Jamie Jackson

This is an excellent, and informative thread. Thanks!  :up:   All I shoot in my handguns are my handloads...But It's been quite some time since I've reloaded .223/5.56, but I've been collecting and acquiring brass...I have primers, a couple of powders, and even have some 55 gr bullets still on hand.   I've had "issues" with buckling the shoulders before...and for quite a few years factory ammo was affordable... Not any longer...   I have a set of small base RCBS dies coming this week, and thanks to the excellent info on this thread I'm looking forward to rolling my own 5.56.     That most recent "tip" is excellent Dolomite.

I've only had the opportunity to shoot one steel challenge match at ORSA, but it was a blast.   Yes, you only stand in one spot for the most part, but it's an good format to practice transitional shooting. The folks SO'ing and shooting the match are excellent resources and extremely helpful...as well as some incredible shooter...like John and Jason. :hat:   At ORSA, you can shoot .22 carbines (I shot my 10/22) or .22 cal handguns, as well as normal pistol calibers.   I plan to make the next Steel Challenge at ORSA. If you find yourself in East TN you should look into it. I think you'll find it a great venue.

From the heart my friend.

  Whew...those I would pull and use the bullets and brass for my own handloads. Ya gotta be cautious... :2cents:

  Good point JAB.   My frame of reference is from my deer and hog hunting youth in the swamps and marshes of south Mississippi. At 15-25 yds it was highly effective. I haven't had the opportunity to hunt deer in TN...yet... :pleased:       To all: As regards to home defense: I keep and AR and my Mossy handy. At in home distances, 10-12 yds is a relatively long shot. As I referenced previously, working within the "A" zone capabilities of a shotgun (aimed like a rifle), buckshot has a profound impact (pun intended) on it's target. I have cared for folks shot with # 6 or 8 shot from about 5-7 feet...very nasty, and buckshot from 8-10 feet...again very nasty...But it all depends on target area struck, and vital organs penetrated, as to the end result.   That being said, most people, with reasonable training, can hit more accurately and quickly (multiple shots) using a carbine (AR/AK). Current training dictates a NSR (Non Standard Response) of 3-5 shots at the center of whatever target is presented for the carbine platform. But I'm going off on a tangent...   imho...A shotgun is a formidable home defense weapon. As Col. Cooper's Rule # 4 states: [i]Be sure of your target and what's beyond it[/i]. This applies to shotties and carbines...both have their place in our home defense battery.   :2cents:

This is just my unsolicited opinion. If you can only take one class this year, please consider this one.   I know Randy as a man of personal integrity and honor, someone I respect. I also know his background and training. He brings much to the plate.   There are a lot of folks that can teach you to shoot, and that is an essential element of your training. But Randy can teach you to fight…that’s another element altogether...for many a paradigm shift. As Randy cautions, this is not a novice course…but well worth working towards.   Having a new gun to put in your safe or that stack of ammo in your basement is good indeed. But investing in yourself through this invaluable training that Randy is offering is the best investment you could make imho.

  A "full" choke gives a tight pattern and is useful for certain hunting applications, i.e. deer. Improved cylinder, modified etc for birds...   I don't hunt with one and I don't shoot trap or skeet...but many are much more knowledgeable than I am on the topic and can offer much better info and suggestions.   Here's a good explanation from [url=http://www.briley.com/understandingshotgunchokesabriefexplanationbybriley.aspx] Briley[/url].       My Mossy 590 came with a cylinder bore...essentially no choke. And it patterned well with defensive loads. After several thousand rounds through it, I sent it to [url=https://vangcomp.com] Hans Vang[/url] to be "comped". This extended the 00 Buck grouping I use dramatically. Some, if not many, may not see the utility in it. To each their, it met my needs... :pleased:

Very well written and to the point.   I watched a "movie" on you tube last week entitled "[u] Agenda: Grinding American Down[/u]" that ties in very well with this.   We, of conservative bent, many, but not all from Judeo-Christian background and upbringing, can see this clearly. But you can also clearly see that the inter-generational indoctrination our children has had a significant negative impact on their ability to comprehend the obvious...no tin-foil-hattery intended, nor needed.   We have a challenge ahead...I hope and Pray it's only a challenge...   Thanks for the link Randall.

Excellent suggestions above.     Something one may wish to consider is the idiosyncrasies of a particular shotgun. Shotguns are like women, some may look similar, but they are uniquely different. :D From my experience, every shotgun has a particular brand of and load of ammo, which they pattern best with. This certainly goes for slugs, regarding point of aim vs point of impact, as well. My Mossy (Vang Comped 590) has a preference for Federal H-132 00 Buck. I arrived at this thru trial and error. Fortunately, it also like Federal slugs also. I generally purchase them by case lots. FWIW Defensive Shotgun patterns are generally referred to by their zones. These are the A, B, & C zones. Author John Marrs in an [url=http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-Technology/In-defense-of-the-shotgun/1$40875] article for Officer.com entitled “In Defense of the Shotgun”[/url] explains it better than I do. “A shotgun has three levels of use typically referred to as zones. The A zone is where the shotgun is a truly devastating weapon. It's measured from the muzzle out to where the buckshot pattern stays together so that it makes one big ugly hole in the target; this hole can be covered with your open hand. Depending on the weapon/ammo combination, the A zone is out to around 7 to 10 yards. The B zone is where the pellets have had time to spread out and develop a pattern but are still on target. This is the zone where the shotgun is most effective and can be exploited to the fullest. The weapon can be fired quickly with a flash sight picture and still make good hits. The B zone goes from about 10 to 20 yards. Inside 20 yards, the shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot is king, but if you need to engage a target at more than 20 yards and you only have 00 buck, the rifle is the way to go. The C zone is the point at which the pellets spread out and some may be off the target. While still lethal, the loss of control of the pattern makes the use of buckshot unacceptable for law enforcement.” John Marrs {Most shotgun training doctrine teaches a transition to slugs upon reaching the C Zone, this is how I was trained.}   Defensive Shotguns: Pistol Grips: I don’t really care for them. They have never been a hindrance on the Benelli or Remington 870’s I’ve run. But I feel they impede the acquisition of the safety on my Mossberg. Carry Strap (of sling, if you prefer): An absolute necessity. Shotguns get heavy, there is always some administrative detail to attend, and last but not least, I’d rather hang on to my shotgun during a transition to sidearm than drop it on the ground. Spare ammo: I like to use a [url=http://www.tacstar.com/home/6-shot.php ] Side Saddle shotshell carrier[/url]. At least when I have to grab and go, I’ll have a reload.   Sidesaddle link: http://www.tacstar.com/home/6-shot.php   Edited: trouble with link...  

