Easiest CALIBERs to RELOAD?

[Smokey Joe]

One thing...

(Warning: Rant mode) that's just plain nasty about .45 ACP that I've recently discovered, much to my disgust: Speer has taken to making some of the cases with SMALL pistol primers, while still having their cases with large pistol primers on the market. Everybody else, of course, since the Year 1, has been making .45 ACP cases with only LP's.

Of all the nasty things to do to a reloader!!!! you haven't lived until you've tried, and tried, and tried, to force a LP primer into a SP primer pocket,:banghead: then checked to see wotinell was the matter, and felt like you've been done dirt when the cause came to light.
WHAT IN THE BEEPEDY BEEP BEEP BEEP can they have been thinking??????? Ye gods and Little Fishes!!

The only other such example of which I am aware is Remington's 7.62x39 cases, which use Small Rifle primers. The entire rest of the world, of course, uses LR primers for this cartridge.* Idiots. (/Rant mode)

There. I feel better. And, I know whose brass I will recycle on sight, and NEVER pay money for.

*I know there are foreign military cases in 7.62x39 with SR's, but those are also crimped in, and probably corrosive anyhow. So I don't try to reload them. Good brass isn't THAT expensive, and having to futz around and be frustrated is to be avoided wherever possible. I get enough of that at work.

 

[Gryffydd]

I think the Winchester NT WinClean .45 stuff uses SP primers as well.

 

[Kernel]

Quote:
Strange, I read more Internet Dear Abbys about trouble with .45 ACP reloads than any other caliber, maybe all other calibers

Sure do, but I don't understand why.

Cuz .45 ACP is (mostly) shot in autoloaders. A lot of those "ammo" problems are really due to faults in the pistols and/or magazines. Not an issue with a wheel gun caliber.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Win Clean...

Gryffid--

I think the Winchester NT WinClean .45 stuff uses SP primers as well

Nope, thank goodness. The Win NT's do use a larger flash hole, but Win says that when reloading these cases you don't load them any different from the standard ones. (Sorry, can't remember where I got that bit of info.)

I haven't noticed a performance difference between reloaded Win NT's and reloaded standard Win cases--thank goodness!

Probably the lack of difference has to do with the .45 ACP being such a low-pressure, forgiving round, especially when loaded to target velocities. Anyhow, no difference by my observation. And, regular LP primers work just fine for reloading the Win NT cases.

 

[Jim Watson]

There are two different editions of lead-free primer .45 ACP ammunition.

First generation Winclean was loaded with large primers and had large flashholes to vent the hot Dinol burn into the case. Winchester said that was ok to reload as per usual. The Hodgdon rep on the SASS wire just recently flew into a hissy fit and said not to reload cases with larger than usual flashholes. Hmm, the manufacturer says it is ok, the distributor says not. Me, I just pitch them into the mixed brass box and go ahead.

Present NT is made for small primers so as to use less of the hot Dinol mix. Federal NT primers are hard crimped to boot. I don't know if their flashholes are bigger than usual, just haven't paid attention to the few I see.
Winchester says not to reload them. Those of us crazy enough to try see nothing but a 25-40 fps drop versus large primer brass but no doubt some catastrophe awaits.

 

[Noveldoc]

Smokey Joes and others,

Do you think it was really a sign when my bullet dude cast himself into eternity? I think there still is a huge amount of linotype metal in my late uncle's print shop. Perhaps if I listen carefully it is calling me.

But maybe will not be time. SP primers in 45 ACP? The AntiChrist has arrived.

Tom

 

[Rugg_Ed]

cleetus03 Welcome to reloading

Learn the basics from one of the loading manuals, and establish good safe routines. Most manuals will walk you through the process. Flip through some and find one you like the basics are pretty much a standard.

P.S. (I own the following centerfire calibers; 9mm, 30-30, .270, .38 special, .357 mag)

The 38 special, 357 mag then the 9mm seem to be easiest in your list, the others will fall into place as you learn.

The biggest advantage is the Quality and Satisfaction you gain.

Working up a load will improve the performance of each one and you will gain a bigger understanding. While picking the load you like for you, instead of the blue tag sale at a super store.

I use more than one manual to cross reference and the manufactures data available on line. But there was a time is was just the book an myself. That was several 1000 rnds of ammo ago and a lot more if ya count the 45 ACP.

The savings get eaten up in more quality rounds fired.

 

[Gryffydd]

Smokey Joe,
Looks like Jim Watson already covered it, but here's where I got my info

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=231248
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=246545
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198051
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91820
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=58972

 

[Smokey Joe]

Guess we'll...

just have to sort the .45's from now on; get rid of the gol-durn SP cases.

Kudos to Jim Watson and to Gryffid for the information.

I've encountered only a few of 'em, so just pitched 'em into the scrap brass. If they become more numerous I guess I'll save 'em up and do a run of SP .45's. Or not.

What a PITA.

Yep, Winchester had to go mucking around with the components used in a 100 year old cartridge. Now we have to sort out small and large primer pocket 45 ACP brass.

SP primers in 45 ACP? The AntiChrist has arrived.

Where is SAAMI in all of this, and why does SAAMI allow such monstrosities?

 

[Mossberg535]

Ive only reloaded 38/357 but I cant imagine anything else being any easier.
I have a Lee hand press and some very basic stuff and it all comes out pretty much perfect every time. No problems yet or complaints.
Heres a pic of my reloading and casting stuff.
http://web77.org/shotgunhunting/gallery/reloading/_exa/Our_Reloading_Equipment.JPG.d/medium.jpg
http://web77.org/shotgunhunting/gallery/reloading/_exa/Our_Bullet_Casting_equipment.JPG.d/medium.jpg

 

[fprefect]

First loads

From a practical standpoint I would suggest you start with the cartridge that you shoot the most. The proceeders differ slightly from straight wall pistol to bottleneck rifle, (the instructions are straightforward and very easy to follow) but sooner or later you're going to have to become familiar with each so why not begin with the ones you shoot the most often.

F. Prefect

 

[cleetus03]

Wow......thanks for all the feedback yall have given me! With that said first thing first will be me buying a reload manual and studying it from front to back!