Which to buy first

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bsparker

bsparker

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I'm new to reloading, bought the press and tools about a month before pandemic hit. This meant, I never got components as things when off the shelves quick. I hope to start with reloading for .357 mag. (I have dies and cleaned brass for .357mag, .38sp, .45lc, 30-06, .303brit).

Since finding components has been hit or miss and I haven't done this before, I haven't tested or settled on a recipe. What would you suggest I start buying first? Primers, Powder, Projectiles?

If you had to build a recipe given today's hit or miss components where would you start? I don't want to waste a lot of money, so I'm trying to find the safest way to test out recipes without blowing the bank or getting a lot of stuff I won't eventually use.

(Thanks for you patience with my naivete and cheapness. And yes, I've read the ABCs of Reloading and have reload data manual.)
 
Well I would definitely pick up some primers if you can get your hands on them. Then look in your manuals or powder websites for some data and try to find powders and bullets listed in the data. Are you asking which powders work best? I would grab what I can right now! There's plenty of stories of people trying out powders during a shortage they normally wouldn't but and it becoming a new favorite.
 
I would start with the projectiles. It opens up more possibilities. Biggest one being knowing which powder you will need. Bullet weight is often the driving factor for the optimal powder. Gonna always need primers. Good times or bad you need to always be on the prowl for primers. All that said, get what you can find. Best wishes
 
Do you have a reloading manual that lists multiple cartridges? When you do begin your powder search look at the data for each cartridge. You may find powders that overlap.

Good luck!!
 
I would hunt for all three and then buy what you can when you find it. But right now I would start doing research and decide on the projectiles you want to load and the powders that will work for those projectiles. You should be able to create of list of powders that will work for the caliber you are trying to load for. If you have eight different powders that will work you have a better chance of finding one of them as apposed to picking one powder you want to load with and only looking for that one. Buy primers if you find them at a reasonable price. And again spend this time doing research and learning as much as you can about reloading. If you have friends that reload ask if you can reload some with them. Have fun.
 
PRIMERS will be first on the list and the hardest to find, you can find powder a little easier now, for the bullets it depends what you want to do just plinking rounds I suggest coated lead bullets from somebody like eggleston munitions or bayou bullets, for fmj I recommend roze distribution (zero brand) bullets will probably be back ordered and could take a few months. I always reommend the current lyman reloading manual (on the 50th now) to anybody starting out. If you find primers and get powder, and bullets are still back ordered you can always try to find a smaller quantity online somewhere to get started with. Buying components in bulk when you are sure of what you want is the way to go. I would say you will save money but in reality you will not you will just shoot more.

Good luck
 
I cast my own bullets for almost all my handguns so bullets aren't a worry for me. But if you already have at least one good "How To" text like The ABCs and at least one good manual, look for any components that you may use. I've seen jacketed and plated bullets starting to show up (limited manufacturers) from some on line vendors, I've seen just one vendor selling primers but they are an off brand and in 5,000 case lots. Powder is hit and miss but some available. I have purchased "once fired" brass for all my handloads with no problems of quality or availability.

Be vigilant, try to purchase components that are listed in your manual for your proposed handloads. Keep looking...
 
bsparker said:
(Thanks for you patience with my naivete and cheapness. And yes, I've read the ABCs of Reloading and have reload data manual.)
Click to expand...

mdi said:
Be vigilant, try to purchase components that are listed in your manual for your proposed handloads. Keep looking...
Click to expand...


@mdi said it best, also, don't feel that you have to buy the 1st components you see, a little digging and you will find stuff at "reasonable" prices for the times...:thumbup:
 
Make a list and carry it with you. Then there will be no dought on what works with what. We see it all the time here on THR, someone found some powder. Then discover there is no listing for the components they have.

For your revolvers I would go with lead, coated or not in the common weights. Though jacketed is probably easier to load, but like to save those for full power. Then pick a powder that puts you in the middle of the load range and bulky, so it's easy to see. For starting out I prefer to push users toward easy to meter powders, aka ball or small flake. Some powders will drive you nuts if you try to get it right on the number. As you get more experience you can start sampling different powders.
 
You could buy anything you can get your hands on like Black powder, 209 shotshell primers etc or pick a load you would like to try and locate those specific items.

Everything is stupid expensive right now, no reason to waste money on stuff you don’t need, do that next time things are plentiful.

Buy low, sell high, not the other way around.
 
