Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
It is hardly unique to reloading & casting, but there are a lot of equipment decisions involved in our hobby that put us on particular paths. For example, years ago I decided that if I was going to size bullets after casting, I might as well lubricate them in the same step. That decision put me on the path of acquiring some type of Lubersizer and not going down the path of tumble lubing “as cast” bullets. That decision, in turn, required I select a type of lubersizer. Those choices were basically RCBS/Lyman verses Star.
While we are free to change paths or even have many paths available, money and space (mostly money ) plays a big role in the path we take and the path we tend to stay on. Once you select a Star or Lyman style lubersizer, you have committed to a style of sizing dies. They are not interchangeable. The farther you go down a particular path (the more proprietary dies you acquire), the harder it is to switch paths.
Now, some folks dabble all over the map. They tumble lube, they use a Star lubersizer, They use a Lyman or RCBS lubersizer, they powder coat, etc. That drifting around provides a lot of options, but it also requires a LOT of gear. I tend to be a bit more dogmatic. I’m not sure if that makes me more frugal or makes me not as well rounded.
There are sections of our hobby that are fairly standard. For example, most reloading dies are 7/8” dies with a standard thread pitch. There are only a few primer diameters (small, large, shotgun). So, some of our equipment is very universal. However, there is a LOT of proprietary equipment involved in our hobby. Lee 3 hole and 4 hole turrets, Dillon toolheads, screw sizes for mold blocks, sizing dies, nose punches, shell holders, etc. The list of proprietary equipment is extensive.
Do you like having a choice on which path to take?
Do you wish there was less proprietary equipment in our hobby? Maybe a few more standards?
What say you?
While we are free to change paths or even have many paths available, money and space (mostly money ) plays a big role in the path we take and the path we tend to stay on. Once you select a Star or Lyman style lubersizer, you have committed to a style of sizing dies. They are not interchangeable. The farther you go down a particular path (the more proprietary dies you acquire), the harder it is to switch paths.
Now, some folks dabble all over the map. They tumble lube, they use a Star lubersizer, They use a Lyman or RCBS lubersizer, they powder coat, etc. That drifting around provides a lot of options, but it also requires a LOT of gear. I tend to be a bit more dogmatic. I’m not sure if that makes me more frugal or makes me not as well rounded.
There are sections of our hobby that are fairly standard. For example, most reloading dies are 7/8” dies with a standard thread pitch. There are only a few primer diameters (small, large, shotgun). So, some of our equipment is very universal. However, there is a LOT of proprietary equipment involved in our hobby. Lee 3 hole and 4 hole turrets, Dillon toolheads, screw sizes for mold blocks, sizing dies, nose punches, shell holders, etc. The list of proprietary equipment is extensive.
Do you like having a choice on which path to take?
Do you wish there was less proprietary equipment in our hobby? Maybe a few more standards?
What say you?
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