Reloaders

[TinCan]

Anyone use those Lee handloaders that you use a hammer on? Will only be reloading a few rounds at a time and figured this would be a good way to ease into it. Mainly .30 Cal for M1 Carbine and .30-.30 for Marlin 336.

[Cav Scout]

I grew up with them.

They work just fine as long as production is not an issue.

Take a tad bit of practice, but yep they work fine.

You will waste a couple learning, but hey you would do that with any set up.

[Samm]

Anyone use those Lee handloaders that you use a hammer on? Will only be reloading a few rounds at a time and figured this would be a good way to ease into it. Mainly .30 Cal for M1 Carbine and .30-.30 for Marlin 336.

Why bother... you can pick up a good Rock Chucker at a garage sale or gun show for a few bucks and it is a lot easier to use. The Lee Loader is a great device if you are on the go, but a pain in the ass in your workshop.

[Cav Scout]

Why bother... you can pick up a good Rock Chucker at a garage sale or gun show for a few bucks and it is a lot easier to use. The Lee Loader is a great device if you are on the go, but a pain in the ass in your workshop.

Well, I must admit this is all true. Hell on E-bay, you can get all sorts of presses fairly cheap. Now that I think about it....

[Cav Scout]

Anyone use those Lee handloaders that you use a hammer on? Will only be reloading a few rounds at a time and figured this would be a good way to ease into it. Mainly .30 Cal for M1 Carbine and .30-.30 for Marlin 336.

I have got an RCBS Jr 2 that I will GIVE you. PM me.

[markdido]

Hey all you re-loaders out there.

With the cost of ammo going through roof, would it be more economical to reload 9mm and .40 handgun?

I just picked up a KelTec Sub 2000 in .40 cal. Picked up a couple of boxes of Fiocchi 180gr FMJ for break-in and practice shooting @ 25.00 for 50.

I don't shoot that often, maybe 2000 rounds downrange a year. Reloading looks to me like a good reason to escape to the workshop with a beer, where the wife, grand-daughter,pets, TV, chaos aren't.....

[Samm]

Hey all you re-loaders out there.

With the cost of ammo going through roof, would it be more economical to reload 9mm and .40 handgun?

I just picked up a KelTec Sub 2000 in .40 cal. Picked up a couple of boxes of Fiocchi 180gr FMJ for break-in and practice shooting @ 25.00 for 50.

I don't shoot that often, maybe 2000 rounds downrange a year. Reloading looks to me like a good reason to escape to the workshop with a beer, where the wife, grand-daughter,pets, TV, chaos aren't.....

If you shoot 2000 rounds per year you will save a little (but the price of components is skyrocketing too) by reloading, but if you toss in the escape from the wife and the rest of the chaos factor... I say go for it. It will only cost you a couple of hundred to get going and it is a very relaxing hobby... one can really get into customizing loads. But leave the beer in the house... alcohol and reloading are a bad mixture.

[TinCan]

I have got an RCBS Jr 2 that I will GIVE you. PM me.

PM on the way!

[TinCan]

If you shoot 2000 rounds per year you will save a little (but the price of components is skyrocketing too) by reloading, but if you toss in the escape from the wife and the rest of the chaos factor... I say go for it. It will only cost you a couple of hundred to get going and it is a very relaxing hobby... one can really get into customizing loads. But leave the beer in the house... alcohol and reloading are a bad mixture.

Not to mention using your up-to-date prescription eye glasses! My wife's late step-father was a gunsmith down Texas way and loaded up some really hot rounds once due to it. Fortunately, the gun didn't come apart and no one was injured but it sure as hell scared the crap out of him. Seems he mixed up the powder. :)

[ScottFree]

I'm not a reloader myself, but know someone who is. I'll tell you a couple of his money saving secrets.

(1) join a local gun club with it's own range. Ask to volunteer to spend a few hours one day a week running the range. Ask if it is OK, that in exchange for your services, to pocket the brass spent and left by shooters during your shift. If they say no, find a range that does allow this and volunteer there.