Good shooting and Thanks for posting the vids.  :hat:   Great match. Thanks to all!

Well said Caster!   I stand corrected. Language does in fact structure thought.   I don't reload... I handload.    My bad. :hat:

I'm a reloader. I can't begin to tell you how many of my reloaded rounds I've fired over the past 25 years. I know I have better than 30,000 of my reloads through a Government Model Colt I have.   Yet I am hesitant to fire someone's reloads unless it's someone I know and trust. Then ? No worries.   That being said, I have blown a Glock 21 with a double charge. One second of focused inattention while reloading is all it took. My fault completely. Lesson learned, failsafe procedures indoctrinated into my process. So far, so good...better than 13 years...   But I garden, I pressure can and water bath can. I can a variety of meats. I have friends that look at me like I have 2 heads when the topic comes up. They are the same folks that think that reloading requires "magical knowledge". You try to educate...   Life has risks. You try to minimize the impacts.   My guns are tools. I take care of them, but I work them. They are tools. They will wear out. And they are replaceable. :2cents:       If you are speaking of commercial reloads then that's another topic.   I have fired many, many Black Hills reloads...mostly 5.56/.223...and wish I could still afford them...or even locate them LOL.

    Well...not if you don't tell everybody about it. :squint:         Wait a minute...you mean they might be reading this? :ugh:

I just finished "Going Home" by A.American. Good read.   I waiting on his next book "Surviving Home" to be released in print. The kindle version is out on Amazon already. I'm old school and prefer a tangible book...   I just ordered "Patriot Dawn: The resistance Rises" by Max Velocity and I'm looking forward to reading it.   Thanks for the great suggestions folks.

Excellent suggestion Caster.   I've seen it mentioned (on a "prepper" website) that you can use old paint cans, just cleaned out well, for low profile ammo storage. Like you suggested...no one would pay any attention to them.   Thanks! :up:             BrasilNuts tipped me off on this one and it works great. Very handy and darned durable.

I watched the 1st episode online at the History Channel website last evening. (Thanks for the head's up...I didn't know it had started). Much better than previous episodes! Shooting skill and no "Lifetime television for women" drama! Finally... :pleased:

I thought it was an excellent match.   Many Thanks to Mike Madden, the SO's (Great Job Folks!), the organizers,and many fine sponsors.   It was also nice to meet the many fine folks from Nashville and surround areas...mighty fine shooters I might add.  :up:   As always getting to spend a day shooting with friends can't be beat. And getting to hang with a buddy I hadn't seen in awhile was an added bonus...Good to see you Randy.

    It'd be nice, and I hope you're right.   Just remember that Obama and his ilk are still there, and I don't think they're done just yet...

See you there Buddy.   :wave:

  LOL, My schedule has been a bit chaotic...and I picked up 8 lbs of Unique. :pleased:   I [u]do[/u] plan to work up some loads in the next couple of weeks and I will be happy to share the results.

  Snakes have their place...in my toilet ain't one of 'em.       We all have to know our place in life. Snakes, Politicians, and other reptiles... :cool:

    You know...I think it's one of those cases of "it ain't over til it's over"...and that'll take quite a bit more time imho.   There is a definite paradigm shift, as all so often happens in our "gun culture". I think the primary lesson is to pick up on "deals" as you can and not make the assumption that change will not occur. "Cause it certainly will...   I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic...   I think the frenzy will settle, but we have a whole lot more guns owners due to the most recent attempts by .gov to curtail of God Given Rights...they'll all need ammo. Not as much as the core element of shooters (us)...but they'll still need and purchase it.   The deals will show up. We simply can't be complacent  and expect things to return to the old "normal".   Normalcy Bias has bitten more than a few people on the a**. :2cents: 

My reloading setup is in my basement and is climate controlled. I know people caution against leaving the powder in the measure, but I have left it in my for weeks on end with no problems. It's generally Unique or W 231.   I always check several powder charges when I start a run and it remains consistent. Never had any "dud" issues.   :2cents:

    Good grief...I'm friggin old! :ugh: I'm currently shooting Federal .22 LR I purchased in 1991-1993...   Interesting graph. Thanks for posting it. It kinda reinforces the point that ammo is a decent investment from many aspects... I've always heard "buy it cheap and stack it deep". I guess it's all relative... and is certainly worth the time and money to pick up good deals when they present themselves.   I just thank the Good Lord I started reloading a loooong time ago. :pleased:

  You're very fortunate then. There is a lot of competition for lead, especially wheelweights in my area. It seems that with the current ammo situation more and more folks are either getting into casting their own, or considering it and gathering the materials. I am in the category of "gathering the materials" . :pleased: