Thanks cause I'm confused !
getting started reloading .45 ammo
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
-
Lunga Bunga
- Junior Member
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:49 pm
getting started reloading .45 ammo
I bought a Kimber 45 2 Stainless 2 weeks ago and have yet to fire it . A deputy friend of mine gave me a box of reload ammo. His son in law reloads all their ammo. He told me he was a fanatic about perfection in reloading . I read in my gun warranty book that if I use reloaded ammo it would void my warranty. How would they know I used reloaded ammo unless it just literally blew the barrel off the gun or something similar ? I don't know the first thing about reloading . I saw a link on a gun forum for reloading equipment and sent off for their catalog and info on reloading . I've talked to some gun owners at work and most of them say they buy ammo from gun shops and stay away from reloading and reloading ammo. Can someone that DOES reload or shoot reloaded ammo give me some insight on whether or not they advise other people to reload themselves ?
Thanks cause I'm confused !
Thanks cause I'm confused !
-
GrandmasterB
- Member
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:33 pm
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
Most gun manufacturers put verbiage in the gun manuals about not using reloaded ammunition because they can't control what kind of hot reloaded rounds someone may try to fire in their guns and they don't want to be responsible for any damages or problems. Commercial ammunition manufacturers follow standards of pressure and know the right combinations of powder, primer, bullet weight, etc., to make safe ammunition.
That said, reloaders can and do make safe ammunition all the time. And rounds like these can be fired in your gun with no ill effects whatsoever, and it can be a lot of fun and can save a good deal of money over factory ammo prices.
I have been reloading my own pistol ammunition for about 5 years now and I rarely ever buy factory ammo anymore. I just buy components and load my own. I have several reloading manuals from different vendors that give lots and lots of info on the right combinations of powder and bullet weights, crimp, etc. And I also load sane and reasonable power target loads and I don't try to load the hottest, hot-rod, most recoiling, loudest booming whatever rounds I can make -- that is where many people make mistakes and simply make unsafe rounds. It is a foolish practice and I stay away from it.
But I can make quite effective loads for plinking, fun, and competition and can make good performing rounds for hunting as well, without getting into dangerous territory.
I also pay close attention to what I am doing when reloading, and I don't try to multi-task and watch TV or carry on a conversation while loading. It takes concentration to make sure you don't make a mistake and load one piece of brass with no powder or put a double-charge of powder in one case. Those kind of mistakes can cause real problems if those rounds are fired in a gun.
But many more people on this forum will tell you similar stories. Get good reloading manuals, good equipment, go slow, concentrate and be safe and you will have great fun making your own ammo and will save over the retail price of factory rounds. But you may end up spending more because you will shoot more!!
That said, reloaders can and do make safe ammunition all the time. And rounds like these can be fired in your gun with no ill effects whatsoever, and it can be a lot of fun and can save a good deal of money over factory ammo prices.
I have been reloading my own pistol ammunition for about 5 years now and I rarely ever buy factory ammo anymore. I just buy components and load my own. I have several reloading manuals from different vendors that give lots and lots of info on the right combinations of powder and bullet weights, crimp, etc. And I also load sane and reasonable power target loads and I don't try to load the hottest, hot-rod, most recoiling, loudest booming whatever rounds I can make -- that is where many people make mistakes and simply make unsafe rounds. It is a foolish practice and I stay away from it.
But I can make quite effective loads for plinking, fun, and competition and can make good performing rounds for hunting as well, without getting into dangerous territory.
I also pay close attention to what I am doing when reloading, and I don't try to multi-task and watch TV or carry on a conversation while loading. It takes concentration to make sure you don't make a mistake and load one piece of brass with no powder or put a double-charge of powder in one case. Those kind of mistakes can cause real problems if those rounds are fired in a gun.
But many more people on this forum will tell you similar stories. Get good reloading manuals, good equipment, go slow, concentrate and be safe and you will have great fun making your own ammo and will save over the retail price of factory rounds. But you may end up spending more because you will shoot more!!
Romans 5:8
-
nuparadigm
- Senior Member
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:25 pm
- Location: Ft. Bend County
- Contact:
Congratulations on your new .45. These days, it's still possible to save money by loading your own .45 ACPs (once you get a good stock of brass). If it were 9mm you were asking about, I'd say that, right now, it's cheaper to buy range-fodder in large quantities than to load them yourself.
But ... I've noticed that the store price of 9mm is going up a bit. So the days may come back when loading that will pay-off as well.