2) My friend works in a Service station where old wheel weights are in plentiful supply. He melts them down into 1 lb cubes, and later re-melts and places in molds. Says they don't look the prettiest, but they are very effective. If you do not work in such an enviorment, go make friends with the manager at the place you buy your tires. Chances are, they have buckets full of them they will give you, or at worst, charge you a very minimal fee for.

3) He looks for bargains on gunbroker dot com for all of his other reloading supplies. The only thing he is having trouble getting are primers. He pays almost full price for those right now. Everything else, he says he makes out like a bandit.

He loads about 10,000 rounds a year, pretty much for himself. Some for friends. He figures he saves over half what it would cost him to buy the supplies at retail.

[Cav Scout]

PM on the way!

I answered you.

Cool.

[Cav Scout]

If you shoot 2000 rounds per year you will save a little (but the price of components is skyrocketing too) by reloading, but if you toss in the escape from the wife and the rest of the chaos factor... I say go for it. It will only cost you a couple of hundred to get going and it is a very relaxing hobby... one can really get into customizing loads. But leave the beer in the house... alcohol and reloading are a bad mixture.

:)) No sense of adventure Samm?

[Cav Scout]

I'm not a reloader myself, but know someone who is. I'll tell you a couple of his money saving secrets.

(1) join a local gun club with it's own range. Ask to volunteer to spend a few hours one day a week running the range. Ask if it is OK, that in exchange for your services, to pocket the brass spent and left by shooters during your shift. If they say no, find a range that does allow this and volunteer there.

2) My friend works in a Service station where old wheel weights are in plentiful supply. He melts them down into 1 lb cubes, and later re-melts and places in molds. Says they don't look the prettiest, but they are very effective. If you do not work in such an enviorment, go make friends with the manager at the place you buy your tires. Chances are, they have buckets full of them they will give you, or at worst, charge you a very minimal fee for.

3) He looks for bargains on gunbroker dot com for all of his other reloading supplies. The only thing he is having trouble getting are primers. He pays almost full price for those right now. Everything else, he says he makes out like a bandit.

He loads about 10,000 rounds a year, pretty much for himself. Some for friends. He figures he saves over half what it would cost him to buy the supplies at retail.



2) My friend works in a Service station where old wheel weights are in plentiful supply. He melts them down into 1 lb cubes, and later re-melts and places in molds. Says they don't look the prettiest, but they are very effective. If you do not work in such an enviorment, go make friends with the manager at the place you buy your tires. Chances are, they have buckets full of them they will give you, or at worst, charge you a very minimal fee for.



I know a couple of guys who do that too. If you do not mind spending a few extra hours cleaning your weapons thats cool, and if you do not care about being accurate at range.


3) He looks for bargains on gunbroker dot com for all of his other reloading supplies. The only thing he is having trouble getting are primers. He pays almost full price for those right now. Everything else, he says he makes out like a bandit.


Sale price at Gunbroker is full price almost anywhere else.

Everyone is paying full price for primers right now, and smalls are terrible.

[ScottFree]

I know a couple of guys who do that too. If you do not mind spending a few extra hours cleaning your weapons thats cool, and if you do not care about being accurate at range.
I can't speak to his cleaning needs, but I have watched him shoot. Accuracy is not an issue for him. He shoots roughly 12 different catridges, using nothing but his own loads. He hits a two inch Dia gong at a hundred yards at least 19 out of 20 times.



Sale price at Gunbroker is full price almost anywhere else.

Everyone is paying full price for primers right now, and smalls are terrible.


He's happy with his purchaces. May not be gunbroker where he buys. Do they do auctions? I know he no longer uses e-bay. but where ever he is going, it's an auction site. Where ever it is, he feels he's getting a good deal. 'cept for the primers, of course.

[notluzn]

I really wish there was a good way to load my AR's 100 round Drum.

[ALBOB2]

I really wish there was a good way to load my AR's 100 round Drum.

That's easy, just send it to me. ;)

[ConstitutionHugger]

Hey all you re-loaders out there.

