Re: gun show in miami baby woots woots

**Strag** · 02-21-2007, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

Does anybody here reload?

Yes, I've just gotten into it in the last couple of months. I've been loading quite a bit of .45 (Long) Colt, as well as some .223. I've really been enjoying it.

**shakeyjake** · 02-21-2007, 10:42 AM

Do you use a single stage loader or a progressive? I'm looking into getting into loading mainly for .45 as a cost savings since I'll be shooting it in IDPA. I'll also want to match load .223 and .308 for my AR and M1A.

**jonan_** · 02-21-2007, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

Do you use a single stage loader or a progressive? I'm looking into getting into loading mainly for .45 as a cost savings since I'll be shooting it in IDPA. I'll also want to match load .223 and .308 for my AR and M1A.

Sounds like you have the same things I do. I would be interested in loading .45 for my glock and .223 for my AR. I have not really looked into it but I always like to save money.

**JMJ** · 02-21-2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

Do you use a single stage loader or a progressive? I'm looking into getting into loading mainly for .45 as a cost savings since I'll be shooting it in IDPA. I'll also want to match load .223 and .308 for my AR and M1A.

I use a dillon progressive reloader. Only do 45 ACP. Once you get good at it you can do a lot of rounds in no time at all. I'd highly recommend Dillon products.

**shakeyjake** · 02-21-2007, 11:11 AM

Yeah I'm thinking a progressive for my pistol rounds becuase they crank them out so fast. From what I'm hearing they aren't well suited for doing match grade loads as you can't get as precise with the powder. I guess I'll be getting a single stage as well.

**Strag** · 02-21-2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

Do you use a single stage loader or a progressive? I'm looking into getting into loading mainly for .45 as a cost savings since I'll be shooting it in IDPA. I'll also want to match load .223 and .308 for my AR and M1A.

I've got a Lee Load Master. I know some folks knock Lee, but I've been happy with it. It takes some tweaking to get it set up, but once you do it'll crank out good pistol rounds like mad. The Lee website has plenty of helpful videos to show you how to get things set up. The High Road has a great reloading forum, among others. If you're going to load for IDPA, you'll probably want a progressive press since you'll be turning out a lot of rounds.

I started with the .45 (Long) Colt so I could learn on an easy, low-pressure round. I've got a Ruger (Old) Vaquero and a Marlin 1894CB; both are strong actions, so I figured if I made any mistakes while learning, I couldn't hurt myself. Also, the .45 Colt's straight-walled case makes sizing easy with carbide dies. I've been loading 250 grain LRNFP bullets over various charges of Trail Boss with CCI Large Pistol primers. I've found that, excluding the up-front cost of the press and dies (which pay for themselves over time), I can load .45 Colt for about one quarter of the cost of factory ammo. It has been so cost effective that I now consider .45 Colt a practical plinking round, and my .45 Colt guns have gotten quite a workout lately.

I'd think you would have good luck getting started with .45 ACP. It's a fairly low-pressure round, and it's also a straight-walled case (good for carbide die sizing). Plenty of load data and different bullet weights and styles are available. It'd be a great round to start with.

I've loaded some 69 grain Sierra MatchKing bullets over Varget, but I haven't had a chance to test them in one of my ARs yet. I've also got .308 dies and would like to work up some accurate loads for my .308 guns. My press came with .45 ACP dies, but I haven't messed with them yet. Hopefully soon!

**shakeyjake** · 02-21-2007, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by jonan_

Sounds like you have the same things I do. I would be interested in loading .45 for my glock and .223 for my AR. I have not really looked into it but I always like to save money.

The cheapest I can find decent ammo is about 10.00 a box for 50 rounds. Which is .20 cents a round. I've done the math on reloading .45 and can do them for around .12 a round on the low side. With that math I'll have the reloading equipment paid for in a couple of years and that's not counting reloading my rifle rounds.

