long time lurker...want to get into reloading

[ARCZ]

so i've been trolling this site for a long time and wanted to know what powders to get:

when i see it in stock, should i just buy what i can? whats the limit on powders?

shooting .223 and .308 in AR platforms
* right now, I have 8 lbs of ramshot tac and 5 lbs of hodgdon H335. Are these okay for .308 as well?
* trying to look for varget and reloader 15 and am having a hard time.

shooting 9mm
* i have alliant unique. this should be good right? i hear a lot of good things. I bought an 8lb jug, which seems like a lot for one caliber and one pistol. how much ammo can I make with this?

[someoneeasy]

Best advise, you have to pick yourself up a manual.

[Chief-7700]

Please go buy a reloading manual then read it. Remember you are wanting to play with things that love to go BOOM!
Chief

[ARCZ]

i have the lyman reloading manual and have read it front to back.

i was merely asking for people's opinion.

[Gryff]

First, I don't think "troller" means what you think it means. You probably meant "lurker."

In any case, I use Titegroup for my 9mm. I don't know anything about unique, so I can't advise. As for how long long 8# will last, there are 7000 grains to a pound, so if your load uses 3.5 grains/round, one pound should theoretically get you 2000 rounds.

[tylenol9999]

I use hp-38 and imr 7625 for the 9mm.

[XDRoX]

Unique will work for 9mm but it's kind of dirty and doesn't meter very well.
8lb's will load over 11k rounds of 9mm.

I really like Tac for 223. It works great.

[the86d]

I just got me one of these:

After being on these for 2 years:

1) Have at least one manual, for sure.

2) NEVER start even-near max-load. Work up slow... ... ...

3) A Chronograph is your friend, too.

4) Group buys are the best source for quality projectiles at some of the lowest prices.

5) Never start with any loads you hear about on these nets, double-verify everything in a manual...

We are all kind of limited on selection right now, but we would have never tried new powders, if we weren't limited to what is "in stock".
Get what you can, after referencing a manual to verify you have data for that which you are buying.

[ARCZ]

thanks guys. i do mean lurker.

i will give it a try, although i do not have the patience (i know myself) and quite frankly, dont have as much time.

I have a single stage right now and dies for .223 and 9mm and will give it a try. i tdont have a tumbler, so ive been hand cleaning them in a bucket outside. i have a lot of brass.

Seems like a lot of work when I can get ammo already made. Is there really a benefit to this? i dont shoot for tight groups and I actually like carbine course type shooting. maybe i need a progressive for my type of shooting? man...the costs keep building up.

[CK_32]

[ARCZ]

what do you mean?

[BrianRodela]

Sierra does list Tac for 168 BTHP and I know it works well for the heavier .223 bullets (69+).

http://www.6mmbr.citymaker.com/f/Sierra308Win.pdf

[brettkeating]

Unique is a terrible powder. Extremely limited in it's applications and not for the new reloader. You should definitely give that 8lb jug to me before you hurt yourself

Seriously though, I'm a new reloader and have never touched the stuff, but from what I've read in the manuals it seems that Unique is usable for a wider range of cartridges than almost any other powder... and I've also heard that it's difficult to overcharge cases with it, being bulky as well. Take that info with a grain of salt, it's just hearsay, but based on that I'd say you have a perfect powder for a beginner.

And I'm also serious when I say you should give it to me if you decide you don't want to reload after all

[ARCZ]

im quite overwhelmed with reloading, but i keep hearing that you save money and its as fun as shooting. lol. right now, i cant say its as fun as shooting.

[Nirrad]

i do not have the patience (i know myself)...

May be best to step away from this before something bad happens.

It is a lot of work and there are no safe shortcuts - and like you said, ready-made ammo is easy for you to get.