Problem

Brass for my common calibers is no problem. I have a few 5 gal buckets of brass I need to sort. I do need more brass for my newest addition, as I never find 460 mag brass laying on the ground.

The biggest problem I have is with bullets. They are the most expensive part. I cast for the 460, so that helps. I have a ton of 38/357 bullets, but I use more 9mm than anything. 9mm rules for competition.

I was tempted to cast bullets tonight just for fun, but I got busy with other stuff. I haven't tried casting 9mm bullets yet. I hear that it isn't a cake walk to get a good load with cast in 9mm and I use 600 rounds per month on average. That is a lot of lube sizing of hard to hold on to, bullets. I did get some brass cleaned and sorted. I have enough ammo on hand for right now. I don't like to load a lot ahead of time, other than the 9mm, as that load isn't going to change.

There is plenty of once fired brass around, either for free or on this forum or forums like it. But IMO it really depends on whether or not your problem is really not having enough brass or not shooting enough so you need to load more???

But like you said, it's a good problem to have. (go out and shoot some off just because)

gspn said:

I guess I could always just buy a bunch more brass and load it...hmmm.

Anyone else have this issue?

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I'm pretty well stocked up. But in the past 30 days I've bought 15,500 pieces of miscellaneous brass, not because I had an immediate need but because I could get it cheap. Brass prices have gone through the roof since summer.

Otto said:

I'm pretty well stocked up. But in the past 30 days I've bought 15,500 pieces of miscellaneous brass, not because I had an immediate need but because I could get it cheap. Brass prices have gone through the roof since summer.

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If you think brass prices were bad the past year wait and see what happens to brass, bullet and all component prices now that Obama won reelection!

I guess I could always just buy a bunch more brass and load it...hmmm.

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I had the opposite problem. Had a ton of 223 brass, and nothing to load 'em with. So I got a 6 cavity 225 mold.

Now I have tons of boolits to go with the tons of brass. Maybe I should buy a progressive press, and you should start casting, if you haven't already. That'll slow you down a little.

Definitely a '1st World' problem to have - lol

My Lee Classic turret output more than matches my realistic ammo needs, so I always have something waiting to reload whenever the reloading mood strikes.

Anyone else have this issue? Anyone else find it relaxing to escape to the reloading bench?

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Yes.

9mm bullets are my problem with staying busy reloading.
I have three go-to bullet-powder combos for SD, Match and Range use.. I'm short on SD bullets now, but months ahead on the other two. I expected another bullet delivery today, but they didn't get here.

I also over-process my range brass: sort by headstamp, de-crimp WCC range brass, and polish the heck out of them. I wash, sort, size and deprime on a single stage on the patio. I tumble & load in the garage on a LEE turret press.

I build new bullet loads and chrono and chrono and final chrono. Then I record the results, shoot all of them and return to my go-to bullet combos.

If I had a progressive press, my reloading budget would put US in debt to China like "O" did.

when i run short of brass, i take only the .22s to the desert with me. i can pick up a 5 gallon bucket of brass in under an hour in some spots. as much as i like free brass, it really is unfortunate that so many people trash our national forests and don't pick up after themselves...

You must be a newbie. Give it a while and you have a few piles of brass for guns you intend to own someday.

^^^That^^^ I have empties for guns I'll only have in my dreams....

I think I have a solution to your problem. I've tried this and it works.


1. Go to shooting range.
2. Empty brass.
3. Collect empty brass.
4. Go home.
5. Refill brass.
6. Go to step 1.