New to reloading! Advices would be greatly appreicated.

[tbui127]

Hi everyone, I am new to reloading and have been doing some research for the past few weeks. A little bit about myself. Im in the military here at Ft. Rucker attending flight school training and most of my free time is on the weekend. I honestly just started shooting and want to get into reloading not so much of saving money but being able to shoot more for less.

I have a 308 savage model 11 vt and a glock 19. will be purchasing a .45 soon.

I just purchased a Hornady Lock and Load AP press after doing some research. I also bought the following.

1. Powder Cop Die - Hornady
2. 9mm Dies - Hornady
3. .45 ACP Dies - Hornady
4. Shell plates - Hornady
5. Hornady Reloading book
6. Digital Caliper - Generic
7. Digital Grain Scale - Generic
8. Tumbler set

Now I am doing more research on bullets and I am leaning towards Missouri Bullet Company bullets with Hi-Tek Extreme Coating because I think thats the cheapest and reliable bullets to go (from reading posts on this forum, theres a lot of cleaning with lead bullets, so for a few more dollars hi tek coating seems to be the way to go?). I want to get 1000 rounds of 9mm and 1000 rounds of .45 (I think thats the max I can get to get flat rate shipping)

My questions are.

1. I don't know which bullets to get. SWC, RN, Cones. I did some researching but still confused. Right now I am only shooting paper targets from the range. But I would like to get my 9mm or .45 to go hunting also. I was thinking about getting 500 RN 9m, 500 SWC 9m, 500 RN .45 ACP, 500 SWC .45 ACP. I have also been looking at berry's plated bullets. they're almost the same price as the hi tek coated. whats the difference between plated and coated?

2. For primers, I think the best choice is CCI primers? Small for 9mm and large pistol primers for .45? Best place to buy?

3. For powder, I dont know much about it yet but I have seen people use hodgon, bullseyes, and reddot? best place to buy?

4. for brass, whats the best place to buy once fired brass?

in closing, I am looking for any advice on products that is the best bang for my buck and reliability.

Thanks!

 

[mdi]

For a new reloader/shooter I'd suggest they stick to tried-and-true loads. For 45 ACP, there have been 23 bizillion 230 gr. jacketed round nose bullets loaded. This bullet is "45 ACP" all the way and all reloading concerns have been worked out long ago and info is readily available. I prefer a fast powder with these bullets in my 1911; Bullseye, W231, and down to Unique, but check in your reloading manuals for more info on powders. For 9mm I would think a 124 gr. jacketed round nose for the same reasons as the 45 ACP recommendations. And check in your reloading manuals for appropriate powders.

Plated bullets are in a fuzzy area between jacketed and plain lead, so check with the manufacturer's web site. I load them like lead, but many use a mid-load for equivalent weight jacketed bullets. Same weights as above; 45 ACP, 230 gr. RN. 9mm, 124 gr. RN.

Primers won't vary enough from manufacturer to manufacturer to make much difference to a new reloader, just use "standard" safety precautions and start all loads at the starting load level and work up. But when standard primers are listed use standard primers and not magnum and vice-versa. These recommendations are to get you started reloading easily, and you'll get a lot of different suggestions, but you can always (and prolly will!) expand and experiment after you get a handle on what reloading is all about..

BTW, I'm not a fan of beginners using a progressive press to learn on (too many things happen at the same time), as a lot of added effort goes into learning how to operate a progressive press as one is trying to learn reloading. I'd suggest a single stage to learn each step's "how to" as well as the "why" for each operation...

jes an old guy's $.02.

 

[tbui127]

Thanks for the information!

since I already bought the progressive press, Most likely im going to use the progressive press as a single stage loader. I'll just take my time and resize, deprime, prime, load powder, seat and crimp one round at a time and will work my way up.

