.45 is the only caliber I keep track of. When I started on the acp, I kept records. I can't find my records for the first 73 boxes I loaded, but on 10-7-81, I loaded my 74th box. The load today, was my standard 200gr cast swc over 5.0 of 231. Prior to this week, I had not loaded for about 13 months. I have not been shooting a lot and was shooting 9mm when I did.

I am sure the first one I ever loaded, was a cast swc and possibly 700-X or Red Dot. I also used Unique for a time and possibly Bullseye. I went to a garage sale of a couple who was getting divorced and got a keg of 700-X for 4 dollars. I loaded a lot till that keg was empty.

The first round would have been fired in a surplus 1911 I found at a gunshow. Soon thereafter, I got a 70 Series Gold Cup and I would guess 95% or more of what I have loaded was fired in that gun. I shot my renewal ccw qualification with it yesterday. I also have a Colt Commander and Ruger 1911 and have shot those both a great deal. I shot some in a Blackhawk convertible, but preferred firing the .45 Colt round.

I have loaded a few fmj's, but 99% have been cast swc's with a few rn's thrown in. The vast majority have been using 231 and WW primers. I have shot many brands of primers, but my LGS only stocks WW and I have several thousand on hand. The great primer shortage back in the 80's kind of snuck up on me, but I was never without. Jeff Cooper wrote in Guns & Ammo, that if the economy crashed, primers could be used for currency. Since then, there have always been plenty on hand. I mark the boxes as to what year I bought them. I also have the WW codes for year of production and use the oldest primers first.

For a time, I cast my own bullets, but gave that up when we moved. I have bought bullets from my LGS for years or at a gunshow if I found a bargain. I have now switched to SnS coated swc's. Last year, I finally got rid of a lot of lead I had been keeping. I gave it to a friend under the condition, he would give me half of it back in cast bullets. I am shooting up those before I get back to the SnS bullets.

I have always loaded used brass and prefer the GI. IMI also makes good brass and our military uses a lot of it. I tumble it after shooting and it always shines up nicely. I shoot outside and loose about 10% each time. I pick up brass if I see it and bring it home. If I spot a bargain at a show, I will buy it and clean it up. The last brass I bought was once fired IMI Match.

There was a gap when I wasn't loading as we moved to a new house and it took me some time to get a room and bench installed. I was probably out for a couple of years. After the move, a Dillon 550 was added to the bench next to my old RCBS Jr and things really sped up. I learned a great deal with the old press and am thankful for the experience. The Dillon is using the RCBS dies I use to use on the press.

I know some of you competitive shooters probably shoot 25k in a year, but I am just doing this for recreation. I have always found reloading to be relaxing. I had 2 high stress jobs and reloading was great therapy.

I doubt I will load another 25k, but I am looking forward to some day shooting the box marked #500. Right now, I am shooting rounds I loaded about a year ago. In fact, it has been 13 months since I loaded prior to this week. I try to keep 1k loaded rounds on hand.