just fired my first 100 reloads

[jordeezy]

Flawless 100/100, and I was able to get ~2" 6-shot grouping with my 4" barrel S&W 66-2. I am officially hooked to reloading now. My reloads are 158gr LSWC .38 spl & .357 mag with CCI SP primers and Alliant Bullseye powder.

If you're interested in my equipment, I am just using a Lee hand press with Lee carbide dies and the Lee Auto-primer. Definitely not top shelf gear, but it gets the job done for me. I am able to reload about 50/rds in 45-60 minutes.

[Milsurp Collector]

Congratulations! A turret press doesn't cost much http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=405548 and would be a worthwhile next step.

[Gio]

Nice! I remember the days of using a Lee hand press Good stuff, keep at it

-Gio

[Fyathyrio]

Flawless 100/100, and I was able to get ~2" 6-shot grouping with my 4" barrel S&W 66-2. I am officially hooked to reloading now. My reloads are 158gr LSWC .38 spl & .357 mag with CCI SP primers and Alliant Bullseye powder.

If you're interested in my equipment, I am just using a Lee hand press with Lee carbide dies and the Lee Auto-primer. Definitely not top shelf gear, but it gets the job done for me. I am able to reload about 50/rds in 45-60 minutes.

Glad to hear you had a good time at the range! I know what you mean about being hooked.

I have some of the same bullets for my wife's S&W, haven't gotten a chance to work up a load on 'em yet. What was your range of powder charge and best load in .38 flavor?

Thanks,
Mark

[jordeezy]

Thanks everyone!

For .38 special, I am using 3.5-3.6 grains of Bullseye w/ the 158gr SWC. I haven't tried anything else yet. I think some 125gr JHP's might be in line for the .38. =)

[bucktooth7]

I am also new to reloading and have had great success with 158 g X Treme copper plated bullets and 3.5 g Accurate#2. It's quite a small amount of powder and 1 lb makes more than 2000 rounds! It works well with .357 too!

[bucktooth7]

Forgot to mention that I to am pounding them out with a Lee single stage!

[Fyathyrio]

Thanks everyone!

For .38 special, I am using 3.5-3.6 grains of Bullseye w/ the 158gr SWC. I haven't tried anything else yet. I think some 125gr JHP's might be in line for the .38. =)

Thanks, nice to have something to compare. Searching the load books I was going to make 3 small batches of 3.2, 3.5, and 3.9 gr Bullseye. Looks like I'm in the right ballpark at least.

For .38 125 gr Speer FMJs the wife and I both like 4.8 gr Bullseye. Averaged about 930 fps on the chrono and were nice and accurate.

[FieldsofFire]

Nice!

Now we'll see how long it takes until you are wanting a Dillon.

[jordeezy]

Nice!

Now we'll see how long it takes until you are wanting a Dillon.

Already am! Just don't have space in the garage yet for a sturdy workbench.

[FieldsofFire]

Already am! Just don't have space in the garage yet for a sturdy workbench.

You won't regret it. I upgraded recently using the money I saved from not buying factory and it was the best purchase I've made in a long time.

If you can find any kind of relatively sturdy platform to mount it on, get the Strong Mount accessory with your press. It's worth the $41.95 (can't remember the exact amount) or so and makes a decently sturdy platform even sturdier because it gives the press a larger footprint. My platform is pretty weak and light but the Strong Mount makes it OK.

Anyhow, enjoy not having to hop in your car at a moment's notice to drive to Wally World in search of ammo.

[bruceflinch]

Good Job!

[mrlonewolf]

Congratulations....

[Bulleh]

Congrats on the success. I'm about to purchase lee's hand press as well and try some reloading myself.

Just wondering, are you tumbling your rounds? I'm on the fence about whether I should also invest in a tumbler or not.

[jordeezy]

Congrats on the success. I'm about to purchase lee's hand press as well and try some reloading myself.

Just wondering, are you tumbling your rounds? I'm on the fence about whether I should also invest in a tumbler or not.

I'm currently only reloading once-fired factory .38/.357 brass I've kept over the past couple years, which is still really clean and shiny, so I haven't gotten a tumbler yet. It's definitely on my list of reloading gear to buy though because I've got some real dirty looking .380 brass I'd like to reload.