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I started reloading 45acp brass about 45 years ago and the sole reason for that was my indoor pistol range did not allow the use of jacketed bullets. They were afraid of ricochets apparently. Seemed kind of silly to me because there was a HUGE mound of sand behind the targets and as far as I know bullets do not ricochet off of that, but whatever...... 
Anyway, that is what got me into reloading and I have been doing so for 45 years now. I reload most of the calibers I shoot except for the ones like 25acp, 32acp, 380acp and 38 super which I rarely shoot.
OK - so now to my pet peeve with 45acp! As most everyone here knows, a while ago ammunition manufacturers started using small pistol primers in their promotional ammo lines - I guess it saves them a few cents. Anyway, up until very recently I just ignored the small primer brass and left it on the range floor for someone else to retrieve. I did not want to mix up the brass and have an explosion because I was using a large primer in a small case.
Some here may know just how much I shoot my 1911's and my Colt Gold Cup NM (circa 1974) has somewheres around 150,000 rounds through it, just to demonstrate how much I shoot. My 45acp brass has been reloaded so many times and most cases are the same age as I originally shot only factory ammo - bought it by the case. I now find that all my 45acp brass is in desperate need of being replaced - pretty much all at once. That said, it's almost impossible for me to find a new supply of large primer, once fired 45acp cases at the range's I belong to as most shooters purchase small primed cartridges because they are usually less expensive. If they are not reloader's, they might now even know!
So I have caved! I have now decided to collect any 45acp cases I can including mostly the small primer cases. SPP cases are very easy to find and plentiful at almost any range. Last Friday, one of the shooter's on the range saw me scrounging for my own brass and about an hour later he handed me 200, once fired Federal cases that he had just shot. He was nice enough to box them all up and I was extremely appreciative - he told me he is not a reloader. My goal is to collect 6,000 - 10,000 once fired cases over the next year to replenish my worn out supply of 45acp. I own a few presses including a Dillon 650 and despite the number of rounds I reload a year, I will not say I actually "enjoy" it! Because it is just a "task" to me, I like to "binge load" and will load up 10,000 cartridges over 3 days and be done with a specific caliber. I cover the press and only uncover it when the next caliber needs reloading - then binge once again.
Of course now I need to spend hours separating SPP / LPP brass but at the same time I get to inspect the cartridges for cracks and issues. Thankfully, I probably have a lifetime supply of powder & primers - both small and large that I purchased before prices got insane. At today's component prices it almost makes no real sense (except for enjoyment or customization if you enjoy that) to reload. Because I do have the components, I will continue to roll my own and hope I live long enough to shoot every round!
Anyway, that is what got me into reloading and I have been doing so for 45 years now. I reload most of the calibers I shoot except for the ones like 25acp, 32acp, 380acp and 38 super which I rarely shoot. OK - so now to my pet peeve with 45acp! As most everyone here knows, a while ago ammunition manufacturers started using small pistol primers in their promotional ammo lines - I guess it saves them a few cents. Anyway, up until very recently I just ignored the small primer brass and left it on the range floor for someone else to retrieve. I did not want to mix up the brass and have an explosion because I was using a large primer in a small case.
Some here may know just how much I shoot my 1911's and my Colt Gold Cup NM (circa 1974) has somewheres around 150,000 rounds through it, just to demonstrate how much I shoot. My 45acp brass has been reloaded so many times and most cases are the same age as I originally shot only factory ammo - bought it by the case. I now find that all my 45acp brass is in desperate need of being replaced - pretty much all at once. That said, it's almost impossible for me to find a new supply of large primer, once fired 45acp cases at the range's I belong to as most shooters purchase small primed cartridges because they are usually less expensive. If they are not reloader's, they might now even know!
So I have caved! I have now decided to collect any 45acp cases I can including mostly the small primer cases. SPP cases are very easy to find and plentiful at almost any range. Last Friday, one of the shooter's on the range saw me scrounging for my own brass and about an hour later he handed me 200, once fired Federal cases that he had just shot. He was nice enough to box them all up and I was extremely appreciative - he told me he is not a reloader. My goal is to collect 6,000 - 10,000 once fired cases over the next year to replenish my worn out supply of 45acp. I own a few presses including a Dillon 650 and despite the number of rounds I reload a year, I will not say I actually "enjoy" it! Because it is just a "task" to me, I like to "binge load" and will load up 10,000 cartridges over 3 days and be done with a specific caliber. I cover the press and only uncover it when the next caliber needs reloading - then binge once again.
Of course now I need to spend hours separating SPP / LPP brass but at the same time I get to inspect the cartridges for cracks and issues. Thankfully, I probably have a lifetime supply of powder & primers - both small and large that I purchased before prices got insane. At today's component prices it almost makes no real sense (except for enjoyment or customization if you enjoy that) to reload. Because I do have the components, I will continue to roll my own and hope I live long enough to shoot every round!
I still hate small primer pockets in .45 ACP. I see large pistol primers for sale for as little as 4 cents ea.
