Enjoying myself alot! :)

[blastfact]

Just wanted to chime in with how much I've been enjoying myself reloading and everything that goes with this facet of our hobby.

Something about making ammo is really fulfilling. Just knocked out a 100 lot of 9mm. Rem. brass, Berry's 124gr, 4.0gr Titegroup, AOL @ 1.150. I think I enjoy producing ammo more than I like shooting it. Something about holding a round in your hand, looking at it and knowing it is exactly what you wanted,,,, and cheap. Sure this 100 lot is just plinking rounds. I'm not a pattern target shooter. But I seem to hit what I want, when I want in strange settings.

I could not hit a target last sunday to save my life. There were some shot gunners out at the range. At there invitation they asked if I would like to handgun some skeet? What the hell I thought.... Would be good for a laugh. To there's and my suprise I busted them skeet at 12 yards just off the ground with the Sigma and CZ-52. I had a blast!!! All 9mm rounds were my reloads. The CZ ammo was retail.....

Sure was fun.

 

[BSkerj]

I just started over a year ago and haven't looked back. If you want another rewarding aspect of making your own, try casting. Beware though, once you start that end of the hobby you will become obsessed. It was best said on another forum " When you cast you are literally manufacturing from the ground up...when you reload you are just assembling". Either way it is a great hobby. Check out Castboolits.com if you ever get the hankering to cast. Have fun

 

[Big Cholla]

I started reloading at the age of 15 because my Dad nor I could afford to hunt Quail and Chuckar with our Win. Model 12's in 16ga as much as we wanted to at the then retail price of 16ga shotshells. I started on a simple Pacific press and loaded one load of #71/2 shot. I even recharged the primer cups with new primers. Over the years I graduated into 12ga and 20ga, high power rifles and .357mag revolvers. I then got into IPSC and started loading and shooting from 20,000 to 40,000 rounds of 45acp or 38 Super per year. My reloading equipment went from the simple to the Dillon 550B. I had an epiphany one night when I elected to reload something that I didn't need right away rather than watch the usual TV fare. I realized that I just got lots of pleasure from my reloading as a hobby unto itself. IMHO everyone in this high pressure world needs a constructive hobby that every little aspect is controlled by the individual. I too like the idea of turning out ammo that is superior to most of what I can buy at average retail prices. I like the orderliness required on a good reloading bench. I like the attention to detail required. I am going on 55 years of reloading. I got into bullet casting. I enjoy the two activities every much today as ever. Reloading has been and will continue to be a great relaxing satisfying hobby for a few more years. .............. Big Cholla

 

[valkyriekl]

I've been reloading for about 9 months now, starting out with .38SPL and then branching out to .45ACP, .44 Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 Auto Rim, and .44 Special (in order that I started loading them), all for revolvers, and even throwing in some .380ACP to learn how to load for an autoloader (namely, the taper crimp). It's been a blast working up target loads and plinking loads, and to have match-grade ammo at a fraction of the cost to buy it in stores (if you can even find it in stores, even online!).

When you cast you are literally manufacturing from the ground up

For the bullets, sure. When a kit to make priming compounds and gunpowder at home hits the market, then you're really making it from the ground up!

 

[blastfact]

I could build dies and punch brass if I wanted to.... Hell I could make my own primers and powder not to mention build my own firearms.

I just enjoy assembling a round. The rest would be work.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I've been reloading a while. Only casting for a couple of years, but that too is very enjoyable.

I agree with your elation over being able to produce your own ammo. There are times when I just load to load. I go to the man cave and just make bullets I have no use for at the present time. Oh, they are of a certain recipe I have already.

What I really like doing is working up loads. Finding that balance of power and accuracy. That's the part of reloading/handloading that I really enjoy.

