ukerduker

After waiting a little more than a week, I got the final components I need to start reloading .40S&W. Today my dies arrived from Dillon. I had already purchased my chick change and caliber conversion kit. Now I need some small pistol primers.

Powder seems to be available at the Reloaders Bench. Primers are more difficult to find than powder right now. I ordered a set of pistol dies from Dillon a week again and just found out they are backordered.

In a sudden turn of events, my wife approached me and ask: "Can I get a pistol?" I didn't know what to say, but "sure, but I'm not teaching you to shoot". She had a puzzled look on her face. I'll agree to show her all the safety aspects of working with firearms, but I would recuse myself from the shooting portion. I think she would be more comfortable with someone else showing her the basics of shooting. Patience is the key, and I lack the required amount.

YES, it's worth it. The front-side costs will be as high or as cheap as you want to make them, but the return is MUCH cheaper ammo. Right now things are getting much tigher because people are still nervous about the A$$hat that got elected to the White House. I think in time, this will subside and prices and will return to a more reasonable level. Check out this site for good bargins: ReloadersAuction.com, reloading, shooting, online auction

Thats not bad compared to an auction I saw on Gunbroker that sold 1000 CCI primers for $125. Thats ridiculous! I won't pay more than $30-40/1000

Reloaded ammo report...Range Day I went out to Gallatin Gun Club to verify that my rounds would be successful in my SBR. After checking for potential slam fires, and checking to see if my bullet would be pushed further into the case, I was ready to pull the trigger. I made 3 shots at 25yds. They were ALL OVER the place. I wondered if I had the wrong powder charge. I continued to shoot the remaining 10 rounds in the mag, and still a very wide grouping. Now I'm thinking WTF?!?!? As I dropped the mag, identified my problem. My mount for my Aimpoint came loose. After tightening everything up, I shot another 3 shots. These were damn near through the same hole. I didn't attempt any distance beyond 50yds today. I wanted to make sure my rounds did what they needed to do without any issues. Each round cycled properly and made the requisite bang sound when promted. I inspected my cases afterwards to see if any problems. No deformed brass and the primer hits were solid. The primers also remained seated. All in all, I was nervous about shooting my first reloaded rounds. Now I'm smiling ear to ear. Let the addiction begin (or continue)!

Reloaders Bench in Mount Juliet has CCI Primers. They are limited the number of boxes you can purchase. I got me 4 boxes today.

I'm looking too, but have not found any place that has them instock.

I have just started reloading, so I am only slightly ahead of you when it comes to knowledge. There are much more knowledgeable people on this site. I can talk about what I have experienced so far. So here goes... The setup of my press was challenging. I have started out my reloading with .223 REM. I was continuously referring from the setup steps to the graphical breakdowns in the front of the instructions. After I got everything installed, the dies presented a few problems. I used a couple cases and bullets to get all the initial settings correct: resizing, depriming, bullet seating, and then the crimping. Many measurements at this point, until I was within my reloading manuals tolerances. Following this, I took the advice of a fellow TGO member. I seated a bullet and crimped it (no primer or powder). I then used a Sharpy pen and put a thin line around the bullet at the top of the case. I loaded this round into my AR. I was looking to see if my bullet was "pushed" into the case. If this happens, the line you drew will disappear. You would then have to adjust your bullet seating until your bullet does not move. After I got those dies set, I moved to the powder charge die. This took the most time. The trick is is getting the die at the correct height so the case engages the powder funnel, and inturn cycles the powder measure completely. After a lot of tinkering, I figured it out. I then set my powder charge and made multiple runs to verify a consistant charge. This is a broad overview and it does not address all issues. I recommend getting together with a local reloader to assist. You asked about gloves. I don't wear them, but I do wash my hands quite a bit when reloading. Here's a few tips that have helped me: - Be sure to have a case gauge for verifying rounds after reloading http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=136569 - Go slow! It's easy to overlook steps if you rush with the 550B press (I have loaded a couple rounds without primers ) - Check your powder charge periodicly - Measure, measure, and measure again! The case die will show most problems, but I also measure the overall length at the end of a session. - I shake my rounds to verify there is a powder charge in each case - Ignore the rate of 400-500 rounds per hour in the Dillon instructions. This will come in time. I have made my first run of rounds and plan to test them this weekend. I will post the results.

Give yourself a lot of time to set the press up. I won't lie; it took me 3 hours to take my press from the box to the mounted and assembled on my bench. What are you initially reloading, pistol or rifle rounds?

