daboone wrote:Wow the Slugger is a different animal compared to the Sizemaster. I didn't know it exisfed. It sure produces a beautiful crimp.
Yes you are sick and infectious.
I started this, six years ago, and thought it would be easy, but it isn't. Sure, you can push a big chunk of lead downrange and its fun, but there is a heck of a lot to it if you want don't want fliers missing the berm at 50 through 100-yards. There is even more to it if you want dependable, consistent five-shot groups at 100-yards that are 3 MOA or less.
All the YouTube and threads, thousands of them, have one thing in common; individuals like myself have all these ideas, but none support their work with consistent five-shot groups at 100-yards that are 3 MOA or less. Videos and threads melt away without a successful conclusion. There are two exceptions, the premium factory ammo shooters, and those that are shooting premium saboted designs like the Hammerheads. As far as I know, the Hammerhead is the only one that you can cast.
I got into this because Lee's material told me it was easy; two molds and a Load-All II. It isn't so that lead to an older 3" 12 Gauge Lee Loader to do what the Load-All wouldn't. Still, none of that could deliver the roll crimp, so then there are the hull vice, hull trimmers, and roll crimpers (two of each because they are not working), hull conditioning tools (two as well because they aren't working), and finally a low-speed (max 300 RPM) drill press to deliver the needed roll crimp. That was a deal killer. I've had a very nice and expensive drill press sitting around here since I closed my mold business. A couple a months ago, I gave it to a couple that is struggling, and they have a real need for it as it will add income for the family.
I've gotten down to the point that I believe the roll crimp is one of the keys to accomplishing my downrange goals and I don't think that crimp will come from a tool that melts the plastic hull to fold it over. Today, I was supposed to go pick up another drill press, but I'm not as I finally have caved to the way that MEC rolls the crimp over in three stages as premium factory ammo does. For the record, I've never had a reusable hull that has been roll crimped with a rotating crimper. Not one, so there is an added cost to that as well.
The bottom line is that all this stuff exceeds the cost of the Slugger. I should have followed my first instinct two months ago. I've had five previous months, one month for the last five years, that I gave up because none of the fuel I have added to this fire has helped.
I think the Sluggers are a seasonal production run for MEC. I've watched them go out of stock from all, any, internet source. I decided it had to be now or never as if I don't finish this project this year; I'm done. Sure as the sun comes up, I bought the last Slugger from MidwayUSA. I don't know about you guys, but I think it was "written."
Today, I'm going to gather up all the "stuff" and get it on eBay. I will stick with the Load-All II as I feel it is a great shotshell press. I still need to load my night-time hog loads which use BBs. Everything else is out of here.