Any reloaders here?
 

Thinking of getting one to keep me occupied this winter. Plus it's nearly impossible to find .45 ACP anymore, much less the oddball .45 long colt.

:thumbup:

Ive fired about 300 rounds a week this past summer and looking at prices it would take me about 6 months at that rate to pay for itself. And that's if I'm buying the brass and the slugs outright. Might get into casting eventually and of course I'll be recycling the brass.

That makes it greener, right? ;)

yup, marginally greener. Might be a copper steel alloy if you are concerned:

Army replacing lead bullets but depleted uranium replacement still not identified The Medical Muckraker (www.epinews.com)

I reload. I reload for 45-70, 308, 45 colt, 10mm, and will be adding 45acp, 38sp, some time soon.

The 45-70 because it is stupid expensive not to reload it.
the 308 because I can load it to go into less than an inch at a hundred yards.
10mm because it is hard to find and when you can find it it's loaded to wimpy levels.
45 colt because it is way more spendy than it should be given the amounts that the single action types expend vast quantities of it.

I am using an RCBS rock chucker.

I used to reload but haven't in a while. I recommend the Dillon Square Deal B if they have it in your caliber. It's a relatively inexpensive progressive press that really ups your output over just a single station press. Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders

Lee makes a cheaper unit, but I haven't used it: Lee Precision, Inc. Reloading Tools and Equipment: Lee Pro 1000

Harborfreight has inexpensive tumblers to clean the brass. 5 Lb. Metal Vibrator/Tumbler

If you are just getting started I would sugjest going with a single stage press. There is a lot going on with a progressive If your just learning. A beginner can pick up the process well with a progressive but the learning curve is a fare bit steeper.

I've reloaded on other peoples equipment before, so I have a basic understanding of whats going on, just don't have my own tools. Was looking at something like this to get started:

Amazon.com: Lee Load Master 45 ACP Reloading Pistol Kit Md: 90945: Sports & Outdoors

it sure is overpriced for what it is though.

Been reloading for close to 4 decades.

Most important is a visual inspection of the primed and powder charged cases, prior to seating the bullet.

Mass loading with a progressive press is great as long as you understand that the crucial verification of the volume of powder in the sized, primed and charged case is consistent before you seat the bullet.

If a progressive press allows this visual inspection then you are fine.

Avoid any possible distractions when reloading. The price could be very high if you ignore this earnest warning.

Once in 4 decades I double charged a 357 Magnum, with unique powder.

ONCE!

Fortunately it was in a Ruger Redhawk, which survived the firing of that round with no problem, but it sure was a wake up call.

We use a progressive press for pistol rounds when you plan on shooting a lot in one session, but most of everything I shoot these days are rifles, in .308, 30-06, and 7.62X54R.

I break down the 54R for the powder and bullet. Paid 8 cents a round two years ago for surplus. Loaded in my brass cases with boxer primers, means non corrosive, without the cleanup headaches.

My brother has enough lead on hand to cast 150,000 30 caliber bullets. Recovered lead would probably load another 80% of that number through each cycle.

regards
Mech

Personally I like the RCBS setup that is available here at Bass Pro Shops.

regards
Mech

DCB: You should see the price on the dillon models.

Old Mechanic: I am thinking for right now to use it to keep my handgun firing going. So I don't see me making a lot of rifle ammunition, in fact I don't own anything that big but am planning on getting a nagant soon. I mostly have handguns and shotguns and thankfully the 12 gauge is still cheap and plentiful.

I don't need to reload because I use airguns....cheaper AND quieter. Not to mention more accurate.

Air guns definitely have their place. They keep the free range neighborhood dogs educated about where not to drop their loads.

Hahahaha, you guys are terrible.

Out here we can't use airsoft rifles for that sort of stuff: You can't shoot a bear with it, you'll just make it mad.

Going to the range tomorrow with the xd9, gonna start saving my brass although I doubt I'll be reloading a lot of 9mm as cheap as it is.

I wern't talking about airsoft for the dogs, 17 cal lead. Works great if you wait till they are in mid drop and zing them in the behindus. Only one pump so as not to brake the skin but it will leave a welt in a tender area.

Also fun practicing for moose season, and defending the garden.

I am taking about REAL airguns. Like FX, AIR FORCE, AIR ARMS, EVANIX, BENJAMIN, SUMATRA. Not those little bb gun toys. REAL airguns are used to hunt all kinds of critters, including buffalo and moose. Take a look at Airgun forum don't be afraid to ask questions on there. There are some good pictures of hunts.
Good airguns can do less than 1 MOA.

Fired 200 rounds of 9mm yesterday, collected 175+ brass for later use. Not bad!

Was getting 5 inch grouping at 25 yards with the service model (4") xD9. Could use some improvement. I seem to shoot clay better, I'm usually land 9/10 of those.

It takes a lot of engineering and precision machining to make that thing do 10 things at once.

I thought the same thing.

On one hand, it's 'just a piece of metal' but that thing has to be an extremely well built piece of metal to pump out ten's of thousands of rounds reliably.

In Progress -

regards
Mech

If you only have one press make it a single stage IMO.

My shooting berm is made from paper that would otherwise need to be shredded. Once a year or so we dig it out and recycle the lead. We make a frame from wooden pallets. Once in a while we add a sheet of coroplast "used election sign" or another pallet.

Save your brass.

I'm so glad I ended up investing in this. The girlfriend recently bought herself a judge rifle and the 45 colt is stupid expensive to buy. To reload it myself it's around 7$ a box, to buy it the going price is close to 50$ a box. Plus I love that round in a Marlin!

I ended up getting a Dillon 550 because the square deal was limited to pistol only, and even though right now I'm only loading pistol rounds, I would like to eventually load rifle rounds. Basically doing exactly what Old Mechanic is doing now, get rid of that corrosive stuff while firing the beater Mosin Nagant's.

Might start reloading .410 Gauge shotguns as well, since we have a few that use the round and rarely bring them out because of cost. Even though it's half the charge of a 12 gauge, it's nearly twice as much! Ridiculous. It's actually cheaper to feed my Saiga 12 than it is to feed the single shot .410.

Saiga 12... you have some firepower with that. Imagine the bad things that would happen when the druggie or thug breaks into your house. I imagine any load would do. Particularly with 3-4 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. There is going to be a "cleanup needed in aisle 3".

45 Colt is a weird round Lots of room and very little pressure. I use unique or 231. Both are position insensitive. I have a Bond Arms in 45colt. It is hand grenade with full power loads.

Yup, been using unique in my 45 colt loads as well, just 7 grains to keep things even, meaning I get exactly 1000 rounds per pound. (: Makes the math on costs easy as well.

As for the Saiga 12, it's just silly what it can do. I've restored it back to factory including original wood now, just need to re-finish the stock. I mostly shoot clays with it. With a proper choke I can hit 3 clays at once regularly. I'd go for 4, but my thrower doesn't go that high!

I use a Lee turret press for 357 mag, 357 max, 9mm, & 7-08. Not as fast as a progressive, but best buy IMO. I can do about 4 rnds per minute for the handgun stuff. 7-08 & 357 max I do as single stage. Get a extra turret and extra powder measure for each caliber and you can swap calibers in less than a minute. The accuracty of the indexing is the weak spot but isn't that big of deal.

I have a Lee Load all for 12 at $35 it gets the job done, load slugs with it too. If I ever get a Raging Judge I'll have to get a 410 loader.

i reload 40 s&w 45 acp 270 30-06 223 , i am using a lyman single stage turret head. i have had it for 3-4 years. started cause the ammo for my 30-06 was 45-50 dollars a box. i make em for around 1 dollar each and they are more accurate. i love reloading it just takes so much time. its cheaper and more accurate. i use to load for my t/c in 45-70 govt. , a 400 gr hollow point will blow a hole in almost anything. going to my my dies for 44 rem mag . got a marlin lever action on trade for putting a head gasket on a hyundai elantra. beautiful gun. couple of things i would advise a clean work table with lots of space only keep one powder out at a time. work up loads slowly, watch your brass it talks to you. i found i can get three to four more firings on my 270 my backing off my powder charge by just a little . cost me average of 100 fps muzzle velocity and didnt notice any difference on paper.

oh old mech what do you use the 54r bullets for. i thought they where .309 in diameter. i have a 500 rounds on the 7n1 sniper bullet/ armor piercing is what they called it cool stuff.

.303 Brit
7.65 Argentine
7.7 Jap

The groove diameter on most Mosin Nagants is .312-.313 with some of the Finns as tight as .308 (M28-30), which can actually use the same .308 diameter bullets as US .308 or 30-06.

As a general rule the 54R bullets mic at .310-.3105. With .312 and .313 grooves as their ideal match, the general rule for jacketed bullets is .001 under groove diameter.

regards
Mech