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About 20 years ago I borrowed a friend's Rockchucker and reloaded mostly 38s and 357s. He had a hodge-podge collection of bullets, powders, primers, and a lead pot and mold. Using the Hornady reloading manual I reloaded all I could over 2-3 weeks and then we'd go shoot them up, pick up all the brass we could find, and even scour the face of the pit for lead and repeat the process. I really enjoyed it but we moved and the press went back to him.

Yesterday a friend from church gave me his Rockchucker...free...said it had been sitting for 5 years and I was welcome to it. Came with 9mm, 38/357, and 30-30 dies. Free...I still get giddy...

Now I need to pick up some 45 and 41 dies...and I guess a Marlin 30-30 since I have the dies

Right now I just want to work up some plinking rounds, especially for the 41. Love that gun but it is more expensive to feed than my teenage sons.

So I'm back in. Now I get to read everything in here.

SWEET!!! Congrats! I've just started getting into reloading myself (Using my dad's gear now). I reloaded my first 20 rounds of .45cal, with different charges. I need to go chrono them, and once I've found the load I want, reload another 250 or so rounds....

That is a real great deal, what a friend.

The best value in dies are the Lee 4 die Carbide set. The carbide factory crimp die in this set is great!

After buying powder primers and casting my own 240 grn lead bullets I reload 44 magnum for around 6 cents a shot not bad when they want around 30.00 for 50 rounds of factory ammo

Handloading can be a very satisfying hobby, as you no doubt already know. The money savings and custom-tailored loads are a nice benefit, too!

I have been loading my own now for 34 years and I cannot measure how much it has added to my gun/shooting/hunting addiction. Casting your own bullets adds another dimension.

Welcome back to the fold!

Some things have changed in 20 years....we can get all kinds of loading data online now, and there are a number of great "new" powders in the fast to medium fast burning range that are great for loading handguns. Although some of the oldies are still hard to beat (Unique, Green Dot, Red Dot, Bullseye et al),

Have fun and be safe!


Tim

Congrats & we welcome you to the loading forum.

Welcome back into the fold! For some of us, its not simply a hobby; its one of our means of financial survival.

It's hard to beat free.

Carter's Country and Academy are both selling Brass Blazers for $20 for fifty rounds. I'm glad I got into reloading.

I'm going to start reloading also, did it about 25 years ago when I was shooting in IHMSA. Reloaded for my 7BR and 44mag, had all the neat stuff. Now I have to start over. Thinking of the Lee turret press, just punching paper these days with semi-auto's.