Looks like I am joining the reloading group

[Nogura]

Thanks to some wonderful friends, I am now the proud owner of a Dillon XL650 press. Just got to go get some more items, and then I am ready to start my reloading journey.

Nogura

[BHP9]

About bloody time.

[jefferson101]

It's a joy, making your own ammo!

The only thing I'd note is that a certain level of focus is necessary. It has been remarked, and correctly, that 75% or so of the stories about KaBoom's start out "I was using some reloaded ammo......"

Don't be paranoid, but do double check everything. If in doubt, triple check.

Actually, reloading safety is pretty much like firearm safety. If you develop good habits from the start, you'll never have a problem, because you will habitually check everything twice, or more. One does do that when making sure a firearm is really unloaded, too. That's what I mean.

It could be noted that caution at the bench turns into confidence at the range. And that's when it really gets fun.

[kARL]

Welcome..

The amounts and types of ammo you can craft for each gun will amaze you....so will the amount of money you will save once you have a basic setup paid for.
I use the "Load" 13 grains of Red dot for all full size rifle cartridges .30 and over...not M1 carbine or SKS, at about 200 meters. I have gotten MOA groups and about 500 rounds, I think, to the pound.

Sir, you are gonna have a blast.

karl

P.S. Harbor Freight has a rock cleaning tumbler, identical to a brass cleaner, for about 29 bucks and you can get all the corn or walnut cleaning supplies from the local pet shop for about 8 or 10 bucks a pound.

[Nogura]

Originally Posted by kARL

Welcome..

The amounts and types of ammo you can craft for each gun will amaze you....so will the amount of money you will save once you have a basic setup paid for.
I use the "Load" 13 grains of Red dot for all full size rifle cartridges .30 and over...not M1 carbine or SKS, at about 200 meters. I have gotten MOA groups and about 500 rounds, I think, to the pound.

Sir, you are gonna have a blast.

karl

P.S. Harbor Freight has a rock cleaning tumbler, identical to a brass cleaner, for about 29 bucks and you can get all the corn or walnut cleaning supplies from the local pet shop for about 8 or 10 bucks a pound.

I am still putting together all the other requirements so I can get started, but getting closer. I have the scale and calipers now along with the strong mount for the Dillon. Hopefully will go pick up a new workbench to mount all this to this weekend. After that, just the manuals, the dies, and then off to try and track down powder and primers.

Any suggestions on a decent place to look for bullets? Prices seem all over the place on those. Powder and primers seem pretty consistent, at least consistently out of stock.

[jefferson101]

Originally Posted by Nogura

Any suggestions on a decent place to look for bullets? Prices seem all over the place on those. Powder and primers seem pretty consistent, at least consistently out of stock.

For pistol bullets? I get most of mine here:
http://www.berrysmfg.com/

The "Double Strike" plated ones are great range ammo for about any pistol I load for. As long as you aren't loading +P stuff and strip the jacket off them, they are nicely consistent and group well with most any less than violent load.

[gandog56]

Dillon XL650?

Boy you don't believe in starting small, do you!

[Nogura]

Originally Posted by gandog56

Dillon XL650?

Boy you don't believe in starting small, do you!

What's the saying? Oh year, go big or go home!

It's great having friends for sure.

[jefferson101]

Originally Posted by Nogura

What's the saying? Oh year, go big or go home!

It's great having friends for sure.

I've got friends too, but most of my reloading goes on with a single stage press. When I'm loading ammo, it's mostly to kill time.

Well, not really, because there is a purpose involved, and I'll do it because I want to get it done, but it's more for the doing of it than out of any need, usually.

I think of it as my way of getting exercise. And the ammo does pile up. It may take me a week to stuff 1500 rounds of something, but I'm having fun doing it, so why worry?

Note that I have ready access to progressive presses that will do that 1500 rounds in about five or six hours, maximum.....(What I said about having friends...) But then I'm doing it all then, and wondering what I do with the rest of the week.



Reloading is kind of the Zen thing with me. The Journey is the Destination. Perhaps I should write a book. "Zen and the art of Reloading Firearm Ammunition."

But that wouldn't work. When my Grandsons come up, they are allowed to help me do it, and I don't get angry at them. Worst case, we quit, and I go back to it later. I never yell at the boys when they are helping me.



OTOH, we only do about 100 cases/hour, which is way slow, but I'm like the farmer carrying the hog out under the Oak trees. "What's time, to a Hog?"

I can go faster if I have to. But even if I don't, it gets the job done, and keeps me busy. What more could I ask for?



I can't afford a fast reloading press, because I'd try to run it two days a week, and components are getting expensive.

[Skinem]

Originally Posted by jefferson101

Reloading is kind of the Zen thing with me. The Journey is the Destination.

Hadn't really thought about it this way before, but that's kinda how I am about it. I've always found it real interesting in trying to get the best load for what I want worked up. Once I have it, I tend to move on to something else.

Love reloading...slow here too. But, I tend to load more than I shoot, so I stay ahead...

[BISHOP]

Good for you. I started to get into reloading about 2 years ago, but when I asked questions on either this forum or another all I would get are reloading Nazis talling me that I have to stop asking questions about what powder is best for a common load of 55gr .223, and buy and read this book and this book and this book.

I looked at those books and it didn't tell me anything that I already knew.

Besides I am still looking for common powders (I have found one so far) that I can use for both .223 and 308, but I don't know how much (of what I do have) for reloading "surplus quality" ammo.

I will never get int olooking for the perfect bullet and load, I just want what will go boom and shoot as accurately as Wolf.

Oh BTW don't answer any of these questions because I haven't touched anything in 2 years, and now I never have the time to do any of it because of work and a (almost) 2 year old that gets into everything


BISHOP