Here I'm talking about various gun supplies, mostly reloading equipment. It seems that I have never assembled what I consider a "complete" set
of equipment I need for reloading and bullet casting. This is partially because some items I have decided weren't critical so I didn't buy them.
Another reason is my "needs" change from time to time. For example, I've got cartridge headspace gauges for several calibers that I reload, but
I've never bought one for 8mm Mauser. When measuring cases to see if they require trimming, I've just been using a vernier caliper (but the caliper
doesn't tell you anything about shoulder position). Then there are bullet molds (moulds?), bullet lubing and sizing dies, top punches, mold handles, and
all that rot that generate acquisition requirements whenever you decide to commit to a certain bullet type or design.
With bullets expensive and difficult to find at present, the demands placed upon manufacturers and retailers of bullet casting equipment have increased. Some molds and other equipment are difficult to obtain or on back order. I've been checking Gunbroker and Ebay for certain items. As it happens, not much in the way of casting equipment turns up on Gunbroker. Lots of it gets listed on Ebay, but the competition for it among buyers is fierce and prices get high. I've observed that often, these items sell for close to or as much as they could be bought from someplace l ike Midway. True, some items are on back order, but if I'm going to pay "new" price, I want "new" goods and I'm willing to wait. At least when you buy new, you get new, not rusty, dirty, used stuff typical of what you might expect on Ebay. I've given up trying to buy anything like this on Ebay.
Last night I made up a list of little gadgets and gee-gaws that I've done without but wanted for some time, like the 8mm Mauser cartridge headspace gauge. It could've been a longer list, but I tried to keep it sensible. I just went ahead and ordered it all from Midway; only one item, a .45 caliber bullet mold was on back order and it's expected to be available in mid-July.
Another way to approach this situation is to ask yourself the question, "Do I really need this?" I've been reloading 7mm Mauser lately, and have thought about casting bullets for that caliber. When I've totted up the collective cost of mold(s), sizing & lubing die, top punch, and gas checks, I've simply decided that I will not be shooting my 7mm rifle enough to justify the expense. I already have over 400 jacketed bullets in .284; for the cost of the cast equipment, I could buy several more boxes and by that time I'd have plenty.
With bullets expensive and difficult to find at present, the demands placed upon manufacturers and retailers of bullet casting equipment have increased. Some molds and other equipment are difficult to obtain or on back order. I've been checking Gunbroker and Ebay for certain items. As it happens, not much in the way of casting equipment turns up on Gunbroker. Lots of it gets listed on Ebay, but the competition for it among buyers is fierce and prices get high. I've observed that often, these items sell for close to or as much as they could be bought from someplace l ike Midway. True, some items are on back order, but if I'm going to pay "new" price, I want "new" goods and I'm willing to wait. At least when you buy new, you get new, not rusty, dirty, used stuff typical of what you might expect on Ebay. I've given up trying to buy anything like this on Ebay.
Last night I made up a list of little gadgets and gee-gaws that I've done without but wanted for some time, like the 8mm Mauser cartridge headspace gauge. It could've been a longer list, but I tried to keep it sensible. I just went ahead and ordered it all from Midway; only one item, a .45 caliber bullet mold was on back order and it's expected to be available in mid-July.
Another way to approach this situation is to ask yourself the question, "Do I really need this?" I've been reloading 7mm Mauser lately, and have thought about casting bullets for that caliber. When I've totted up the collective cost of mold(s), sizing & lubing die, top punch, and gas checks, I've simply decided that I will not be shooting my 7mm rifle enough to justify the expense. I already have over 400 jacketed bullets in .284; for the cost of the cast equipment, I could buy several more boxes and by that time I'd have plenty.