The advice given by the poster above is good. Start of frugally and minimally in order to learn the basics.
If you go to http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse , you can expect to get in on the ground floor for not much cash:
Press, funnel, ram prime & lube: $34.49
Lee Carbide dies (w/factory crimp) $28.49
Reloading tray $ 5.99
Total: $68.97
Powder, bullets and cases can be purchased locally or over the web from places such as Midway. There are many sources. Midway and http://www.wideners.com/are but two of them.
But ... I've noticed that the store price of 9mm is going up a bit. So the days may come back when loading that will pay-off as well.
The advice given by the poster above is good. Start of frugally and minimally in order to learn the basics.
If you go to http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse , you can expect to get in on the ground floor for not much cash:
Press, funnel, ram prime & lube: $34.49
Lee Carbide dies (w/factory crimp) $28.49
Reloading tray $ 5.99
Total: $68.97
Powder, bullets and cases can be purchased locally or over the web from places such as Midway. There are many sources. Midway and http://www.wideners.com/are but two of them.
The last train out of any station will not be filled with nice people.
Remember Newton and Azrak.
Remember Newton and Azrak.
Reloading is definately the way to go. Not only do you save on the cost per round, but you get to tune yours loads to your weapon and yourself. I personally wouldn't use reloads to break in your Kimber, but after break in I would.
Reloading isn't for everyone. You need to be able to concentrate totally on the task at hand and be very detail oriented. If you can do this, then reloading can work for you. There are a bunch of reloading forums, and I read up on reloading for a couple months before I started. If you do start reloading, any questions you may have can be asked here, and I'm sure the collective wisdom will get you going real quick.
Good luck,
Dan
Reloading isn't for everyone. You need to be able to concentrate totally on the task at hand and be very detail oriented. If you can do this, then reloading can work for you. There are a bunch of reloading forums, and I read up on reloading for a couple months before I started. If you do start reloading, any questions you may have can be asked here, and I'm sure the collective wisdom will get you going real quick.
Good luck,
Dan
Lunga Bunga, All good advice above. I own & carry Kimber. Shoot reloads for all my practice & IPSC matches. The warenty statement is for liability. Only way they will know is if you blow up a barrel & they WILL ask what you shot in it.
Loading is like shooting. It is safe as long as you are safe while doing it.
read the manuals, Read The Manuals, READ THE MANUALS.
Don't watch TV, visit, try to talk on phone,...
As above, you need to be able to attend to detail & repetition w/o getting bored, in a hurry, or careless.
It is pretty easy to find a load that is very close to your carry ammo. I occasionally stagger my loads & carry ammo to check accuracy, point of impact, & perceived recoil. Pretty easy to load so that you cant tell which is which. Don't load your carry ammo.
Diode, in most calibers you can still load economically even if you have to buy brass. Try trading for it if you can. I agree w/ above that 9mm is not cheaper to load at this time if you have to buy brass. Most ranges will at least let you pick up you own brass. I have never bought the 1st piece of pistol brass in any cal.
For all new to loading, any Qs you have will receive good answers here on the loading forum. There are several loaders here that are quit accomplished. Any problem you find has probably been seen by one or more of us.
Any mistake you make, I have already done it twice, & will tell you not to do it again 'cause it still wont work.
Try to find someone close to you that loads & will let you learn a little to see if it is for you. There is no one that I know of who is indifferent about loading. We like it or they will not fool w/ it for any reason or any savings.
Edit: Forgot to say, welcome aboard.
Loading is like shooting. It is safe as long as you are safe while doing it.
read the manuals, Read The Manuals, READ THE MANUALS.
Don't watch TV, visit, try to talk on phone,...
As above, you need to be able to attend to detail & repetition w/o getting bored, in a hurry, or careless.
It is pretty easy to find a load that is very close to your carry ammo. I occasionally stagger my loads & carry ammo to check accuracy, point of impact, & perceived recoil. Pretty easy to load so that you cant tell which is which. Don't load your carry ammo.
Diode, in most calibers you can still load economically even if you have to buy brass. Try trading for it if you can. I agree w/ above that 9mm is not cheaper to load at this time if you have to buy brass. Most ranges will at least let you pick up you own brass. I have never bought the 1st piece of pistol brass in any cal.
For all new to loading, any Qs you have will receive good answers here on the loading forum. There are several loaders here that are quit accomplished. Any problem you find has probably been seen by one or more of us.
Any mistake you make, I have already done it twice, & will tell you not to do it again 'cause it still wont work.
