Re: Do you reload???

[Hazcat]

I've had all the 'stuff' for 45 colt and 44 mag for about 3 years now....maybe someday I get it set up and give it a try!

[billt]

I want to reload. FQ - again, surprise? - misses the point. It is not just a hobby, or a way to save money. It is a life-assuring skill. And in that regard I want to learn it and do my own ammo.

Very good point. Learning how to reload uncovers a wealth of information you otherwise would not know. How pressure effects accuracy. How different overall length can improve or degrade accuracy. What happens to the cartridge brass metallurgically when it goes through the reloading process. How different powders effect velocity, accuracy, as well as pressure. It is all but endless. I don't think there is a reloader out there, regardless of experience, or amount of rounds loaded, that isn't still learning. I'll put myself at the head of the list.   Bill T.

[alfsauve]

I'm surprised by the whole "limited run" thing. It's not as if it's a collector plate or something.

"limited run"  were my words not theirs.  I think as you said, they made a huge quantity, distributed them and then decided there were more profitable ways to use their time and equipment.   

They have become somewhat of a collectible....or at least desirable. Sort of a very small niche thing among reloaders from the '70s.   I've seen $8-$9 advertised for used ones, which I'd be willing to pay if I could find some.

[Funseeker]

Yup, me too!  I still think of myself as a beginner.  I reload .38, .357, 9mm, .45ACP for side arms and 7.62x39 and .308 Win for my long guns.  Just stated out with a simple Lee turret press, and now adding a Rock Chucker to the mix for the .308.  I've been reading every manual I can get my hands on as well as on-line resources.  (You can never read enough.)   Some on-line forms can be helpful, but use you BS filter on the data until you can find the reliable posters.  (Not like we would have to worry about that here on DRTV, at least I hope we have a higher caliber of people amongst us. (Pardon the pun.)) 

I use both manual powder load management, as well as the disk set-up that came with the Lee kit, back checking it often.  "Accuracy-ness is next to godliness" .  Especially when my fingers, face, and other body parts are concerned........    And talking to other reloaders, in person, to help you finesse you technique is a real plus, too.

[shooter32]

Just getting started.

9mm and .223, hope to add .38 spl and .357 mag. soon.

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

I have everything needed to load .45acp, .44 spl/mag, .30-06, .243win now and will add .223 and .308win dies soon.
My hold up is finding room to set up a permanent loading bench for my Dillon RL550 and Lee single-stages. Plumb shameful that I've had the Dillon since '98 or so and it is still in the box  .
When my older son got married and moved out, I targeted his old room....but alas, the m-i-l had to have a room to sleep in when she comes to visit.

[CJS3]

I started reloading in 91. Now it's the only way I can actually afford to shoot.

380, 9mm, 38S&W, 38/357, 44/44mag, 45ACP/AR, 45Colt
.223, 30-30, 243, 308, 30-06, 7.62x54(hunting rounds)

I've got dies for, but don't reload 32 auto, 9 MAK, and 7.62x39.
I got rid of my 32 and the last two calibers are still pretty cheap for store bought.

I try to keep 500 rounds of each on hand for that spur of the moment trip to the range, but the garage is hot and humid during the summer on the gulf coast. I've been somewhat remiss on my reloading duties.

[m25operator]

Lot of good stuff here, now some tips, mount your presses on 3/4" particle board or plywood, and then you can C clamp it to the table, next with a single stage press, do it in batches, clean cases, don't deprime 1st as you have to dig out the media from the primer hole, now resize and deprime, and on once fired rifle brass, meant for accuracy, deburr the flash hole, from the inside out, Now if you have adjusted your resizer, to just neck size ( for accuracy )  of have small based resized for Semi auto firing,  both have their place, the place the appropriate amount of powder and seat the bullet to the correct overall length, take a little time with this as this is where accuracy really begins to start. Neck crimp is a personal decision also, if you cannot push the bullet back, against the bench by hard hand pressure, then you don't need t further crimp it further, however if it does move farther down the case, you do need to.

To be continued and best of luck.

[philw]

m25

that is why I started the the set up thread 


sounds good though

I have seen a bench that had bits of ply wood that you slide in to the bench and swap them over with different bits

I think it was in rifleman mag

[bucktracker]

I love people who dont reload. Leaving all your once fired brass next to me at the range. THANK YOU! Its brass gold.Especially odd ball calibers that are expensive and or hard to find.
I started reloading 6 months ago.Ive been meaning to do it for years,(saved all my brass) but didn't cough up the money to get started.Figured I could just buy more ammo. Its paying off now.Reloading I found to be a love /hate relationship.I knew no one whom reloaded, and it was tough for me to pony up the money when I didn't believe I could do it. Turns out reloading is caveman simple as long as you follow proper recipies and pay attention.Go to a reloading clinic or ask local pro's. I'm cooking up some hot 10mm loads now on my hornady reloading kit and lee dies. Bought a real nice rcbs10-10 beam scale after frustrations with a digital one. I say just do it! its rewarding and you can now buy weapons that shoot expensive ammo!