After 30 yrs Instr/supervising WEPs sold all to reload

CWO4GUNNER · February 11, 2011, 05:40 PM

Hi everyone new to this sight and thought Id join. After 5 years retired from my 30 yr career as a Warrant Gunner in the Navy/Coast Guard, I have only shot my collection 2 times. So this last weekend I sold everything at the Gun show except for a few that I still enjoy like my AR/50, I guess all those years of career shooting and training underway and at the range wore allot of my interest out. Using a tat of the sale proceeds to finally start reloading 50 BMG, something I have never done (reloading). I have owned an RCBS 50 BMG loading kit for years and am finally braking it out of the box. Cant believe how much more it cost for components even though I have the press and 150 rds of spent boxer brass, the primers ($145 for 500), bullets ($300 for 500), powder ($128 for 16 pounds), scale ($30), trimmers ($40), tumbler/basket kit ($75), and a few other things come out to a pretty penny. Even after doing the research for the lowest price good tools and components its a big investment. But I figure my cost will be $1.20 per round to reload good shooting ammo (not match) and that will allow me to shoot with a lot less pain. I just can believe I diden't keep some of the thousands of spent components we used to throw overboard and recycle as brass when I was active LOL.

Anyway look forward to asking and sharing advice.

Jim243 · February 11, 2011, 10:24 PM

As a reloader myself, I can understand your pain. The most expensive item will be your bullets. I don't reload 50 BMGs so I may be off a bit, but I was under the impression that 750 grain 50's were going for $2.40 each. And each bullet uses about 210 grains of powder or about 36 loads per pound of powder about $0.83 cents pre shot.

At that rate even with free brass it should run you about $3.50 per round loaded. I just hope you don't have a semi-auto 50 BMG, that will get expensive fast. How you got away with only spending $8.00 per pound of powder, I do not know.

I hope you kept an AR-15 it is a lot cheaper to load .223 and more fun to shot (less recoil than the 50).

By the way Welcome to the sight and Welcome to reloading, it is an addiction.

But one we enjoy as I know you will.
Jim

CWO4GUNNER · February 12, 2011, 10:44 AM

You can still buy brand new South African 690GR FMJBT W/C $0.45 per round delivered and military grade contractor powder in bulk for a very good price as indicated in my post above $0.27 per load. Also brass for free after you shot some military surplus boxer or bought once shoot $0.50 per round, and primers at $0.35 per round, all totals out to about $1.57 per round of precisely assembled predictable target ammunition. Also the powder is compatible with smaller rifle calibers so there is some shared usage as well. So for the price and branch of the hobby I have not experienced it will be a refreshing aspect to just shooting unknown bought ammunition and the satisfaction of DIY (priceless).

But yes its true you can still find non-reloadable surplus 1945 50 BMG for $1.60 per round with aged degraded powder and primers to shoot at the range to hear the gun go off and watch the expressions.

CWO4GUNNER · February 12, 2011, 02:56 PM

Ooop's forgot to answer all of your question, its all those 30 years of military single mindedness LOL.

Actually after shipping cost and Hazmat fees it comes to $9 for 8 pound bottles here you go and I have read on some forum some using it for 5.56 as well. Here is the links below and thanks for the welcome.
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=10000014

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...ir=278|281|303

Jim243 · February 13, 2011, 12:04 AM

Great prices, but darn they are "out of stock" on everything I use.

Well I'll keep trying.

Thanks
Jim

CWO4GUNNER · February 13, 2011, 10:46 AM

Everything you use, or everything you need? Although not quite as good a price Widener's also has bulk 5.56 smokeless for $14 a pound or 8 pounds for $119.
http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...=10000090&dir=

Fat White Boy · February 13, 2011, 11:17 AM

I feel your pain. I just got a Rem 700MLR in .338 Lapua. I already reload so I have the equipment but the components for the .338 round caught me a little off guard. Still, reloads are way below the $6/rd for the store bought stuff...

