Copy that Vince, good tips. I use the ones that come in"stiff".
They actually work pretty well, esp on force cones and between the top strap and front strap where crud accumulates. I'm laying the lil maggy on magazines and such now, instead of the nightstand's blanket. Delinted my holster too.
Did some more testing yesterday (indoors).... w/ C&B cast bullets, no GC.
2" Taurus .357m, M-605:
158gr CLSWC/w231 3.5gr, Magtech primer, mixed brass: less smoke, almost no leading, 50rds. Still pretty smokey. This is a half-grain below the START recipe. Got a couple key-holes. (note-tried to go with 700X instead but the measure wouldn't meter it at the START load so.... I spooned it into one case but it didn't even being to fill it. Pass.)
Done with w231 in this pistol/bullet combo as I'm having no luck. Saving the w231 for the ACP as I got 1000 copper plated RN 230gr I'm loading up soon. I like copprt plated boolits!
158gr CLSWC/Unique 4.0gr, Magtech primer, mixed brass: mild smoke, snappy and fun. No lead. 25rds. Clean holes.
158gr CLSWC/Unique 4.5gr, Magtech primer, mixed brass: I think a little less smoke than the above. 25rds. Snappy and fun. Clean holes. I like this combo and it meters well and the case has less dead space. Going to do more tuning with the one.
Ruger Alaskan 44m:
240gr CLSWC/Unique 10.0gr, CCI 300 primer, mixed brass: reduced from 10.5gr, still very snappy and fun. Accurate too. Nice 3-shot clover leaf at 10y off-hand (surpised the beans outta me- I aint that good of a shot!) Kinda smoky, no lead to speak of. 50 rounds. Gonna play with this combo too and see if I can get to clean up some.
I'm still smelling wax/lube on all these. Not sure if the bbl lentgh has much to do with it. The leading is way, way down now though. Clean up was easy. Joy!
This is my first real go-rounds with the cast stuff. I've always used plated. Tried to save a few $ with the cast stuff. It's finally coming around....