Wanted to say Hi.....

[Don2]

Just thought I'd say hi and introduce myself.
Been handloading just about everything from shot shells to rifle and pistol ammo(and love it) for only 10 years.
Got into casting several years ago, and now I'm hooked on another aspect of reloading..!!!
Where does it end?

I live around Crockett. I'm out in the "Woods" so I enjoy shooting out back.
I'm finishing up a 30'x12' outbuilding into a shop/reloading area, installed plenty of insulation for the HOT summers and wet/cold winters so I can keep my equipment from getting "RUSTY"..!!

I'm always looking to learn more and try to keep on top of the reloading/handloading hobby.

Talk to yall later
Don2

[A-R]

Welcome Don2 - when can we all come over to your backyard and play? sounds awesome

But seriously, welcome aboard

[longtooth]

Welcome aboard. I am Angelina Co.

[Don2]

Thanks Andy & AR..!
I like to pick up reloading knowledge from these forums.
There are guys that have been handloading for 30 and more years around and always like to listen in.
A neighbor who was in the military and who has been handloading for about 30 years got me involved and showed me the ropes.
I was lucky to have someone knowledgeable looking over my shoulder

Its very much fun to me, its my hobby now...I use to build and work on computers, that got to be boring so I fell into reloading, now I use non-working hard drives for targets.

I bought a new Lee 00buck 18 mold a while back and the other day started using it. Its the classic aluminum mold so I prep'd it like the instructions say ( Works best..matches and all ) Made a few hundred, most all of the came out just fine. ( still getting the hang of using the large lee mold ) Temp is kinda touchy on them.
Next will be loading some up to do some plinking.
Sounds like fun.......

Don2

[Don2]

Welcome aboard. I am Angelina Co.

Thanks, I make a visit to Lufkin every now and then.
Its a nice drive through the Piney Woods

Don2

[texasmusic]

Howdy!

Welcome aboard, of course you know we expect pictures of your new "man cave" so we can all .

I didn't have the opportunity to meet many experienced reloaders face to face, so I come here with all my annoying questions , it's a wealth of great information and great guys over here.

[Don2]

Howdy!

Welcome aboard, of course you know we expect pictures of your new "man cave" so we can all .

I didn't have the opportunity to meet many experienced reloaders face to face, so I come here with all my annoying questions , it's a wealth of great information and great guys over here.

First off...Thanks.
Pictures...No way...I'm not finished AND its all a BIG MESS...Box's everywhere.
I have 1 - 1/2 inside walls to finish, then it on to rebuilding my benches. Have a couple of 6' welded tube benches which I will top one with 1"oak boards, the other with 2" pine boards. Going to have one bench for rifle/pistol reloading, one for shotgun reloading and one for Working on stuff. Plus a few others for misc. stuff. I'm kinda excited about it, I have been working on it for more than a year. It was just an open building. Had outside walls, but no inside walls or insulation and very little wiring.
Oh...And a leaky roof...That was the tough part.!!!
I should be finish in a few months if my body holds out

Having a "Buddy" to teach/load with is a GREAT HELP....Next in line is READING everything you can get your hands on.
I also read all the comments at like Midways and other web site on products I'm looking at. It helps some?

Reloading forums are also a great source of information. I STILL look all the time and learn something almost every day. It never ends. New stuff coming out all the time. Like new powders and bullets etc......

One problem I have and most people do is a lack of local reloading supplies. Unless your in one of the "Big Cities" !
Dallas / Houston etc....
Use to live in Houston...then got smart and moved out after my house being broke into by what looked like gang members?
And me in bed alone just getting out of hospital after surgery . ((( My 870 is my FRIEND )))

Sorry...I ramble sometimes.
Don2

[texasmusic]

Well after you're done then!

There's one shop in my area with some old reloading stuff but unfortunately it's priced as if it was gold plated or something. I got my single stage from Midway, I sit there for hours... kinda slow but I enjoy it. I am scouring craigslist in the area for a tumbler right now though, haven't found a deal on a good one yet.

[Don2]

Well after you're done then!

There's one shop in my area with some old reloading stuff but unfortunately it's priced as if it was gold plated or something. I got my single stage from Midway, I sit there for hours... kinda slow but I enjoy it. I am scouring craigslist in the area for a tumbler right now though, haven't found a deal on a good one yet.

I hate to hurt your feelings, but I stumbled on a killer deal on a tumbler a few years ago. Was talking to a friend in Houston about some reloading things and he mentioned he had something I may want..!!
He had a used Burr-King 150s commercial vibrating tumbler that he sold me for a hundred dollar bill..!!!
http://www.machinetools4sale.com/shop/i ... temid=2376" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
WoW...a $750+ tumbler for $100...He bought it at a company auction going out of business for $75..!!
I gladly paid shipping to me...!!!
I am VERY HAPPY with it and it works GREAT. I tumbled 2K 380acp's in it a few months ago and it looked like it would take more?? Only took 3 hours with walnut media and a little Nu-Finish polish and they came out like new. May have only took less time, just had something to do for a few hours and left them in for the heck of it.

You never know....Thats a rare find, but he was also a friend....he knew what he had, thats why he bought it.

Keep looking....I was going to buy the Dillon large tumbler if I didn't find one soon, my RCBS one had died.

Don2

[texasmusic]

Have a good recommendation for somebody with <50 bucks to spend?

[Don2]

Have a good recommendation for somebody with <50 bucks to spend?

And what would that be ?

[texasmusic]

Oh sorry, I was asking about a tumbler.

[Don2]

Oh sorry, I was asking about a tumbler.

To be truthful, I really thing most of them are about equal in that price range.
The old RCBS I use to have was in that price range and worked pretty good, I have also heard the Lyman tumblers are just fine also.
Heard some good remarks about the one Berry's Mfg. sells.
Dillons always seem to get good reviews, not sure if its because they are that good, or Dillon users are just loyal???
( No disrespect to Dillon users intended ) I used a Dillon press for a long time on loan, just have not had the cash to buy a new one lately. Its on my Christmas List

I have heard mixed reviews about the one Harbor Freight sells, I might stay away from this one just because I have bought my share of HF tools, some that did not hold up past a few days..!!!

I think your best bet would be to buy a Lyman tumbler, and use plain ole corn or walnut media with a polishing agent added. I use Nu-Finish...It works and is cheaper that some of the other ones made for tumbling. Plus Walmart sells it :-)

That's the best I can do for you at this point. Problem is, I have heard and read good and bad about most of them...Just got to pick a name brand one and try it. The name brands have very good warranty's if anything goes wrong..!!
RCBS has ALWAYS fixed or replaced everything I have ever had problems with..!!

Don2

[texasmusic]

Thanks Don I'll look into those.

In regards to HF stuff, I have a 12v air compressor from them that was 15 bucks or so... I went through a period where I had to air my tire up every morning to get going for the day and in the dark with no coffee I left it plugged in and ran the thing over. Crushed the case and broke the ON/OFF to permanently ON. To my surprise it works to this day! (Can't say the same for other things I got there.)