quote:

Originally posted by 1076shooter:
OK, I've been reading up and such and I'm getting a better feel for starting to reload. I'm gonna be ordering some components soon, (and sending the fiancee to gunshows to pick stuff up in my absence), and I have some questions:

1. I only own magnum-caliber revolvers; .357 and .44. To simplify logistics, I was planning to only buy magnum cases, then I could load them down to Special velocities and pressures for plinking and practice to avoid the carbon rings in the cylinder. Is this alright to do? Is it possible to load the .38 Special and .44 Special loads in their respective Magnum cases without modification to the Special load data?

I do this when loading for all my .44 mag. guns. I have light "cowboy" loads, and heavy boomers. The most important thing you must remember is to clearly label your ammo boxes as to what powder/bullet/etc. they contain. I have loads for my SRH that I would not dare shoot in my model 29.

While I have lighter and heavier .357 loadings, I also have a bazillion .38 spec. cases on hand, so I load those as well. I do have a few .38 spec. revolvers, and of course they require the .38 cases. If all you have is .357 mag guns, and no .38 specials, loading down the .357 is perfectly acceptable.



2. I'm gonna be sending my fiancee out to the next gunshow to check prices on powders and components. I want to keep it simple at first for powder selection to "get my feet wet" without having a TON of money invested. I've seen from reading here that I could pick up a jug of 2400 for Magnums and Unique for Specials and that would be a good "starting point", then I could try other powders and such to tailor loads, but that those two could get me started loading and out shooting.

Y'all's thoughts? This forum has been invaluable to me so far. Thanks in advance.