First Batch

Schlitz 45 · March 17, 2018, 04:00 PM

Decided to give reloading a try. I've started shooting a 45Colt revolver and prefer jacketed bullets that run anywhere from $32 to $40 for a box a fifty around here. So the cost, easy size cases to work with, along with the fact that I'm pushing the empties right into my hand made it seem like the logical thing to do. just starting out with the bare necessities as my space is somewhat limited. A Lee hand press & dies, inexpensive but accurate scale, a pound of powder, some primers & I'm in business. It was fun rolling my own & I didn't find it tedious at all-as long as I keep to a hundred or so at a time this will work well for me.

RC20 · March 17, 2018, 04:25 PM

Congratulations, welcome to the club.

Straight case pistol is a good one to start with.

I got going with one of the "You Pound It" Lee kits (which didn't work that well) - nothing against Lee, just not a great setup. I have their dies in 41 magnum and 44 special.

Hand press looks like it would have been better way to go. Not sure if they didn't have them or I just didn't know about them, long time ago.

I loaded a lot of 44 and 41 magnum on a single state RCBS Junior in a tiny closet that was my reloading bench in a 10 foot camping trailer. Several thousand rounds out of that setup.

Venti30 · March 17, 2018, 09:33 PM

Congratulations on batch #1!

BigJimP · March 17, 2018, 11:22 PM

Congratulations....and welcome to this side of the hobby !

NWPilgrim · March 18, 2018, 05:46 AM

Fantastic way to start! Starting small for exactly what you need leads to faster learning I believe. If you add more gear you will know from experience exactly why you want/need that item and what you expect to gain from it.

And I agree that straightwall handgun cartridge is the easy way to start reloading. Not as much case prep needed and very simple. Bottleneck rifle cartridges get into trimming, lubing and such.

Have fun with those handloads! And if you don't have a hardcopy manual I would recommend it to learn more about the process and tools and some of the "whys".You are off to a good start.

std7mag · March 18, 2018, 08:36 AM

Good for you, and welcome to reloading!

I started off with one of the Lee puond it sets for 7mm Rem Mag. Still have it.
Wife told me she was tired of hearing me hammer all the time. So now i have the Lee 4hole turret press.

One thing though..

You do know that the Berry's are actually plated, not jacketed.
Some will argue same same.
I always wondered that if they are the same why are there different loads between them.

Martys · March 18, 2018, 09:23 AM

I see a "Progressive Press" in your future when more room is available.

disseminator · March 18, 2018, 10:47 AM

Nice job on your first batch!

I love the 45 Colt, maybe my all time favorite cartridge. It's so versatile, it can be loaded from mouse farts to the king of the jungle, (in the right gun) and everything in between.

Don't be afraid to try some lead bullets as the Colt was literally made for them and does very well with them. I like the newer coated lead bullets myself which remove direct exposure to lead that concerns some folks and also means you don't have worry about bullet lube falling off during shipping and such.

Have fun.

jamaica · March 26, 2018, 01:00 PM

Nice going. Reloading can become addictive.

Nick_C_S · March 26, 2018, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Reloading can become addictive.

Heh. Yeah.

Maybe just a little

.

hounddawg · March 26, 2018, 01:15 PM

welcome to a great hobby

Rifletom · March 26, 2018, 03:13 PM

You are starting out the right way. Those loads look good. Congrats. You're gonna love this handloading stuff.

Rangerrich99 · March 26, 2018, 07:51 PM

They look pretty good, nice job.

NWPilgrim · March 26, 2018, 08:42 PM

Manufacturing, physics, chemistry, cheaper&better, and BOOMs (at the range of course)! What's not to like?

I really like Berry's plated bullets, too. I shoot a lot of cast lead, very few jacketed, but also a LOT of Berry's in different calibers. They are very consistent quality and they seem thicker plated than Rainier (or maybe I am less ham handed than years gone by). Now they even sell jacketed 55 gr .224" bullets.

