Starting a new caliber question

Steve Smith · September 10, 2000, 11:30 AM

Let's say you're starting to reload a new caliber...say it's .308 Win. How many empty cases do you accumulate before you get started, or before you buy the dies and such?

saands · September 10, 2000, 02:31 PM

I'd say it depends on the round ... for a .308, I'd say 10 cases are plenty, if you plan on shooting it. The .308 brass will be too easy to come by to let it get in the way of getting the dies on order

If on the other hand, you are starting with some unknown wildcat, I'd buffer at least 100 and have a viable source for more. I just bought a Sig P225 and ordered the 9mm dies the same day I ordered the pistol (zero brass in inventory) ... I know I will be reloading light loads for my wife, so it wasn't an issue.
Just my opinion ... Saands

Steve Smith · September 10, 2000, 11:54 PM

I just bought 380 loaded cartridges of IMI "match" reloadable .308 Win. From what you're saying, I have plenty to get started with. I had about 2000 .45 acp cases before I started reloading!

JayDrummond · September 11, 2000, 01:47 AM

"If yo've ever bought ammo for a gun you don't own yet, you might be a gun nut."

If you have the gun and intend to load for it and shoot it, you don't need a minimum number of cases. I started reloading 44 mag. with 50 cases that I'd bought as a factory loaded box of ammo.

Most of my 45 ACP brass is range pickups. Seems I always come back from shooting with more 45 ACP brass than I left the house with.

If you're loading and shooting, the brass will find you.

NJW · September 11, 2000, 04:46 PM

Heck, I had two boxes of .460 Weatherby ammo for almost 10 years before I got around to getting a weapon chambered in it. I knew I would have one eventually.

NJW in AZ

Steve Smith · September 12, 2000, 09:28 AM

When I first posted this, I didn't have my M1A yet either!

September 10, 2000, 11:30 AM	#1
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	Let's say you're starting to reload a new caliber...say it's .308 Win. How many empty cases do you accumulate before you get started, or before you buy the dies and such?

September 10, 2000, 02:31 PM	#2
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	I'd say it depends on the round ... for a .308, I'd say 10 cases are plenty, if you plan on shooting it. The .308 brass will be too easy to come by to let it get in the way of getting the dies on order If on the other hand, you are starting with some unknown wildcat, I'd buffer at least 100 and have a viable source for more. I just bought a Sig P225 and ordered the 9mm dies the same day I ordered the pistol (zero brass in inventory) ... I know I will be reloading light loads for my wife, so it wasn't an issue. Just my opinion ... Saands

September 10, 2000, 11:54 PM	#3
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I just bought 380 loaded cartridges of IMI "match" reloadable .308 Win. From what you're saying, I have plenty to get started with. I had about 2000 .45 acp cases before I started reloading!

September 11, 2000, 01:47 AM	#4
JayDrummond Junior member Join Date: August 23, 2000 Posts: 60	"If yo've ever bought ammo for a gun you don't own yet, you might be a gun nut." If you have the gun and intend to load for it and shoot it, you don't need a minimum number of cases. I started reloading 44 mag. with 50 cases that I'd bought as a factory loaded box of ammo. Most of my 45 ACP brass is range pickups. Seems I always come back from shooting with more 45 ACP brass than I left the house with. If you're loading and shooting, the brass will find you.

September 11, 2000, 04:46 PM	#5
NJW Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 1998 Location: SouthWest Posts: 204	Heck, I had two boxes of .460 Weatherby ammo for almost 10 years before I got around to getting a weapon chambered in it. I knew I would have one eventually. NJW in AZ

September 12, 2000, 09:28 AM	#6
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	When I first posted this, I didn't have my M1A yet either!