The Gateway Cartridge
- Thread starter Ivan the Butcher
- Start date
300 weatherby
You want to shoot expensive stuff you reload.
Many others I shoot fit that category
32-20 25-20 45-70 257:weatherby and on and on.
The cheap ones are just a bonus.
You want to shoot expensive stuff you reload.
Many others I shoot fit that category
32-20 25-20 45-70 257:weatherby and on and on.
The cheap ones are just a bonus.
RMFnLA
Member
.30 carbine for me in 1974.
I was in college so money was tight, enough so that I started with a Lee Loader, which I quickly grew to really dislike.
A friend had a single-stage press, probably an RCBS, and that to me was luxury.
I was in college so money was tight, enough so that I started with a Lee Loader, which I quickly grew to really dislike.
A friend had a single-stage press, probably an RCBS, and that to me was luxury.
Reloading
I bought an RCBS reloading kit in 30-06 in the early 1970s but it sat in my shop for almost 2 years before getting set up. I have found out you don't need a lot of room to reload for many calibers. I reload for all revolvers calibers in including some of the auto calibers(used in revolvers) along with about 10 rifle calibers.
Notice the red patch in the middle of my bench. That is a piece of 3/8" steel inletted into the top of the bench. It is tapped with the hold down bolt pattern of a few presses. I only use one press at a time and it requires about 5 mins to blot down the correct press. I have a Dillon 550(pictured), a CH 3 station(pictured), 2 Herters single stations, and 2 Herters turret presses. One of the turret presses is set up with 30-06, 243, 270 dies, and all use the same shell holder and nothing gets moved.
It works for me, jcelect
I bought an RCBS reloading kit in 30-06 in the early 1970s but it sat in my shop for almost 2 years before getting set up. I have found out you don't need a lot of room to reload for many calibers. I reload for all revolvers calibers in including some of the auto calibers(used in revolvers) along with about 10 rifle calibers.
Notice the red patch in the middle of my bench. That is a piece of 3/8" steel inletted into the top of the bench. It is tapped with the hold down bolt pattern of a few presses. I only use one press at a time and it requires about 5 mins to blot down the correct press. I have a Dillon 550(pictured), a CH 3 station(pictured), 2 Herters single stations, and 2 Herters turret presses. One of the turret presses is set up with 30-06, 243, 270 dies, and all use the same shell holder and nothing gets moved.
It works for me, jcelect
1965, Lyman Spartan single stage, .38/.357 and 30/30. Still have the press but have added 8 more calibers. Larry
Back in the 60's lee wolff and Jack O' finally taled me into making my own
flys and ammo.
I natuarally bought a Winchester M70 in 270 and started rolling my own.
That rifle went 18 for 18 deer with one shot kills in Calif and Nevada hunts.
The Mec Jr was ok but the "Turn table" was a God send !!
Still, fun times, 60 years later.
flys and ammo.
I natuarally bought a Winchester M70 in 270 and started rolling my own.
That rifle went 18 for 18 deer with one shot kills in Calif and Nevada hunts.
The Mec Jr was ok but the "Turn table" was a God send !!
Still, fun times, 60 years later.
Easy - a Ted Williams 30'06 was my first good rifle, and a Lee Loader started me down the handloading path.
38 Special, 158 gr lead RN loaded over 3.0 grains of Bullseye measured with a Lee dipper and loaded with a Loadall. It was a year or so before I got a RCBS Junior and a set of RCBS dies.
Next, it was a set of RCBS .45acp dies. I used the press for many years before I got a Dillon 550. The first 2 calibers I loaded for are still the main ones. However, I load the expensive ones now such as the 41 and 44 magnum and the 45 Colt. I also load the 9mm when the mood hits me.
Next, it was a set of RCBS .45acp dies. I used the press for many years before I got a Dillon 550. The first 2 calibers I loaded for are still the main ones. However, I load the expensive ones now such as the 41 and 44 magnum and the 45 Colt. I also load the 9mm when the mood hits me.
