Starting Components Advice

[MrKiltYou]

So I have not reloaded in something like over 10 years. I sold all my reloading equipment when prices skyrocketed like 8 years ago. When I was reloading it was mostly for plinking and I was not so concerned about accuracy. Well fast forward to I am shooting over 1K rounds a month and looking to start competing first in pistol and maybe in long range rifle after that.

I am working on a deal right now to purchase a fellow calgunners Dillon XL 650 and gathering other needed equipment and supplies.

Here are some of my questions.

1. For pistol ammo when reloading for practice, do you normally match up head stamps? This would be mostly 45 ACP and 9MM.

2. What is a good starting load to compete with 9MM? I am looking to do IDPA and maybe USPSA later on down the road. Currently it seems like 147 grain jacketed bullets (shooting a glock) with Tite Group is the current common load for this round. My understanding is that it provides a softer recoil since it can be loaded subsonic. My question would be what would be good bullets to load with; brand and type?

I did a quick look around online and it seems that 147 grain FMJ RN is running around 16 cents a bullet. After primers and powder it does not seem like it is much cheaper then the 20-21 cents a round that Speer Lawman costs new.

3. What is a good starting load for target practice with 45 ACP. I have no current plans to compete with this round but could in the future in both IDPA and USPSA. I will admit I have not done much google searching on this one.

4. Where are you all getting your best deals online for components?

5. Is there anyone doing group buys in the bay area for power and primers? If not is there interest as I wouldn't mind running one?

I think that is all I got for now.

[simonp]

Tagged for information


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Red9]

Powder and primers? Richmond range or concord prices aren't too bad. Close to internet prices if your a member.
Projos? I'm cheap, and get pulled projos. Not sure if you want to go that route.
Cabelas has sales on sb primers 20 or per 1k.
Good luck on load data. Maybe try brian enos?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[someoneeasy]

You need to buy in bulk

here is where I use to buy from before I started casting my own

http://www.xtremebullets.com/9mm-147-RN-p/xc9mm-147rn-b0500.htm

This puts you 10 cents a projectile

[someoneeasy]

Powder and primers? Richmond range or concord prices aren't too bad. Close to internet prices if your a member.
Projos? I'm cheap, and get pulled projos. Not sure if you want to go that route.
Cabelas has sales on sb primers 20 or per 1k.
Good luck on load data. Maybe try brian enos?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Cabelas hasn't had them for that price in awhile, its 28 per 1,000 now.

[someoneeasy]

also, get yourself a manual for load data or look up on the manufactures site for data.

[Red9]

Cabelas hasn't had them for that price in awhile, its 28 per 1,000 now.

Patience. They do go on sale every now and then. They had a Christmas sale 20 per 1k. I too am waiting for another sale.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[balmo]

reload

1. For pistol ammo when reloading for practice, do you normally match up head stamps? This would be mostly 45 ACP and 9MM.
I do not. I just make sure to separate small and large primer case in 45acp.

2. What is a good starting load to compete with 9MM? I am looking to do IDPA and maybe USPSA later on down the road. Currently it seems like 147 grain jacketed bullets (shooting a glock) with Tite Group is the current common load for this round. My understanding is that it provides a softer recoil since it can be loaded subsonic. My question would be what would be good bullets to load with; brand and type?
Not 147gr, but I use 124gr plated with 3.9gr of Titegroup. A 147gr will use less powder, probably less than 3.5gr and would still make minor PF in USPSA. Shooting competitions, anything that is cheaper is better. Moly coated bullets are perfectly fine for Production, Single Stack, Limited division if there is significant price advantage. I've used Berry's, Xtreme, Black Bullets International and all of them ran fine on my Production and Limited guns. Right now I'm using Precision Delta jacketed because I'm pushing close to 1400fps in 9mm Open

I did a quick look around online and it seems that 147 grain FMJ RN is running around 16 cents a bullet. After primers and powder it does not seem like it is much cheaper then the 20-21 cents a round that Speer Lawman costs new.
FMJ in Production IMO is wasting money. Plated/Moly coated bullets can be had for less than $100/k

3. What is a good starting load for target practice with 45 ACP. I have no current plans to compete with this round but could in the future in both IDPA and USPSA. I will admit I have not done much google searching on this one.
Before chrono, I used 5.0gr of Bullseye with 230gr RN PL. I believe I can reduce the powder charge and still make major PF.

4. Where are you all getting your best deals online for components?
Group buys, Powder Valley, Richmond Rod and United Sportsman ranges

5. Is there anyone doing group buys in the bay area for power and primers? If not is there interest as I wouldn't mind running one?
Richmond and USI have pretty good prices on powder/primers, hope that helps!

I think that is all I got for now.

[noylj]

>1. For pistol ammo when reloading for practice, do you normally match up head stamps? This would be mostly 45 ACP and 9MM.

