Memories

roy reali · March 29, 2010, 06:43 AM

Do you remember the first cartridge you ever reloaded for? Do you remember the components you used, the equipment that was used, and the results? I do.

The first cartridge I reloaded for was the .30-30 Winchester. I used a LeeLoader to make the rounds. Here are the components I used.

Cases: Once fired Federal

Primers: CCI 200

Powder: IMR 3031

Bullet: Sierra 170 FN

Charge: Don't remember, used Lee Dipper.

Results: The rifle shot much better then with any factory loads I had tried.
This hooked me on reloading for life. I have been reloading for over
three decades now.

Who remembers their first reloading attempt?

SL1 · March 29, 2010, 07:06 AM

Used to load .357 Magnum. Data from Speer #9 manual, Speer 158 grain jacketed bullets, Federal cases, Hercules 2400 powder, CCI small pistol magnum primers. Results were about as good as factory loads.

SL1

rattletrap1970 · March 29, 2010, 07:08 AM

Learned reloading from a guy that lived up the street from me. 1'st time reloading was for .30 Carbine. I believe I used USA Brass, Remington Primers, IMR 4895 (cause it works in almost everything), and 110 gr FMJ Hornady bullets. Used his single stage press. I don't remember what it was, I think it was a rockchucker. This was back in 1995 or there abouts. I still have a box of the ammo I reloaded. I got more serious in my early 20's and bought myself a Dillon 550 (stiff have that one). A friend was getting out of shooting due to traveling for his job and gave me his Dillon 550.

Sevens · March 29, 2010, 07:51 AM

Like it was yesterday. 1989, .38 Special, Federal non-nickel brass, Speer swaged lead SWC, 158 gr slugs. CCI-500 small pistol primers and Hercules Green Dot powder. Assembled with Lee Challenger "2001" O-frame press, Lee Carbide dies and yellow Lee powder dipper. No scale.

Shot from my 6-inch S&W 686.

**Mike Irwin** · March 29, 2010, 08:06 AM

.30-06, using Sierra 165 gr. bullets, IMR 4320, and Hornady brass. On an RCBS Rockchucker that my Father bought from a coworker.

That would have been around 1975.

uncyboo · March 29, 2010, 10:22 AM

30-06, 150 grn. Speers, CCI primers, Fed. cases, IMR 4064. RCBS Rockchucker kit bought new. This was 1984.

Dr. Strangelove · March 29, 2010, 01:27 PM

Lee Loader in 9mm for a P08 that my grandfather's brother brought back from WWII. We cast the bullets ourselves and shot it in his basement, I still remember being impressed with the amount of flame coming out of the barrel in the poorly lit room. This was in 1980 or so, I was about seven years old.

I have no idea what primers, cases, and powder that we used. I still have the Lee Loader and use it occasionally for the nostalgia. I even still have a few of the bullets we cast.

Tip:

If you want to pass on a gun or anything else to a specific person after your death, be sure it's well-known and in writing. I don't have the Luger because of this, and my grandfather wouldn't want us arguing over it, so I won't.

RidgwayCO · March 29, 2010, 03:54 PM

.380 Auto with Winchester 95gr FMJ bullets, Remington once-fired brass, CCI small pistol primers, Bullseye powder, Lee 35th Anniversary kit (are they still on the 35th Anniversary??), and RCBS dies. No one I knew reloaded, so I had to teach myself from the Speer #11 manual. After shooting the first round out of my Beretta 84 (and not damaging the gun or blowing my hand off) I was so pleased with myself I couldn't stop smiling for a week...

BigJimP · March 29, 2010, 06:42 PM

No .......I was probably about 10 yrs old ....(can't remember what I did on Saturday .....) let alone 50 yrs ago man .....

Wleoff · March 29, 2010, 07:21 PM

I started competing in SASS in the fall of 1997 and the 45 Colt factory ammo costs were killing me. By chance, I had lunch with Lane Pearce, later the reloading editor for Shooting Times. When I mentioned shooting 45 Colt, Lane asked what load did I use. When he found out that I didn't reload, he was appalled, to say the least. He wanted to teach me to reload and have me evaluate five reloading kits for an article. The article appeared in the February 1998 Shooting Times. So my first reloading round was 45 Colt. I now reload for 23 different rounds. Twenty-four when the 30-40 Krag dies get here.

Edward429451 · March 29, 2010, 10:20 PM

Sure do

45acp
225 gr LRN
CCI LP primers
6.5 gr Unique
Mixed brass
COAL = until they fit in my Colt Mag
Crimp- huh?

