Splat

How are you guys adjusting the motor or pulleys for belt wear?

Nice setup! I like the stand idea. Portable and takes up no bench space. How'd you make the mount adjustable? Did you elongate the mounting holes so the motor can be moved closer/farther away from the rollers?

I like the idea of wheels. Simpler and faster to install, and if they fail then easily replaced too.

How clean is the brass? If you keep reshooting it and only mildly cleaning it maybe you're getting powder buildup that is precluding consistent COL.

Visit your eye Dr. and have him place the eye vision chart at 2x the distance of your eye to the front sight and and measure you there. As Hi-Power Jack wrote, this way will improve your front-sight vision and still enable you to see the bullseye...not perfectly but should be good enough.

Well, I finally got my dies dialed in after 11 cases and bullets.... no primers or powders this was just for sizing, belling, seating and crimping. I still have to install the RCBS lock-out die. I've produced my first 5 live rounds and tested them yesterday. I used: Win once-fired (my gun) brass Win large primers 230g RB BB#2 polycoated Ibejiheads bullets 3.6g Bullseye COL: 1.258 crimp: .471 The fed, fired, and ejected fine. I wasn't testing for accuracy, PF, or anything else except safeness and cycling. I think my next move should be loading 5@3.4g, 5@3.6g, 5@3.8g, 5@4.0g and see how they do and this time I'll have my new chrono with me for velocity checks. How does that sound guys?

A lot of the guys doing USPSA around me are using Ibejiheads polycoateds. It also helps that they are located in north-central NJ. It was recommended to me more than a few times to try Bullseye with them. I shot 5 yesterday (my first ever reloads) and there was a lot less smoke than from my factory WWB 230g RN rounds.

Actually, I was mistaken. I must have been thinking of my SR9, which does eject live rounds fine. My STI Lawman V does not. I took my first reloads to the range yesterday and they shot fine. I tested ejecting factory and my reloads and not one would eject. They got caught up with the nose catching at the bottom-right of the ejection port. No signs of overpressure on the case or primers and everything else went fine. My first reloads. I'm a proud poppa.

Thanks Bill and Bob. I'm hoping to get to the range later today so I'll find out how they work then. I'll post back my findings then.

(Mods, I didn't know where to post this so please move at your discretion.) I've had my STI Lawman V .45acp about 2 months now, roughly only 400 WWB factory rounds thru her. Work's been getting in the way of range time lately. I just started my venture into reloading after months and months of reading and researching. My factory WWB 230g RMJ are averaging 1.262 +/- .001 COL. I've got my dies all set after much testing (primerless and powderless). At this time I'm using my once-fired WWB cases with Ibejiheads' 230g RN BB#2 polycoated bullets. After checking cases with bullet seated and crimped in into the barrel they are about .002 from flush with the end of the hood. The COL of my reloads is 1.261. Now the problem I'm having is with ejecting live rounds. I can eject factory WWB live round no problem but with my reloads they're getting hung up in the chamber. I've tried it with one round or five rounds in the magazine. Should I take some loaded reloads to the range and fire them and see if they eject? I'm wondering if the ever-so-slightly flatter nose profile of the ibejiheads if affecting ejects? Should I shorten the COL? Help/advise would be appreciated guys.

Well guys, I really, really thank you for taking the time to respond with the great info you did. Much, much appreciated. I will be saving this thread and printing it out to keep for inspiration and knowledge. Kneelingatlas, you asked what components I have... here ya go: Hornady LnL AP Redding Pro Series Carbide 3-Die Set 45 ACP (w/separate crimp die) RCBS lock-out die Hornaday .451 PTX Lyman .45acp cartridge gauge Frankford DS750 scale Frankford bullet puller I have Bullseye powder, Winchester large pistol primers, Ibejiheads coated bullets in 230g RN BB #2. I am planning on getting a chrono when the funds come around. Any suggestions? I know the coated bullets may allow me to run a little less powder than standard jacketed or lead. I have Lyman 49th and Hornady's reloading books. It's one heckuva exciting journey that I'm looking forward to. Much to learn and experience.

Loading newbie here. Just a few days ago I got my Hornady LnL AP setup, cleaned up, and dies installed. I've yet adjusted the dies due to time constraints....hopefully next week I'll be able to do it. So after reading and reading and reading the past 3-4 months about reloading I believe I have a good grasp on it, yet there's one thing that I haven't seen talked about. How do you know when your loads are optimal for the gun you're using them in? I have an STI Lawman .45acp 1911. How or when do I know I've gotten to that optimal load for my gun? When it's shooting the tightest groups at the amount of recoil and velocity (or power factor) I'm looking for? Thank you.