First reload success!!!

[Lo-Fi]

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.

 

[ljnowell]

What kind of scale are you using?

 

[mtrmn]

Make no mistake about what you are getting into. It's not a hobby, it will morph from saving money into a bottomless pit from which there is no return. It is an addiction. The sooner you face this fact, the sooner you can justify your next ever-increasing expenditure for more, better, faster, higher volume equipment and components.

Consider yourself warned......

 

[BYJO4]

Congrats on your new hobby. As time goes on, look for componets in bulk amounts to reduce costs. At the moment, many have to buy whatever they can find.

 

[exdxgxe4life]

Like others have said congratulations and welcome to the club. I started like you on Lee, and have slowly been upgrading my parts, most recently now using a Hornady AP press (really cant believe how fast I can crank out .44 loads).

I'll never forget my first shot of my reloads (.270 win). My friend was right next to me and said "hey...nice knowing ya..."

Needless to say as was well.

Enjoy the addiction, and just know that of all the things to worry about the top two are squib (no powder) and double charges. Watch for those and everything else is pretty simple.

 

[Recruit]

Make no mistake about what you are getting into. It's not a hobby, it will morph from saving money into a bottomless pit from which there is no return. It is an addiction. The sooner you face this fact, the sooner you can justify your next ever-increasing expenditure for more, better, faster, higher volume equipment and components.

Consider yourself warned......

I'm just starting out too. Great...my wife says all I need is another "hobby"

 

[Lo-Fi]

Lee balance beam scale. Why do you ask?

 

[ljnowell]

Lee balance beam scale. Why do you ask?

Just a curiosity. I use that same scale, many dont like it, I really like mine though. I ask because many times we get new reloaders who are using the Lee scoops, or even the single scoop that comes with the dies instead of weighing to see where the charges are really dropping.

Sounds like you are on your way. I started with the cheapest lee c press, like 25 bucks. A hand me down scale and a set of lee dies. Now I have a whole bench full of equipement and two lockers full of components and supplies. It happens quick.

 

[Lo-Fi]

The scale is accurate. Its slow but i measured the first 10 loads to keep an eye on my PPM. Then every 5. Stayed dead nuts on.

 

[kingmt]

Congrats.

All of my stuff paid for itself long ago. I put some stuff I didn't want or wanted to replace on eBay that is bringing enough to replace what I wanted to & fully buy into casting with money left over.

I shot more & still shoot for less but I'm cheep.

 

[meadmkr]

When I got into reloading in the early 80s it was not solely to save money but rather to have access to ammo in calibers not readily stocked by the local gun shop (which was 25 miles away from 29 Palms). My group shot metallic sihloutte and finding ammo such as 7mmTCU or or TC Contenders chambered in 30-30 or 44mag with heavier bullets. I enjoyed the mechanics and logical proccess of finding the most accurate bullet/powder combinations and got pretty good at it. Two pistols from the same maker often shot loads differently with each having a sweet spot. Keep in mind that this is pre-internet days so we pool resources and either mail ordered out of a catalog or took the drive to the "local" shop and pick up the order we placed through him.



Today I still enjoy the process of reloading but reload primarily to ensure I have loaded ammo when I want/need it. I got smart after the last ammo-shortage and stocked up on components for every caliber I own and a few I don't (yet) own I also got back into casting which I'd previously only did for muzzleloaders. The good news is that I loaded up on lead ingots before the rush but need a few more sizing dies.

 

[mgmorden]

Congrats. Don't worry about your scale - its fine. I got one with a reloading kit 7 or 8 years ago when I started and it still works just fine. I've since bought a Redding scale too but truthfully it works no better except that it'll go above 100gr (which isn't useful for measuring powder - at least for what I load).

 

[witchhunter]

Ha Ha, you are done, you will soon be looking at gun show tables for used reloading stuff, dies for calibers you do not own .....yet. Out in the garage melting down wheel weights, buying hundreds of dollars of reloading components to "save money"....Ha Ha welcome to our addiction.