RCBS Rockchucker & dies
RCBS 505 scale
Cereal bowl & spoon
Tap Tap Tap hand weigh each charge

They shot great! I had a couple stovepipes because the gun was new

bobelk99 · March 29, 2010, 10:35 PM

Kudus to you guys with all the good memories. I couldn't find my keys earlier today.

I loaded something, in a converted chicken coop, beginning in late 50s. It was either 45s for a $17.50 model 1917 or 30-06 for a $10 Springfield 03-A3. Didn't have money to buy dies for the $20 M1 Carbine.

Used the 30-06 dies later for a $97 match grade M1 Garand.

palabman · March 29, 2010, 10:35 PM

.243 Winchester
Cases: 2x fired Federal. (Remember the 2 red belt cartridge carriers you got with these)
Primer: unknown
Powder: IMR 4350
Press: Rock Chucker
Forster trimmer and Lee Autoprime
Dies: RCBS

Tex S · March 29, 2010, 11:08 PM

Spring 2004...

My roomate brought over his hand-me-down reloading setup when he moved in. It was a desk like they have in elementary school... you know, the ones that are a desk only, not a desk/chair combo. He had a Rock Chucker, Forster trimmer, and a Uniflo mounted to the desk. We loaded up some 150gr Nosler ballistic tips over IMR 3031 for the .308 that my dad bought me for Christmas the year before. All charges were weighed using a Lyman scale and trickler.

The Savage model 10 shot terrible. I tried several different powders before I realized that rifle liked those Nosler bullets .005" off the lands. I haven't loaded for it since. Hell, I might get that thing out and give it another whirl, but I have a Browning A-Bolt that I need to get shooting before I play with that Savage, though.

My roomate and I went separate ways several years after that. It wasn't until Christamas of 2008 that my girlfriend and family got me started with the reloading setup that I have now. I have added on quite a few things to my setup since then. Alot of the stuff I have now is way "nicer" (digital scales, electric powder throw, expensive dies, etc.) than the stuff my buddy taught me on, but I hafta admit that loading with nice equipment by yourself is nowhere near as fun as loading with a good friend.

I miss that old desk...

Scorch · March 30, 2010, 12:39 AM

The year was 1973.
357 Mag/38 Special
Lee Loader in a black and red cardboard box
Bullseye powder in the black/orange square tin with the "push to open" top
CCI primers
Speer half-jacket 158gr hollow points (I had no idea there were any other kind of bullets)

We loaded sitting in the dining room using a chair as a workbench, a board and a Craftsman hammer to power the Lee Loader. Resize (tap, tap, tap), decap (wham), prime (tap, tap), bell (tap, tap), charge (Lee dipper into the can, tap against the can to level, pour into the case), seat the bullet (tap, tap), crimp (tap, tap), done. It took about a minute per round, not an entirely streamlined process, but we made ammo. Later that year I bought my Winchester 94 30-30 with money I saved up working in the local Christmas tree lot, and my brother bought a Winchester Model 70 in 270, so he sprang for an RCBS JR loading press, so I bought dies.

FrankenMauser · March 30, 2010, 01:30 AM

.223 Remington (Destined for a Colt AR-15 SP1)
25 grains Norma 201
Winchester SR Primers
Neck-sized only (I know now. I didn't then.)
55gr Winchester FMJ
70s era LC brass

RCBS Rock Chucker
RCBS 5-0-5
Lee Auto-Prime
RCBS 3-die set
RCBS lube pad and "goo" lube

All on top of an old metal-topped desk from the bank my dad worked at.

I still remember watching Caddy Shack from the extra chairs, as my brothers and I traded time at the press. What a crappy apartment, that was....

That same day, one of my brothers bumped the scale to 28 grains. An unknown number of rounds were loaded at the new charge (by him). My dad knew it was safe in that rifle (from previous testing), and scared my brother with the mistake he made (bumping, but not checking the scale) - and forced him to shoot every round. It seems a bit harsh, but, as I said, they were known safe in that rifle; and we all learned a valuable lesson about closer attention to detail.

Headgear · March 30, 2010, 05:50 AM

1986, 300 Weatherby mag, 175 Sierra, on a rock chucker. I'm thinking it was IMR4064 but there's been a lot of water under the bridge. Over and out!

roy reali · March 30, 2010, 06:01 AM

It is funny how many of us remember all these details. Some from ten, fifteen, or more years back. But we freeze like deer in headlights when our wives ask us what they wore on the first date or even last Sunday in church.

