Reloading addiction

[CP]

I haven’t reloaded in quite awhile but inspired by a few threads on this forum, I got out the press this weekend, some old primers, powder, etc.  I started with some paint chipping .38 wadcutters, then standard .38 SWC, some +Ps, moved on full .357 loads, a few hand numbing .357s. 

Then on to .30-30 170gr, Remington Core-Lokt

Last night it was .30-06 – 180gr Core-Lokt

I’m out of .30 cal bullets.  Where’s a good place to score a fix?  I’m thinking some 125gr flat nose hollow points or some polymer tips, probably both.

[littletoes]

RIGHT ON! We missed you, and its good to have you back! 

I need to get off my lazy butt and get 1000 556 done....I have some classes comming up. 

[jeff100]

CP, when I lived in North Snohomish county I used to make a pilgrimage up to Kesselrings Gun Shop a couple of times a year.  They're up on old hwy 99 past Burlington.  If you've never been there, and you're a gun guy, it's worth the trip at least once.  They had good prices on reloading components.  They also used to have an excellent stock of new and used guns at reasonable prices if you can haggle...the place is an institution, and is ALWAYS packed.

In Everett up on Broadway, Jerry's Surplus used to sell reloading components IIRC...

These days I buy most of my rifle bullets online from Midway or Natchez Shooters Supply.  I have a fondness for Hornady bullets for my rifles, although in the last year or so I've been working with Barnes TSX bullets and so far love them.  I've been doing business with Midway since they started in business, I've always had good experiences doing business with them.  At Midway you can get excellent deals on bulk Remington and Winchester brass/bullets. 

I get a kick out of the looks I get from the UPS guys when they deliver my bullets...

Handgun bullets I usually buy locally wherever I can find them, because I buy in bulk and shipping starts to get expensive when you're buying boxes of 1000 rounds of .40 S&W and .44 mag...Sportsmans Warehouse and Cabelas are relatively reasonable, if there's such a thing as reasonable these days.  I can't get over how much components have gone up in the last 18 months, and IMO, I see no end in sight for price increases...

My philosophy is...stock up NOW.  A year ago, you could NOT hardly find primers ANYWHERE.  Rifle, pistol.  Nothing.  The supply has improved since, and I've since stocked up and have a pretty good supply now.  I've also been buying and stockpiling brass.  You'd laugh if I told you how many thousands of rounds of brass I have stored, for every caliber I shoot!

Jeff

[MHWASH]

I usually load in spurts. Right now I'm working on two contender barrels, so I'm loading a little at a time.

 Other than pistol and AR, I try not to load too much bulk, I seem to always want to try something new.

[bucklucky]

I am definately a guy that loads when he needs to , like say when I have waisted to many 300 win mag shells on coyotes

[CP]

Jeff, thanks for the tip on Kesselrings.  I’ll definitely check them out next time I’m up there.  I’ve been using Midway too, they are a great outfit.  Right now I’m working on a 125 gr .30-06 load and a spire point .30-30 round (to be loaded single shot only, not through the mag).  No end to the fun. 

[Bscman]

I buy all my .22 caliber stuff at kesselrings (and some other stuff).
Last time I was up there, I scored a few hundred Hp's and FMJ's for my .223 at prices cheaper than even the cheapest I've seen online.

I don't do as much "bulk" shooting as I used to, so reloading has gone down as well.
The only thing I've done in a while is .223, .357, and .218 bee....the rest of 'em are being neglected! 

[Bean Counter]

I tried posting this on another (new) thread but never got an answer: have any of you ordered from the-armory.com before?  Good experience? i could always go with Natchez or one of the other listed online dealers but it seems as if the-armory is a bit cheaper.  Thanks.

[Ray]

I get my supplies from

Midway http://midwayusa.com/
Huntingtons http://www.huntingtons.com/
Leadheads http://www.proshootpro.com/ (Cast Gas Checked bullets)
Sportsman's Warehouse
Gun shows

[Slenk]

I use these people they have always been very good and NO shipping charges .
http://www.grafs.com/
Slenk

[Jekemi]

Gentlemen: I'm enlisting all your advice. my son (sffguitar) and I want to begin re-loading - the high prices of ammo is driving towards this and I like the tinkering, precision of setting my own loads idea. If I want to get started, what's the best way? Right now I would need dies for .270, .30-.06, and .30-.30. Plus, we want to reload shot shells as well. Are there starter kits we should look at? any advice is appreciated. I've got the time and the money to give it a try.

