Reloading Supplies

[1up]

Looking to reload 45acp and 9mm but do you guys have a preference just trying to get the best deal on supplies.

[CSACANNONEER]

The best deal is going to depend on exactly what you and your firearms like the best. To start out, don't buy bulk to get a good deal. Instead, just buy enough to try different powders, primers and projectiles to figure out what works best for you.

[LTC-J]

CSA pretty much hit what I did... I bought a pound of a couple of powders locally and experimented to get my favorite recipe. It cost a little bit more than big bulk.

I just wrapped up 2lbs of Bullseye for 45acp... it works but is a bit dirty. However, I'm about to start HS-6 by the pounds... I liked the way it worked for my gun.

I'm partial to CCI primers. For the 45acp, I just switched from 300(large pistol) to 350(magnum large pistol) because the 50 Beowulf needs them. I've got a bunch of cci non-magnum small pistol for small primer 45acp brass.

For bullets, I just blast with plated 230 grain round nose. I'm hopefully wrapping up 4500 of Extreme and going to 5k of something else.

[Supersapper]

That's how I did it in the day when my shooting buddy taught me how. I got a couple of pounds of IMR 4756 (now discontinued), some HP-38/Win 231, some 700X and TiteGroup.

My caliber of choice is 9mm.

All work really well. The 700X, IMR 4756 and TiteGroup allow me to hit 12" gongs at 60 yards and in one case was hitting at 100 yards consistently with a Sig 226 and a Walther P1.

Some notes:
---700X does not meter well in a small calibers through some presses because of the large, puffy flakes.
---TG and HP-38 are dirty powders, but meter very well. I primarily use TG now.
---IMR 4756 burns clean and is a great powder, but is discontinued
---TG has one small issue: It is possible to double charge a case and not notice if you're not paying attention. TG is a fast burning powder, so it will cause you big issues if you double charge a 9mm case in a standard 9mm pistol.

I use Winchester Small Pistol Primers and Berries Bullets, both 115 and 124.

[tonyjr]

1st , I stick to hodgdon ball powers . They meter easier and weigh
better .

2nd - CCI primers , they seem more consitant , usually avalible
and have not had any miss or hang fires with them . On 45 1911
I just use mag primers . I still have a few non mag and will try them
in the 9's - maybe - my nephews and nieces also reload here and buy supplies .

3rd I just use jacketed bullets / pills . I have a couple of desert eagles
and you can't / shouldn't use lead - plated and coated leave stuff in gas
chamber .

4th If case looks funny , it is into the brass bucket [ I / We pick up a lot
of range brass .
I don't know how you clean - I brass / copper brush 1st , then a patch
with oil and last would be the fuzzy ball/ cotton ball .

I also run the parts in the sonic - generally about every 6 months . this
is when daylight savings kicks in .

This week all the batteries get changed in house smoke / fire , carbon
monoxide , clocks , scales , calibers [ all the gun stuff ] flash lights and
the remotes . [ costco for AA , AAA , C and D packs - harbor freight for
the button ones ] JUST A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE

[TKM]

Check the castboolits guys. They are the ultimate cheap bastids when it comes to rolling your own.

[XDJYo]

When I first started out, I bought 500 FMJ 45 ACP from Berrys Bullets, 1 lb Bullseye and 1k(?) of CCI primers. Brass was all range pickup. Messed around with powder weight, but settled on 4.7 grains. May still adjust. This load works for me. I don't care if its dirty. I always clean my guns afterwards anyways.

I did this just to get my feet wet. Almost didn't care about the cost terribly too much. Just wanted to start reloading. Now that I know what powder works for me, I just waited for sales. Eventually bought 10 lbs of Bullseye and 10k of S&B Primers. Still have a lot of primers left.

Anyways, enjoy it. It's a fun hobby!

[TOM_ONE]

[Rockzilla]

Check the castboolits guys. They are the ultimate cheap bastids when it comes to rolling your own.

hey now ... play nice...

for powders:
N310 costs a little more but... use it in 45
W-231
Bullseye

Primers :
CCI had great results

Bullets:
Being since I'm one of those "Castboolits guys"
Cast your own for 45 is the H&G 68 or the clone made by MiHec
200gr SWC
9mm MiHec molds SWC /Round Nose 122gr.

Zero bullets 185 JHP for the 45ACP shoots rather well
good groups.

Zero bullets 115gr. JHP or 115gr. FMJ or
Berry.. plated


45 ACP brass just a FYI: there are 2 flavors, one Large Primer
the other Small Primer, try and keep them separate will save
you some headaches when you go to prime them.

45ACP brass mostly Federal / WMA (WCC-WRA) / R-P / Starline
"shoot n lose" brass is all the other off the wall headstamps

9mm mixed headstamp...
there is whats called "stepped" just looking inside you'll see it
Maxxtech and a few others may have this

Be careful some may have "crimped primers"

buy in bulk when you can..

-Rock

[rsrocket1]

9mm if cost is the most important factor.
If you cast your own, that cost difference will be 3.2 cents for a 230g 45ACP bullet vs. 1.7 cents for a 120g 9mm bullet.

The powder charge will be about the same 1.4 cents for 5g which is the average charge for 9mm or 45ACP. This is at $20/pound which is typically the cost of an 8 pound jug. Start out by buying just 1 pound for testing. Even at an obscene $35/pound, your cost per shot only goes up by another penny per shot.

The primer will be 3 cents for either a large pistol or small pistol primer.

If you buy commercial cast, plated or jacketed bullets, the cost factor is about the same. 45 ACP will be about 1.5 to 2x more expensive but the powder and primer cost per shot will be just about the same.

So if you buy commercial bullets (projectiles), reloading 9mm will be slightly cheaper but if you cast, the cost difference between 9 and 45 is minimal. The big saving is seen in reloading 45 ACP rather than buying commercial cartridges.

If you shoot 10,000 rounds a year (that's only 200/week) your ammo cost will be about $600/year if you cast and load and buy in bulk. That makes us "cheap bastids" smile every time we leave the range.

[1up]

You guys are awesome thank you i’ll take into consideration your guys advice cheers

[RestrictedColt]

Win 231 will do both calibers, as will some others. I'd start with one powder that works well for both and go from there. Beware that some bullet types won't play well with the same powder in the same cartridge so verify before you buy.