I've finally gone and done it.

[longtooth]

I tumble first, before deprime, because I don't want to clean primer pockets, at all.

Evidently you learned like some of the rest of us.

NcogrueNt, one of you possible sourses for good loading data cheap & immediately:
I know Winchester, IMR, & Hogden have some simple paperback give aways that a lot of gun shops have w/ their components. I keep one of each usually. I just gave away a Winchester & IMR a few weeks ago & do not have any more right now. Those will give you several diferet powders but usually only one load per powder. Count the load given a mid range load & work up. You should do that as a starter anyway. Back down from Max load give by .2 grain or 10% then work back up.

I am in FLU quarinteen right now. They have said Tomorrow, no sooner, Sat better before I get out. I will check Bills Gun Trader here for them. I know I got the last to give away a couple of weeks ago.

I will be glad to give you my loads for 9mm & .380 if you want. I can give you some helps on statting w/o many $$$$$$ so you can wait on some thing that make it convenient & easy. I re-started on nothing too.
LT

[ghostrider]

Some of the powder companies have downloadable PDF versions of those 'give away' databooks.

Both Hodgdon and Alliant have online data as well:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/index.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ghostrider]

I've not used this supplier or Wolf primers, but they seem to have some in stock:


http://www.site.graceammo.com/Primers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[longtooth]

I have never used wolf primers either. Since the shortage I have read a lot of reviews on them from even competition shooters & they have all been good. I will no longer hesitate to use them. I went into this crisis in GOOD shape on components. Only thing I have made sure I bought when it was available is SPPs. I am fortunate that I have not ran out.

[Oldgringo]

I've not used this supplier or Wolf primers, but they seem to have some in stock:


http://www.site.graceammo.com/Primers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's not a bad price in this day and age until one adds in the Hazmat and shipping charge.

[NcongruNt]

I've not used this supplier or Wolf primers, but they seem to have some in stock:


http://www.site.graceammo.com/Primers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's not a bad price in this day and age until one adds in the Hazmat and shipping charge.

Yeah, that's the killer there. Cabela's online store has Remington SPP's available on their website, so I'm wondering if they have some in the store. I really don't want to pay $50 for a $30 box of primers.

[Oldgringo]

I've not used this supplier or Wolf primers, but they seem to have some in stock:


http://www.site.graceammo.com/Primers.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's not a bad price in this day and age until one adds in the Hazmat and shipping charge.

Yeah, that's the killer there. Cabela's online store has Remington SPP's available on their website, so I'm wondering if they have some in the store. I really don't want to pay $50 for a $30 box of primers.

The hazmat fee is the same whether your order 1M or 10M primers as long as it's in the same shipment. The trick is to get someone to split up an order and then the tare won't be so heavy. If you're anywhere near a Cabela's see what they have in stock.

[ghostrider]

I was just at Cabelas in Buda - no pistol primers at all. What I saw was:

# shotshell primers
# small rifle
# large Magnum rifle

[NcongruNt]

Oof.

[Jeremae]

My load for 9mm luger is 115gr Berry's plated bullet, 4.8 gr win 231 and CCI primer. Don't remember the actual chronoed speed but it feels like a WWB round out of a CZ 75 or Browning Hipower, meets IDPA power factor for SSP/ESP and no excessive powder fouling.

I used to use the Monatana golds but found the Berry's to be just as consistant for less money. I don't bother sorting headstamps. As I remember it, my cost is about $10 a hundred rounds (but I buy powder in 8lb kegs, bullets in 3-10k lots and at least 10k primers at a time)

I tumble before deprime. I sometimes tumble after final crimp. The Lee deluxe die set is great and since sizing die is carbide no case lube needed.

[NcongruNt]

Alright, I'm nearly ready to start reloading! I just went to Cabela's and got :

powder (Blue Dot, 1lb.)
primers (!!! yes, Cabela's had Federal SPP in stock, bought 1000)
a couple hundred bullets (100 124grn Hornady XTP, 100 124grn Remington JHP)
a reloading manual (Modern Reloading by Richard Lee)
a bullet puller
the Cabelas-brand case tumbler kit.

I've got a batch of 9mm brass tumbling as we speak. Unfortunately, there were no dies for me there. As I searched, I ran across another fellow who was purchasing the same press kit I have and was looking for 9mm dies as well. Anyone know of a good source for the Lee Deluxe Pistol die set in/near Austin? Red's is listed as a Lee dealer, but I don't recall ever seeing a lot of reloading stuff there. Maybe the North location?

[NcongruNt]

I tumble before deprime. I sometimes tumble after final crimp. The Lee deluxe die set is great and since sizing die is carbide no case lube needed.

So you tumble finished ammunition? I had never considered that. That would make things considerably simpler for me, as I tend to hand-polish my carry rounds every month or so between rotations.

[ghostrider]

>So you tumble finished ammunition?

I would recommend against doing that, however its one of those controversial things like carrying reloads. Lots of people say don't do it without any hard evidence of it being a bad idea.


http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthr ... er=1391582" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... opic=45244" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/20 ... aded-ammo/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NcongruNt]

I've got a good 1000 cases or so run through the tumbler now. It's quite satisfying to get them cleaned up and shiny!

I've got a few cases with various dings and dents in them, some more severe than others. I'm told by the missus that I'm not allowed to set up the reloader until we do some house cleaning and rearrangement first, so I can't get to it for a few more days. This may make itself evident once I start trying, but maybe not. Will the sizing dies straighten this kind of thing out?

I've taken some photos to show what kind of dents and such there are:




What do y'all think?

As an aside, I've found that there seem to be considerable differences in the residue left behind in various brands of ammo. I particular, I've found that after tumbling, CCI-branded cases (Blazer, Speer) are amazingly clean inside, almost as if unfired. Conversely, I've found that PPU-stamped brass (generally Monarch) tends to have a sticky black residue inside that collects the corn cob meda and takes vigorous swabbing with a q-tip to get out. S&B seems to have quite dirty residue leftover in the brass as well, though not sticky. After tubling a thousand rounds, I've found that if there's a bunch of media stuck in the case, it invariably has a PPU headstamp.