Smallest bullets I’ve reloaded

Schlitz 45 · August 14, 2020, 06:53 AM

Got my dies in the mail yesterday & loaded up 100 32 Auto rounds using Hornady 85gr XTP bullets. I had thought 380 was as small as I would go but thought I should be able to reload all the calibers I have. I just used my old Lee hand press, took my time (about 2 hrs) & they came out nice. Will give ‘em a try this Saturday & hopefully I won’t have as many issues as I did with the 380’s that took several small batches to find a good reliable recipe. Also scored several thousand Remington small pistol primers from a little store that I’d been hunting for as I was down to my last box so I feel a lot more comfortable reloading “fun rounds”.

RKG · August 14, 2020, 07:06 AM

.25 ACP. Just because I could. A little hard on the fingers.

7.62 man · August 14, 2020, 09:22 AM

The smallest I have reloaded was .380 85gr hollow backs. My hands were cramping before I was through 50 rounds from holding on to those small things.

Mike38 · August 14, 2020, 04:40 PM

I recently got into reloading the .32acp. That caliber takes the fun out of reloading, on a single stage press anyhow. No where near as easy as say the .45acp. Maybe I should teach my 5 year old grandson how to place the bullet on the case mouth? His little fingers may work well?

reynolds357 · August 14, 2020, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schlitz 45

Got my dies in the mail yesterday & loaded up 100 32 Auto rounds using Hornady 85gr XTP bullets. I had thought 380 was as small as I would go but thought I should be able to reload all the calibers I have. I just used my old Lee hand press, took my time (about 2 hrs) & they came out nice. Will give ‘em a try this Saturday & hopefully I won’t have as many issues as I did with the 380’s that took several small batches to find a good reliable recipe. Also scored several thousand Remington small pistol primers from a little store that I’d been hunting for as I was down to my last box so I feel a lot more comfortable reloading “fun rounds”.

Smallest dia for me is .204 Ruger.

**44 AMP** · August 14, 2020, 06:25 PM

40gr .224" are the smallest I ever use.

Rondog · August 15, 2020, 12:24 AM

Tweezers.....

FrankenMauser · August 15, 2020, 01:20 PM

.32 S&W is the most fiddly thing that I load. Small case, small bullets, small powder charges. To load a box of .32 S&W, I figure I'll be dropping about 10 cases and/or bullets on the floor during the process. Sometimes, it ends up being more than that.
It's worse than .32 Auto and .380 Auto, at least for me.

The smallest bullet that I use is .17 caliber, though. 17 grains.
I don't have fat sausage fingers, but it often feels like I'm trying to sort grains of wheat while wearing welding gloves.

armoredman · August 16, 2020, 04:31 AM

.223. Try standing them up to be powder coated, huge pain in the pooper. Not much fun getting them into the case mouths either.

Geezerbiker · August 16, 2020, 10:57 AM

The .17 Hornet... I haven't started reloading it yet but I have everything to do so. Those bullets are tiny and so is the case.

Tony

August 14, 2020, 06:53 AM	#1
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 385	Smallest bullets I’ve reloaded Got my dies in the mail yesterday & loaded up 100 32 Auto rounds using Hornady 85gr XTP bullets. I had thought 380 was as small as I would go but thought I should be able to reload all the calibers I have. I just used my old Lee hand press, took my time (about 2 hrs) & they came out nice. Will give ‘em a try this Saturday & hopefully I won’t have as many issues as I did with the 380’s that took several small batches to find a good reliable recipe. Also scored several thousand Remington small pistol primers from a little store that I’d been hunting for as I was down to my last box so I feel a lot more comfortable reloading “fun rounds”.

August 14, 2020, 06:25 PM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,832	40gr .224" are the smallest I ever use. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 15, 2020, 01:20 PM	#8
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	.32 S&W is the most fiddly thing that I load. Small case, small bullets, small powder charges. To load a box of .32 S&W, I figure I'll be dropping about 10 cases and/or bullets on the floor during the process. Sometimes, it ends up being more than that. It's worse than .32 Auto and .380 Auto, at least for me. The smallest bullet that I use is .17 caliber, though. 17 grains. I don't have fat sausage fingers, but it often feels like I'm trying to sort grains of wheat while wearing welding gloves. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

August 14, 2020, 07:06 AM	#2
RKG Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 562	.25 ACP. Just because I could. A little hard on the fingers.

August 14, 2020, 09:22 AM	#3
7.62 man Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Location: Cyber-world USA Posts: 258	The smallest I have reloaded was .380 85gr hollow backs. My hands were cramping before I was through 50 rounds from holding on to those small things.

August 14, 2020, 04:40 PM	#4
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	I recently got into reloading the .32acp. That caliber takes the fun out of reloading, on a single stage press anyhow. No where near as easy as say the .45acp. Maybe I should teach my 5 year old grandson how to place the bullet on the case mouth? His little fingers may work well?

August 15, 2020, 12:24 AM	#7
Rondog Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 61	Tweezers.....

August 16, 2020, 04:31 AM	#9
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	.223. Try standing them up to be powder coated, huge pain in the pooper. Not much fun getting them into the case mouths either.

August 16, 2020, 10:57 AM	#10
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	The .17 Hornet... I haven't started reloading it yet but I have everything to do so. Those bullets are tiny and so is the case. Tony