[Hal8000]

Over the years I've probably reloaded 50000 rounds. I've had one dud... Some how I killed the primer, or the primer didn't go off, regardless 1 out of 50000 rounds, that's far better than the factory rounds I've shot. I was just curious because I don't think I'm the exception here. The problem is that it seems most people have a bad taste in their mouths when it comes to reloads... What's your experiences like?

 

[2400]

I've only had a couple of bad rounds in the 35+ years I've been loading. All of those were in the first year or so when I started out. I've had many more bad factory rounds in the same time period.

 

[Vom Kriege]

Yup, had one that failed get a powder charge.

 

[Hal8000]

2400, your experience sounds something like mine! Great!


Vom Kriege, I hope you caught it before your follow up shot... I've got a couple of those, but they were not my reloads. Fortunately, I had the good sense to check the barrel before I fired again...
A double powder charge is about the only thing I can think that might be worse, you don't get the chance to check for a lodged bullett...

I'd rather it go click or floop than boom!

 

[2400]

2400, your experience sounds something like mine! Great!

Hal, sounds like we're in the same catagory. You ever figure out how many rounds you've loaded?

I'd rather it go click or floop than boom!

yup :-D

 

[Hal8000]

:smt102 No, it would only be an estimate anyway...

I buy primers now 10,000 at a time to maximize the Hazardous Material charge. Powder by 8lb kegs (for the same reason) and bullets where I get the best volume break... Money up front, but I can shoot for a year or two with that... :smt068
Use to cast my own, but now that's too much work and I can better afford the bullets... Back then casting my own saved a BUNDLE though! :smt023

 

[2400]

:smt102 No, it would only be an estimate anyway...

The best I can guestimate is over 350K. I used to cast tens of thousands of bullets in the winter and swage my own jacketed bullets too! So that I could shoot the rest of the year. Now I buy my cast and jacked bullets.

 

[Hal8000]

Wow! Really though, when you reload, you can shoot more, because it's cheaper! I hear ya! I think you have me beat...
It's a great hobby with in a hobby, eh? :-D

I think I'm wearing my elbow out! :smt012

 

[2400]

Wow! Really though, when you reload, you can shoot more, because it's cheaper! I hear ya! I think you have me beat...
It's a great hobby with in a hobby, eh? :-D

I think I'm wearing my elbow out! :smt012

It is a great hobby indeed. We've added a bunch of loading equipment this year so we may need to build a new, BIGGER bench.:-D My wife LOVES loading, she's loaded over 15k rounds so far this year. She likes pulling the handle on the Dillons.

 

[Hal8000]

That's wonderful she enjoys the same hobby... I wish mine did!

I'm using a Lee turret press on a loading pedestal. It's slow and a little unstable, but I'm use to it... It allows me to reload while still in the presents of my family... It's OK, but somewhat of a hassle... It would be fantastic for some one who lived in an apartment... I have a nice shop, but it looks more like Fibber McGee's closet at the moment.... Shaw!

Someday I'm going to have a Dillon... Oh yes, someday! :-D

 

[2400]

That's wonderful she enjoys the same hobby... I wish mine did!
Someday I'm going to have a Dillon... Oh yes, someday! :-D

She just bought me a used RL 1050 and $500 of stuff to go with it. :-D

 

[Method]

Reloading sounds like a fun and relaxing thing to do. When I get my own place, I definately think I'll look into investing in a loading station. 8)

How much does the equipment run? Is it different for every different type of round?

 

[Shipwreck]

I would imagine close to $1000 to get started right?

 

[Hal8000]

It depends on the equipment you choose to use. I went the cheap route, and I spent around 300 dollars. I still use the stuff... That's excluding the components...

 

[2400]

It depends on the equipment you choose to use. I went the cheap route, and I spent around 300 dollars. I still use the stuff... That's excluding the components...

I PM'd you.

 

[Bob Wright]

I have loaded some ammunition that didn't fire, using standard primers with H110 or Winchester 296. One very cold day I was testing a batch of .45 Colt loaded with a 240gr. JHP and 296. The primer fired and drove the bullet and powder charge up into the barrel. The primer compressed the powder charge into a cylindrical pellet that stayed pretty much together until I dropped it into my hand.

It was cold enough that day that water would freeze. But I was experimenting, and had been told to use standard primers instead of magnum. So, my ammunition didn't perform unexpectedly.

And I have on occasion ruined a case catching it on the mouth of the die.

For the record, my log book shows about 180,000 rounds loaded/fired.

Bob Wright

 

[Baldy]

Mistakes Loading

I have made a ton of mistakes getting everything up and going. My first batch was 45s and I didn't tapper crimp enough. Had to bring them back home and recrimp them. I bought a gauge and now I use that on every one of them. The 357s I have had 2 primers that didn't light off and one I didn't get power in and it stuck the bullet in the barrel. That was no fun as I had to drive the bullet out. :roll:
Being mostly self taugh I have made more than a few mistakes. I am very careful and aware of what I am doing while reloading now. :lol:

 

[2400]

Ever make/shoot a BAD reloaded bullet?

You know I never really read what you asked. Yes I made many bad bullets when I first started casting. It took a while to get the mold temp, lead temp and me all coordinated together. But all I had to do was remelt the bad bullets and start over. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

 

[Guest]

I don't reload yet, but would be a pretty fun hobby. I do however have an older friend who's really into reloading and all I have to do is take my empty brass or hulls to him and he reloads them for me at a very low price. Usually only 5-10 cents a round depending on the cartidge. The only bad experiences I had was when I had him make me 100 rounds of extra light .38 special target loads. No, i'm not a sissy when it comes to recoil. I just wanted to have lots of shooting fun at a very low price. Anyways, while shooting I could definatly tell they were very light loads because not only was there no recoil, but also I could see the bullet leaving the barrel. Well, of the 100 rounds I shot I had 4 duds, 7 bullets that barley left the barrel, and 1 that got stuck in the barrel.

I don't blame him at all. It was my fault because I wanted such custom loads just because I was being a cheapskate. Anyways, when I do get ammo from him I just have him reload them with the proper load and I have yet to have a problem again.