The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: dgray64 on November 19, 2007, 10:48:28 PM
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I've been reloading for about a year now .380, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 apc and I just ordered the dies for .38 Spc/.357. My work is slow using my Lee equip, but it's fun and trying new recipes is a blast (haven't had any real blasts yet, but many are more hot than commercial rounds).
Anyway, the I figure that if I can buy parts in sufficient quantity, the rounds cost less. The only thing that's a kicker now is the Haz Mat charge on powder and primers. My local stores don't sell in anything other than 1 pound bottles. Luckily we just had a gun show and I got a couple of large jugs of powder for $6 more than internet, but with no hazmat and no freight. What a sale!! Primers weren't that great, but I did get a thousand to keep the inventory up.
I like the idea of buying ammo in advance as you can afford it (i have a lot of both commercial and reloads). I burn a lot of powder though when my friends and family come down. Lots of target shooting. Fun!!
The negative side if it is that every time you hear of the police going to a house to look for something they find a "cashe of guns" (Ho My!!) and look at all that ammunition!! He must be evil. Hasn't been convicted of anything except by the news sources and of course the cops confiscate everything. My motto, "Keep shooting"! I do enjoy making little holes in paper targets!
Dave ::)
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Welcome to the club of Re-loading..........Michael is right.. Lead it up, powder is up, and primers are up.
Been re-loading for 35+ years.
But now Im trying to stock up on 22's, just in case.
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I've been reloading Shot since college( 16 ga is not cheap). Just bought a KISS bullet feeder for the 1050.
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I've been reloading off and on since about '91. I have gotten lazy the last several years. I'm loading all of the components I had put back now.
I don't know if reloading is really worth it for me with the cost, now. Even with Rainier bullets, my 40's will cost about 7-8 bucks a box. Feeding my 629 with specials is much cheaper because I can use lead.
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Been reloading for 20+ years. I enjoy reloading almost as much as shooting!
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I'm new to reloading, have yet to reload my first round. But I did run across a gently used Dillon 550B with low powder sensor and two reloading dies for $300, so I snapped it up two months ago. I have a few thousand cases in .223 and .308, as well as a handful .45, .40 and 9mm. I've picked up lately.
Sadly, I am in the middle of moving - will stay in ND, just a different location due to work. So I have nowhere to set up and get rolling on this. I do know local people who can help me learn the ins and outs, but given what I shoot, and the prices, I should be able to save some cash reloading. Besides, it looks like fun!
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My Dad and I started reloading about 1990. I love it and have as much fun creating custom loads as I do shooting them. I have also enjoyed casting my own bullets. Being an early reader of Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton my .357/.38s .44s and .45s are almost always topped off with my own cast SWCs. A long time ago I aquired enough wheel weights to keep me going for a long time. Living in the country, I have my own range and I am able to reclaim alot of my lead. Tanother big savings. I buy in bulk when ever I can... brass, powder, primers.
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I have been reloading for a long time. Started with a Lee Loader for my 7mm Rolling Block that I got from Ye Ol Hunter for $9.95! Now I reload for every thing I have in my safe, shot gun, rifle and pistol. I must admit that I don't believe it saves you any money, but you get to shoot a lot more for the same amount of money! ;)
I look at reloading as another fun activity. And I can brag that I shot all but two of my deer with my handloads.
Having said all that, I still buy ammo in bulk from DCM when I need it, or when it is cheaper than reloading. e.g. Greek M1 ammo in 8 round clips for my M1s. And at the moment you can buy some shotgun ammo for less than you can reload it! So, buy a few cases.
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Welcome to the club of Re-loading..........Michael is right.. Lead it up, powder is up, and primers are up.
Been re-loading for 35+ years.
But now Im trying to stock up on 22's, just in case.
I started reloading in 1978, don't see any reason to stop. Everything has increased in our sport, and the rest of our lives. Sadly my wages haven't kept pace. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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I have seen some ammo selling for less now than a few months ago, although handgun ammo is a little higher .223/5.56 and 762x39 has dropped a little. You would think it would be the other way around. I suppose I will be forced to reload in the future. I have been saving brass.