I really don't want to do jacketed load. After more research, but im leaning towards plated bullets from berry's. Its a lilttle bit more than Hi-Tek coating bullets from missouri bullet company but it seems like thats the best route to go now beside jacketed (too expensive)

 

[murf]

welcome to the high road, tbui127. and welcome to the reloading arena.

first, read and reread that reloading manual. read the instructions that come with your die set. decide how you are going to prime your cases.

call missouri bullet co and ask them what bullet is best. berrys plated bullets are a good choice, too.

any non-magnum primer should work for you.

bullseye and hp-38 (w231 is the same) work well in both 9mm and 45 acp.

the "pay it forward" thread should help on acquiring used cases.

best advise i can give you is to have patience, use lots of common sense, refer to the reloading manual often and, most important, check each and every case for the correct powder charge before you seat the bullet.

murf

 

[mdm]

If you are able to fly helicopters, you should be able to handle a progressive.

Do they still teach you guys that helicopters don't really fly? They are in a constant state of falling. They are the only object known that can fall up. Good luck! Air time is one of the several things I still miss from my previous life.

 

[tbui127]

@murf Just ordered a batch of cci small pistol primers. I can't find any bullseye,w231, hp38 that you recommended. seems like they're all sold out everywhere.

@mdm I figured i can load a round at a time with the progressive and work my way up! im heading to SERE school soon so I haven't gotten to the flying portion of flight school yet but once I do i will let you know!

BTW i am using http://ammoseek.com/reloading/powder to find the right powder. I am still lost, can someone point me to the right powder based on the link? Thnk you

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks for your service.


Bullseye was in stock at Wideners last I checked. But youve decided to get started at a time when pistol powder is very hard to find. I'll be surprised if you can find any unless you stay at it.

 

[tbui127]

youre welcome!

btw is this the pistol powder for 9mm n .45?

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1255&dir=278|283|308

 

[grogetr]

I have some .45 brass I can send you 100 if you PM your info to me. Check your manual for load data on which powder or check alliant's website for data. welcome to THR there are a lot of good people here always ready to help. I am pretty new at this also and learn a lot reading here.

 

[ATLDave]

Go buy at least two reloading manuals. Read the front material (which includes loading directions and theory) in both of them. Read at least one of the two front to back... the cartridge descriptions are interesting, and there's all kind of information tucked into one or another entry that has inferential relevance elsewhere. Do all this before you even set up your press.

Once you have read those manuals, you will understand what you are doing. Until then, you are like someone trying to fly an airplane who doesn't understand concepts of lift or drag.

 

[tbui127]

thanks @grogetr!

@ATLDave, Im definitely going to be reading up on the hornady reloading book when it comes in today. I have a basic understanding of reloading from youtube videos and reading forums but still learning. seems like its really tough to get pistol powder so I have no choice but to wait anyways.

 

[readyeddy]

For components, I would buy smaller test batches first. If you find something that works reliably and accurately in your gun, then you can buy in bulk to save money. You don't want to buy 10,000 hard cast bullets and then discover that its made a little too big for your chamber.

As for the types and brands of components, I would look for the best deals. Primers and powders of all brands and models will get the job done. Again, test them out first to see what works in your guns.

 

[Potatohead]

youre welcome!

btw is this the pistol powder for 9mm n .45?

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=1255&dir=278|283|308

That'b a good one!! There's lots of powders that will do the trick, BE probably being the most popular. I will try to figure out how to attach my burn rate chart and hopefully someone could tell you which range works best with 45. I "specialize" (i use that term VERY loosely) in 9mm


Remember not to put the cart before the horse, make sure you read up, start low and work up. Im sure you'll have some good tutors on post if you look around.



See a burn chart here: Post #8
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=201184&d=1406931395

 

[TfflHndn]

I've loaded many lead, coated, plated and jacketed bullets in 9mm and .45, and you should be fine with coated or plated. Check out SNS Bullets for good coated bullets, as well as MBC. Xtreme makes very good plated, and I like them better than Berry's myself. Round nose are probably the easiest to work with; semi-wadcutter give you a cleaner hole when shooting paper. I prefer the 200 grain .45 bullets, since that's what John Moses Browning designed the 1911 pistol for, but 185 and 230 grainers work well too. If you get hold of the Bullseye, that's a great powder to start with on both calibers. Consider getting a bullet puller and a powder trickler or Lee dippers for making accurate loads for work-ups. Also, some .45 cases are made for small primers nowadays, so keep an eye open and don't try to crush a large primer into a small hole. Good luck, stay safe and have fun.

