first caliber reloaded for

Do ya'll remember the first caliber you reloaded for?
For me was a Marlin 1895 45-70. I was stationed in Kodiak, ALASKA, (COAST GUARD)
and ammo was hard to find. At that time was two gun stores there, and no one had ammo for 45-70, so I purchased a used RCBS rock chucker single stage press, RCBS dies, bullets, powder was 3031, was the only powder I could get locally that was even mentioned in my Speer nbr 9 reloading manual, and been loading ever since. Oh that was in 1976.
For those even older than me, Coast Guard took over the old Navy base in Kodiak, in 1971.

 

That was along time ago... The first thing I remember reloading was as a very young kid (5-6) helping dad run an old Pacific DL-260 12 gauge reloading press. I was fascinated by the process and learning what all the pieces parts were and what each station on the press did. We loaded heaps of 1-1/8 #7.5 trap shells on the old press over the years. The next would be reloading 6mm Remington and 270 Winchester for groundhog hunting I was probably 7-8 years old the first time we did that. I also remember sitting at the dinner table at my grand parents house on the farm reloading 410 shells with a Lee Loader before my first rabbit hunting forays at 9 years old. Didn't get a rabbit that year but I would the next year with a 16 gauge.

 

30-30 for a used 94 Winchester, bought in 1964, so I could go deer hunting with my father-in-law that fall. I don't think that more than 1 box of factory ammo has been in it since I bought it but I have no idea how many reloads. I still miss him.

NRA Benefactor Golden Eagle

 

38 Special. I bought a Lee progressive press. I don't recommend starting off with a progressive, there's too many things going on at once and I spent a frustrating weekend before I got everything adjusted right. Start off with a single stage until you thoroughly understand the process and the adjustments.

I remember going to the range and being excited that I now had empty brass to reload again.

 

38/357.

 

44 Mag, for my Super Blackhawk, my first centerfire.

 

The 30-06. I had the old hammer-in Lee loader with the pepper grinder inside the neck reamer. Through my Savage 110 rifle it was very accurate.

 

.38 Special with a Lee Loader (hammer operated). 1971 in the barracks at MCAS El Toro (now closed). Good times.

 

Mine was some low recoil 180 grain cast bullets in 30-30 using a Lee Loader when I was 5 or 6 with my grandfather so I could use his rifle for deer hunting that fall. We actually cast the bullets together and even made the powder dipper ourselves using a spent 357 casing. Made for a very memorable experience.

Pretty sure I even still have a few of those old cast bullets laying around somewhere, I might need to dig them out and see if I can find out what mold he used and work up a plinking load for my nephews to use in that old Marlin of his in the next couple years when they get old enough to start going out hunting with me and their dad.

 

.223 when I used t do a lot of coyote hunting in central Montana. I have a Stevens M200 with a rattle can paint job.

 

My first was 9x19. I wanted to start small and get the basics done first before going to rifle. I first learned on a Hornady progressive auto indexing LnL. Super easy to learn with.

 

I started off with cap-and-ball .44 revolvers, so it was an east step to reloading .44 mag for my SBH with a single-stage Lee set-up.

 

I first started reloading .38 Special with a Pistol Lee Loader for my Charter Arms Undercover. Still have it and the rubber mallet too!

 

.30-06.Started reloading because I’m a cheapskate! Learned from this forum right here.

 

I got my original rock chucker circa 1971 and my first set of dies 38 spec the chuck and dies from oroville cost me 81.25 delivered to Tampa fl oh yeah

 

.30-06 for me.
It went from loading deer hunting ammo to now loading for every center fire round I shoot.
Now when I buy a firearm in a caliber I don't already own, I factor dies and components into the price and order them right away.

 

1975
.30-06

I was in HS. Bought a surplus Enfield. Red box Federal shot 4" - 6" groups. A teacher offered to help me work up a load.

Loaded up a ladder. Found a good load. Loaded 20 rounds to confirm accuracy and consistency.

Still shoot the exact load, today.
52.5 gr 4064
Win primer
150 gr Sierra SP

5/8" 5 shot @ 100 yard

 

12 ga. shotgun, somewhere in the mid-late '60s. Believe I started out with Alcan 5 powder. An old man in Hill City, Kansas helped me get started, I still miss Earl.

 

.223 I didn't want to pay the "high" factory prices back then so I started loading my own. That was back when you could buy all the green tip you could carry at the local wally world.

 

I started in 1976 for .38Spl. with the Lee Whack-a-Mole type reloader, that didn't last long. Primers going off in my face, no thanks.

Bought a Lee turret press, used it for a while, then didn't reload for probably 30 years. I bought an original '73 Winchester in .38-40, now gone, factory cartridges were in the $75 a box range.

Luckily, I'd kept the press and upgraded it with a Lee kit to turn the press into a progressive. Loaded for that caliber until I sold the rifle, then started loading for .357, which I still do.

 

Well 12 gauge, at 9 years old, but the first cartridge I loaded for was .30-06, at 14. First pistol cartridge I loaded for was .38 Spl., at 15.

 

257 roberts for my Remington 700. Back in high school

 

I hope you mean an M1917....

 

Four Aces/MCAS El Toro. I remember.