Very satisfying new hobby

I've been reloading now for a couple of months. Reloading 223, 308, 45acp, 40s&w, and 38 special.

Finally got enough components in to be able to experiment with different powders.

I'm a computer programmer with 42 years experience and never thought I would find something that gave me the gratification and enjoyment that programming does.

Like programming, there is no one solution to a problem and the wait time to see results is short. I'm 61 and have been shooting since I was 6 but just got into reloading. This is an expensive hobby currently as I have had to pay premiums to get powder and primers. I think I have $2000+ invested in everything including components so far. Now I have several pistol and powders for my rifle and pistols. I've discovered the accuracy difference in fire formed cases for my rifles.

I weigh every load because neither of my electronic measures are more accurate than +-3 gr. I check OAL on my loads periodically when I cannot visually check them (if they have a cannelure).

I work up loads from close to the minimum to mid-maximum and can actually see the difference in accuracy in the rifle loads. I'm not much of an expert in pistol shooting so I look for soot, ejection, etc. in that regard although I see that I am getting better now that I shoot a lot more pistol.

I drink and smoke, but not in my reloading sessions. I've read everything I can get my hands on and lurk on several different forums sometimes asking for advice. Eventually I hope to be able to provide advice for others.

Anyway, thanks to all here for helping a noobie to get started.

Sleazy,

Got the Hornady LNL kit

Mostly Lee dies with some RCBS and one Hornady. I like the Lee dies best.

Use the Hornady kit powder meter as a start and then trickle to the load.

Lee de-primer die.

Hornady trimmer with a drill adaptor (hate trimming but using a lot of mil brass)

RCBS caliper.

RCBS chamfer/deburring tool

RCBS primer pocket uniformer

RCBS primer pocket cleaner

Countersink bit for removing crimps

RCBS electronic weight measure along with the one included in the Hornady kit

Can't think of anything else, but probably more.

The two operations that take the most time are the powder measuring and the trimming. The trimming I suspect only is necessary on the once fired rifle brass and then seldom when only neck sizing. The LNL kit powder meter I have from Hornady is probably OK for rifle. With the small loads for pistol even with the pistol insert is still not accurate enough for me to feel comfortable with.

I've got so much invested now that I hesitate to spend another $200 or $300 in a more accurate powder dispenser. My wife keeps up with what I spend and assume she can buy an equal amount from ebay. So you see, it costs me double what I spend!

Bush Pilot,

My powder meter throws charges that can be +-3gr off. When throwing pistol charges, a difference of .3 gr seems quite a bit when I may only be wanting to throw 3.3 gr total of say 700x. My total range of powder when testing 45acp loads was from 5.0 to 6.5 gr at .5 gr increments with Unique. That's only 1.5 gr total range and .3 gr is 20% of it. If loading close to max, it could actually force me over the max load.

So, I hand weigh every load. Currently, my sessions are only for about 50 to 100 rounds so it's not too bad.

Arkansas Paul said:

balderclev, are you buying your powder and primers locally?

Don's Weaponry and Ft Thompsons both stock reloading tools and components. Gander Mountain does too, but they're the last place I check as they are the most expensive.

That Bass Pro is coming on up there at the 30/430 interchange. Hopefully they'll stock some too. I know some do and some don't. (At least the one in Branson, MO doesn't)

Welcome aboard. Nice to see another fellow Arkansan here.

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Paul, Found some primers at Mack's one day. They had just arrived and sold out in 30 minutes. Other than that, everything has been internet purchases. Haven't seen anything in the local suppliers since I started reloading.

I too am excited about the Bass Pro coming in. I live in Benton so it's going to be nice to have a real LSG store closer than NLR.

WinchesterAA said:

Hey, you're like a 35 year older version of me! Have you had the desire to make a comprehensive cross-platform stateful shooter's app yet?

What about the arduino powered ammunition factory?

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Aw Winchester, I let the youngsters do the coding nowadays. It's a young man's game you know. I just point them in the right direction and crack the whip now and then

mstreddy said:

OP - are you using the pistol or rifle rotor in your powder measure? The Hornady LNL powder measure has one for each and having the rifle rotor, with a greater volume capacity, makes it hard to fine tune pistol loads.
I know that they "used to" come with both, but there are some folks that have only gotten one of them in a kit. Did you get the 2 rotors? If only one, then check whether it's the rifle or pistol.

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Using the pistol rotor for pistol loads. LNL only came with rifle so had to buy the pistol rotor.

Mstreddy,

Yes to all except the dryer sheet.

Single-stage press