samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Finished making some more 6.8 ammo. Check out the seating depths on the 3 different bullets. 90gr Gold Dot, 110gr Sierra ProHunter, 110gr Barnes TSX (all copper). The powder is Alliant 1200R.

Roda

Nice powder measure! I'm still in the stone age for precision rifle loading... all manual. Is that pretty accurate/repeatable?

I have an early analog auto trickler, but it was never very precise so I don't use it for precision ammo.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

That RCBS Chargemaster is ******* unbelievable (currently on loan from a friend to see if I like it). I also have a Dillon Eliminator, which is the most accurate scale I've ever used and is far more sensitive than any electronic scale you would buy for reloading. I get mad if my ladder rounds aren't in single-digits for velocity with the Dillon.

The Chargemaster reads dead even with the Dillon and is consistent down to the 2/100th's of a grain on average. Most pours shows it within the hash-mark on my Dillon, which I've calculated to be about 1/100th. It's actually more accurate than I typically take the time to do be for hunting or target shooting. For the precision loads I'm trying to make to test out this new barrel, I'm only dropping in perfect pours... which means I have to dump back about 20% of them, but it still takes 1/3 the time of measuring by hand. In fact, it takes exactly the same amount of time for the machine to pour a load as it takes me to seat the bullet of the previous pour... no lost time.

They're $300, so you have to decide if you truly need that kind of precision. You absolutely don't need that kind of precision for general plinking and effing around. You might need that kind of precision if you're hunting out at the limits of your caliber... and it's certainly accurate enough to meet my needs for ladder testing and all but my most ---- precision loads.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Two months and $200 later (expensive for free brass and free lead) I have my first red powder coated cast rounds. 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim. I went a little overboard and have enough lead left over for an additional 5000 rounds:



Just had to make some "silver bullets" in case of werewolves. These were much harder to press for some reason:

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

Powder coated? Please forgive my ignorance, but ...wut?

Monk

iTrader: (3)

It's to disguise the rounds as little lipsticks, duh.

EO2K

iTrader: (37)

For the childrens, obviously.

Roda

Powder coating is a less expensive DIY substitute for plating or jacketing to reduce lead fouling and smoke. Never bothered with it myself, but I haven't done any high volume handgun reloading in years...

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

Had my first squib load yesterday. The bullet went about 2" into the barrel. These were the first 9mm rounds I made and I had put them in quarantine since the powder charges were made with the Lee charge bar and it has problems with small charges. I took my eyes off the ball and stopped looking into the cases for a bit. I should have pulled the bullets since I knew there could be problems. Anyway, I spent two days removing the bullet. I called Hi-Point to find a price for a new barrel for the 9mm carbine (I screwed up and jammed a soft wood dowel in there which of course broke off). They said they would not sell me one. Just send in the rifle and we will replace it. I told them it was my fault and they said no big deal. Just send it in and we will replace the barrel as well as give you a new magazine for your trouble ($18 for shipping to them - return shipping would be free). I ended up removing the dowel by drilling a hole in the end and sinking a screw in it. I then took a Mosin cleaning rod, cut the threads off and beat the hell out of the bullet from the muzzle end. I wrapped the front and rear of the rod with electrical tape so it would not get too much off center. I told the Hi-Point tech I was going to do this but chickened out and he told me it was no big deal. Beat the hell out of it and there was no way I could screw up the rifling. Not sure if this will help anyone or not but I thought I should mention it.

BTW, I am once again impressed with HP's customer service. I've never seen a company that would lifetime warranty anything if the customer was 100% the cause of the problem.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

I have heard the same thing about their CS from several other places. Their pistols absolutely have a place in the American market, and I've seen quite a few YT torture test videos to convince me that if I was on a budget, I'd consider one.

The only reason I don't own one of those Hi-point carbines is because they are butt-ugly and use their ridiculous proprietary mags. And of course if their carbine used Glock mags, they'd be $500 unicorns like the Sub2000. I really want one of the JustRight Carbines, but you can build a good AR15 for less. I thought that perhaps since the supply of .22lr looks like it's never going to come back, that more people would get into the 9mm AR game and the prices on conversion pieces would come down... no such luck. I can reload 9mm for about half of .223.

Splitime

iTrader: (24)

That would be the ticket (support glock mags). I had one of the carbines and it was the ugliest thing i've possibly ever owned. The trigger was so F'ing awful and questionable accuracy...

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

If anyone made a 9mm carbine with common pistol mags, AK-style durability and reliability, decent 75 yd accuracy, and could produce it in enough quantity to keep the market price under $400, they'd make a fortune.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

I slugged my M1917 45 cal pistol tonight. It measured 0.450". I was hoping it was WAY too big because the accuracy is **** (4-6" @ 10 yards with factory ammo). Any ideas what could make a revolver shoot so horribly?

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Marlin did. I have a camp carbine that is exactly what you describe. Bought it cheap, too. Uses pistol mags, but I forget what kind.

Not sure if it's available anymore.

rmcelwee

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=rleete;1216034]Marlin did. I have a camp carbine that is exactly what you describe. Bought it cheap, too. Uses pistol mags, but I forget what kind.

Not sure if it's available anymore.[/QUOT. E]

A used Marlin 9mm is around $600-$700. I don't think they have made those for almost 20 years.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Really? Holy crap, I should sell mine. Near perfect condition, shoots well, never any jams or problems. I even have a crappy bullpup stock I bought for it in my ignorant youth.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

^Nope, those things are very collectible... that's one you should hang onto if "collector" is in your blood. If not, you can probably do a very nice AR-9 for what you could get for it. Gunbroker has a few guns with time left for $700. OEM 8rd mags are $20-$25, but it looks like several different models of S&W pistol mags will fit, so there are up to 30rd hi-cap option.

samnavy

iTrader: (7)

Build list for the AR10 on top:
Aero Lower $135
DPMS LPK: $70
ALG Trigger/JPSprings/Trigger Screw: $70
Hogue Grip: $20
A2 stock guts: $45
EFX-A1 Stock: $80
Aero Upper: $135
DPMS Barrel: $119
Thread Protector: $10
YHM GasBlock/Tube: $35
DPMS Tube: $60

No BCG/CH yet, but will be in the $175 range for those...

Total: $1200 sans optics... damn, didn't know I'd spent that much.

Bottom gun has my 6.8spc upper mated with Bushnell AR Optics 4.5-18x42 with secondary 5.56 upper.

Davezorz

iTrader: (2)

Out of time, bad forcing cone, damaged sites, bent/bulged barrel, poor to no cylinder lockup, barrel not secured to the frame, damaged barrel crown.

4 to 6" is really bad, I would be looking at gross mechanical failure if the slug came out that well.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Keltec Sub 2000, Gen 2...who's got one?