first caliber reloaded for

[Seedy Character]

Wow

7 responses before being called out.

entropy for the WIN

Pick up your prize at the front desk.

 

[trackskippy]

Started somewhere around '69 or '70 for me, with 45acp for the Star Model P Id just bought. Started with a Lee "Whack a Mole" Loader, and quickly realized that sucked.

Had a RCBS Rock Chucker soon after and still use it pretty much on a daily basis, to this day.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

38 Special using a Lee Loader, sitting at our kitchen table, Summer of 1975. Yes, I did set off a primer.

 

[Speedo66]

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

Imagine a teacher doing that today...

 

[.38 Special]

My father's Remington in .30-'06. Still have and use the press, but the plain steel dies are scratched to hell and gone and now live on a shelf/shrine.

 

[Bartojc]

I was a late bloomer, and only started reloading about 8 or so years ago. I had gotten into pistols and it seemed they used ammo much faster than bolt action rifles. I decided to load 9mm for myself.

I now load all pistol and rifle cartridges that I shoot

-Jeff

 

[crestoncowboy]

Had a RCBS Rock Chucker soon after and still use it pretty much on a daily basis, to this day.

Same. 25 ish years on my chucker. Had a partner press too. Only issue was the primer arm broke off the chucker. I prime off press anyway now. Its an awesome press. The partner still works too.

 

[Sav .250]

30-30. Got a Lee Loader. The simple one. Watched a Youtube video and never looked back.

 

[Cacas ex Fortuna]

Do ya'll remember the first caliber you reloaded for?

Jan20th 1961. Some guy was saying on the TV, Ask not what I can do for my country.
So I went into the ole mans room and asked what he was doing. I got to make a 22-250 round that day, and many 1000s after that. He had me prep brass from that day, and for the next decade.
When he passed I was 15 and in high school, so I reloaded 14,000 cases in the 10th grade. Sold them to dudes at the gun clubs the ole man was members in. Ma got all the money, minus the supplies.

 

[Archie]

Four Aces/MCAS El Toro. I remember.

I was an office gofer with the Base MP unit.

 

[Hal]

Another .38/.357 Lee Whack a Mole starter here.
Quickly followed by my first accessory - a set of scoops - then a Lee Autoprime that I still use to this day.

 

[trackskippy]

Same. 25 ish years on my chucker. Had a partner press too. Only issue was the primer arm broke off the chucker. I prime off press anyway now. Its an awesome press. The partner still works too.

Ive only ever had a couple of minor things with mine, clips and I had to stake the pivot pin in the arm. Other than that, nothing. I never like using the primer arm, and felt they were cumbersome. I picked up a little RCBS "O" press cheap and have used it as a dedicated priming tool ever since. Works great.

RCBS is great to deal with too. I called in for a couple of parts that Id wore out, broke, or lost, and the boy on the phone just said, it all sounds like warranty to me! Didnt cost me a cent.

 

[herrwalther]

7mm-08. Still have my first round too even though I off loaded the rifle years ago.

 

[nofendertom]

1978---Started with Lee "Whack-a-Mole" Loader in .38/.357. I loaded 158gr Hornady LSWC bullets and Unique powder.

 

[I6turbo]

20 gauge, then 12 gauge, then .22-250, then 38/.357. If I ever get to where I can shoot more often, I may start loading again.

 

[tark]

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

View attachment 1112372

Gotta love those Lee Loaders!!! 38 Spl. was my first caliber I reloaded for.

 

[Electrod47]

Lee Load-All .38 special. I had 5 years worth of once fired brass saved up. I had the Lyman reloading manual bought 2 years earlier in 1976. All to use in my original 1956 Ruger Blackhawk .357, Powdered thousands of rounds with the Lee Dippers for 5 years before I could justify the cost of a scale. Wore out a couple plastic mallets before I saw the light.

 

[KY DAN]

38 special and 270 Winchester

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.

On defense of the progressive a person must set up each step individually or it will be a nightmare.

I prefer auto index machines as the possibility of a double charge is greatly reduced.

I have had stars, Dillon rl450, Dillon rl55p and I feel most confident in my Dillon rl1000 presses.

I pull the handle and let it happen

 

[DukeConnor]

12 gauge trap loads. Thousands and thousands of 12 gauge trap loads.

 

[Handshaker]

About 4 or 5 years ago for a Wichita Arms Silhouette pistol in 7mm Int-r. I just reload the hard to get expensive ammo. Now I reload 7mm int-r,7.62x25, 3030,45-70,45lc,221 fireball and 30 carbine. I have dies for when i run out of factory ammo for 308,556,22-250. Plus i do black powder as well.

 

[PzGren]

That was a while ago, about 1988. Lyman 310 tool and .38 Special

 

[sisyphus]

45LC, then 41 magnum, then 375 Ruger, then 223 and 308, and lastly 357 magnum
adding 6.8 SPC next

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

9mm and 45 acp. Went to the LGS and bought a lb of 700x. And 100 small and large pistol primers. And Hornady bullets. Loaded them with Lee loaders. It didn't take long to buy my 1st press. The hammering got old real fast.

 

[Legionnaire]

7mm-08. Still have my first round too even though I off loaded the rifle years ago.

Wish I had thought to keep my first round.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Started in 77 or 78 can't quite remember, but 20 trap and skeet loads on a mec 600 j, then 12 ga, 30-30 Winchester next was either 308 win or 357ag, I do remember selling 100 rds of 357 to buy my prom tickets.