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January 4, 2009
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so it was just a hunk-o-lead... that's what a wad cutter is to me.. just a flat cylinder of lead that just punches a hole in a piece of paper..
So .. did you wear a poncho STEVE ???
Ever practice with wax loads.. my dad used to shoot his Python in the basement . wax loads were just a primer, no powder and a 3/8" plug of wax in the cartridge.. only for him to practice his draw and fire... cool..
When I first got out of the service.. a couple of us discharged gun nuts used to go out to the country.. we had a spot that was a country dump... we used to shoot whatever was there.. but one time we tied M-80's to a dead tree and would shoot them with whatever we had.. mostly .22Lr.. if you hit it dead center.. BOOM.... hahaha ... also cool..
Hmm.. never taught THAT one to my kids...
W
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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It was a hollow base wadcutter. When it was reversed (with the hollow end as the front of the bullet) it was the most gaping, huge hollwpoint you ever saw. I even put some crosscuts on the leading edge of the open base of the bullet (remember dum-dum bullets?). It probably was in reality just a big chunk of flying lead, but I had visions of this 148 grain, massive hollowpoint being the "great equalizer". It was probably pretty unstable, I know it lost accuracy over 25 yards, but it created what looked like a nuclear explosion on melons, water jugs, etc.
AH, youth!
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
January 4, 2009
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hahahahaha you said it.. I still love hitting a filled water jug at 50 feet with a 44 mag HP.. yeah baby..
we used to shoot at "monkey balls" in trees.. forgot the name of them.. they are green and about the size of a soft ball. and they look like a brain.. all wrinkly like.. they grow on trees and there is a hard nut in the exact center...we used to shoot them with our 30-06's... and if you hit it not dead center just a chunk would fly off... but hit it dead center and just like your H2O melon.. huge explosion... one day I had brought some mil surplus rounds I had gotten at a gun show.. that had red tips..( tracer) and orange tips.. no one knew what orange was.. until I hit one not dead center .. and it started on fire.... incendiary rounds... hahahaha we stopped doing that so we wouldn't burn the woods down...
like you said.. ahh.. youth..
LOL.
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November 17, 2008
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Hey panther check your sights, you only missed by one post. 
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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I made another road trip last night, this time to Cabela's in Hamburg, PA. Bought an RCBS turret press kit, 38,357M,357SMAG die set, shell holder, HP38 powder, 38CAL 158GRNNFP Bullets (cast lead), some 38CAL Brass but they didn't have any small pistol primers. I did get a Handloading DVD by RCBS also. Guess I'm ready to reload once I get the primers. 
December 17, 2008
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Nice! 
I've talked to several people lately who say that primers are what is pacing the availability of ammo overall. That even the ammo manufactureres can't get enough of 'em.
Put up some pics when ou get your bench set up. I'm still "thinking of reloading" myself....
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January 24, 2009
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Dusty Trail said:
I'm still “thinking of reloading” myself….
Me too…just hafta figure out where to do it, in my currently "elbow room challenged" home. 
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Dusty Trail said:
Nice!
I've talked to several people lately who say that primers are what is pacing the availability of ammo overall. That even the ammo manufactureres can't get enough of 'em.
Put up some pics when ou get your bench set up. I'm still “thinking of reloading” myself….
I seem to have a good supply of primers at the Golden Trigger in Emmaus, PA. I just bought 2 packs (100 each) of Federal 100 Small Pistol primers. Under $5.00 each pack. They would sell a brick for about $ 41.00. Don't know if that's a good price or not.
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November 17, 2008
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What is a good price is relative, but 4 months ago primers went for $30 a 1000. 2 years ago they went for about $24 a thousand. I hope I don't have to pay $41 a thousand, but right now there aren't any to be had in my area. The bad part is even before the price insanity started, everyone in my area got out of the reloading supply business. I either have to order from somewhere and pay the haz-mat and shipping fees or drive for almost two hours to pick the stuff up.
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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Jaggman,
I know you just got a 445, don't know if you have a 357SM. Make sure to watch your recipes on those as they normally call for rifle primers and not pistol primers.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
Range Officer
Range Officers
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February 28, 2009
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Wow! I thought all you guys were already experienced loaders. I don't feel so bad about my lack of loading experience now.
-Mike
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March 2, 2008
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Charger Fan said:
Dusty Trail said:
I'm still “thinking of reloading” myself….
Me too…just hafta figure out where to do it, in my currently ”elbow room challenged” home.
I'm going to have to clear some space in the garage (which does not actually house a vehicle anymore) so I can get set up. Not so great in the winter, but I have some heaters and I have successfully refinished furniture out there in the winter. I guess I can get enough done spring/summer/fall to keep me going through the winter.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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January 24, 2009
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My garage is quite the opposite...packed so full, it's challenging to find an open area to work.
I cleaned & organized it last summer, it didn't seem to last long. Downstairs will be my best bet, but I need a kid to move out first.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Supermagfan said:
Jaggman,
I know you just got a 445, don't know if you have a 357SM. Make sure to watch your recipes on those as they normally call for rifle primers and not pistol primers.
SMF
Thanks SMF,
I'm studting the Speer Manual (yikes it's 2:17 am) and I see the "*" about magnum primers next to certain powders. However the 445 cartridge is not listed, not that I'm reloading any right now. I bought Federal No. 100 small pistol primers for 38 Special / 357 Mag. They okay?
Ed
April 25, 2008
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The Fed 100 primers are fine for the .357/38. They are the only ones I use.
The Savantist
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May 17, 2009
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Here is a dozen .38 Specials, my first hand load attempt. Sample bullet included.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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I shot the first dozen today and they worked pretty well. The factory ammo seemed to have more recoil but mine were as accurate as the other. It is really fun to shoot your own stuff. Thanks for all the prior info / suggestions.
Range Officer
Range Officers
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February 9, 2009
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Sounds like your off and shooting. IMHO reloading is half the fun. I know others disagree emphatically, but I really enjoy creating the rounds I shoot. I buy very little factory ammo
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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January 24, 2009
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Cool, those look pretty good!
From a guy who doesn't reload yet, are those bullets seated deep enough? I was under the impression that the crimp goes in that first groove...it looks like those are crimped on the shoulder. Just curious.
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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Well to be honest I ran it by SMF and he suggested that I seat them deeper, so I did but only to a COAL of 1.455" as the Speer manual shows that figure. I didn't want to have too much space from the bullet to the barrel. Maybe that's not a problem.
I'll load up a few more for the weekend.
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