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Author Topic: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully  (Read 5841 times)

Offline Hawg

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2021, 07:27:50 PM »
Just about everybody is out of stock now unless you want to pay 30.00 or more but a Lee double cavity .454 mold will fill the bill. Lead has to be pure or really close to it.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and tasteth good with ketchup.

Offline Captainkirk

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #16 on: October 12, 2021, 07:34:06 PM »
What Hawg said. Piettas typically like the .454 RB. They also like the Lee 200gr .450 conical bullet mould as well although they can be a really tight squeeze (see attached pic)

"You gonna pull those pistols, or whistle Dixie?"

Offline AR. Hillbilly

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #17 on: October 13, 2021, 03:13:40 AM »
What Hawg said. Piettas typically like the .454 RB. They also like the Lee 200gr .450 conical bullet mould as well although they can be a really tight squeeze (see attached pic)


I have a box full of new shiny lead weights that I assume is pure lead then I have several cans of wheel weights. Not sure on them. Bought it all for a Blacksmith project. It wouldn’t hurt to use some of the nicer stuff.
Should I buy known lead from a source like RCBS?

Offline Hawg

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #18 on: October 13, 2021, 03:31:55 AM »
Stick on wheel weights are soft enough. Clip on wheel weights are much too hard. A general rule of thumb is if you can easily scratch it with a thumbnail it's soft enough.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and tasteth good with ketchup.

Offline Zulch

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #19 on: October 13, 2021, 05:24:47 AM »
I still need powder and 454 balls
Like Zulch said, I too can recommend to cast one's own balls, it's easy and it's cheap and you'll never be low on RBs
The LGS has round balls, wads and pyrodex p. I try to shop local when possible.
I do use Midway for reloading supplies and familiar with them.
Now the big news. Yesterday was my birthday. My wife got me a very nice pietta Army also a 44 and not brass.
Any recommendations for a ball mold? I have lots of lead.

AR. Happy belated birthday!! Very nice of your wife to get that for you.  <={
Midway currently has the Lee double cavity .454 molds for $28.99
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101020128?pid=369899
Hope this is helpful.  :001_smile:
Tim

Offline Captainkirk

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #20 on: October 13, 2021, 09:19:36 AM »

Should I buy known lead from a source like RCBS?

You can buy pure lead for casting from MidwayUSA and Rotometals direct.
Saves a lot of time fluxing and removing the dross found in other sources, plus you know there are no other metals in it.
"You gonna pull those pistols, or whistle Dixie?"

Offline AR. Hillbilly

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #21 on: October 13, 2021, 10:00:32 AM »
Alright guys I’m close. I went to the LGS. I got pyrodex P 20 to 120 grain measure , 44 cleaning jag, lube and 100 454” balls. No wads.

Offline Zulch

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #22 on: October 13, 2021, 10:06:07 AM »
Alright guys I’m close. I went to the LGS. I got pyrodex P 20 to 120 grain measure , 44 cleaning jag, lube and 100 454” balls. No wads.

AR, Fantastic man. that's good news. thanks for sharing.  (@+  What lube did you choose?

Offline AR. Hillbilly

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #23 on: October 13, 2021, 10:22:43 AM »
Alright guys I’m close. I went to the LGS. I got pyrodex P 20 to 120 grain measure , 44 cleaning jag, lube and 100 454” balls. No wads.

AR, Fantastic man. that's good news. thanks for sharing.  (@+  What lube did you choose?
Thompson Center natural lube 1000 plus.

Offline Zulch

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #24 on: October 13, 2021, 11:28:28 AM »
Alright guys I’m close. I went to the LGS. I got pyrodex P 20 to 120 grain measure , 44 cleaning jag, lube and 100 454” balls. No wads.

AR, Fantastic man. that's good news. thanks for sharing.  (@+  What lube did you choose?
Thompson Center natural lube 1000 plus.
AR, great man. Just waiting on some wads it sounds. They have some at Midway. No, I do not work for them. I was once accused of that. (7+" Anyway here is a link if you can't wait on the local suppliers.
Link: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2509115162?pid=782940
I've begun making my own to save money. I bought some felt from these folks. Quick nice and helpful folks. I then bought some punches to cut the wads.
Duro-Felt Products
501-225-2838
durofelt@att.net
www.durofelt.com
 Hope this is helpful AR,
Thanks, Tim

Offline Captainkirk

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #25 on: October 14, 2021, 07:38:08 AM »
If you are planning on using the TC Naturalube as over-ball grease, it will work fine, BUT...it will also blow all over the gun, making it as messy as a 3 year old's high chair and slippery as a greased eel to hold onto. I highly recommend over powder wads. You can get these in either lubed or dry. For general shooting, lubed are preferred but some people like to leave a BP revolver loaded and the lube can work it's way into the powder and cause a squib load or misfire if left for days or weeks at a time, in which case you should use the dry ones. You can also make your own using Durofelt and a wad punch if you choose to go that route. Buffalo Arms carries the wad punch.
Or...stick with the lube.
"You gonna pull those pistols, or whistle Dixie?"

Offline Hawg

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #26 on: October 14, 2021, 09:31:16 AM »
Ditto on the wads. I have a cheap set I bought from Harbor Freight. It's been awhile since I bought them but it's several different size punches for 5 bucks or so. Yeah they're Cheap Chinese stuff but they work. When you punch them out use the end of something like a piece of 4X4 and they cut better than if you try to cut them on a hard surface.

 
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and tasteth good with ketchup.

Offline Zulch

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #27 on: October 14, 2021, 09:40:21 AM »
Ditto on the wads. I have a cheap set I bought from Harbor Freight. It's been awhile since I bought them but it's several different size punches for 5 bucks or so. Yeah they're Cheap Chinese stuff but they work. When you punch them out use the end of something like a piece of 4X4 and they cut better than if you try to cut them on a hard surface.
That’s right Hawg. I bought a set and still working just fine. Ditto on the wood block👍

Offline AR. Hillbilly

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #28 on: October 15, 2021, 03:52:29 PM »
My wife got me 2 bags of wads today. I believe I have everything to get started.
My brasser may be junk but the new one will hopefully pan out.

Offline G Dog

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Re: First trip to range tomorrow hopefully
« Reply #29 on: October 15, 2021, 04:02:35 PM »
If your brasser shoots and smokes and you're having fun - then it's a valuable piece.
"Tolerance is the last virtue of a dying society."
                                                   --   Aristotle