Green Lantern
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,665
I've never really had much of an interest in handloading. Space is an issue, and I don't really shoot a lot volume-wise.
But I do have a neat old .38-55 lever gun...and ammo for it is crazy-expensive. The last I bought, in between the panic-buying sprees of 2008 and 2013, was $2.75 a round. And upon inspection, the rounds looked like they'd been sitting on a shelf for 15 years or so. Some of the original rounds that Dad had left over when he first bought the gun THIRTY YEARS AGO looked better!
I'm not talking about cranking out enough rounds to make myself a legend in the shooting sports, and single-handedly revive interest in the .38-55 (though it would be cool if SOMEONE could!). Just enough to where I can enjoy the rifle and not flinch every time I pull the trigger - not from recoil but from the cost! And also let others shoot the gun and get to enjoy some firearms history....which is also an extension of me enjoying the rifle.
So I guess questions would be:
-What would be a decent setup for someone in my shoes, and about how much of a cost might I be looking at?
-I'm aware from the chatter that guns and loaded ammo aren't the only things in short supply...have I looked at a really crummy time to consider taking up reloading in terms of availability of components?
The most factory loaded .38-55 I've ever seen was just last week in a local store - naturally, I was looking for .357 mag, which they had not a one. If needed components are in as short supply as a lot of other things, I guess I'll have to grit my teeth and buy some (but you bet I'm gonna INSPECT them first this time!), and hope for someone to do something to revive interest in the round to where the ammo companies sit up and take notice....
But I do have a neat old .38-55 lever gun...and ammo for it is crazy-expensive. The last I bought, in between the panic-buying sprees of 2008 and 2013, was $2.75 a round. And upon inspection, the rounds looked like they'd been sitting on a shelf for 15 years or so. Some of the original rounds that Dad had left over when he first bought the gun THIRTY YEARS AGO looked better!
I'm not talking about cranking out enough rounds to make myself a legend in the shooting sports, and single-handedly revive interest in the .38-55 (though it would be cool if SOMEONE could!). Just enough to where I can enjoy the rifle and not flinch every time I pull the trigger - not from recoil but from the cost! And also let others shoot the gun and get to enjoy some firearms history....which is also an extension of me enjoying the rifle.
So I guess questions would be:
-What would be a decent setup for someone in my shoes, and about how much of a cost might I be looking at?
-I'm aware from the chatter that guns and loaded ammo aren't the only things in short supply...have I looked at a really crummy time to consider taking up reloading in terms of availability of components?
The most factory loaded .38-55 I've ever seen was just last week in a local store - naturally, I was looking for .357 mag, which they had not a one. If needed components are in as short supply as a lot of other things, I guess I'll have to grit my teeth and buy some (but you bet I'm gonna INSPECT them first this time!), and hope for someone to do something to revive interest in the round to where the ammo companies sit up and take notice....