SL1 · March 30, 2010, 06:25 AM

If I had to select my wife's clothes and dress her for our first date, I am SURE I would remember THOSE clothes.

There is a BIG difference in memory between hands-on actions involving decisions when compared to simple observations.

SL1

Edward429451 · March 30, 2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

what they wore on the first date

Blue jeans and a brown shirt. We went shooting my 22 rifles on our first date. It's amazing that I remember what she wore because she was so unsafe I had to be on top of things every second to make sure no one got shot. Oh my God the things men go through for a kiss!

It was worth it

Pongo · March 30, 2010, 12:26 PM

It was 1968 and I was a teenager at school in Britain. Every Wednesday afternoon we had to attend Combined Cadet Force (CCF) training. One of my friends was a "weapons instructor". He could gain access to the .303 British SMLEs the CCF owned. After one of our "boy soldier" field craft exercises, some of us managed to hold back a small amount of the blank ammo we were issued. We opened up the crimped neck and pushed about 1 1/2" of pencil in. Then my friend got hold of a rifle and we did some plinking. Of course the pencil just disintegrated, but it would make holes in a cardboard box at about 15 paces, looked more like a scattergun.

Bamashooter · March 30, 2010, 03:29 PM

wow, cool thread....
30-06, 150gr. sierra bullet, IMR-4895 powder, winchester primer, and frontier brass that i have no idea how old it was. rcbs rockchucker that my uncle gave me.

ir3e971 · March 30, 2010, 03:36 PM

9mm
Bullseye
Rainier Plated
Win SP
Range Pick Up Brass
Lyman Spartan Press

Accomplished with about 60 calls to reloading instructor. (my father)

Jim243 · March 30, 2010, 06:47 PM

yee gads, what a bunch of sentimental geessers, I don't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

45 ACP, 230 grain Gold Dots, Win 231 and Win LP primers.

Good greef I must be one too.

Jim

mbopp · March 30, 2010, 07:00 PM

My new 357 M19-3 that I still have. RCBS JR press, 158 LSWC, CCI primers, and Green Dot (bulk - in a paper bag.)

March 29, 2010, 07:06 AM	#2
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Another Lee hand tool kit. Used to load .357 Magnum. Data from Speer #9 manual, Speer 158 grain jacketed bullets, Federal cases, Hercules 2400 powder, CCI small pistol magnum primers. Results were about as good as factory loads. SL1

March 29, 2010, 07:51 AM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Like it was yesterday. 1989, .38 Special, Federal non-nickel brass, Speer swaged lead SWC, 158 gr slugs. CCI-500 small pistol primers and Hercules Green Dot powder. Assembled with Lee Challenger "2001" O-frame press, Lee Carbide dies and yellow Lee powder dipper. No scale. Shot from my 6-inch S&W 686. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

March 29, 2010, 08:06 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,385	.30-06, using Sierra 165 gr. bullets, IMR 4320, and Hornady brass. On an RCBS Rockchucker that my Father bought from a coworker. That would have been around 1975. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 29, 2010, 03:54 PM	#8
RidgwayCO Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 244	.380 Auto with Winchester 95gr FMJ bullets, Remington once-fired brass, CCI small pistol primers, Bullseye powder, Lee 35th Anniversary kit (are they still on the 35th Anniversary??), and RCBS dies. No one I knew reloaded, so I had to teach myself from the Speer #11 manual. After shooting the first round out of my Beretta 84 (and not damaging the gun or blowing my hand off) I was so pleased with myself I couldn't stop smiling for a week... __________________ "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Nope, not a single word about hunting...

March 30, 2010, 12:39 AM	#15
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	The year was 1973. 357 Mag/38 Special Lee Loader in a black and red cardboard box Bullseye powder in the black/orange square tin with the "push to open" top CCI primers Speer half-jacket 158gr hollow points (I had no idea there were any other kind of bullets) We loaded sitting in the dining room using a chair as a workbench, a board and a Craftsman hammer to power the Lee Loader. Resize (tap, tap, tap), decap (wham), prime (tap, tap), bell (tap, tap), charge (Lee dipper into the can, tap against the can to level, pour into the case), seat the bullet (tap, tap), crimp (tap, tap), done. It took about a minute per round, not an entirely streamlined process, but we made ammo. Later that year I bought my Winchester 94 30-30 with money I saved up working in the local Christmas tree lot, and my brother bought a Winchester Model 70 in 270, so he sprang for an RCBS JR loading press, so I bought dies. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

March 29, 2010, 06:43 AM	#1
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Memories Do you remember the first cartridge you ever reloaded for? Do you remember the components you used, the equipment that was used, and the results? I do. The first cartridge I reloaded for was the .30-30 Winchester. I used a LeeLoader to make the rounds. Here are the components I used. Cases: Once fired Federal Primers: CCI 200 Powder: IMR 3031 Bullet: Sierra 170 FN Charge: Don't remember, used Lee Dipper. Results: The rifle shot much better then with any factory loads I had tried. This hooked me on reloading for life. I have been reloading for over three decades now. Who remembers their first reloading attempt?