**Strag** · 02-21-2007, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

Yeah I'm thinking a progressive for my pistol rounds becuase they crank them out so fast. From what I'm hearing they aren't well suited for doing match grade loads as you can't get as precise with the powder. I guess I'll be getting a single stage as well.

I'd think you could trickle your charges and then throw them by hand with any progressive press. I know you can do this with the Load Master, because I've been doing it with my .223 loads.

**shakeyjake** · 02-21-2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Strag

I've got a Lee Load Master. I know some folks knock Lee, but I've been happy with it. It takes some tweaking to get it set up, but once you do it'll crank out good pistol rounds like mad. The Lee website has plenty of helpful videos to show you how to get things set up. The High Road has a great reloading forum, among others. If you're going to load for IDPA, you'll probably want a progressive press since you'll be turning out a lot of rounds.

I started with the .45 (Long) Colt so I could learn on an easy, low-pressure round. I've got a Ruger (Old) Vaquero and a Marlin 1894CB; both are strong actions, so I figured if I made any mistakes while learning, I couldn't hurt myself. Also, the .45 Colt's straight-walled case makes sizing easy with carbide dies. I've been loading 250 grain LRNFP bullets over various charges of Trail Boss with CCI Large Pistol primers. I've found that, excluding the up-front cost of the press and dies (which pay for themselves over time), I can load .45 Colt for about one quarter of the cost of factory ammo. It has been so cost effective that I now consider .45 Colt a practical plinking round, and my .45 Colt guns have gotten quite a workout lately.

I'd think you would have good luck getting started with .45 ACP. It's a fairly low-pressure round, and it's also a straight-walled case (good for carbide die sizing). Plenty of load data and different bullet weights and styles are available. It'd be a great round to start with.

I've loaded some 69 grain Sierra MatchKing bullets over Varget, but I haven't had a chance to test them in one of my ARs yet. I've also got .308 dies and would like to work up some accurate loads for my .308 guns. My press came with .45 ACP dies, but I haven't messed with them yet. Hopefully soon!

A buddy that I shoot with has the Lee progressive and was saying the same thing about having to tweak it to set it up right, bolts turned just the right amount, etc. That had me a little turned off of it. The .308 loads in the M1 are the ones I'm a little worried about. The last thing I want is the gun to blow up in my face.

**Strag** · 02-21-2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by shakeyjake

A buddy that I shoot with has the Lee progressive and was saying the same thing about having to tweak it to set it up right, bolts turned just the right amount, etc. That had me a little turned off of it. The .308 loads in the M1 are the ones I'm a little worried about. The last thing I want is the gun to blow up in my face.

I don't blame you. I'm worried about the same thing with these AR loads I've been doing, so I've been trickling each charge. I've got a funnel on the powder charging die, and I throw the charge by hand for each round that passes through that station. Then I weigh each completed round to make sure they're all about the same weight (give or take a few grains for variances in cases and bullets).

**Acreo Aeneas** · 03-01-2007, 12:37 AM

Oiy, I'd love to go shooting sometime Cingular. Last thing I fired at a range was a .30 odd 60 bolt action (think that was it) and a .22 semi.

**CingularDuality** · 03-01-2007, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Acreo Aeneas

Oiy, I'd love to go shooting sometime Cingular. Last thing I fired at a range was a .30 odd 60 bolt action (think that was it) and a .22 semi.

Squeak is a Chicago-area member here and he just purchased his first gun. Perhaps you guys could get together and find the best shooting range in the Chicago area?

And if you're ever down in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, let me know and I'd be happy to take you shooting!

**Radooh** · 03-02-2007, 02:50 AM

There's a gunshow going on 24/7....UP MY SLEEVES.

OH SNAP

**GenTrae** · 03-02-2007, 10:55 AM

real mans gun...
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/pics/crossbow_w.jpg

**shakeyjake** · 03-02-2007, 08:35 PM

Just picked up an XD today to see what all the fuss was about. I can't wait to put a couple hundred rounds through it tomorrow.

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