Not even for matches. Not even for National Matches. If your handgun shoots under 0.5 MOA, then you can sort head stamps.
Do this ONLY if it makes you feel better and gives you confidence in your loads.

>2. What is a good starting load to compete with 9MM? I am looking to do IDPA and maybe USPSA later on down the road. Currently it seems like 147 grain jacketed bullets (shooting a glock) with Tite Group is the current common load for this round. My understanding is that it provides a softer recoil since it can be loaded subsonic. My question would be what would be good bullets to load with; brand and type?

For IDPA, the cheapest you can find. TiteGroup really is not a very good powder, and is far from being very accurate, but it is more than good enough for IDPA and it is cheap at the low charge weights needed. I prefer AA2, but everyone has their opinions.
So, you want lead bullets, coated lead bullets, plated bullets, or jacketed bullets? All will do the job.
Sorry, but you'll need to actually work up the load if you want to cut as close to Minor power factor as possible.

>I did a quick look around online and it seems that 147 grain FMJ RN is running around 16 cents a bullet. After primers and powder it does not seem like it is much cheaper then the 20-21 cents a round that Speer Lawman costs new.

Check out Precision Delta, Zero (Roze Dist. or Powder Valley). I hate plated, but check out X-treme bullets or RMR bullets.

>3. What is a good starting load for target practice with 45 ACP. I have no current plans to compete with this round but could in the future in both IDPA and USPSA. I will admit I have not done much google searching on this one.

Manuals have starting loads. Just shooting (as in target or Bullseye shooting) or action pistol (minor or major)?
Traditionally, for Bullseye competition, 185gn JHP and 3.5-4.5gn of Bullseye or 200gn L-SWC and 3.1-3.8gn Bullseye.
I shoot Zero 200gn swaged L-SWC or Precision Bullets coated and swaged 200gn L-SWC with 4.6-5.0gn of 231/HP38. This is my most accurate load.

>4. Where are you all getting your best deals online for components?

Powder Valley or Wideners or Graf and Sons. Buy in bulk.

[someoneeasy]

Patience. They do go on sale every now and then. They had a Christmas sale 20 per 1k. I too am waiting for another sale.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

I sure hope so, I wish I ordered more when it was $17.99

[Red9]

I sure hope so, I wish I ordered more when it was $17.99

Lol me too. I only got 10k. Yeesh seemed like enough at the time. They go fast when batch loading.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

[aspenvalley]

I am just getting started as well, here is some feedback as a new reloader. I don't think I am really adding anything to what other have said other than I know how intimidating it is to start. Go slow, read a lot, and stay safe.

1) I don't match headstamps. I have run into brass that is harder and takes for effort to resize and prime. I look at each head stamp before I put it on the press (using a turret press) so I learn about the different head stamps and I catch the 380 cases that make it through the sorting (when loading 9mm)

2)I am just loading for plinking, looking to getting into a few matches.

3) For 45 I have been running Pistol Power and W231 with good results. I start at the min load plus 25% of the spread between the min and max. If the starting was 4 and the max was 5, I would shoot to 4.2-4.3 and I try to get the longest OAL for the guns I will be running the load in, that is under the Max OAL.

4) To start with I have been picking up local to figure out what I like. I have order bullets online from ACME. I will making a bulk power and primer order from Powder Valley shortly.

[the86d]

Primers in the case of 5000, projectiles on sale 124gr plated x2000 and 55gr .224 x1000, and powder in 5-8lb jugs....

[t0rin0]

Bullets are almost always the most expensive component in loading (with the exception of something with super expensive brass yet a common caliber like Beowulf). If you build a bullet catch I'll bet you could sell them to people with the time/equipment/energy to cast their own and recover some of your cost.

Also, you can get bullets cheaper if you are willing to go polymer or powder coated

6-7c / bullet

http://www.snscasting.com/9mm-1/

8c per

http://lucky13bullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=145

or get them in zombie green

http://lucky13bullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=158

more pretty colors for 8-9c

http://www.egglestonmunitions.com/shop.html#!/9mm-380/c/10873433/offset=0&sort=normal

[RestrictedColt]

Xtreme bullets are pretty decently priced. I accidentally pushed my first 44 mag loads WAY faster than they recommend (1500-1600fps), I was ignorant. I had a few extreme fliers where I assume the copper ripped off, but most were pretty accurate. I've also shot some straight lead 9mm bullets I got cheap second hand. My local reloading shop (Phillips Wholesale) sells lots of second hand stuff, something to consider looking for in your area.

I don't sort brass, but there's some oddball 9mm with a reduced case, has a step in it, which would greatly change pressures and needs to be separated. There's also the small/large primer .45 to deal with. I've acqquired a few pistol powders, but my go-to has been Win-231 and I think it'll serve both 9 & 45 pretty well.