Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Post-February wrap-up and updates

Well, the no-spend February wasn't as profitable but we did manage to get things back on track.  No real savings but some items that we've needed for some time have been purchased and we've cut back our 'eating out' a fair bit.

Back in January I traded some .40 S&W brass and a 1/2# of fresh Unique powder for a set of RCBS .223 full-length sizing dies so I can reload .223 ammo for my upcoming AR-15 rifle build.  I had the dies in my hot little hands for less than a day before I stuck a case.  Long story short, I've contacted RCBS support a few times and still have not gotten the replacement spindle that they have been promising me since January 25th.  I broke down and bought the X-spander spindle from Cabela's.  Since that point, I have now sized and expanded several hundred pieces of .223 PMC, Federal and Lake City brass.  Now to get a pound of Ramshot TAC powder and some Hornady VMAX 62-grain bullets...after I get a scale that is more accurate than the used RCBS 5-0-5 scale that I have.

I guess I'll send the 5-0-5 to RCBS to have them check out and recalibrate if needed.  While I have heard many good things about thier customer service over the years, my experience has been less than stellar. 

The lay-away Smith & Wesson M&P 15 lower reciever that I have on hold for me at Bud's Gunshop in Lexington, KY should be in my possession before I turn 40 at the end of the month.  Then it's $69 for the lower parts kit, $54 for the stock and recoil spring with another $400-$500 for the upper.  Or, I may just order a rifle kit from either www.akpartskits.com or www.model1sales.com.  Or both, there are still cheap stripped lower recievers out there...