My first reloads

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chartreuse
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My first reloads

Post by chartreuse »

I must say, I'm feeling a little bit pleased with myself. After procrastinating for the best part of a year, telling myself "well, perhaps I should read just one more reloading book from cover to cover, before I start" I finally bit the bullet (if y'all will pardon the pun) and assembled my first ever ammo.

It was nothing fancy, just some low pressure .38 Special plinking rounds for a 1922 Colt Army Special. I used 4 grains of Unique and some (more expensive than necessary) 125 grain Hornady JHPs, because that was what was in my Lyman book and I thought it best to follow the instructions to the letter, for my first attempt. I made a few rounds, took them to the range and fired 5 from a Charter Arms Southpaw, as a first test, then the other six from my Colt. They worked great, so I came home and loaded a box of 50. Next time, I'll find some cast bullets, for economy.

Flushed with my success, I ordered two new sets of dies in .303 British (for my Enfields) and .38 S&W (for my Webley). My next mission is to find some cheap (expensive is easy) .360" or .361" diameter 200 grain bullets, so that I can have a go at replicating the pre WWII .38/200 round. I'm talking with the chap at Western Bullet Company about that and he's kindly offered to see what he can do next time he casts a batch.

I think that I'm beginning to understand what folks see in reloading. In some ways, it reminds me of 1911s - I never understood the fascination with those, either, until I got one. :mrgreen:
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Middle Age Russ
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Re: My first reloads

Post by Middle Age Russ »

Congratulations. It sounds like you are off to a great start.

I haven't officially joined the fraternity yet. I have procured the press, dies and most other hardware, but still need to source a suitable, portable cart/bench to work on, as well as consumables. The brass I have on hand in 9mm and .380 is nice and shiny, though, since its trip through the vibratory tumbler. I am anxious to get loading, but it'll be a couple more weeks due to other commitments.

Best of luck in this new hobby. Sounds like you may be pondering a foray into bullet casting soon???
Russ
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chartreuse
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Re: My first reloads

Post by chartreuse »

AndyC wrote:Hard to forget the feelings of anticipation and apprehension while pulling the trigger on your first round :mrgreen:

:cheers2:
Ah, I avoided that by putting my first ever round in a place of honour on the top shelf, where it shall remain.

I did experience all those feelings while pulling the trigger on my second round, however. :lol:

:cheers2:
NcongruNt
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Re: My first reloads

Post by NcongruNt »

chartreuse wrote:
AndyC wrote:Hard to forget the feelings of anticipation and apprehension while pulling the trigger on your first round :mrgreen:

:cheers2:
Ah, I avoided that by putting my first ever round in a place of honour on the top shelf, where it shall remain.

I did experience all those feelings while pulling the trigger on my second round, however. :lol:

:cheers2:
I did the same.

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thr_wedge
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Re: My first reloads

Post by thr_wedge »

Welcome aboard! Reloading is tons of fun and a hobby all to itself. I have long ago recouped equipment and component costs with some more expensive rounds and just barely beat the cost of factory with my 9mm loads but I have a great time doing it!

Oh and my first ever load was a pretty warm 45 colt (Ruger blackhawk) 300gr. bullet over 10 gr. of Unique with the home cast bullet and recipe given to me by a friend's grandpa. Do not use except in Ruger class guns! I now shoot "plinkers" of 255 gr. over 9 gr. Unique and they are a hoot. Hot enough so you know something is going on, but not so bad that your hand hurts after a session! Safe in my gun, work up to loads carefully.
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OldCannon
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Re: My first reloads

Post by OldCannon »

NcongruNt wrote:
chartreuse wrote:
AndyC wrote:Hard to forget the feelings of anticipation and apprehension while pulling the trigger on your first round :mrgreen:

:cheers2:
Ah, I avoided that by putting my first ever round in a place of honour on the top shelf, where it shall remain.

I did experience all those feelings while pulling the trigger on my second round, however. :lol:

:cheers2:
I did the same.

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=31133&hilit=first+reload" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Me too.... we're all so proud of our babies. Although I sent my first one downrange with the rest of 'em :mrgreen:

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olafpfj
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Re: My first reloads

Post by olafpfj »

I love looking at all my 30.06 loads when I've finished them and they are all nice and orderly in the box. The I grin even more when I start to load them into the EnBlocs.... :drool:

I load for .303, 30-06, 7.62x54r, .223 rem, and am starting to load .38spl. I use nothing but Lee Classic no frills dies. You have to hammer in the shells and use a ram to get them out. I really like doing it super hands on for some odd reason. My arms hurt though after sizing 30-06 for my garand with the Lee hand press. Thats a workout!!!
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NcongruNt
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Re: My first reloads

Post by NcongruNt »

olafpfj wrote:I love looking at all my 30.06 loads when I've finished them and they are all nice and orderly in the box. The I grin even more when I start to load them into the EnBlocs.... :drool:

I load for .303, 30-06, 7.62x54r, .223 rem, and am starting to load .38spl. I use nothing but Lee Classic no frills dies. You have to hammer in the shells and use a ram to get them out. I really like doing it super hands on for some odd reason. My arms hurt though after sizing 30-06 for my garand with the Lee hand press. Thats a workout!!!
For those 7.62x54R, do you use .308 bullets? I'm planning on loading that caliber, but the Lee dies are apparently made for .308 projectiles, rather than .311-.312 in the spec. I asked them about it, they said they I could replace the decapper/expander in the sizing die with the one for a .303 British at a cost of $3.

Since my reloading will be only for my 91/30 and it's a bolt-action, I asked about a neck-only sizing die. They said they could custom make one at a cost of $55, sending them 2 spent cases and a bullet. Before doing all that, I think I'm going to slug my barrel and see what the diameter really is.
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Matt Fleming
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Re: My first reloads

Post by Matt Fleming »

What reloader / dies are you using? Roll or taper crimp on the 38? My first solo reload was .44 Magnum for my Ruger SuperBlackHawk which I used for Hunter's Pistol Silhouette - 10 grains of Unique, 240 gr SWC HardCast Denver Bullets. For HP Silhouette, I quickly gravitated to the .32 H&R Mag - 5 grains of Unique for a Hornday 85 gr JHP in a Thompson Center Contender.

I believe single-stage reloaders are the best place to start - gives you the chance to learn all of the adjustments without having to watch multiple stations. All my rifle loading is on a RCBC RockChucker. Pistol reloading takes place on the RC, Star Universals and Dillon 1050.

Just back from the Shot Show and RCBS and Hornady have bullet feeders for their progressives.
Matt Fleming
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