First Reloads

[RX8er]

All, just wanted to say that you have officially turned me! I loaded up 50 of the 9mm and the_busy_mom and I went and sent them all down range today. I do have to say that the very first time I pulled the trigger, I thought to myself... Self, am I sure that I know what the hell I am doing? Did I read that scale right or was I off and overcharged? Boy, I hope I did this right.... Bang! Feeewwww, that went just fine. Now, where did that brass go so I can put it back in the bag.

Looking at the primers after firing, all seems to well. Now, off to reload a bunch more. Thank you again to all those that helped, especially Jumping Frog!!!

[Wes]

Grats! I hope to claim the same accomplishment very soon.

[olafpfj]

I get really bad brass anxiety...

Where is it?...Where did it go?...Do I have all of them?...Is that one of mine downrange out of reach?...These things cost money ya know!!!

On a serious note, be very aware to check things out if something seems wrong. If it felt wrong, didn't sound right etc... I was shooting some reloads my dad made and found a squib. It made a loud noise alright but not a big one. It took all my willpower not to tap and rack...good thing too since it was indeed lodged in the barrel!!!

I keep that bullet, with its clearly visible rifling marks, as a reminder to always investigate if something seems off.

[RX8er]

I get really bad brass anxiety...

Where is it?...Where did it go?...Do I have all of them?...Is that one of mine downrange out of reach?...These things cost money ya know!!!

On a serious note, be very aware to check things out if something seems wrong. If it felt wrong, didn't sound right etc... I was shooting some reloads my dad made and found a squib. It made a loud noise alright but not a big one. It took all my willpower not to tap and rack...good thing too since it was indeed lodged in the barrel!!!

I keep that bullet, with its clearly visible rifling marks, as a reminder to always investigate if something seems off.

Yup, I am upset.... Just got done sorting the brass and we came home with less than we shot. Got to get the_busy_mom picking up more.

I had wondered about that... so, what would happen if a round only gets a small charge and the bullet gets stuck in the barrel and you pull the trigger again? It was enough to actuate the slide and load another round, and that is kind of what I have been looking for. But, what if a bullet doesn't go down range and gets stuck?

[RX8er]

Grats! I hope to claim the same accomplishment very soon.

Thank you. Welcome to the dark side. I have found it very fun thus far.


I'll tell you what though... I get more people just talking to me out of the blue at the range now than I ever did. I guess they think I am a good guy for recycling.

[olafpfj]

I get really bad brass anxiety...

Where is it?...Where did it go?...Do I have all of them?...Is that one of mine downrange out of reach?...These things cost money ya know!!!

On a serious note, be very aware to check things out if something seems wrong. If it felt wrong, didn't sound right etc... I was shooting some reloads my dad made and found a squib. It made a loud noise alright but not a big one. It took all my willpower not to tap and rack...good thing too since it was indeed lodged in the barrel!!!

I keep that bullet, with its clearly visible rifling marks, as a reminder to always investigate if something seems off.

Yup, I am upset.... Just got done sorting the brass and we came home with less than we shot. Got to get the_busy_mom picking up more.

I had wondered about that... so, what would happen if a round only gets a small charge and the bullet gets stuck in the barrel and you pull the trigger again? It was enough to actuate the slide and load another round, and that is kind of what I have been looking for. But, what if a bullet doesn't go down range and gets stuck?

This is pure unfounded speculation...but I'm assuming that if it had enough ooomph to cycle the slide and chamber a round, the bullet probably cleared the barrel. If it was a light enough load to be dangerous I would expect some sort of jam during cycling. For my squib it just plain didn't cycle at all that I could perceive.

If you attempt to fire a round with an obstructed barrel your gun goes KaBoom. There are ample pictures on the web of what this looks like. Most are from accidental double charges. Your gun will be ruined as well as your shorts. It would appear that modern firearms are pretty good at taking it for the team and saving your hand.

I wouldn't get overly concerned about it as this can happen, and does, with factory loads as well. With a few exceptions though, I don't let anyone shoot my reloads but me. If you want to shoot my M1 Garand you will have to supply your own ammo. Sorry...I won't have my mistake harm anyone but myself. Its just like packing your own parachute and tying your own climbing rope.

