I am just getting started into reloading due to the supply shortage of "ready to launch" loads. I was lucky enough to score a very lightly used Lee classic turret press along with dies for .40, 9, 223, and 44 spc/mag. In said package was 8lbs of unique, 1lb of titegroup, and 1lb of Win 231. (Huge bonus given the availability of powder in my area). It also came with 1000 9mm boolits, 1500 9mm brass, 2000 small pistol primers, 1000 large pistol primers, 3 digi scales, calipers, bench, magnifing glass/light on adjustable arm. It was turn key ready to rock out loads. I have since bought 1500 .40 plated boolits (HP and FP), another 1000 sm pistol primers, and some .44 barnes for deer season. This weekend I shot my first 40 loads. Holy cow! Waaaaaay less recoil than crappy win white box! Accuracy was waaaay better too! I am now offically hooked. My buddy that was with me was floored too. He was shooting win white box so we compared loads. Anyway, enough about me. Who here reloads? For what? What kind of equipment? Who has the secret sources of components right now? Lets see some pics of your reloading room or bench. I will take some when I get home. Being new to it all, it would be nice to have a few others I could ask my stupid newbie questions to
I was re-loading went to trade off my hornady progressive press. (Didn't fell like I had enough powder control) Guy seen my set-up and bought the whole deal. Will start again once all the Gov crap is over. But this time will be a single stage only and measure every signal load from a tickle measure.
I've reloaded 40, 44, 45, 6.5x55, 303, and match quality 308. I use an RCBS "rock chucker" single stage press with RCBS and Lee dies. Going to load some 9mm for the first time soon. I hand weigh every charge as I reload for quality and not much quantity. I started out reloading for Service Match Competition with 308 converted Garands and M1As, so my habits are based on what it takes to produce those rounds. Hand weighing each charge obviously won't work for quantity production.
I went to get some Brit 303 the other day and had a coronary at the counter. $30 a box!! *cough* Stupid 223 was $11 a box! I have a case left of 223. I paid $40 for it, now its worth $250???? My instinct is to horde, as they are over 50 cents each to replace! Might just sell my Enfield 303. Way too spendy to shoot. I wanna replace it with a Marlin 30-30 anyway. Not enough elk up here, as compared to southern Oregon. I reload 45 and 9 at my brothers. He is set up for all the handguns. He has a converted AR-15 to 9mm as well.
I do but only since January. The shortage was the last straw for me. Reload 9,38/357, 44, 30/06, 243.
I love reloading. Have to get my bench built in the New house and get my stuff unpacked this winter. Rcbs rock chucker set up.
Got some stuff to get setup to cast. Got a press and some sizing dies and several molds. Also about 20#s of lead. Busy right now so I have not even set it up. Got a bunch of stuff when my buddies brother got out of it.
Whats involved equipment wise in casting? Im interested in it for the 44 mag. I have an endless supply of wheel weights for free too!
You need a pot to melt it. This can be just a pot or a specific "furnace pot" made by lee. You need a bullet mold a dipper for lead if u use a pot. If u buy a furnace there bottom pour meaning you have a lever and the lead flows out bottom of pot. Then you Mead a swedging press. That has the dies inserted into it to wedge the bullets to what diameter you want...429,430,431 etc. This press also lubes it as well in one stroke. OR they have the new style which is tumble lube. You cast bullets in a special mold with many small lube grooves. You put them in a tub pour lube in shake up up. Lay out to dry and then Lee makes a thing that you use in place of a die in your reload press. Bullets go into it and are sized and then you relube after sizing again. Then ready to shoot. I still don't see how if the lube is only a film it can seal? But guys report food accuracy with it?? And its way cheaper! Te press I have for swedging is a Lyman copy. The dies for it are $50 themselves!! The press used on eBay seem to go for over $100. The latter setup u can have for under $100 I think. Mold is like $30 and I think the sizer thing is $60 ish??
Well, I do happen to have 300 bullets available for a 303 reloader out there, 150 & 180g weights, .311 & .312 dia. I used to have close to a dozen Enfields, (regulars, jungle carbines, snipers, wrapped grenade launchers, P14s) but have sold them all at this point . Traded away all the 303 loaded ammo too as part of my "old ammo" deals for Stihl saws over the last year. PM me if you're interested in working out a deal or trade, could use some nice 20" bars/chains .
I don't shoot the Enfield enough to make it worth my while. And they are fetching 3x what I paid for it around here now. And the 30-30 is calling to me.
I'm seriously considering getting into reloading, where are you guys setting up your bench? I have a dry basement, and a detached garage.....thinking I'd rather be in the basement where temps are consistent.
I just work on the corner of my existing work bench in my "unfinished" basement, nothing fancy or dedicated just for reloading. I unbolt the press and pack everything away when not in use. My bench is 30" deep and I use about 3' of space. You don't need a lot of room to turn out small quantities of great ammo. My basement is dry in winter but a little "musty" in the summer.