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I've been reloading since 1978, started off with a rockchucker and mec shotgun loader, graduated to Dillon 550b, have 2. In my close circle of friends we have a 1050, when we want to do a bulk session, 3,000 + usually. One of my long time friends is a commercial reloader, and I usually let him load the .223, I just picked up his version of the MK77 and am going to try it in my new, 1/6.5" twist space gun, if it works out, I'll pick up 500 more. It shoots the 80grn Bergers fantastic, but if you load the OAL, to fit in the magazine, the case mouth is past the ogive.
My habit has been to watch for deals on components, and when it comes up, stock up. It really does not matter, .22lr, primers, powder, brass, or bullets. 2 years ago, Graf and sons had decommissioned lake city match brass, brand new with bullets and primers removed. I bought 2k of 1966, for 120 bucks. Every time I buy from Midway, cabelas, bass pro etc..., regardless of what your ordering, throw in some bullets or brass. If you belong to a Gun club, try to get together a group buy, of components or ammo. I belonged to a High Power rifle club in 1990, and we did a group buy, on czech 147gr 7.62 mil surp ammo. I bought 5k at 9 cents a round. At a gun show, a fella had 173grn, 1966 lake city match for sale, he had 6 boxes of 20 on the table for 6 bucks a box, I asked him if he had any more, and he said how much do you want? I said how much you got? turned out 2400 rounds in boxes. Made the deal for 3.90 a box. I surely wish now I had not shot so much of it. I saw it last weekend going for 21 bucks a box.
I was high profile at my local club for a long time, and several times older shooters, 70 year young fellas, were giving up the shooting game, and sold me their components and equipment, some had me donate their goods to young shooters to get them started. ( shooters are really a good lot to hang with ).
I bought out some oldtimers who had casting stuff, I now have 2 good pots, lots of lead, ingot molds, and some really good bullet molds for .45, 9mm, .30 carbine, .38, .44, two sizers and lots of cast bullets that have not been sized, including something I always wanted to try, .44 180 grn full wadcutters, I really want to try that in .44 special.
I even picked up an old pacific bullet swager press, only 1 mold, 185 grn .45 swc, it was meant for soft lead wire, but I've taken .44 180swc cast lead and pumped it through the press, takes a little pressure but out comes a .45.
We can hope ammo is coming back at lower prices, but reloading is the way to go.
comparison, 168grn .308 gold match 20.00 a box of 20 or higher. 100 - 168grn sierra match kings go for about 20 bucks, 100 primers 3.00, 5000 grns of powder, 15.00 depending on what powder you chose, but that should be on the highend. So thats 38.00 bucks a 100 with your brass. Use bulk 147grn ball and bring that down a good 5 bucks.
Lead pistol ammo should still be able to be made for 10 cents a round with your old brass.
When your at the range, ask your fellow shooters if you can have their brass. Take brass you don't load and trade it for brass you do need.
Not even touching on the subject that reloading should be more accurate as it is tailored for your specific firearm.
Happy Thanksgiving, add a prayer at dinner for our service people.
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Me too. I have been reloading for 20 years, and casting for 15. I bought a lead pot used and molds on ebay. By casting my own and reloading, the only cost is the powder and primer. That comes out awfully cheap. You almost can't afford not too. Ha ha. I have gotten some of the other guys I work with into reloading and even casting their own. They love it and can shoot a lot more because of it. I check the local tire shops for scrap wheel weights. They are usually more than happy to get riid of them. I melt them into ingots so they are ready to go right into my pot. A couple hours in the garage casting, and I have a good number of bullets. All for free.
Get someone interested in shooting. then get them started reloading , and even casting their own. They will thank you for it
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I need advice on what reloader to buy. From what I can see, Lee seems like a good brand. I want to reload 38, 44 special, 44 mag, and 308. Any opinions out there?
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I started about a year ago reloading 45 acp and 44 mag on a Lee Classic Turret on my workbench in the basement. Recently remodeled my sons new bedroom and the wife gave his old one. I built a bench up there in the heat and AC. Just getting it set up. I am now starting to acquire dies for my rifles!