DWalt
Member
I can't state an exact date or order, but I started reloading with Lee Loaders in .30-'06, 12 gauge, and .44 Magnum around 1964. I think the price of a Lee Loader then was around $10. But I had done some reloading with a friend using his tools and equipment a few years earlier than that. I remember he had a Lyman Tru-line Junior press. I started buying my own press, dies, etc. in the late 1960s.
I haven't counted, but I now have at least 20 die sets, three presses, and MEC shotshell loaders in 12 and 20 gauges.
I haven't counted, but I now have at least 20 die sets, three presses, and MEC shotshell loaders in 12 and 20 gauges.
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The Norseman
Member
Started off with LEE Loader and the 45 Colt cartridge many years ago. First rifle I loaded for was a 30-30 and also using a LEE Loader. Later upgraded to my first press (an RCBS) and the hobby just kept growing. Still have and use a few of the old LEE Loaders occasionally. Have a lot of die sets, including ones from guns I've sold (may get another, you never know). Have a few guns they don't even make ammo for anymore but I can shoot them because of my hobby. So grateful to a friend who got me started with that first LEE kit many years ago!
rockquarry
Member
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I began loading in late 1964 or early '65 with an R.F. Wells single stage press. First cartridge was the .30-06. I don't know how many presses I've had, including four progressives, but I'm down to four machines now including a Co-Ax, a Big Max, an Ultra Mag, and a 1960s Texan turret for handgun cartridges. My newest press is about forty years old. Same for my four Redding measures. I have nothing electronic on my bench.
I don't know how many cartridges I've loaded for in the last fifty+ years; many were wildcats. As I look back, working with wildcat and Improved cartridges was the very best handloading education I could have possibly had. Such cartridges in themselves realistically offer nothing over factory cartridges, but they're incredibly fun and educational to work with.
Forty or fifty load manuals, many other books, lots of load development, and countless hours of chronographing and group shooting have provided me a first-rate handloading education, but I continue to learn all the time. I don't get advice from YouTube on anything handloading or gun-related and much valuable information is not on the Internet, though some is.
I'm down to about twenty or so cartridges that I load for and about six or so of those are handgun chamberings. That's a manageable number these days.
I don't know how many cartridges I've loaded for in the last fifty+ years; many were wildcats. As I look back, working with wildcat and Improved cartridges was the very best handloading education I could have possibly had. Such cartridges in themselves realistically offer nothing over factory cartridges, but they're incredibly fun and educational to work with.
Forty or fifty load manuals, many other books, lots of load development, and countless hours of chronographing and group shooting have provided me a first-rate handloading education, but I continue to learn all the time. I don't get advice from YouTube on anything handloading or gun-related and much valuable information is not on the Internet, though some is.
I'm down to about twenty or so cartridges that I load for and about six or so of those are handgun chamberings. That's a manageable number these days.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
My first was 7.62x51 after I bought my M1A. It's hard to know what .308 factory loads are best for the M1A's action, so I decided to go full boat and make my own according to the prevailing wisdom of M1A shooters. I could have continued to buy milspec factory ammo that was available, but the range where I shot did not allow steel core bullets, which the 147 grain FMJ Winchester loads are, and I wanted something with better BC for longer ranges.
After that, it was .38Spl and .357 Magnum because that was what I had at the time. Then I added .45Auto, then .40S&W and 10mm, etc, etc. Any time I bought a gun of a caliber I didn't already own I'd head to the LGS where I got my reloading stuff and pick up a set of dies and a shell holder and a box of bullets. Brass I could get from range pickups or once-fired stuff off the net until I got far enough into it to buy quantities of new brass. The "niche" stuff like .41M and .45 Colt and the 6.5 Grendel I also shoot are not issues when I need ammo. Where factory stuff can be harder to find, the individual parts are readily available and I just crank out what I need. My rifle powders are fairly specific to the calibers I shoot, but much of my pistol powders will work for most everything I have, and I lucked in to a few large lots of primers before they became unicorns.
