stage currently.

I'm trying to put together another upper and no word when these will be back in stock. I'm looking for a plain super light weight tube style handguard. Anything else out there? They have their other handguard in stock but not looking for something with a bunch of holes in it...but might have to got that route. Trying to keep the feel the same as close as possible to my other upper I already have.

I don't see much 115gr Blue Bullets data out there. I'm looking to make some sub minor loads for this year for Steel Challenge. Any starting points someone can share?

So I have some new loads I want to work up with Blue Bullets and Sport Pistol. If I chrono them around 30* (it's cold as hell in Michigan right now) approximately how much velocity difference should I expect to see when I get to the summer months?

Most of the time coated lead or plain lead are .356-.357. The larger diameter helps to seal the bore more and makes them more accurate (generally). Blue Bullets is the exception but they use a different coating, their standard bullets are .355 but you can order .356. Hell I've loaded .357 Plated Xtremes in several guns and they work great too.

I want to add some weight to my Gen3 17 however I built the gun on a RTF frame and I don't really want to perm mod it until I get another one as they aren't the easiest to get at times. Does that putty turn hard or would I be able to pull it out (with some work) with some tweezers or something?

My journey was Lee Classic Turret, 650 and then 550 (I still have and use them all). I also have a Lee APP I use for decaping only before wet tumbling. Lee Turret - Oddball low volume stuff. 650 - 9mm only, never changes highest volume caliber (80% of what I shoot) 550 - 223 and 45, probably will pick up a caliber change for 40 as I'm down to not much 40 loaded up and don't want to load it on turret. I don't shoot a ton of all these calibers but more than I want to load on the Lee. The 650/750 can't be beat if you just load high volume for one caliber or rarely change calibers (say load 10k of something then switch), I wouldn't want to switch every couple thousand of rounds caliber changes IMO on the 650/750 are a PITA. Caliber changes on the 550 (even including primer size change) take literally a few minutes and don't have a ton of steps like the 650/750. I wouldn't mind changing calibers even after 1000 rounds on the 550. In your position I would look for 550 and accessories used if possible to stretch your budget, if you can scrape together a little extra the 750 will treat you well. I'd keep an eye out on used gear, but until you have some primers and powder in hand I wouldn't spend any money on gear unless you find a deal way too go to pass up.

I use the DIY Dillon case lube and don't clean it off. I put a couple sprays in a large plastic bowl from the dollar store, throw in several handfuls of brass, swirl around and let the alcohol evaporate and get to reloading. For rifle I always clean it off after sizing.

On the 550 both 9 and 40 use the same shell plate. You should be able to just change the buttons and swap out the tool head.

I can get 23 in all 6 of mine with the included spring and stock follower, I have to use a mag loader for the last round. This is only for start, reloads I usually put in 21 as 23 you have to beat in there to lock in.

This topic is relevant to me...just ordered a 45 yesterday and have several pounds of Unique I wouldn't mind using up. Probably going to order a sample box of Blues to start with.

I shoot .357 plated Xtremes through my Glocks and used to in my XD's. Just make sure they plunk and also might be .1 grain lower powder charge.

I am finding more stepped brass now in headstamps I haven't seen before. The ZQI I have found before was normal but crimped.