After this last ordeal, the price of 9mm, unavailability of 9mm, I decided that it was finally time to start reloading/loading my own. When I was buying cases at Academy of Blazer for $4.50/50 it was hard to justify. But at $18+/50, it makes it hard to enjoy shooting.
I started looking online for equipment in early January, all sold out. I was at a LGS a couple weeks ago and saw a set of Lee 9mm dies on the shelf, and snatched them up. Then luckily I found a Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit at Cabelas online and some 124gr Rainier Plated RN. Next at another LGS I bought some Power Pistol and Unique powder. Just this Wednesday I was able to get some CCI 500 Small Pistol fresh off the truck at the same LGS that I bought the powder at. All set.
My very first loads based on my Lyman manual, Midway's Rainier Load Data, and the Lee Chart with the dies, is 5.0gr Power Pistol with the Rainier 124gr RN set at 1.150" and then worked up to 5.5gr. All functioned flawlessly with no signs of overpressure. The muzzle flash and snap of the Power Pistol is more noticeable than the Blazer 115gr FMJ I brought to compare it to.
I'm hooked already. It's going to make shooting my 30-06 a lot more enjoyable along with my 5.56 rifle. I like the idea of being self sufficient. I figure after the first 500 rounds of the 9mm the press will pay for itself.
The Lee equipment is easy to use and I think I'll get many great years of service out of it. This is definitely going to be addictive.
Just have to wait for supplies to catch back up so I can buy some more dies and consumables.
I started looking online for equipment in early January, all sold out. I was at a LGS a couple weeks ago and saw a set of Lee 9mm dies on the shelf, and snatched them up. Then luckily I found a Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit at Cabelas online and some 124gr Rainier Plated RN. Next at another LGS I bought some Power Pistol and Unique powder. Just this Wednesday I was able to get some CCI 500 Small Pistol fresh off the truck at the same LGS that I bought the powder at. All set.
My very first loads based on my Lyman manual, Midway's Rainier Load Data, and the Lee Chart with the dies, is 5.0gr Power Pistol with the Rainier 124gr RN set at 1.150" and then worked up to 5.5gr. All functioned flawlessly with no signs of overpressure. The muzzle flash and snap of the Power Pistol is more noticeable than the Blazer 115gr FMJ I brought to compare it to.
I'm hooked already. It's going to make shooting my 30-06 a lot more enjoyable along with my 5.56 rifle. I like the idea of being self sufficient. I figure after the first 500 rounds of the 9mm the press will pay for itself.
The Lee equipment is easy to use and I think I'll get many great years of service out of it. This is definitely going to be addictive.
Just have to wait for supplies to catch back up so I can buy some more dies and consumables.