Try to find someone close to you that loads & will let you learn a little to see if it is for you. There is no one that I know of who is indifferent about loading. We like it or they will not fool w/ it for any reason or any savings.
Edit: Forgot to say, welcome aboard.
Carry 24-7 or guess right.
CHL Instructor. http://www.pdtraining.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
NRA/TSRA Life Member - TFC Member #11
Scrounging brass at the range is a good way to get all you need over time. I've got tons of it that way.Diode wrote:I have been considering reloading as well, I need more projects. :) I undeestand the logic in saving brass to reload but is it still cost effective even if you have to buy the brass?
jim
Amy
Amy Lewis
PGB Superior Cast Bullets
Ranger, Texas
(254) 433-9073
PGB Superior Cast Bullets
Ranger, Texas
(254) 433-9073
Yeah, I have a pretty good pile already by doing that. I figured I would eventually want to start loading my own.Amy wrote:Scrounging brass at the range is a good way to get all you need over time. I've got tons of it that way.Diode wrote:I have been considering reloading as well, I need more projects. :) I undeestand the logic in saving brass to reload but is it still cost effective even if you have to buy the brass?
jim
Amy
Well Diode, when you do start reloading and need bullets check out http://www.prettygoodbullets.com
a.
a.
Amy Lewis
PGB Superior Cast Bullets
Ranger, Texas
(254) 433-9073
PGB Superior Cast Bullets
Ranger, Texas
(254) 433-9073
I will do that!Amy wrote:Well Diode, when you do start reloading and need bullets check out http://www.prettygoodbullets.com
a.
Re: getting started reloading .45 ammo
Loading your own ammo is both economical and fun. As others have said, it isn't hard to do... just use caution.
I would suggest you start out with the Lyman Handbook of REloading (I think they are up to the 48th edition now) it has everything you need to know and more about handloading.
Also, I always suggest buying good quality equipment from the start... RCBS, Redding and Lyman all make good solid long lasting equipment with excellent customer support. If you want to go with the top of the line there is always Dillon. There is little economy to buying cheap and finding you are not satisfied after a few months and having to replace the cheap stuff. The cheap stuff works... but not particularly fast and it is not elegant.
Of course, sometimes we have to start with the cheap stuff, I know lots of guys in school who started with Lee stuff... it worked for them, but they replaced it later on.
Anyway, first thing should be a good manual such as Lyman (particularly if you plan to shoot cast bullets... Lyman has the best info on cast bullets.)
FWIW
Chuck
I would suggest you start out with the Lyman Handbook of REloading (I think they are up to the 48th edition now) it has everything you need to know and more about handloading.
Also, I always suggest buying good quality equipment from the start... RCBS, Redding and Lyman all make good solid long lasting equipment with excellent customer support. If you want to go with the top of the line there is always Dillon. There is little economy to buying cheap and finding you are not satisfied after a few months and having to replace the cheap stuff. The cheap stuff works... but not particularly fast and it is not elegant.
Of course, sometimes we have to start with the cheap stuff, I know lots of guys in school who started with Lee stuff... it worked for them, but they replaced it later on.
Anyway, first thing should be a good manual such as Lyman (particularly if you plan to shoot cast bullets... Lyman has the best info on cast bullets.)
FWIW
Chuck
Lunga Bunga wrote:I bought a Kimber 45 2 Stainless 2 weeks ago and have yet to fire it . A deputy friend of mine gave me a box of reload ammo. His son in law reloads all their ammo. He told me he was a fanatic about perfection in reloading . I read in my gun warranty book that if I use reloaded ammo it would void my warranty. How would they know I used reloaded ammo unless it just literally blew the barrel off the gun or something similar ? I don't know the first thing about reloading . I saw a link on a gun forum for reloading equipment and sent off for their catalog and info on reloading . I've talked to some gun owners at work and most of them say they buy ammo from gun shops and stay away from reloading and reloading ammo. Can someone that DOES reload or shoot reloaded ammo give me some insight on whether or not they advise other people to reload themselves ?
Thanks cause I'm confused !
Hoist on High the Bonnie Blue Flag That Bears the Single Star!
I use Lee equipment and it works great for me. I have a Lee Turret Press. I hand prime and have time so it works out. Other brands that cxm listed are better, but they also cost more. If you just want to have fun without spending alot of money Lee is the way to go. If you have the money and do plan to upgrade later, then I would suggest the better brands. I have seen the dillon 550B recommended quite a bit.