RanchRoper's Reloading Ruminations

[JEBar]

for most of us but certainly not all, Starline is very happy to help remedy a shortage of brass ...

[Mistered]

Sometimes when I roll up to a couple of my shooting spots the ground glistens with brass!

If it's a caliber I load I pick it up. a few months ago I picked up about 400 9mm.

I find lots of .45 ACP as well but the other stuff I leave for others to scrounge. Heck I left several 100s of .40 S & W a while back but judging by how much .40 S & W ammo is on the LGS shelves it's a caliber that is fading in popularity and I don't think is being loaded much.

[JEBar]

I've seldom been fortunate enough to find many cases in the calibers I shoot the most .... 44 mag & 357 mag .... once-in-a-while I have found a few 308's and/or 30-06's

[RanchRoper]

I might be the only guy shooting 45 Colt at my range. Have not seen any evidence of others, unless they are keeping their brass too. I do see lots of brass laying around at the range though. And sometimes in the grass out near the target boards too. 50, 100 yds out....?

[Mistered]

My observation is most shooting straight walled PC cat'ridges to any great degree are handloaders.

9mm, .45 acp & .223 are probably the lessor reloaded rounds as many don't think it is cost effective.

I do (and reload all three) - but then I don't go through 100s of rounds of any particular caliber when shooting.

[RanchRoper]

I often see .45 acp brass all over the place at the range.

[Mistered]

Reloading is a fickle undertaking.

Some high volume shooters of low priced calibers will buy ammo even if they reload as they don't think it is cost effective. It is but I think they are taking the time into account.

Some got into reloading for the wrong reasons and wind up selling their equipment, components etc. for very attractive prices. Heck I see some deals so good I have almost bought some of it ! but I don't need it.

As I have said for MANY years - get into reloading as an EXTENSION of your interest in shooting and the desire to create the best and most accurate ammo for your guns.

On paper yes it is much less expensive but initial equipment and component costs can negate this but eventually it will even itself out and you will find reloading to be cost effective as well as a convenient way to quickly produce ammo as opposed to running around looking for it - and times like now this is hardly an argument.

[Vaquero]

Very well put Ed,
Myself I started because of the price of factory 41 mag.
Now I load for everything I shoot, with the exception of 9mm.
Which I don't shoot that much of.
I enjoy my time at the bench, not sure if I shoot to load,
or load to shoot.

Then that lead to casting.

RP

[Mistered]

Then that lead to casting.

LOL!

Actually this came along while I was already reloading - then I got out of it some years later.

[RanchRoper]

My 4lb jug of Universal came today. All set now for another year or so.

[Mistered]

I wish my 9mn bullets would show up - 20 day delay I was informed by Xtreme today!

[RanchRoper]

Well been reloading for awhile now and I think you do save money.


Then bought a high wall, scabbard for it, stock cover for it, and more reloading supplies for it. Now a BP long rifle, powder, bag, horn, caps, lubes, cleaner, accessories.

Yup, this saving money will bankrupt me.

[JEBar]

[BigAl52]

Cant take it with ya RR and you only get one turn here might as well enjoy the ride.

[Vaquero]

Well been reloading for awhile now and I think you do save money.


Then bought a high wall, scabbard for it, stock cover for it, and more reloading supplies for it. Now a BP long rifle, powder, bag, horn, caps, lubes, cleaner, accessories.

Yup, this saving money will bankrupt me.

Exactly...

RP

[RanchRoper]

Ok, question time: with the black soot on the cases in the highwall, is that too much crimp? Not enough crimp? Nothing to do with crimp? Is there a way to get cleaner casings after it goes bang?

[BigAl52]

Common thing with 45 Colt RR. Especially with the lower powder charges. Not enough pressure to expand the case mouth open to seal in the chamber. You can pump up the loads and see if you get a better seal but as long as you are using the charges you are using its not going to make any difference with the crimp. Might try some 2400 like Forty said and see if that seals it. Ive not played with 2400 in the Colt. But all the charges I have used like Unique Red Dot and Universal do the same thing to the case. Just my .02 worth.

[fortyshooter]

Depends on size of the chamber too.

[Rifletom]

Have to agree with both Al and forty. Just seems something we have to live with.

[RanchRoper]

Ok Thks.