March 29, 2010, 07:08 AM	#3
rattletrap1970 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: Torrington, CT. USA Posts: 299	Learned reloading from a guy that lived up the street from me. 1'st time reloading was for .30 Carbine. I believe I used USA Brass, Remington Primers, IMR 4895 (cause it works in almost everything), and 110 gr FMJ Hornady bullets. Used his single stage press. I don't remember what it was, I think it was a rockchucker. This was back in 1995 or there abouts. I still have a box of the ammo I reloaded. I got more serious in my early 20's and bought myself a Dillon 550 (stiff have that one). A friend was getting out of shooting due to traveling for his job and gave me his Dillon 550.

March 29, 2010, 10:22 AM	#6
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	30-06, 150 grn. Speers, CCI primers, Fed. cases, IMR 4064. RCBS Rockchucker kit bought new. This was 1984.

March 29, 2010, 01:27 PM	#7
Dr. Strangelove Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2008 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 1,436	Lee Loader in 9mm for a P08 that my grandfather's brother brought back from WWII. We cast the bullets ourselves and shot it in his basement, I still remember being impressed with the amount of flame coming out of the barrel in the poorly lit room. This was in 1980 or so, I was about seven years old. I have no idea what primers, cases, and powder that we used. I still have the Lee Loader and use it occasionally for the nostalgia. I even still have a few of the bullets we cast. Tip: If you want to pass on a gun or anything else to a specific person after your death, be sure it's well-known and in writing. I don't have the Luger because of this, and my grandfather wouldn't want us arguing over it, so I won't.

March 29, 2010, 06:42 PM	#9
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	No .......I was probably about 10 yrs old ....(can't remember what I did on Saturday .....) let alone 50 yrs ago man .....

March 29, 2010, 07:21 PM	#10
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	I started competing in SASS in the fall of 1997 and the 45 Colt factory ammo costs were killing me. By chance, I had lunch with Lane Pearce, later the reloading editor for Shooting Times. When I mentioned shooting 45 Colt, Lane asked what load did I use. When he found out that I didn't reload, he was appalled, to say the least. He wanted to teach me to reload and have me evaluate five reloading kits for an article. The article appeared in the February 1998 Shooting Times. So my first reloading round was 45 Colt. I now reload for 23 different rounds. Twenty-four when the 30-40 Krag dies get here.

March 29, 2010, 10:20 PM	#11
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Sure do 45acp 225 gr LRN CCI LP primers 6.5 gr Unique Mixed brass COAL = until they fit in my Colt Mag Crimp- huh? RCBS Rockchucker & dies RCBS 505 scale Cereal bowl & spoon Tap Tap Tap hand weigh each charge They shot great! I had a couple stovepipes because the gun was new

March 29, 2010, 10:35 PM	#12
bobelk99 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Location: Central KY Posts: 220	Kudus to you guys with all the good memories. I couldn't find my keys earlier today. I loaded something, in a converted chicken coop, beginning in late 50s. It was either 45s for a $17.50 model 1917 or 30-06 for a $10 Springfield 03-A3. Didn't have money to buy dies for the $20 M1 Carbine. Used the 30-06 dies later for a $97 match grade M1 Garand.

