Loaded my first 50 rounds!!!

[Cowboy T]

Congrats! I'd hold off on your next 50 rounds till your firearm's out of jail and you can test 'em. If that goes OK, then do a run of 200 rounds. And if *that* all goes OK...then...


PRODUCTION TIME!!!!!

[bruceflinch]

don't blow yourself up
J/K you will be fine... question is will you hit the bullseye with your first few home rolled shots.... or will you flinch from fear of blowing your hands off

Why do ya gotta drag me into this thread?

Congrats OP! You have a case gauge? Highly recommend it. Good Luck!

[SARC_Mike]

Yeah Ive got all the tools...I went on a mini spending spree to make sure I had everything! Monday I actually get to do some testing!

[Sac-AR15]

Man....went tovthe range today with my 1st 100 rounds of my reloads. Very nervous. I ended up doing 2 batches. 1st with 5.2gr of W231 and the 2nd with 5.4gr of W231. 5.4gr works better with my 1911's. I was scared shooting the first mag. I'm just happy after 100rnds had no FTF or FTE....will continue to reload...woohoo...my buddy bought some 45ACP for $.40/rd. my reloads cost me $.18/rd... In the end he had better groupings with the reloads. Now I'm just waititng for my stainless media tumbler.

[johnny1290]

Congrats man thats awesome!

On my pro 1,000 I bought a little led light with flexible neck and taped it over the bullet seating die so I can check the powder. It takes watch batteries. I think it cost 3 bucks at a gas station or something LOL but it really is handy.

[marklyftogt]

Get an EGW chamber checker. Then you know the loads you make will fit in your gun. Google it.

[Sac-AR15]

I just did w what the video suggested by taking by barrel out and check to see if it fits properly.

[SARC_Mike]

Congrats man thats awesome!

On my pro 1,000 I bought a little led light with flexible neck and taped it over the bullet seating die so I can check the powder. It takes watch batteries. I think it cost 3 bucks at a gas station or something LOL but it really is handy.

I used to dabble in photography and have a lot of "daylight" lightbulbs with flexible stands so I am using those. Then I set up a mirror so I can see inside of the cartridge to make sure the powder is there. Works great.

[SARC_Mike]

So I am way past my 50 rounds. I finally got to take my 9mm rounds to the range today. I will admit I was freaked the F out that my gun was going to blow up, but alas all I did was put holes in the paper 7 yards in front of me. I used my G19 so not the best gauge of accuracy but they felt good. Not sure if it was all in my head but the shot just felt better. I am counting the minutes to monday 9:48am so I can get my G35 and pop off some of my .40's!

[SARC_Mike]

I finally got my g35 to the range and all rounds were a success. I forgot how slippery the glock grip is without tape! All rounds were great. Already have favorite "feels" but I'm still not sure about my accuracy. I am going to experiment more but my confidence is much higher now! Now it's time to get serious...

[Dark Mod]

Nice!

Dont forget that working up loads and testing them is half the fun!

You should experiment with a wide range of charge weight, seating depth, powder and bullets to see whats most acurate with your particular gun. Nothing like shooting much higher quality ammo for a fraction of the cost

[Dark Mod]

Nice!

Dont forget that working up loads and testing them is half the fun!

You should experiment with a wide range of charge weight, seating depth, powder and bullets to see whats most acurate with your particular gun. Nothing like shooting much higher quality ammo for a fraction of the cost

[SARC_Mike]

I'm a little afraid to mess with seating depth on the .40. I found 1.130 feeds well and is out of the "pressure scare" range so I am considering that safe and leaving it at that. I'd prefer to keep all my fingers! Maybe I am being paranoid with all the talk of KB's on the net but after a lot of reading its almost like loading a .40 is the same as juggling grenades.

[johnny1290]

fwiw I agree with Markdoddridge. I've only reloaded 7,000 rounds of 9mm but it's really satisfying to get to vary the charge to just how I like it.

I just loaded a couple thousand with a 3.8grn of bullseye and 124 grn lead boolit for super low recoil.

I'm not sure if my groups are markedly better or not, but it's more comfortable to shoot.

I can do it, so why not?!? I made a bunch that shot like factory ammo with more kick, then realized that's not all it's cracked up to be!

oh and fwiw I made a ton of mistakes on my first ammo. Lots of squibs, backward primers, sideways primers, missing primers, you name it!

Now I haven't done any of that in thousands of rounds. You get better!

[SARC_Mike]

Ok so I have shot about 500 of my loaded rounds. I have had 2 squibs...which is 3 too many in my book. I have been VERY careful with my QC's and have narrowed it down to one recipe
.40SW 180gr plated HP 6.4 power pistol OAL 1.135 cci 500 SPP

Now I am thinking that this is just too weak of a load....and the powder isnt being ignited. BUT I would like the experts (and ones who think they are) to weigh in.

My favorite load so far is 7.0 power pistol behind a 155gr lead SWC at 1.130 with CCI 500 SPP. Shot 300 flawless and accurate.