Messages

16

Star Reloaders / Re: Need to Pull Bullets from 300 rounds

« on: August 09, 2016, 11:43:19 pm »

 I talked to Hodgdon powder today. The representative thought the WST was a extremely light powder and that the powder was bridging in the .38 cal powder drop tube. He recommended Titegroup. I would caution WST in a Star press loading through a small powder drop tube.
 As far as pulling bullets,I could not do it with a C&H collet puller. The collet would not clamp on the exposed lead tight enough to pull the bullet. In a Pacific press, I lift the round up full stroke and clamp a set of Vise-Grips onto the bullet. I then drop the ram and the bullet is pulled. The Vise-Grips need to have serrated jaws to clamp on the lead bullet. The press head needs to be thin enough so as when the ram is lifted the lead bullet is high enough to clamp onto. I tried my RCBS Rockchucker but I could not get the pliers clamped onto the lead bullet.
 i have pulled 70 bullets and no powder was found in any.

17

Star Reloaders / Need to Pull Bullets from 300 rounds

« on: August 08, 2016, 10:46:57 pm »

 I needed to load some .38 Special for my shooting. The press had maybe 1/2 of the hopper with Win. WST that had set there for about 3 weeks. I filled the hopper and dropped a few charges and weighted them. ( into a fired case and then dumped into scale pan) They were as needed at 3.5 gns. of WST. That is go to load load for a 158 gn. cast bullet. I have an adjustable powder slide.
 I loaded 100 rounds and then refilled the hopper. I noticed nothing unusual. I loaded the second 100 rounds and refilled the hopper. I thought it took a little less powder than expected but I was pouring out of a 4 lb. jug.
 I loaded the third MTM ammo tray of 100 rounds. I used a fired case to capture the powder dropped when the last two bullets were seated, so that all 100 rounds could be loaded. I went to dump the captured powder back into the press hopper . There was no powder. I tried again and no powder. I open the hopper and pushed the powder down ,still no powder when the press handle was stroked.
 I brought the handle down and released the handle to jar the hopper. There was a large discharge of powder from the powder funnel. I started pulling bullets and weighting powder charges. The ones of the first 100 rounds weighted correct of of the 2-3 rounds that I pulled the bullet. On the second 100 I pulled a few rounds and found powder charges from 0 to 3.5 grains. No powder in the rounds of the third box.
 After powder came out of funnel powder was weighted a the normal 3.5 grains.
 I am afraid that some of the rounds may have double or triple charges. Has anyone found that WST powder to bridge in the powder funnel? What can be done to prevent?
 Also a couple months ago I had a round that was noticeably heavy in recoil. I could not figure out why. Now I suspect a heavy load due to powder bridging and then a heavy heavy load.
 I am shooting a S&W Model 14-6.
Thoughts?

18

Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Howdy Ya'll I would like to buy some dies...

« on: June 18, 2013, 11:03:10 pm »

As another option the old C&H, now C&H4 will make you some of the dies. There is also another guy that is making shellplates. You have to piecemeal the parts you need in the aftermarket. You probably need the taper crimp die if you are going to shoot in competition.
 As mentioned E-bay is an option.