No Choice

[lizziedog1]

How many of you reload for cartridges that are obsolete, or nearly obsolete? I am talking about rounds that you have to reload for, factory ammo is either very scarce or not available at all. Even finding brass is not an easy task.

What are the obsolete calibers you reload for?

 

[MEHavey]

.45 x 3-1/4 Sharps
Pure Lead 580gr Ballard/PaperPatched, Duplex 4759/1F




.

 

[hancjamk]

35 remington. Could'nt find RCBS dies for it, had to settle for lee. I've only seen one box of factory ammo at Gander mnt. Nobody else, had any. I can't find any brass either... If anybody knows a source, I would apperciate it...

 

[Walkalong]

I recently bought RCBS .35 Remington dies and RP .35 Rem brass from MidwaysUSA.

I don't load anything that's obsolete.

 

[68wj]

.256 Win Mag. I have a decent qty of brass and am experimenting with case forming from .357 mag as a backup.

 

[MMCSRET]

43 Spanish
32 Short and Long Colt
327 Federal Magnum!!!!!!!!
38 S&W
32-20
I cast my own bullets for all these and more, just so I can load them, my way.

 

[472x1A/B]

43 mauser (11m-m) .446" dia. Same as MMCSRET, cast my own boolits for that very reason.

 

[GLShooter]

I load 9X21 and 358 Norma Magnum. The ammo is out there but way to expensive to shoot much of.

 

[Seedtick]

.256 Win Mag. I have a decent qty of brass and am experimenting with case forming from .357 mag as a backup.

Hey 68wj, don't know if you've seen these or not but some .256 WM brass is for sale in the Trading Post.

256 Win Mag Super-X Brass FS 140pcs (KY)

Seedtick

 

[esheato]

I don't see many boxes of .405 Winchesters on the shelf.

 

[FROGO207]

I load all those of MM Secret except the 43 Spanish. also---
35 Remington
33 Winchester
8MM Brit Mauser
500 NE
300 Savage
30 Luger
8MM
6.5 Carcano
32 Winchester SPL
30 Remington
38 WCF
30 Herrett

and a couple others that I do not remember tonite without looking..

 

[ReloaderFred]

.45-120 Sharps
9x21
9x23
9x25 Dillon
.41 AE
.400 Cor-Bon

Probably others, but it's late and I'm tired..

Fred

 

[lizziedog1]

Those of you that are reloading the .256 Winchester Magnum, what firearm is it for? Didn't someone make rifles for this round?

 

[cfullgraf]

I load and form brass for the following. Only the first is an obsolete commercial cartridge.

6.5 x 54 Kurz Mauser.
38/45 Clerke
7mm International Rimmed

 

[68wj]

Those of you that are reloading the .256 Winchester Magnum, what firearm is it for? Didn't someone make rifles for this round?

From the Rusty's Rags review thread. Marlin 62:

 

[EMC45]

Since .35 Remington is considered obsolete (really guys?) It would be my only round I load for in that category.

 

[Border Hopper]

Obsolete sounds so final, but handloading is the only way for me to keep them shooting.

.256 Newton
.32 S & W
.38 Long Colt
7 mm TCU
.227 Hawk

Wildcats and improved cartridges are a mixed bag. You can shoot some with factory ammunition (with a corresponding change in POI, fps, etc.) and then the wildcats push you back into the reloading room.
.17 Ackley Hornet .20 Tactical .257 Roberts, Ackley
.280 Rem. Ackley .30-.284

Some rounds are too pricey/unpopular to buy over-the-counter.
.308 Norma .38/55

 

[CraigC]

Not really obsolete but they were, before they were resurrected. Like the .405, for which components are now readily available.

The .32-20 never really went away but factory loads are so expensive and anemic, there is no choice but to handload for it.

Same for the .38-40. I can greatly improve its ballistics while staying within standard pressures and not pay an arm & a leg for ammo.

 

[mbopp]

218 Bee and 357 Herrett in my Contender. I still have a few boxes of new 218 brass I bought years ago. The Herrett always was a case-forming and handloading proposition.

 

[slicksleeve]

I have a 32-20, but haven't tooled up to reload it yet. My only current obscure cartridge I load is the 32-40.

 

[brickeyee]

.221 Fireball,
.45 Win mag,
.50-70 Government (at least you can get brass now, previously I had to make it).
.45-70 Black-powder for trapdoors
.22 Rem Jet (haven't used it in years though)

Some other old pin-fire rounds, but making brass can be a real PITA

 

[osprey176]

218 bee,30 herrett,35 herrett,375 win is hard to find and pricey.