Avatar
Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
Thinking Of Reloading
Avatar
landpanther1
WNC
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 253
Member Since:
January 4, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
21
May 23, 2009 - 3:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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... 

Avatar
Steve
Member

Dans Club
Forum Posts: 10330
Member Since:
March 2, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
22
May 23, 2009 - 4:38 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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

Avatar
landpanther1
WNC
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 253
Member Since:
January 4, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
23
May 23, 2009 - 4:51 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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.

Avatar
lbruce
Georgia
Moderator
Members


DWF Supporters


Dans Club


Moderators
Forum Posts: 3569
Member Since:
November 17, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
24
May 24, 2009 - 5:35 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Hey panther check your sights, you only missed by one post. poke

Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.

                                                                                                                             

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
25
July 3, 2009 - 4:20 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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.  Laugh

Avatar
Dusty Trail
Round Rock, Texas
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 1044
Member Since:
December 17, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
26
July 3, 2009 - 5:27 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Nice!  occasion 

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....

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11172
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
27
July 3, 2009 - 9:57 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

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. :P

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
28
July 3, 2009 - 10:43 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Dusty Trail said:

Nice!  occasion 

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.

Avatar
lbruce
Georgia
Moderator
Members


DWF Supporters


Dans Club


Moderators
Forum Posts: 3569
Member Since:
November 17, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
29
July 3, 2009 - 11:11 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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.Frown

Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.

                                                                                                                             

Avatar
Supermagfan
Pennsylvania

Range Officer
Members


Range Officers


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 3250
Member Since:
February 9, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
30
July 3, 2009 - 4:36 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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

Avatar
zoommb
People's Republic of Illinois

Range Officer
Members


Range Officers


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 3161
Member Since:
February 28, 2009
sp_UserOnlineSmall Online
31
July 3, 2009 - 5:05 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Wow!  I thought all you guys were already experienced loaders.  I don't feel so bad about my lack of loading experience now.Smile

-Mike

D2X_0011_x_sm.jpg

Avatar
Steve
Member

Dans Club
Forum Posts: 10330
Member Since:
March 2, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
32
July 3, 2009 - 8:51 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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. :P


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

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11172
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
33
July 3, 2009 - 9:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

My garage is quite the opposite...packed so full, it's challenging to find an open area to work.Embarassed 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.lol2

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
34
July 3, 2009 - 11:30 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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

Avatar
IHMSA80x80
Member
Members
Forum Posts: 3014
Member Since:
April 25, 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
35
July 4, 2009 - 5:08 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

The Fed 100 primers are fine for the .357/38. They are the only ones I use.

The Savantist

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
36
July 6, 2009 - 7:27 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

                                   

Here is a dozen .38 Specials, my first hand load attempt.  Sample bullet included.

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
37
July 7, 2009 - 8:40 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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.

Avatar
Supermagfan
Pennsylvania

Range Officer
Members


Range Officers


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 3250
Member Since:
February 9, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
38
July 7, 2009 - 9:18 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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

Avatar
Charger Fan
Northern Utah

Supporter
Members


Moderators
Forum Posts: 11172
Member Since:
January 24, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
39
July 8, 2009 - 5:50 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Cool, those look pretty good!Cool

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.Smile

Avatar
jaggman
Emmaus, PA
Member
Members


Dans Club
Forum Posts: 1358
Member Since:
May 17, 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
40
July 8, 2009 - 6:23 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

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.

shooting

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 658
Currently Online: zoommb, Different Drummer
Guest(s) 67
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Steve: 10330
SHOOTIST357: 4788
Dave_Ks: 4300
Ole Dog: 4065
Stinger: 3447
Supermagfan: 3250
zoommb: 3161
IHMSA80x80: 3014
Blacktop: 3004
brucertx: 2311
Newest Members:
Myramillan
Gunner 70
Faunsewillawn
LouieCeS
Shawnrug
AnnelKix
MrBigfugh
MichaelHag
JoesphMop
adam ball
Forum Stats:
Groups: 11
Forums: 42
Topics: 16836
Posts: 148305

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 87
Members: 11652
Moderators: 4
Admins: 1
Administrators: Jody
Moderators: lbruce, Charger Fan, rwsem, SCORPIO