The Gateway Cartridge

.38 special and .357 magnum (at .38 special velocities) on an RCBS Rockchucker. This was about 1979 Still own the Rockchucker and several .38/.357's I also load for about 10-12 other calibers.
 
Easy, .32 Win. Spec. model 94 bought new in 1940 by my grandfather, a big deal in those days in PA. Then to my father, then mine, then each younger brother and a few years ago back to me. I still have the Lyman Jr. dies and press.
 
I think the smallest handgun I load is either 32 Auto or 32 S&W, (unless you think 221 Fireball counts) The largest is 50AE. For Rifle it is 22 Hornet and the longest is 450 3 1/4" Nitro Express (480 grain bullet, 71 grains of IMR 3031), the largest diameter is 50-50 AKA 50 Carbine, in a Rolling Block Carbine (425 grain bullet, 50 or 55 grains of FFg Black Powder). The 338 Lapua Mag takes the most smokeless powder, 104.0 grains of US 869 and a 300 grain SMK) My largest volume Black Powder cartridge is 43 Reformado (.454, 400 grain bullet and 75 grains of FFg in a Rolling Block. lots of fill!)

One of the most exciting is my Martini in 303 British. It has Metford rifling which was for Black Powder with Jacketed bullets. I can't get or afford 220 grain RN Jacketed bullets in .313 so I use Cast 220 RN and 40 grains of FFFg black with a drop tube. They match the sights!

Ivan
 
.38 Special of course.

61notlvrVbL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
 
.44 magnum and special for a Marlin 1894 in the mid-80s. Dabbled in other calibers over the years, now all shotgun .410 up to 12, have to reload to enjoy the .410 and 16/28 gauges economically. With the .410 it's about 800 shells with a bag of shot, just miss the clays a little more often.
 
Last edited:
Ivan the Butcher said:
I'll go first. 303 British!
Click to expand...

Around 1985 my buddy Steve bought a Model 1917 bolt action Enfield rifle from WWI in 303 British caliber. With the rifle he got a wooden crate filled with 1000 rounds of WWI vintage 303 British ammo. I think the whole deal, rifle ammo and all was around $99. Seemed like a great deal.

Then we went to the range. The ammo was not good. Some rounds would go bang. Others would not. Some would hangfire......scary. Steve ended up putting the whole wooden crate of ammo in the trash can at the range.

That's when he found out how expensive 303 British commercially loaded ammo was. It cost him maybe $35 for a box of 20 - in 1985!

Surely the answer would be to reload for it.
 
270 WCF. My dad was a hunter and thought that the 270 was the do it all cartridge. He reloaded for hunting. From there I kinda lost my mind. 38/357/7mag/300 WM/460/45 LC ACP/44spcl/223/556/6ARC.........

On top of that, I can cast my own bullets for 44/45/308/ 38/357........

Is there a Reloader's Anonymous out there?
 
Last edited:
Model19man said:
Some rounds would go bang. Others would not. Some would hangfire......scary. Steve ended up putting the whole wooden crate of ammo in the trash can at the range.

That's when he found out how expensive 303 British commercially loaded ammo was. It cost him maybe $35 for a box of 20 - in 1985!

Surely the answer would be to reload for it.
Click to expand...

I had a large pile of WWI 303 Brit. ammo with similar results, I pulled the bullets for reloading (same with 8mm Mauser) and saved that expense on reloads. I didn't try to reload the powder, but the Cordite is like 1 7/8 inch pieces of raw spaghetti! It will burn like a fuse if laid end to end!! A very fast fuse.

Ivan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
38 Special & Vihtavuori Powder
Replies
10
Views
991
BrBa
B
R
Reload Problem For Model 52-2
Replies
15
Views
804
Rick H.
R
biku324
Does Anyone Have Old Reloder 12 Data for 7.62x39?
Replies
0
Views
262
biku324
biku324
O
Lee Loaders, need help.
2 3
Replies
47
Views
2K
rwsmith
rwsmith
Kiwi cop
Chronographing two .38’s
Replies
7
Views
157
Nevada Ed
Nevada Ed

Latest posts

Back
Top