Reload away and welcome to the club. Reloading has been very rewarding and fun for myself and it is also the only way I can affordably shoot my Milsurp rifles.

[RX8er]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll just keep on down my current path.

[lfinsr]

All, just wanted to say that you have officially turned me! I loaded up 50 of the 9mm and the_busy_mom and I went and sent them all down range today. I do have to say that the very first time I pulled the trigger, I thought to myself... Self, am I sure that I know what the heck I am doing? Did I read that scale right or was I off and overcharged? Boy, I hope I did this right.... Bang! Feeewwww, that went just fine. Now, where did that brass go so I can put it back in the bag.

Looking at the primers after firing, all seems to well. Now, off to reload a bunch more. Thank you again to all those that helped, especially Jumping Frog!!!

I know the feeling very well as I had the same experience a month or so ago and I have to admit I had the same nervous feelings. not to mention chasing brass like an obsessed idiot. I'm not sure why my entire life I was OK with walking away from the brass and now it's some kind criminal act to leave it on the ground. Wonder what a shrink would have to say about that obsession?

Before I ever loaded a single round I read through 3 books, all of them with dire warnings and graphic pictures of destroyed firearms. I didn't want to be one of those people. So far I've loaded about 300 rounds and have shot about 150 of them. I'm 150 for 150 and I intend on maintaining that record and hope you do the same.

Larry

[Don2]

I STILL remember some of the first reloads I made back then..!!!
Very first ammo was 38 specials, then after about 100 of them, since 100 reloads made me an expert, I switched to 357 mag.
The first one I fired was in a Ruger GP100 with both arms wrapped around a small tree peeping on the right side at the target..!!!
BaNG..!!!!!!

It worked great and me and the TREE were in good shape..!!!!

Aint it pfun....????

Don2

[mr surveyor]

if you shoot revolvers you don't have to chase brass

[urnoodle]

I'm right there with you. A friend used to do all my reloading for me until his attorney recommended, due to liability issues, that he should only reload for his use. He was disappointed but since he is a business owner, I didn't want to put him or his business in jeopardy if something went wrong. He volunteered to teach me how to reload even though he was nearly stripped of his man-card by his buddies for teaching a woman to reload. I'm still very slow and steady. I tend not to have more than 100 reloads per caliber on hand at a time. When I achieve the best load for my gun and caliber, I'll increase my production. I've been reloading for about 8 months now. So far i have reloaded for 9mm, 38spl and 45acp. I still have questions and many on this board have been extremely helpful by pointing me in the right direction. I still get butterflies pulling the trigger after the first time with a new caliber reload but I'm in it for the long term. Oh and for the brass pickup I have one of those nut wizards, the handle was modified to fit in my range bag. Thing works great.

[Jumping Frog]

... so, what would happen if a round only gets a small charge and the bullet gets stuck in the barrel and you pull the trigger again? It was enough to actuate the slide and load another round, and that is kind of what I have been looking for. But, what if a bullet doesn't go down range and gets stuck?

This is pure unfounded speculation...but I'm assuming that if it had enough ooomph to cycle the slide and chamber a round, the bullet probably cleared the barrel. If it was a light enough load to be dangerous I would expect some sort of jam during cycling. For my squib it just plain didn't cycle at all that I could perceive.

I've had it happen to me and I've seen it happen in other guns. It is not just "pure unfounded speculation".

If I hadn't stopped to check why the round sounded funny (too light) and simply pulled the trigger a second time, I would have had two bullets in the barrel with probable negative results.

RX8er, if you recall the "rules" I posted that I follow when loading, one of them was "powder". I visually verify the powder level in every case for just this reason.

Congrats on firing your first handloads. You will now become an unashamed brass scrounger and hoarder.

[Wes]

Yea, the more my 'women' knows about guns in general the better. Mine will learn how to do it and will help if need be and all of this because she wants to. I appreciate that and am glad she cares enough about it to do so. Now if she asks to join me on the golf course, that might be a different story! Lol

[olafpfj]

I've had it happen to me and I've seen it happen in other guns. It is not just "pure unfounded speculation".

I think you misunderstood what I wrote. Pure unfounded speculation=my thought that if it cycled the round the bullet probably cleared.

As you pointed out my speculation was indeed unfounded and wrong.