After that, it was .38Spl and .357 Magnum because that was what I had at the time. Then I added .45Auto, then .40S&W and 10mm, etc, etc. Any time I bought a gun of a caliber I didn't already own I'd head to the LGS where I got my reloading stuff and pick up a set of dies and a shell holder and a box of bullets. Brass I could get from range pickups or once-fired stuff off the net until I got far enough into it to buy quantities of new brass. The "niche" stuff like .41M and .45 Colt and the 6.5 Grendel I also shoot are not issues when I need ammo. Where factory stuff can be harder to find, the individual parts are readily available and I just crank out what I need. My rifle powders are fairly specific to the calibers I shoot, but much of my pistol powders will work for most everything I have, and I lucked in to a few large lots of primers before they became unicorns.
1957 22 Hornet ...but I consider the 30-06 the basic metallic round. I made everything from it. I got a press early on... RCBS A press. Still have 2 A2 presses. I made everything possible with 06 brass 22-250 243 250 savagw 25-06...sp many others. In fact I just loaded some 250 Savage with cases I made at least 50 years ago from Win 30-06 commercial brass. I recently bought a Savage 99 in the caliber. Have loaded 8,10,12,16,20,28 410 shotshell loads by the million. Handgun?? started with 44 special for an old Flattop Ruger. Had special brass and I wanted shoot the boomer. Started casting bullets in 1963 using an old plumbers lead pot
The first cartridge I ever loaded was .45 ACP on my buddy’s kitchen table with one of those Lee kits where you don’t need a press. It was an excellent way to learn the purpose of every step and talk about hands on!
The first cartridge I loaded on my equipment was .270 Winchester for my Dad’s sporterized Mauser ‘98.
The first cartridge I loaded on my equipment was .270 Winchester for my Dad’s sporterized Mauser ‘98.
When I first started reloading, I didn't have many guns. I was going to college full time, with a wife and child, after having served in the Army. It was about 1971. I bought a Lee Loader in .38 SPL. Later, a buddy, who had an FFL (working out of his garage) ordered a Lyman Spartan kit. I then started reloading .45 ACP. Long after graduation, having a steady job, as well as, having the bug to shoot bullseye pistol matches, I bought a Dillon RL 450. I upgraded it to a 550 when my wife ordered the upgrade from Dillon for a Christmas present! I still have the 550, although it has been reconditioned by Dillon and has few of the original parts. I started reloading 12 ga. target shells in the 90's when I started shooting some shotgun courses. I bought his MEC 600 Jr. and still use it. Several years ago I got a great deal on a used Dillon 650 and still load on it. Along the way, I sold the Lyman Spartan kit for a song to someone just starting out and replaced it with an RCBS Jr. I can load 12 ga., 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, .38 SPL/ .357 mag., .44 Rem mag, .30-06 and .223. I mostly load 9mm and .45 ACP because that's what I shoot on my weekly trips to the indoor range.
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RMFnLA
Member
I’m in a condo with no private garage so my current set-up can be folded up and stored…I bought an RCBS reloading kit in 30-06 in the early 1970s but it sat in my shop for almost 2 years before getting set up. I have found out you don't need a lot of room to reload for many calibers. I reload for all revolvers calibers in including some of the auto calibers(used in revolvers) along with about 10 rifle calibers.
Notice the red patch in the middle of my bench. That is a piece of 3/8" steel inletted into the top of the bench. It is tapped with the hold down bolt pattern of a few presses. I only use one press at a time and it requires about 5 mins to blot down the correct press. I have a Dillon 550(pictured), a CH 3 station(pictured), 2 Herters single stations, and 2 Herters turret presses. One of the turret presses is set up with 30-06, 243, 270 dies, and all use the same shell holder and nothing gets moved.
It works for me, jcelect
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Miracle Man
US Veteran
22-250 about 1980
Just wasn't happy with factory ammo accuracy out of my gun back then.
Just wasn't happy with factory ammo accuracy out of my gun back then.
