Im just getting into reloading ,I have a press on order so I won't be doing anything with it for a couple of months and after alot of reading. But there's a gunshow tomorrow in the small town we're vacationing in and I want to start building up the things I need. I will be reloading 38 Special and 44 mag for now. What type of primers, powder, etc do I need to be looking for. More towards primers than powder but if you can point me in the right direction that would help.

__________________
Get off my lawn!

With the questions you are asking, I assume you don't have any reloading manual? If you don't, until you do get them, I would suggest going to the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center link. If you use the "print" option but don't actually print, it will list the primer used to develop the loads listed.

But 38 Special uses small pistol primers.

44 Mag normally uses large pistol primers, but with some powders Hodgdon H110 and Win 296 (the same exact powders) generally magnum pistol primers are suggested. So in that case it would be large pistol magnum primers.

So until you know what powders you are going to use, suggesting primers might be general but not exact.

I suggest waiting to buy components until after you have studied the process. There are simply too many combinations until you decide exactly what you wish to accomplish, like light plinking loads vs. heavy SD loads with the .38 and elk loads vs. heavy (or light) plinking loads with the .44.

Gun show prices for components will be outrageous and you very well may end up with product that is not the best for your intended uses.

While you are studying up think about what you want to do. Do you want to plink, do targets, hunt, self defense? Lead bullets are generally cheaper than jacketed and are good for targets and plinking. Soft swaged lead bullets are good for low velocity targets. Hard cast lead can be pushed faster. Jacketed are generally for medium to full power loads and are designed to expand upon penetrating (a body for instance).

Most primers are about the same. There has been some debate about softness/hardness of primers and how sensitive they are to the firing pin strike.

Cartridge cases are the most expensive component. Save any case that can be reloaded.

Powders run from very fast burning to very slow. The faster powders give a quick impulse (like Bulleye) that makes for an accurate round, but the velocities are limited. Slower powders make for a heavier load (like 2400) while some in the middle are very versatile (like Unique) and shoot medium to higher velocity, but not as high as the slow powders.

The different powder companies make similar powders (but data cannot be interchanged). For instance Clay's Universal and Unique have similar properties, one of which is very wide versatility.

Thanks! My first book will be in the Lee kit I purchased. I also plan on gettg 'Reloading for Handgunners' by Patrick Sweeney. I plan to reload for target practice only. I had a line on some local CCI small pistol primers locally at $35 per 1000, but he sold out fast.

__________________
Get off my lawn!

While you shouldn't actually start pulling the handle before you do a lot of reading these are desperate times and I would start getting components now.

Any small pistol primer will work. Even small magnum but for the time being, let's leave those alone, okay? Anything under $40 is an acceptable price. Hell you might think that $50 is but I guess it depends on how you feel. (Shrug)

The bullet you buy will ultimately determine the powder you need but if you get a line on Winchester 231, Hodgdon HP38, or Alliant Unique grab it! These are very versatile powders. $20 per pound is a decent price and if you can only find it in 4 or 8 pound kegs, go ahead if you have the money. Properly taken care of it won't go bad in your lifetime.

Bullets are the wild card. Basically your revolver will shoot anything intended to be chambered in .38 Spl. Something in the 158 grain range is the easiest to work with. Round nose, hollow point, semi-wadcutter - it's all good! Again, availability is limited on all these things so you get what you can get.

I'm not savvy to .44 but I'm sure someone who is will be right along.

This is my opinion and others may disagree with it. They of course could very well be correct.

From my daily searches, 44 bullets are still pretty easy to get our hands on on-line.

Cabelas has Rainier 500ct bulk packs in Flat Point & Hollow Point for 44's. Plus they have some cast 44's In-Stock too.
MidwayUSA has the same Rainer, 500 Ct's of HP and 1,000 Ct's of the FP.

And while we are talking about doing things in steps or in the correct order may I make a suggestion. Unless you are the rare exception I would strongly suggest starting off shooting your 38 Special and then down the road let rip with your 44 mag and then set down or get up and think about your needs. There is a good reason why model 29's were the most traded in S&W revolver of all time and why there are always a bunch out there for sale. Too much too soon for most folks and just my opinion but shooting a true classic magnum cartridge at pedestrian levels is not what they designed this cartridge for.

Regards

That is probably all good advise about getting your process down with the 38s.

And to get more books - I think I have Nosler, Hornady, Speer, and Sierra and a few powder publications and specialty bullet references in stock.

But right now, there is just a dearth of components out there. Whether it is brass, bullets, primers, or powders. It probably isnt there right now.

So you got some time to get better prepared.

Don't know how extensive the Lee book you'll be getting with your kit is, however, most powder manufacturers have loading information on their web sites.

In addition, while buying one or more books that covers all calibers is one option, a less expensive option I just recently found are the Lyman load data books, that cover a couple of calibers for ~$5 ($5.10 at Midsouth Shooters). Here's the link to Lyman's site, and they have one that covers 38 special and 44 mag.

W231 & W296, Small Pistol Primers And Large Pistol Magnum Primers. That's What I Would Be Looking For In Those Two Calibers.

__________________
Still got the shovel