 

[edleit]

tbui127,
I have a surplus of 9mm cases that are ready to prime which I can provide for your first loads. Also an assortment of Berry's plated bullets that can be spared as well. (I think I've got 124's and know there are 115 RN).

PM me if interested and we'll get you started.
- Ed

Return PM sent.

 

[tbui127]

Thanks for all the information everyone, it is definitely helping. I will be spending the weekend building my work bench and setting up the progressive press.

It seems like berry's and mbc are the way to go for plated and coated. I'll do some research on SNS and extreme.

@edleit thats awesome, i will pm you. the spare bullets will help so I can practice reloading one by one before making a bulk order!

it seems like the thing thats holding me back is getting a hold of fast burning pistol powder.

bullets checked
cci primer checked
brass checked

again thanks everyone, i'll keep this thread updated when my progress setup is done

 

[flashhole]

Tell MG Lundy I said hello.

 

[tbui127]

That'b a good one!! There's lots of powders that will do the trick, BE probably being the most popular. I will try to figure out how to attach my burn rate chart and hopefully someone could tell you which range works best with 45. I "specialize" (i use that term VERY loosely) in 9mm


Remember not to put the cart before the horse, make sure you read up, start low and work up. Im sure you'll have some good tutors on post if you look around.



See a burn chart here: Post #8
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=201184&d=1406931395

If i can find one of the top 10 from the burn chart I should be okay reloading 9mm?

 

[tbui127]

Tell MG Lundy I said hello.

I wish! if I see MG Lundy then im probably in big trouble

 

[grogetr]

I've also used xtreme plated bullets with good results. You may check out rockey mountain reloading for plated. They give a 5% discount to members here as does mbc.

 

[tbui127]

What are the major differences (pros and cons) with plated bullets vs coated bullets?
accuracy and velocity wise at 15,25,50 yards?
do plated and coated produce the same smoke and leave the same amount of lead in the bore if any?
target shooting vs hunting? I know as a beginner I don't think i'll notice the differences but most likely i'll try to reload both later on n find out myself. but right now I just want to gather everyone's opinions. as of right now this is what i have for bullets

plated- berrys, xtremebullets
coated- mbc and sns
and rocky mountain reloading sells different brands

thanks again

 

[Potatohead]

A manual would help you greatly. Many like the Lyman 49th

 

[Potatohead]

If i can find one of the top 10 from the burn chart I should be okay reloading 9mm?

This is somewhat subjective. I'd say around #25 is the sweet spot. But burn rate charts are not an exact science. I'll have to ck the chart but Ive probably used powders from around #6 on the chart, all the way thru 40 for 9mm. Thats an example, not specific.

 

[wlkjr]

Semi-wad cutters don't work well in my Glock 30S. I don't know how they function in the full size Glock 45's as my G41 has not arrived yet. Pm me your mailing address and I can spare some sample Xtreme bullets when we get back home. Without powder you're pretty much dead in the water. Buy what you can find. Good luck and go slow.

 

[maxxhavoc]

You won't lose much from going to plated from jacketed when you shoot paper. I find them just as accurate, you just can't run them as hot. Unless you are hunting, stick with plated.

I used Berry's for years, but they started running up the prices so I switched to Xtreme. I don't notice much difference between them in pistols.

As far as raw lead goes, I have better accuracy from lead loads out of my .45 than either plated or jacketed. Might just be me. It's too much of a pain to clean to make it worth my while, though. Yes, if I get the charge right, leading is almost nil. For some reason my tack driving loads are the ones that clog the rifling the most.