(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee267/Metzy84/100_1166.jpg)
(http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee267/Metzy84/100_1167.jpg)
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saltydogbk you really can't go wrong with any of the major single stage press brands. Midway USA has a useful section on each product they sell.Where you can write your opinion on that product. It sure helps to find out ahead of time that something is a piece of crap before you buy it. One thing I had to learn the hard way was to get reloading dies that are easy to take apart and clean without having to take them off your press if something happens during your relaoding session. I'm using Dillion Dies and I reload alot of lead so many times I have to clean them without removing the whole die.Remove the top clip and the guts drop out, clean ,slip it back in, re-clip it and your good to go without having to re-adjust your dies. As far as the bullets, brass etc. Buy as much as you can afford then buy more. As soon as you hang the phone up the price will have gone up sad to say. Good Luck and Enjoy
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I used to watch my dad reload on his RCBS when i was 8 years old he always kept his equipment where ever we moved and I inherited all of it when he passed away I was 17 and sill at 52 I reload but on a Dillon 550B in .38/357 .44 .45 .223 and .308. I have got my granddaughters in in and when he's old enough I will teach my great grandson how to do it properly and safely. As far as cost go check out Missouri bullet Co. they are good bullets and still reasonable.
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i'm going to start reloading in april what do I need besides a press,dies and conponents? to reload 7mm rem mag,30-30,25-06,.357 ???
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New to the forum..howdy from south carolina..
My how times have changed..started reloading in 1975 in las vegas....
I know this is retro and depressing... 10 years ago----------
win primers at gun show 60.@ sleeve no tax
vita powder 17. a pound(was expensive even then)
once fired 9mm 10. @thousand
jacketed bullets 3.5 to 4 cents ea....(i remember buying a case(3660) of win 115 jhp from midway for 125.)
the GOOD ole days were just a few years ago........................I guess we will all have to buy lower capacity pistols and aim better...
Larry
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Amen brother
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I did a LOT of reloading in the '80s but packed my stuff away when I moved into my current house in '93 and only dug it out last fall. I plan to be doing some reloading in the next year.
What's even better/cheaper, I've found, is shooting .22. I try to have a .22 conversion or matching gun for all of my centerfires that I can. You can still buy .22LR bulk ammo at Walmart for cheaper than centerfire primers ALONE. I shot over 26,000 rounds of .22 last year and hope to do it again this year.
Here's a pic of some of my favorite .22 "training" pistols.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/Snake45/22Trainers.jpg)
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I'm just starting reloading. I just done a bunch of 9mm and am starting on .270 winchester next. I have all Lee equipment and I love it. They are great quality and the cheap price is simply the bonus. I don't save a lot on the 9mm because I can buy 50 for $8 or 100 for $15, but my groups are phenomenal. I would be lucky to get all eight rounds inside the target with the factory stuff but get most all eight shots within three inches overall, with the rare flyer. My next venture will be with .357 magnum and 16ga (yes these are expensive and also hard to find in large volume). I also plan on starting to mold my own bullets within the next year or two (if not sooner). I love this stuff.
One more question. Like I said, I can get the 9mm in bulk on the cheap but they shoot like crap. Has anyone ever bought a bunch of 9mm factory ammo, break the bullets down, and reload either with their own powder, or reuse and reweigh the original powder for better more accurate groups? Also, is it possible to make your own jacketed or copper slug ammo (larger than .223)?(so that was two questions, sue me or at leat get in line)
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If you have limited money and room, I bought a Black and Decker folding work table and replaced the cheezy clamp top with a piece of aluminum 16X32X1/2 inch I picked up at work. Cost was $80 including bolts and drill to put holes in
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i'm going to start reloading in april what do I need besides a press,dies and conponents? to reload 7mm rem mag,30-30,25-06,.357 ???
Don't forget to trim the brass! otherwise the new ammo you just made will not chamber or worse get stuck. Mannules from different manufaclures are not to be forgotten as they offer a weath of information about the cases, load data ,ballistics and you need letes see calipers mices,scale, I not trying to scare you away just inform. you get the best of our firearm when you taylor tje ammo. Have fun