With the cost of ammo going through roof, would it be more economical to reload 9mm and .40 handgun?

I just picked up a KelTec Sub 2000 in .40 cal. Picked up a couple of boxes of Fiocchi 180gr FMJ for break-in and practice shooting @ 25.00 for 50.

I don't shoot that often, maybe 2000 rounds downrange a year. Reloading looks to me like a good reason to escape to the workshop with a beer, where the wife, grand-daughter,pets, TV, chaos aren't.....

ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY!!!!!!!
You can get a lee handpress for $25 new cheaper used, and a set of dies for bout $10
I have on that I have loades about 5k rounds of 9mm, 500rds of 30-06, few hundred of 30-30 and a few k of 223/5.56.
My 1500 9mm rds that i have loaded in the shop cost me about $100-$150.
Pays for itself very quickly so you can save enough to upgrade your set up

[ConstitutionHugger]

If you shoot 2000 rounds per year you will save a little (but the price of components is skyrocketing too) by reloading, but if you toss in the escape from the wife and the rest of the chaos factor... I say go for it. It will only cost you a couple of hundred to get going and it is a very relaxing hobby... one can really get into customizing loads. But leave the beer in the house... alcohol and reloading are a bad mixture.

Never hurt mine, all it did was make the time go by faster :razz:
The few mistakes I have made reloading were when i was sotally tober ;)

[ConstitutionHugger]

I really wish there was a good way to load my AR's 100 round Drum.

I have seen loaders for those drums on Cheaperthandirt.com.
Sorry I don't have a link tho

[notluzn]

I have seen loaders for those drums on Cheaperthandirt.com.
Sorry I don't have a link tho

I even went to several gun shows and found nothing. I don't think drums are popular. I do know that my AK is very popular but the rounds cost a tad more.

[notluzn]

BTW, I'm working on a deal for a FN PS90. Im hoping that I can still get it from the guy for $1200. I'll post pictures up if it goes through.

[birddog1]

Never hurt mine, all it did was make the time go by faster :razz:
The few mistakes I have made reloading were when i was sotally tober ;)

What has been your worst mess up so far?

I am really careful with my powder charges and making sure their is powder in each case but somehow I started reloading a batch of cases with no primers in them. The trail of gun powder across my reloading bench quickly pointed out my mistake.

[ConstitutionHugger]

What has been your worst mess up so far?

I am really careful with my powder charges and making sure their is powder in each case but somehow I started reloading a batch of cases with no primers in them. The trail of gun powder across my reloading bench quickly pointed out my mistake.

Nothing major but the only 3 that I didn't immediately see whilst loading are:

Had one 30-06 rd that I had forgot to change my charge from my 30-30charge to my '06 charge. No damage but accuracy was horrible.

the second one was a triple charged clip of 9mm that did good until the last round where the case separated in the gun no damage to me or the gun jus tthe case stuck and had to send to mfg.

The last one was when I was working a light carry load for my wife's 38, I under charged it and the bullet got stuck in the barrel.

But those are the only mess ups in over 10k rds of ammo loaded

[ConstitutionHugger]

I even went to several gun shows and found nothing. I don't think drums are popular. I do know that my AK is very popular but the rounds cost a tad more.


Take a look at this: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR603-1.html
It says it works for clips and drums

[TinCan]

I really wish there was a good way to load my AR's 100 round Drum.

Have you tried one bullet at a time? :twisted:

[TinCan]

Well, if anyone's interested, I know where there's a M1A Scout (I think) that's slightly used for $1300.00 but may be able to get it cheaper. Just PM me and I'll double check. It's a shop, not a private sale.

[Samm]

Never hurt mine, all it did was make the time go by faster :razz:
The few mistakes I have made reloading were when i was sotally tober ;)

Yeah? And I know of people who routinely drive drunk who have never been in an accident too...

I have seen first hand what can happen when you accidentally load the wrong powder or double the load. At minimum, it usually ends up with you being one short in your gun collection. Certainly that can occur when you are totally sober, but alcohol increases the probability.