Don' blame me, I'm buying the reloading components. I make my own. Primers are getting harder to find.....you guys need to stop buying ammo.

Holy Crap! Is that gold plated? WOnder it they comp the shipping costs?!?!?

That case gauge is one of the best "tools" I have. It makes quick work of verifying completed rounds. Thanks for suggesting it. I'm ready to look into reloading .40S&W. EDIT- The mullet pic stays until I can find something better!

Well, things progress slightly beyond my Rockchucker this week. The Santa-Patrick-Bday-Easter-XMAS stork showed up at my door with a little surprise- a Dillon 550B with all the accessories for loading .233. After several hours of assembly and reading and adjusting.....I loaded my first couple rounds (talk about nerve racking). This is a great system and very easy to use. I was interrupted a couple times during the process, which caused me to not prime 2 rounds. This would explain all the powder that suddenly appeared on my press. Couple things I learned: 1- LOCK THE DOOR! No interruptions. 2- Establish a simple routine, with lots of checking steps 3- Slow is fast 4- Measure, measure, and measure (your caliper is your best friend) Special thanks to Adam out at The Reloader Bench for answering all my questions.

EXCELLENT! Glad to hear you had good results. I am getting ready to load my first rounds. I will probably have the same fear when I pull the trigger on my first few reloads. RW- My schedule is open day/evening Thur, Sat, or Sun, if you are available.

I hope to get to that point in the future. I think it will all come down to her being comfortable. I will try to take her out to the range and see how it goes. More to follow...

You are correct sir. Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. (per their website)

I will take things slow.... I want to take her out, show her the basics of my Ruger 10/22. I want her to gain the confidence in handling, loading, and shooting. I will not push her at all, but rather focus on the safety of firearms. From this I will hope to build her skills and interest in being around any weapons. More to follow...

Alcoa bandwagon = reference to people who label other with a conspiracy theory label. This is the simple labeling of a person as a tin-foil hat wearer. Comes from person who it too lazy or too weak to actually involve themself or engage in an issue, but rather slap a simple, ridiculous label on a person rather than addressing or debating it. There are many side to an issue. I guess it easier to just label someone rather than debate a point they know nothing about. I respect your opinion, but I do not agree with it.

Glenn Beck has made the best statement: never pay attention to what the left hand is screaming about, but rather watch watch the right hand is doing. They make a huge deal out of one insignificant thing, while bending us over with another. Sad part is they did this to themselves. Their haste to pass that bill (ego NOT READ THE D&MN THING), led to this. Now they are screaming its un-american what AIG did. I support giving the bonuses back to AIG. The gov't signed up for it, made the contract and screwed us all. I also think our elected officials should pay for the 165M (and growing) mistake. Now I think we should vote everyone out of office who voted for the bill. Bottom line, you guys screwed us, now pay the piper.

How can you think this "right" is capable of being lost? IMO, the words "shall not be infringed" equate to a right that cannot be legislated away. But here's a thought, we are given the 2nd amendment as a tool for the people to repell a tyranical gov't, but if you move to express your constitutional right with "arms" and repell a threat to our countries core values(such as lawmakers breaking laws, constitutional violations, or violations of your oath), you are considered a criminal. How is this not in conflict with the 2nd amendment? There has been recent military training to conduct operations during the enactment of martial law. The Patriot Act (falsely named) and FEMA intrudes more so on your rights than people realize. It's truly scary what the elected officials call necessary for the defense of our nation. I do not subscribe to the tin-foil nature of some of the people here, nor do I want to simply label people, as many have done, an official member of the tin-foil brigade. Knowledge is power and I want to retain the rights that were given to us. Our elected officials should fear us, as citizens. We put them into office and we can remove them. But before a number of you jump on the Alcoa band-wagon, consider this. This is just a thought, nothing more (first amendement). I do not advocate overthrowing the gov't or an armed up-rising. I prefer to think about all angles without bowing to one.

Even though I am not a fan of Bud, I am a fan of being in the presence of MEGA-KEGS!!! :D:D

Have the party begin later in the evening or take the party down to Winchester.

I tend to miss those sales since I am out of town so much. I have to settle for online ammo sales. I'm good with paying their price and have the convienence of having it delivered to my door.

The shipping is higher, but the total costs are still cheaper than other sites I have visited. Plus its not the overseas or mexican made ammo.