waiting to finish reloads, Am I missing something here

[mgj3030]

Hi
I started reloading earlier this year due to the ammo problem. Reloading 380, 38 sp, 9mm, 40 and 45 handgun ammo. I have in the past few weeks started stopping just before powder charge and bullet seating and putting the brass fully cleaned, primed and case expanded into zip loc bags. This allows me to choose exactly which bullet and powder charge I wish to use. Example on the 9's I usually go with a 115 bullet but sometimes I shoot 147 bullets and vary the charge depending on where I am actually shooting. I also have several 9's to feed . It is 9s. 40s, 45 that I am doing like this. I can not see any major down sides to this as it really just takes a very short time to add powder and crimp. Am I missing anything here? The only thing I can see is if I stored the partly reloaded bullet outside of a ziploc.

 

[USSR]

I can not see any major down sides to this as it really just takes a very short time to add powder and crimp. Am I missing anything here?

And there is no downside to this practice. I do it all the time.

Don

 

[Reefinmike]

I have 2000 sized and primed and boxed up in trays 38 spl casings. They are the elephant in the reloading room, I have the lead, I just need to make the bullets. The pile of empties grows as my ammo cans get lighter...

Nothing wrong with waiting it out and leaving the loading for a rainy day.

 

[mgj3030]

Thanks

Thanks
I wanted to ask others as experience often gives very expensive lessons. I could not see any down sides but we wear blinders concerning our actions. It took me a little while to get out of the mental state of keeping a large amount ready to shoot since if you are not reloading many options are simply not available to you. I also guess I should write a letter of thanks to our government since the last few years of their meddling has caused my complacence about shooting to dissipate.

 

[carbine85]

I have many cases primed and ready to go. Some of them have been stored for a long long time. It's not unusual for me to grab a few cases and load them just before I leave for the range. I like having them on hand and ready to go.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

The only down side i see, is if you seat a different bullet, you might require a slightly larger case mouth for say, a lead bullet compared to a fmj. but if you are expanding the case mouth large enough for everything to fit, then you should be fine.

i usually adjust the expander die depending on whether i am loading fmj bullets or lead bullets, that way im not overworking the case mouth if i dont have to... not sure if its a big deal or not, just the way i do it.

 

[cfullgraf]

I can not see any major down sides to this as it really just takes a very short time to add powder and crimp. Am I missing anything here? The only thing I can see is if I stored the partly reloaded bullet outside of a ziploc.

I generally do not pre-prime cases then store them away for a future reloading session. Mostly because it ties up primers that might be needed in a different cartridge if my shooting changes.

I have some cartridges that I have not loaded any in many years. Why tie up primers that could be used elsewhere.

But that is just a supply and administration thing. No harm to the primer as long as the primed cases are stored properly.

 

[horseman1]

I do the same thing but do not use the expander die, since I don't know in some cases which bullet I will be using (lead or jacketed).

Completely prepped otherwise (prep varies depending on the type of course).

If it has a primer in it, it is ready to get expanded and loaded.

I'm rather new to this, but this is what works for me. Interested in what the other folks with more experience say as well. Good question!

 

[Constrictor]

Hi
I started reloading earlier this year due to the ammo problem. Reloading 380, 38 sp, 9mm, 40 and 45 handgun ammo. I have in the past few weeks started stopping just before powder charge and bullet seating and putting the brass fully cleaned, primed and case expanded into zip loc bags. This allows me to choose exactly which bullet and powder charge I wish to use. Example on the 9's I usually go with a 115 bullet but sometimes I shoot 147 bullets and vary the charge depending on where I am actually shooting. I also have several 9's to feed . It is 9s. 40s, 45 that I am doing like this. I can not see any major down sides to this as it really just takes a very short time to add powder and crimp. Am I missing anything here? The only thing I can see is if I stored the partly reloaded bullet outside of a ziploc.

many manufacturers sell pre primed brass, sits on the shelf for who knows how long to get sold. youve just created the same product as they have.

 

[Havok7416]

I clean and prime all my brass, then wait for a good excuse to load it like many others have said. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[GJSchulze]

None of you say if you're using a progressive press or single stage.

I use a progressive and this seems to me to add extra work to the process. If you use a single stage then I see no extra steps.

So if you do this, what style of press are you using?