Just picked up from a local guy a lb of 4064, 50 bullets of Nosler BT .308 150gr, and a neck sizing die for 30/06 all for $40. He threw in 30 cleaned 30/06 brass.

Not what I planned to start with but it'll get the ball rolling. Looking at the data 4064 will cover a number of rifle calibers that I have.

I think I'll go with what some of you guys have already recommended going forward. I'll make a list and find the commonalities. Pretty high on my list are the .357 and .45lc. I'll pick my most likely load and aim for the specific components I'll need. Fingers crossed on primers...
 
snowman357 said:
PRIMERS will be first on the list and the hardest to find, you can find powder a little easier now, for the bullets it depends what you want to do just plinking rounds I suggest coated lead bullets from somebody like eggleston munitions or bayou bullets, for fmj I recommend roze distribution (zero brand) bullets will probably be back ordered and could take a few months. I always reommend the current lyman reloading manual (on the 50th now) to anybody starting out. If you find primers and get powder, and bullets are still back ordered you can always try to find a smaller quantity online somewhere to get started with. Buying components in bulk when you are sure of what you want is the way to go. I would say you will save money but in reality you will not you will just shoot more.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Appreciate the help. Looks like I'll be hunting for three different types of primers to get started. Lowest I've seen them for 1k in my area is $125...all the way up to $200. Not in stores. At those prices, I'm fine with smaller quantities. I'm certainly not shooting for competition so even pre-pandemic I wasn't blowing through hundreds of rounds a month. I'll take a look at some of the bullets you listed.

I am hoping to increase the amount of shooting, especially in the .357 and .45, both of which are just fun to shoot but also something I hunt with.
 
bsparker said:
Not what I planned to start with but it'll get the ball rolling.

I'll make a list and find the commonalities.
Click to expand...

Save yourself aggravation and money. Figure out how to spend a couple months using the components you just picked up for 30-06. Buy a chronograph, figure out how seating depth can help, figure out how to improve loaded bullet concentricity, figure out what a ladder test is and perform one, etc.

The aggravation and savings will come to bear in September when you can get powder, primers and bullets for the 357 and 45 Colt.
 
Get the lyman casting manual and start buying lead. You can make any bullet your heart desires. Smart money is buying custom molds because they are the same price as the lee molds on the current market. I would get the 38/357 in a 158 and you will be set for life. Even tightgroup will power a 38 158 and that is easy to find.
 
Ru4real said:
Save yourself aggravation and money. Figure out how to spend a couple months using the components you just picked up for 30-06. Buy a chronograph, figure out how seating depth can help, figure out how to improve loaded bullet concentricity, figure out what a ladder test is and perform one, etc.

The aggravation and savings will come to bear in September when you can get powder, primers and bullets for the 357 and 45 Colt.
Click to expand...

That's sounds like wise advice. Thanks.
 
I've rarely found someone else's pet load perform well in my firearms. But that's the quest many of us are on, to find what works well for us in our firearms. Rarely is that accomplished quickly or inexpensively. It's only happened to me in one of my rifles, that one is a real shooter. YMMV

bsparker said:
If you had to build a recipe given today's hit or miss components where would you start? I don't want to waste a lot of money, so I'm trying to find the safest way to test out recipes without blowing the bank or getting a lot of stuff I won't eventually use.
Click to expand...
 
start with pistol ammo, it's easier no lube required if u buy carbide die sets, and just all around a good way to start. Cast boolits are still very easy to acquire, my goto is Brazos,I like that they sell sample packs.

with rifle you MUST lube the cases with a thin layer,or you WILL be learning how to get a very stuck case out of the sizing die.
If u see some Unique,grab it, there are even rifle loads with cast bullets using it.
 
For .357 magnum, if you find primers...either small pistol or small pistol magnum...the other components to make useful loads have been relatively available. Cast bullets and some jacketed offerings have been showing up with fair regularity. You should be able to find a medium to fast pistol powder in the HS-6 to Red dot range. This will get you the necessary basics to load a reduced power light to mid range target load which will be good for casual practice and getting some experience in reloading. Putting together a performance load in .357 will be difficult in these times. H110 or Aliant 2400 are the go-to powders here, and there really aren't any suitable substitutions.

If you find a .30 caliber or .311 bullet that you like, snap it up.

If you find one of the good, versatile mid-range rifle powders such as IMR 4064, IMR or H4895, VN140, W748, snap it up. You'll find all of these to be versatile for the 30-06 (lighter bullet range) and .303 brit across bullet weights.
 
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