WinchesterOwners.com

Do we have anyone that reloads there own ammo

Not yet but I hope to get into it in the near future.

I do!!! Was introduced to it in 1956, found that I liked it and have been at it ever since except for a few breaks while visiting a small, hot, very green country just north of the equator about half way around the world some few decades back. I learned to cast bullets at the same time, that is the most rewarding part of hand loading.

It is turning to winter here on the northern prairie, time to set up and start sizing and loobing boolits. Got about 20,000 cast and waiting to be done. Then get them loaded into useable cartridges. Got a lot to load. I sold my progressive when I retired and now I do the loading the way I always enjoyed most; a single stage press, one at a time in batches of 100. Nice inside, winter work.

Looks like you have some work to do this weekend. Have you calculated how much a round cost you to make.

As a fer instens. I can cast, load and shoot 38 Special for about .035 a round. I collected lead, linotype and wheel weights everywhere, I had well over 2 tons when I retired in 2007, I think it will out last me. The cost saving of hand loading is not why I do it, it was in 1956 because 32-20 ammunition was $5.30 a box, lotta money for an 11 year old farm kid that only got to town a few times a year. I learned to love casting and hand loading as much as shooting, now it is all one operation: I cast, I size and loob, I load and then I shoot. What's not to like?????????

stags30 wrote:Not yet but I hope to get into it in the near future.

I will watch this thread with interest , as i have been thinking about self reloading for sometime now ,

Marc

I'm currently bringing my stock of 32 S&W and Long back up. I cast Lyman 313249 for 32 S&W and Lee 93 gr. RN for 32 Long. I use Bullseye and/or Trail Boss powder. 32 is my favorite revolver caliber and I have more than a dozen revolvers for the various chamberings. Need to do some 32 H&R magnum and some 32-20. All fun!!!!!

I load a round or 2 every now and then (been at it for about 25 years or so)...mostly 45acp, 45-70, 357 mag, 308, 300 win mag, 270, and 243.

The 45acp, 45-70, and 308 are the ones I load for myself...the others I load for friends.

I'm also learning to cast my own bullets...I have all the stuff and more wheel weights than I know what to do with. I can make usable bullets but I have a ways to go before calling myself good at it.

Well im about to commit to reloading soon

New member here, 1st post on the forum. Reloading is a wonderful hobby in itself, in addition to the money saving aspects. I started reloading to feed my shotgun addiction, then plinking loads for handguns and quickly moved into rifle loading. Currently, I'm loading some rounds for old family Winchesters, some of which I'd never fired or seen fired in my 50 years. Having a ball with the old levers!

About the only thing I don't reload for is 22's and shotguns. Heck of a lot cheaper for me to purchase.
Now when it comes to rifles and handguns that is a differant story.
Don't think any of my rifles have seen commercial ammo in many, many a year. Same goes for the handguns.
I cast a lot of bullets in differant calibers and they work just fine.

GAR

No one reloads 22 try finding components for them, there so inexpesive no need to reload!

I picked up an old lee press but I`d like to get something with the breech lock quick change dies, anybody use the new lee hand press I want to get out of the garage ( its freezing)

I use a Lee hand press on occasion, I bought it in 1991. I have looked at the "breech lock" setup, I'm not impressed. I guess I've been doing it my way for too long, since 1956. I had a 5 station progressive for about a dozen years, it worked but it took all the fun and enjoyment out of loading. Sold it and went back to my single stage presses. I use a lot of Lee equipment but "breech lock" is not for me.

GUNNER_D wrote:Do we have anyone that reloads there own ammo

I have tried it, and I think I am hooked...

I'd say your ready for WW3

Show off

Yeah, that reloading is one heck of a drug!!

All the casting stuff in another out building?:)

Tom

The thing that really grabbed me and still has the hold is the ability to recreate the old bullets of the original design for the old cartridges. I'm especially fond of Ideal 3118 for 32 W.C.F and Ideal 358246 for 38 S&W. Now if I could just get my hands on a 299152 or 299153 for use in 32 Short and Long Colt I'd be pretty well set up.

Has any one took a reloading corse fro the NRA?

Not me...not knocking the course, but reloading isn't that complicated...on forums, its often made out to be far more complicated (and dangerous) than it actually is.

All a person needs is common sense, pretty basic math skills and to be somewhat "mechanically minded"...reading scales, reading calipers, setting up dies, etc.

The book called "The ABC's of Reloading" covers plenty enough to get just about anybody started...and there are LOTS of really good YouTube videos too, but you'll have to sort through a lot of not so good ones too.

Heck, most reloading manuals cover the majority of it in the front parts of the book...just start simple and work your way up to the finer points. By starting simple I mean...single stage press, learn to load 1 round (whatever you shoot the most) at a time....that way you only have one powder, one bullet, one primer, etc. (no worries about mixing things up in the excitement)....after you're comfortable (not complacent) with that round....move on to another one.

Thats how I did it....a fine old gentleman I used to bear hunt with got me started. The first round I ever loaded was a 30-30. When he passed away....he left me his old RockChucker press and several sets of dies...the rest is history.

I'm totally self taught on the reloading front. I started with shotgun shells. My shooting partner at the time swore I'd blow myself up if I ever tried reloading. I don't know where he got that idea. I went slow and easy, single stage press to start and lo and behold, my first few shells came out looking just like they should. I was hooked. Then started with the handgun ammo, on a rockchucker with 3 die carbide sets for 357 and 44 mag. Read the load books, and I'm pretty sure I had the current version of ABC's of reloading by Dean Grennel and everything worked just like the books said it would and the rest is history. Just start simple and with a single stage press and pay attention. It really is not rocket science.

I think you will find reloading to be relaxing and there is nothing better than seeing your own ammunition perform. The added benefit is you can tailor your loads to fit your needs.

I reload for 30-30, 30-06, 357/38, 25 auto, 45 long colt, and 45 auto. It is the surest way to get accurate ammo for each firearm I own.