 

[flat top]

Blastfact; Sounds like you are hooked!!! I started reloading almost 50 years ago, and to this day, it is still one of the most enjoyable parts of the shooting hobby. I have cast my own, made jacketed match bullets for competition rifles, and lathe turned bullets for hunting, developed a line of wildcat cartridges, fabricated precision loading dies, and build custom and competition firearms.....I guess I just lost all control, and I blame it all on reloading that first 45 ACP cartridge in my buddy's basement in 1960. There are many facets to reloading and putting that first cartridge together is the start of it all. As time goes on, if you feel the need to expand, experiment, and develop, I think you will find that reloading can be much more than assembling a cartridge...it can open new doors, and create avenues into the world of ballistics, accuracy, and firearms design that are beyond imagination.

 

[pownal55]

i can't match the history of "flat top" but i will say after 40yrs of reloading i enjoy it as much as ever.

 

[blastfact]

Blastfact; Sounds like you are hooked!!! I started reloading almost 50 years ago, and to this day, it is still one of the most enjoyable parts of the shooting hobby. I have cast my own, made jacketed match bullets for competition rifles, and lathe turned bullets for hunting, developed a line of wildcat cartridges, fabricated precision loading dies, and build custom and competition firearms.....I guess I just lost all control, and I blame it all on reloading that first 45 ACP cartridge in my buddy's basement in 1960. There are many facets to reloading and putting that first cartridge together is the start of it all. As time goes on, if you feel the need to expand, experiment, and develop, I think you will find that reloading can be much more than assembling a cartridge...it can open new doors, and create avenues into the world of ballistics, accuracy, and firearms design that are beyond imagination.

I have been down the addiction road concerning firearms. I don't care to ever go down that road again.

 

[valkyriekl]

I have been down the addiction road concerning firearms. I don't care to ever go down that road again.

what? there's a way off this road? But...but...I still want a 4" 586, and a 1911 (or three), and a single-stack S&W 9mm, and...and...

 

[acl864]

...................

 

[flat top]

blastfact and valkyriekl: There was a time in my life that firearms "were" an "addiction"!!! I was buying up everything I could get my hands on!!! I know that I had a tad over one hundred firearms at one time! I finally realized the error of my ways, when I couldnt pay the bills!!! It was that bad!.........So, I sold just about every firearm I had, with the exception of a few that I actually had a use for. Now, I only keep what I use, and a very few of my favorites. I probably dont have more than 10 guns that I own now. At times, I will buy and sell, but I always try to limit what I own. I really enjoy building custom guns, and if one catches somebody's eye, I will sell it and buy another to work on. I am addicted to working on guns more than anything else, and I only work on one at a time...so, I think I am safe for now!!!

 

[Scrapper]

You might find yourself working on your own wildcat someday.

 

[valkyriekl]

blastfact and valkyriekl: There was a time in my life that firearms "were" an "addiction"...

I'm about to the point where the guns I need to give myself a good reason for owning a certain gun (and lately that reason has been Bullseye pistol), and truth be told, half of my 22 firearms could go and I would probably miss them only a little bit. Most of my money now is going towards feeding them--what good are a hundred guns when I don't have anything to shoot them with =) The 586 and 1911s and 39 can wait--I wouldn't shoot them all that often anyways (well, maybe a 1911 or two, decked-out for Bullseye and EIC matches). Reloading has diverted a lot of the energy I used to spend lusting after guns I'd have no use for...but a Colt Python is just so pretty =)

 

[bronco45]

I live in northern Idaho and I use the foul weather months to reload. I get tired of the guys who wait for good weather to reload.

My two favorite cartridges to reload for is 38 Spl and 44 Spl.

 

[webley green]

Started reloading in High School, with a Lee Loader. Didn't shoot enough centerfire ammo to bother reloading. But shotgunning was something else, eventually with a Mec Reloader and shooting trap on the company team. Again hunting ammo was generally store bought but I did get a single stage RCBS Jr press. Started reloading pistol ammo just the .38/.357 then 45Colt and now 45acp. One at a time, and it's not a chore at all. I do enjoy loading my own ammo. WG

 

[running iron]

I started loading in the 70's and agree with Smith Crazy in that the best part for me is experimenting with different bullets and powders to find the load or loads that shoot best in each weapon I own. There is no way a person could buy ammo off the self that would out-preform handloads if you spend the time to experiment. We have so many choices when if comes to powder and bullets, it is an ongoing journey and I love every minute of it.