March 17, 2018, 04:25 PM	#2
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	Congratulations, welcome to the club. Straight case pistol is a good one to start with. I got going with one of the "You Pound It" Lee kits (which didn't work that well) - nothing against Lee, just not a great setup. I have their dies in 41 magnum and 44 special. Hand press looks like it would have been better way to go. Not sure if they didn't have them or I just didn't know about them, long time ago. I loaded a lot of 44 and 41 magnum on a single state RCBS Junior in a tiny closet that was my reloading bench in a 10 foot camping trailer. Several thousand rounds out of that setup. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

March 17, 2018, 09:33 PM	#3
Venti30 Member Join Date: February 27, 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 74	Congratulations on batch #1! __________________ P226 Legion \| EDC P365 \| 938 \| MPX \| P320C RX \| Spikes Tactical Brown Recluse \| Dillon RL1050

March 18, 2018, 05:46 AM	#5
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Fantastic way to start! Starting small for exactly what you need leads to faster learning I believe. If you add more gear you will know from experience exactly why you want/need that item and what you expect to gain from it. And I agree that straightwall handgun cartridge is the easy way to start reloading. Not as much case prep needed and very simple. Bottleneck rifle cartridges get into trimming, lubing and such. Have fun with those handloads! And if you don't have a hardcopy manual I would recommend it to learn more about the process and tools and some of the "whys".You are off to a good start. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison

March 26, 2018, 01:00 PM	#9
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	Nice going. Reloading can become addictive. __________________ Take a fine bead!

March 26, 2018, 01:15 PM	#11
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	welcome to a great hobby __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

March 17, 2018, 04:00 PM	#1
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 385	First Batch Decided to give reloading a try. I've started shooting a 45Colt revolver and prefer jacketed bullets that run anywhere from $32 to $40 for a box a fifty around here. So the cost, easy size cases to work with, along with the fact that I'm pushing the empties right into my hand made it seem like the logical thing to do. just starting out with the bare necessities as my space is somewhat limited. A Lee hand press & dies, inexpensive but accurate scale, a pound of powder, some primers & I'm in business. It was fun rolling my own & I didn't find it tedious at all-as long as I keep to a hundred or so at a time this will work well for me. Last edited by Schlitz 45; March 18, 2018 at 07:05 AM.

March 17, 2018, 11:22 PM	#4
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Congratulations....and welcome to this side of the hobby !

March 18, 2018, 08:36 AM	#6
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Good for you, and welcome to reloading! I started off with one of the Lee puond it sets for 7mm Rem Mag. Still have it. Wife told me she was tired of hearing me hammer all the time. So now i have the Lee 4hole turret press. One thing though.. You do know that the Berry's are actually plated, not jacketed. Some will argue same same. I always wondered that if they are the same why are there different loads between them.

March 18, 2018, 09:23 AM	#7
Martys Member Join Date: January 19, 2013 Posts: 62	I see a "Progressive Press" in your future when more room is available.

March 18, 2018, 10:47 AM	#8
disseminator Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 960	Nice job on your first batch! I love the 45 Colt, maybe my all time favorite cartridge. It's so versatile, it can be loaded from mouse farts to the king of the jungle, (in the right gun) and everything in between. Don't be afraid to try some lead bullets as the Colt was literally made for them and does very well with them. I like the newer coated lead bullets myself which remove direct exposure to lead that concerns some folks and also means you don't have worry about bullet lube falling off during shipping and such. Have fun.

March 26, 2018, 03:13 PM	#12
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 786	You are starting out the right way. Those loads look good. Congrats. You're gonna love this handloading stuff.

March 26, 2018, 07:51 PM	#13
Rangerrich99 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Location: Kinda near Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,254	They look pretty good, nice job.

March 26, 2018, 08:42 PM	#14
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	Manufacturing, physics, chemistry, cheaper&better, and BOOMs (at the range of course)! What's not to like? I really like Berry's plated bullets, too. I shoot a lot of cast lead, very few jacketed, but also a LOT of Berry's in different calibers. They are very consistent quality and they seem thicker plated than Rainier (or maybe I am less ham handed than years gone by). Now they even sell jacketed 55 gr .224" bullets. __________________ "The ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone. ... The advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation ... forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition." - James Madison