CWO4GUNNER · February 13, 2011, 05:47 PM

Although I have fired and trained allot of weapons from the 6"/47 turret to the Beretta 92F, I am unfamiliar with the .338 Lapua and though you and some were referring to the .338 Win which is close but a little less powerful and reaching. So how do you like the .338 Lapua? Do you wish you had bought a 50 BMG instead? I hardly shot my highly accurate .338 Win BAR/Boss except for deer hunting, and let me tell you when shot a deer in the vital area the deer would just drop in place like a sack of potatoes without a whimper, no kicking or moment. The only problem was that the meat in the general area of the would be bruised to jello, so that shot always had to land away from the good parts. I suppose that's why allot of hunters would use the SKS back east instead.

res45 · February 13, 2011, 06:08 PM

Try here some of you 50 BMG guys might find something you can use.

http://www.polygunbag.com/

CWO4GUNNER · February 13, 2011, 06:44 PM

Thanks, getting into reloading 50 its good to have multiple supply/price sources. But I just hate it when they advertise a sold out product in big red bold letters, i.e. "excellent deal on short supply and premium quality recently manufactured BMG bla-blah SOLD OUT"

GP100man · February 13, 2011, 07:50 PM

http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html

Give jeff a call !!!!

CWO4GUNNER · February 13, 2011, 11:20 PM

Wow that Pull-powder is a pretty good deal assuming a jug is 8 pounds right? With shipping and hazmat fees, 3 jugs work out to about $6 a pound delivered right?

GP100man · February 14, 2011, 06:59 AM

That`s rite !!!

For more surplus sites go here : http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28

I`ve only shot a Fifty once , I LIKED IT !!!!!

Looked over at SWMBO & she was already shakin her head to the BIG GRIN on my face !!!!

CWO4GUNNER · February 14, 2011, 12:09 PM

Yeah the 50 BMG even in single-shot like mine (AR50 Upper paid $900 8yrs ago) made from an actual M2 heavy barrel it groups excellent with a good scope, the Zeiss 3-9X 40 made all the difference compared to that the Simmons 6-20X50 I had on it at fist. You have to have a great scope and the Zeiss optics and sight hold are unreal.

Anyway looking forward to loading carefully probubly both BMG and 338 Win. Im not all that motivated to shoot or load smaller calibers.

February 11, 2011, 05:40 PM	#1
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	After 30 yrs Instr/supervising WEPs sold all to reload Hi everyone new to this sight and thought Id join. After 5 years retired from my 30 yr career as a Warrant Gunner in the Navy/Coast Guard, I have only shot my collection 2 times. So this last weekend I sold everything at the Gun show except for a few that I still enjoy like my AR/50, I guess all those years of career shooting and training underway and at the range wore allot of my interest out. Using a tat of the sale proceeds to finally start reloading 50 BMG, something I have never done (reloading). I have owned an RCBS 50 BMG loading kit for years and am finally braking it out of the box. Cant believe how much more it cost for components even though I have the press and 150 rds of spent boxer brass, the primers ($145 for 500), bullets ($300 for 500), powder ($128 for 16 pounds), scale ($30), trimmers ($40), tumbler/basket kit ($75), and a few other things come out to a pretty penny. Even after doing the research for the lowest price good tools and components its a big investment. But I figure my cost will be $1.20 per round to reload good shooting ammo (not match) and that will allow me to shoot with a lot less pain. I just can believe I diden't keep some of the thousands of spent components we used to throw overboard and recycle as brass when I was active LOL. Anyway look forward to asking and sharing advice.

February 11, 2011, 10:24 PM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	As a reloader myself, I can understand your pain. The most expensive item will be your bullets. I don't reload 50 BMGs so I may be off a bit, but I was under the impression that 750 grain 50's were going for $2.40 each. And each bullet uses about 210 grains of powder or about 36 loads per pound of powder about $0.83 cents pre shot. At that rate even with free brass it should run you about $3.50 per round loaded. I just hope you don't have a semi-auto 50 BMG, that will get expensive fast. How you got away with only spending $8.00 per pound of powder, I do not know. I hope you kept an AR-15 it is a lot cheaper to load .223 and more fun to shot (less recoil than the 50). By the way Welcome to the sight and Welcome to reloading, it is an addiction. But one we enjoy as I know you will. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

