[burningsquirrels]

now i'm hooked on making my own ammo from now on! haha! :what: :neener: :fire: :evil: :evil: :evil:

i just attempted my first 10 rounds. i had three problems, so i ended up with 7 completed rounds. the first one is now on the shelf. the other six i took to the range in a hurry to shoot. my hands were shaking so bad, i couldn't hold the gun steady. i was waiting to get my fingers blown off, lol. i shot ten of my regular ammo and put five into a 2 inch bullseye at 25 feet. then my hands started shaking even more. i hung a new target, then loaded the magazine with the six reloads. i think i must've closed my eyes, rofl. accuracy, eh, it was me. i made a pretty circle around the bullseye, lol. the recoil wasn't bad at all, and the muzzle flash was awesome - didn't have that before :) it felt like i was shooting a snappy 9mm, so i think i have some more room to go before meeting the uspsa major power factor. i'm just waiting for my chrono to arrive before i step it up 3% or so to the next powder increment and continue to find what works.

anyways, here's my recipe for my 4.4" barreled CZ-40b:

40sw 135 grn ranier leadsafe bullets TCJ
5.4 grn titegroup powder
cci 550 magnum small pistol primer
1.135 col

max load is 6.4 at 1251 fps... i need 1225 to make major.

[scrat]

Congrats and ya your hooked. Welcome to the club

[FieroCDSP]

The 40 is a perfect round to make major, as there are numerous loads you can make and have plenty of room to work. You'll want to get an accurate chrono reading off those before you use them in a real comp, but I know the 135's can hum along nicely. Like shootin a 9mm...only bigger.

[Bboomer]

LMAO......

....another one's caught the disease. I wonder what the next new caliber will be.:)

Load 'em up!

[burningsquirrels]

next up is 9mm minor for my fiance, after i develop and can verify my major load...

[RustyFN]

Thats great, there's no turning back now. I was like you when I shot my first loads. I was used to shooting in a 22 Bullseye league so I held the gun with one hand, aimed at the target then turned my head away and pulled the trigger. The first bullet missed the target of course but I got comfortable with my reloads fairly quick after that. I haven't bought factory ammo since I started reloading. Congrats and welcome to the addiction.
Rusty

[RustyFN]

Just wondering if you ended up with the Load Master and how you like it? It must have gone good because I didn't see any complaints.
Rusty

[jfrey]

Congrats on your reloading experience. I started loading back in February and I don't shoot factory ammo any more. Loading is a lot of fun and very rewarding when you shoot your own loads.

[burningsquirrels]

the load master worked great! i think i got all my equipment and setup for around $450 or so. that means the machine (215) and tumbler, rcbs enclosed media sifter, scale, the plank and clamps it's mounted to on my desk, misc. tools and crap, plastic storage bins, yatta yatta yatta. i have no complaints about it once i got it setup and working. well, i've only loaded 10 rounds so far, i still have some sorting to do, but i have zero complaints. the door on the bottom of the ram though, i'm having a hard time opening it, but then again it's brand new. i probably just need to man-handle it.

[lgbloader]

Good to hear, Squirrels.

Cheers, Mate.

[ArchAngelCD]

Good for you and welcome to the club...

Just a warning, you aren't going to save any money you know. You may think you are going to save but none of us ever save a penny. We do shoot a lot more than the guy who buys factory ammo since we can load about 4 rounds to every 1 round they buy. Seriously, you won't save any money but you will shoot A LOT more. :neener:

[burningsquirrels]

i know i'll be shooting more, and for less, hence "less money" LOL! :D

[Z-Michigan]

Congrats, enjoy! I did my first reloading two years ago but due to a move am only now able to get more actively into it.

One question though:
40sw 135 grn ranier leadsafe bullets TCJ
5.4 grn titegroup powder
cci 550 magnum small pistol primer
1.135 col

What is the rationale for using a magnum primer? Everything I've read is that you should only use magnum primers for certain hard to ignite powders. I don't think titegroup is one of them. Using the magnum primer here when not specified would likely increase pressure for any given powder charge, and your 5.4gr starting load may be running pressures much closer to or at max already.

[burningsquirrels]

beats me, that's what the recipe called for out of the book :shrug:

[472x1A/B]

What ArchAngle said; double and thriple! Been doing this for about 25 years now, saved tons of money just to send down range having tons of fun. Be careful and have fun. (ALWAYS refer to THE MANUAL then go from there)

[Dave R]

beats me, that's what the recipe called for out of the book :shrug:Outstanding reply! The book will keep your fingers and hands safe. Welcome to the club! Congrats on the first shots!