Dave

[Bookworm]

I would look on e-bay. There is usually plenty on reloading dies & sometimes presses.

[littletoes]

This is my own personal advice, so that and a dollar you might get a cup of coffee.
Take it with a grain of salt, if you will.

Allright, I would say depending on what kind of person you are, perhaps you might be happy with a plain starter kit, or you might want something better. Either way, here we go....

I started off with the RCBS starter kit. Don't think I need to go into all the details of what they have, you can check that out on the web...

What they lack is a Pair of Calipers. How are you to know if your loaded rounds are the correct OAL (over all length)? There is no accurate way without a good pair of callipers.

Maybe I should back up here a bit and ask a question? Back to what kind of person you are....are you into precision? Would you like to eek out every last bit  of accuracy out of your firearms? Are you a speed demon? Do you need the hottest/fastest load going? These things need to be thought about to help you decide what you want to spend, and what type of tools (meaing quality), that you might want to buy.

I wasn't happy with the RCBS Trimmer, so I bought a Wilson, and haven't looked back. Much more concentric.
Here is my tool list;

Wilson Case Trimmer w/Sinclair base, holders, etc.
RCBS Powder Scale
Acculab Electronic Scale
RCBS Powder Trickelerw/stand
SS Calipers
MTM-Case Trays (LOTS of em too!)
Case Tumbler RCBS
Redding Precision Mic Dies
Hornady Precision Dies
Whitetail Industries Primer Pocket Uniformer (small & large) w/power adaptor
Dewalt Driver
Ice Cream Buckets! (lots of these too, to put cases into as they progress along various stages of prep. This means you have to eat LOTS of ice cream......bummmer.   )
Painters Tape-This is a great way to label things with a sharpie, and it leaves NO residue on anything, so when you change labels, its simple.
**Handloading Manuel-Make sure you get the latest one, just pick the one written by the manufacture whoes bullets you use, they are all good, my personal favorite being Sierra. Sierra #6, Speer #14, Nosler #6, Hornady (back to one book, the last set was two, pistola's and rifles seperate).
Sinclair's Flash Hole Uniformer
Handloading Press-I have three, all single stage metalic cartrige
Shellholders-I have more than one set foe each cartrige I load for

As to dies, I personaly like Redding. They are very well made, and you will never be disatisfied with the quality and workmanship. I don't own any RCBS, I figure if they can't get the stamping right on the outside of the case, they won't put much love in the inside. Just my own opinion, take it for what you will.

Stay away from-

RCBS's primer pocket uniformer, its JUNK. Will not last more than 10 cases without bending the darn little wires.
RCBS's flash hole uniformer, you can overcut the flash hole if your not careful, and you have to trim cases prior to uniforming the flash hole with this tool, otherwise they will all be differant.

I haven't gotten into case uniformity tools, nor case turning. You will have to learn a bit before you are ready for this, and a good Handloading manuel is the best way to get started. They ALL have the information of what you need in the front, so THAT would/should be your first purchase.

Good Luck, I know I've missed lots of stuff, this was all off the top of my head...
 

[catwithboost]

I just started 6 months ago and have gone crazy. I have over 200 rounds of 7mm mag loaded from 120gr,140gr,150gr,160gr and 175gr. 243 I have done 160rounds 80gr,85gr,95gr,100gr and 105gr. Then the 223 was a hole other story. 

[12Gauge]

Most of my cases are loaded up, here is what I got so far

30.06              300 rnds   
308 win           500 rnds   
7X57               350           
8X57               120
7mm rem mag   160
280 rem           20
338-06            200
30-30              25
243                 0

45 ACP            160
38 Super          600
9mm luger        700
45 LC              200

12 gauge all store bought  300 

[Jekemi]

Littletoes: thanks for all the advice. I'll sift through all the advice and probably get started right after the Waterfowl season. Although I'll probably purchase stuff in December. I'm looking forward to the whole process. BTW, I'm not into precision - not enough patience for that. I'm not a speed demon but probably fall on the side of pragmatism vs. perfectionism.

[Jekemi]

Does anyone know where I can find a good chart/poster showing all the most common caliber's, in order? I've looked all over and see partials, some showing pistol rounds, some rifle, some shotgun but nothing that shows a complete picture, in a large poster format, that I can put on the wall? Anyone ever see anything like this?