My Reloading Story....
Heya HTM!
I bought the rockchucker supreme master reloader kit in 2003/2004. I got it on sale from MidWay, i think, with a set of Lee carbide 45 long colt dies after a Ruger vaquero birthday gift.
I'm in the military and have been deployed over 2 1/2 years since then and have moved three times to different duty stations. Each time, I'd pack up that damn kit and move it. On this last move, we bought a house and have decided to settle down...so I decided to reload.
I started last year with 28 gauge shotgun shells - after buying a mec jr. I didn't have a real person on hand to mentor me and fel that I had less chance of blowing myself up with a shotgun shell after watching the rednecks on youtube reload their shells. A few people weighed stuff, a few people had a dedicated space, a few people just stuffed things into their hulls until it kind of fit.
I counted the fingers and thumbs on these people and they added up to ten, so I figured, hell...I can read and follow directions a lot less ghetto then them, so i'll go for it.
Wallah...my first batch of single stage 28 gauge rolled off the line. I'm not going to lie, my first trigger pull was holding that shotgun as far away from me with a gloved hand and welders mask on...but there was no violent boom, or disaster - just a pleasant boom and a coke can riddled with shot.
My family loved the reduced loads. My 13 year old actually enjoyed his 28 gauge BPS and my older son quickly started calling my 28 gauge wingmaster his. Both of them and my wife sat down when I got the reloader out and helped - it was a family affair.
My mec jr is mounted on a planed 1 1/2 x 11 x 17 inch piece of wood with felt on the bottom. I moved it from the kitchen table to the garage as needed to reload. Then I decided i liked reloading (see above) so i made a small bench from an old desk we had. Basically 3/4 inch plywood on a light steel frame. It's in the garage now.
After feeling all confident with my 28 gauge success, I decided to reload the 45 long colt. I felt a little more intimidated by the metallic cartridges...they just seemed more dangerous. Still, I set up my press on my new bench read everything i could and then made a bunch of stupid posts on this forum (after reading nearly everything i could find online from like here, chuck hawks, shotgunworld.com, leverguns.com etc...and the manufacturers sites).
After I botched two rounds by seating them too deep ( I had to trial and error the last die adjustments) my reloads looked like the factory loads. Other casualties thus far include one destroyed case by not lining up the flaring die, and have mashed my finger a few times in the press as i follow the brass up a little too far.
So, with my first 100 reloaded 45 long colt, in a vaquero and brand new model 25...i grabbed the welding mask, gloves...and it was dejavu. The rounds kicked mild and everyone enjoyed shooting them. Three rounds didn't fire...I'm still awaiting my rcbs bullet puller to see what the heck is the deal. They were struck hard. I don't know if it's a primer thing or something else.
Anyways, I have 100 more reloads ready to go and more stuff on order so I can dabble in 45 schofield too.
What does reloading do for you?
1) You don't have to run to Walmart and look for ammunition anymore - who cares if they even stock it?
2) You will look at reloading supplies in every gun store, cabels, bass pro though and start to buy in bulk
3) Instead of looking at the pistol or rifle or hunting forums first...you'll look at the reloading forums first.
4) You'll send e-mails to experienced reloaders/mentors and make post in the reloaders forums and get some well written feedback.
5) You'll read the reloading sections of gunrags that you've always skimmed over and thought wth is that even taking up paperspace.
6) You'll learn alot about different ballistic coeffients, diameters, powders, primers and gun strengths.
7) You'll shoot alot more...you won't really save money...because you'll shoot more.
8) You'll actually enjoy reloading (well maybe not
) But I do...it's like tying your own fly and then catching a fish on it.
9) Your family may enjoy it too. It's like a neat project and is better than tv (or the internet).
10) You'll meet a lot of friends who will be like "Wow! I always wanted to do that...but blah blah blah."
11) Your mechanically inclined father in law will be jealous because you actually did it first
12) Your awesome mother in law will wonder what are all the 100's of wad things that she's raking up on the shooting part of the property
13) Your wife and kids will want to shoot your N frames and Vaquero and will actually hit targets on single and double action as appropriate due to your lower, but still man stopping loads.
14) You'll look at your collection of guns and decide which ones you want to really shoot alot and start learning about relaoding for them.
15) You'll get a Lee and RCBS tattoo on your...oh well maybe not...but you get the idea.
Oh well...long reply while some weird Desperate Housewives is on TV.
Then again...your mileage may vary
L.W.