 

[glc24]

I reload the same way too. Glad to see many others do it this way too.
I have a Dillon RL550B. Just because it's a progressive,doesn't mean you can't use it like a single stage.
I find myself checking every stage. I don't take any one of them for granted. Maybe I'm being too anal,but that's what I've been doing lately.

Greg

 

[floydster]

I have many thousands of primed brass ready to load--the only way to go, all cleaned ,inspected and ready to be loaded,

 

[Wildbillz]

I have been known to let sized/primed cases sit on the reloading bench for a year or more (in a zip lock baggie) and never had an issue with it. In fact just yesterday I reloaded some 357mag brass with primers that have been sitting in the drawer of the reloading bench for the last 20+ years. Only protective covering was there original packaging. Know in a week or so if there were any problems.

WB

 

[James2]

Nothing wrong with that practice but I have never done that. If I start on a batch of brass it will be loaded rounds when I am done. I put the finished product on the shelf, ready to shoot. Personal preference.

 

[gonefishin1]

I do this also but just don't lose your primed brass in all of your unprimed stockpile like I did... I keep mine in sealed cans. I looked for 30 minutes last weekend for my primed 45 acp brass... so I primed a couple hundred more and loaded them. then yesterday when I was looking for my 380 brass I found about 500 primed and ready to load 45's...... hate it when this happens.

 

[witchhunter]

Works fine for me too. Gallon baggies marked with primer brand and date. I use the same method to store neck sized or full length sized brass. Just mark on the baggie what has been done to the contents.

 

[cfullgraf]

None of you say if you're using a progressive press or single stage.

I use a progressive and this seems to me to add extra work to the process. If you use a single stage then I see no extra steps.

So if you do this, what style of press are you using?

I use a progressive, actually several.

i prefer to clean resized cases before priming and loading them so it affords me an opportunity to hand prime and inspect the cases again. I resize cases shortly after shooting so batches are small and go quick. I store prepped cases for a future loading session.

I can hand prime 100 cases about as fast as loading the priming tubes and I never load a case with a primer seated badly, or no primer at all.

Charging the case and seating the bullet goes more smoothly with less going on in the press. Also, I experience fewer jams and stoppages which reduce production rates.

I still load more ammunition faster on a progressive than i can shoot.

It rings my bell, it does not have to ring yours.

 

[medalguy]

I do about the same. However I have printed card stock with reloading information so I can just check a box when the brass is cleaned, deprimed, primed, expanded, loaded (add primer lot number and type, powder charge and type etc) and ready to shoot. This allows me to prep or partially process brass as I have time, load it into baggies, and store it clean and ready to move on to the next step without having to wonder just what I did to that bag of brass 2 years ago. I have had brass partially processed for several years and when I pick up the baggie, I know exactly what was done and when.

 

[Sam1911]

Nothing wrong with it if that's what works for you.

My way is a little more direct: A double-handful of cleaned range-pickup brass into a bin beside the 550 becomes a pile of loaded ammo dumped into a box and in the range bag. I don't spend much time tinkering around with pistol ammo. Once I know I've got a load that shoots like I want, all I've got to do is try to keep the loading rate up even with the shooting rate and I'm good to go.

 

[HOWARD J]

Something will come up & I will have primed brass in a reloading block only half reloaded.
It may sit for one or two weeks uncovered until I get back to finishing the batch.
No harm done it works fine.
This is what happens when one of my sons had to take a job in another state--he left us his 2 teenage daughters , his dog & his house to care for--OH lucky us --90 days & he is finally coming home
He wants to sign up for another 90 days---I said""" the kids & the dog go with you"""
I am too old for any more of this----

 

[FROGO207]

I spend the winter months processing and storing my brass. I will keep a minimum level loaded and also a minimum level primed and ready to reload. I am with cfullgraf and these days and try to not to tie up any of my primers in brass I may not reload for years. FYI in my reloading room I have multiple 5 gallon buckets of several popular calibers of processed brass ready to prime and load. Works for me.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also process all my rifle brass over the winter months. I store them in big plastic coffee cans and add the powder and seat the bullet when I need them. I don't bother with handgun brass because I load handgun ammo on a turret press so it's easy to just load what I need when I need it.

 

[horsemen61]

I also chose to do this batch system

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I do it all the time -- I currently have two gallon jugs full of sized, primed and expanded .45 ACP cases, all ready for charging, bullet seating and crimping.