March 29, 2010, 10:35 PM	#13
palabman Member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: SW PA Posts: 80	.243 Winchester Cases: 2x fired Federal. (Remember the 2 red belt cartridge carriers you got with these) Primer: unknown Powder: IMR 4350 Press: Rock Chucker Forster trimmer and Lee Autoprime Dies: RCBS

March 29, 2010, 11:08 PM	#14
Tex S Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, TEXAS Posts: 909	Spring 2004... My roomate brought over his hand-me-down reloading setup when he moved in. It was a desk like they have in elementary school... you know, the ones that are a desk only, not a desk/chair combo. He had a Rock Chucker, Forster trimmer, and a Uniflo mounted to the desk. We loaded up some 150gr Nosler ballistic tips over IMR 3031 for the .308 that my dad bought me for Christmas the year before. All charges were weighed using a Lyman scale and trickler. The Savage model 10 shot terrible. I tried several different powders before I realized that rifle liked those Nosler bullets .005" off the lands. I haven't loaded for it since. Hell, I might get that thing out and give it another whirl, but I have a Browning A-Bolt that I need to get shooting before I play with that Savage, though. My roomate and I went separate ways several years after that. It wasn't until Christamas of 2008 that my girlfriend and family got me started with the reloading setup that I have now. I have added on quite a few things to my setup since then. Alot of the stuff I have now is way "nicer" (digital scales, electric powder throw, expensive dies, etc.) than the stuff my buddy taught me on, but I hafta admit that loading with nice equipment by yourself is nowhere near as fun as loading with a good friend. I miss that old desk...

March 30, 2010, 01:30 AM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	.223 Remington (Destined for a Colt AR-15 SP1) 25 grains Norma 201 Winchester SR Primers Neck-sized only (I know now. I didn't then.) 55gr Winchester FMJ 70s era LC brass RCBS Rock Chucker RCBS 5-0-5 Lee Auto-Prime RCBS 3-die set RCBS lube pad and "goo" lube All on top of an old metal-topped desk from the bank my dad worked at. I still remember watching Caddy Shack from the extra chairs, as my brothers and I traded time at the press. What a crappy apartment, that was.... That same day, one of my brothers bumped the scale to 28 grains. An unknown number of rounds were loaded at the new charge (by him). My dad knew it was safe in that rifle (from previous testing), and scared my brother with the mistake he made (bumping, but not checking the scale) - and forced him to shoot every round. It seems a bit harsh, but, as I said, they were known safe in that rifle; and we all learned a valuable lesson about closer attention to detail. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe. Last edited by FrankenMauser; March 30, 2010 at 12:33 PM. Reason: Shrank post size a bit....

March 30, 2010, 05:50 AM	#17
Headgear Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Southeast, IN Posts: 123	1986, 300 Weatherby mag, 175 Sierra, on a rock chucker. I'm thinking it was IMR4064 but there's been a lot of water under the bridge. Over and out!

March 30, 2010, 06:01 AM	#18
roy reali Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2005 Posts: 3,248	Funny It is funny how many of us remember all these details. Some from ten, fifteen, or more years back. But we freeze like deer in headlights when our wives ask us what they wore on the first date or even last Sunday in church.

March 30, 2010, 06:25 AM	#19
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Roy, not funny at all. If I had to select my wife's clothes and dress her for our first date, I am SURE I would remember THOSE clothes. There is a BIG difference in memory between hands-on actions involving decisions when compared to simple observations. SL1

March 30, 2010, 12:26 PM	#21
Pongo Member Join Date: October 26, 2009 Posts: 74	It was 1968 and I was a teenager at school in Britain. Every Wednesday afternoon we had to attend Combined Cadet Force (CCF) training. One of my friends was a "weapons instructor". He could gain access to the .303 British SMLEs the CCF owned. After one of our "boy soldier" field craft exercises, some of us managed to hold back a small amount of the blank ammo we were issued. We opened up the crimped neck and pushed about 1 1/2" of pencil in. Then my friend got hold of a rifle and we did some plinking. Of course the pencil just disintegrated, but it would make holes in a cardboard box at about 15 paces, looked more like a scattergun.

March 30, 2010, 03:29 PM	#22
Bamashooter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2010 Posts: 1,860	wow, cool thread.... 30-06, 150gr. sierra bullet, IMR-4895 powder, winchester primer, and frontier brass that i have no idea how old it was. rcbs rockchucker that my uncle gave me.

March 30, 2010, 03:36 PM	#23
ir3e971 Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2006 Posts: 145	9mm Bullseye Rainier Plated Win SP Range Pick Up Brass Lyman Spartan Press Accomplished with about 60 calls to reloading instructor. (my father)

March 30, 2010, 06:47 PM	#24
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	yee gads, what a bunch of sentimental geessers, I don't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday. 45 ACP, 230 grain Gold Dots, Win 231 and Win LP primers. Good greef I must be one too. Jim

March 30, 2010, 07:00 PM	#25
mbopp Member Join Date: March 6, 2010 Posts: 50	My new 357 M19-3 that I still have. RCBS JR press, 158 LSWC, CCI primers, and Green Dot (bulk - in a paper bag.)