February 12, 2011, 10:44 AM	#3
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	You can still buy brand new South African 690GR FMJBT W/C $0.45 per round delivered and military grade contractor powder in bulk for a very good price as indicated in my post above $0.27 per load. Also brass for free after you shot some military surplus boxer or bought once shoot $0.50 per round, and primers at $0.35 per round, all totals out to about $1.57 per round of precisely assembled predictable target ammunition. Also the powder is compatible with smaller rifle calibers so there is some shared usage as well. So for the price and branch of the hobby I have not experienced it will be a refreshing aspect to just shooting unknown bought ammunition and the satisfaction of DIY (priceless). But yes its true you can still find non-reloadable surplus 1945 50 BMG for $1.60 per round with aged degraded powder and primers to shoot at the range to hear the gun go off and watch the expressions. Last edited by CWO4GUNNER; February 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM.

February 13, 2011, 12:04 AM	#5
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Great prices, but darn they are "out of stock" on everything I use. Well I'll keep trying. Thanks Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

February 13, 2011, 06:08 PM	#9
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	Try here some of you 50 BMG guys might find something you can use. http://www.polygunbag.com/ __________________ The Reloaders Network discord Channel https://discord.gg/Nafuzht

February 12, 2011, 02:56 PM	#4
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Ooop's forgot to answer all of your question, its all those 30 years of military single mindedness LOL. Actually after shipping cost and Hazmat fees it comes to $9 for 8 pound bottles here you go and I have read on some forum some using it for 5.56 as well. Here is the links below and thanks for the welcome. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=10000014 http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...ir=278\|281\|303

February 13, 2011, 10:46 AM	#6
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Everything you use, or everything you need? Although not quite as good a price Widener's also has bulk 5.56 smokeless for $14 a pound or 8 pounds for $119. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...=10000090&dir=

February 13, 2011, 11:17 AM	#7
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	I feel your pain. I just got a Rem 700MLR in .338 Lapua. I already reload so I have the equipment but the components for the .338 round caught me a little off guard. Still, reloads are way below the $6/rd for the store bought stuff...

February 13, 2011, 05:47 PM	#8
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Although I have fired and trained allot of weapons from the 6"/47 turret to the Beretta 92F, I am unfamiliar with the .338 Lapua and though you and some were referring to the .338 Win which is close but a little less powerful and reaching. So how do you like the .338 Lapua? Do you wish you had bought a 50 BMG instead? I hardly shot my highly accurate .338 Win BAR/Boss except for deer hunting, and let me tell you when shot a deer in the vital area the deer would just drop in place like a sack of potatoes without a whimper, no kicking or moment. The only problem was that the meat in the general area of the would be bruised to jello, so that shot always had to land away from the good parts. I suppose that's why allot of hunters would use the SKS back east instead.

February 13, 2011, 06:44 PM	#10
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Thanks, getting into reloading 50 its good to have multiple supply/price sources. But I just hate it when they advertise a sold out product in big red bold letters, i.e. *"excellent deal on short supply and premium quality recently manufactured BMG bla-blah* SOLD OUT"

February 13, 2011, 07:50 PM	#11
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Try this 1 for pull down components http://www.gibrass.com/gunpowder.html Give jeff a call !!!! __________________ GP100man

February 13, 2011, 11:20 PM	#12
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Wow that Pull-powder is a pretty good deal assuming a jug is 8 pounds right? With shipping and hazmat fees, 3 jugs work out to about $6 a pound delivered right?

February 14, 2011, 06:59 AM	#13
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	That`s rite !!! For more surplus sites go here : http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28 I`ve only shot a Fifty once , I LIKED IT !!!!! Looked over at SWMBO & she was already shakin her head to the BIG GRIN on my face !!!! __________________ GP100man

February 14, 2011, 12:09 PM	#14
CWO4GUNNER Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Posts: 11	Yeah the 50 BMG even in single-shot like mine (AR50 Upper paid $900 8yrs ago) made from an actual M2 heavy barrel it groups excellent with a good scope, the Zeiss 3-9X 40 made all the difference compared to that the Simmons 6-20X50 I had on it at fist. You have to have a great scope and the Zeiss optics and sight hold are unreal. Anyway looking forward to loading carefully probubly both BMG and 338 Win. Im not all that motivated to shoot or load smaller calibers.