My First Reloads Today.

[Seaweed02]

Well I bought my reloading kit way back in November, so I could get started reloading. I actually found some good rifle powder back in January or February, but didn't reload any rifle since I don't hardly shoot rifles anymore. I have a hurt back, so I take it easy now a days. Even though I hadn't reloaded yet, I had a bunch of pistol brass saved up from before I ever bought the reloading kit, so I had cleaned brass, and sized, and primed, and done everything except make a round. I finally got some pistol powder from Doug at Fetterley's Powder (hope I spelled that right), and tonight I made my first live ammo. It is 45 ACP, and although I meant to do 10 rounds, I actually did 11 rounds. I guess I will have to get out to the range sometime and try them out. I used Berry's bullets, 230 grain round nose, along with 6 grains of Hogdon CFE Pistol. We will see how it shoots. Here is a pic, although I know it isn't much to look at.
[IMG]Untitled by carllovett, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Enfield47]

Congrats! Did you make up some dummy rounds to test the function in your pistol? If they have feeding problems you can adjust the COL before you try firing your reloads.

[Bumslie]

Awesome! Congrats.

[Seaweed02]

No I didn't

Congrats! Did you make up some dummy rounds to test the function in your pistol? If they have feeding problems you can adjust the COL before you try firing your reloads.

No I didn't think about that. What I did was take out a factory round and duplicate the size of that. I set the seating die all the way up and then kept adjusting the seating plug a fraction at a time and measuring the round until I had it to the same overall length as the factory round. I hope it works, but if it doesn't I guess I only messed up 11 rounds. I'll let you guys know when I get a chance to fire them off.

[Seaweed02]

Success

They all fired great and were accurate. I don't have a chronograph so I don't know anything about the FPS or anything like that. I am just doing my first reloads and learning as I go. Out of the 11 rounds I loaded, I planned on firing 5 in my Glock and 6 in my Kimber Eclipse Custom II. Well one of the rounds would not load into my Glock, and I don't know why. But it loaded into the Kimber just fine, and fired as accurate as the rest. I like the hobby so far

[ducky_0811]

Hobby...ha...soon it will turn into a full blown addiction

[Capybara]

Great work Carl. Welcome to the obsession.

[Seaweed02]

Thanks fellas

Thanks fellas, for the encouragement and positive attitudes. I am looking forward to my garage cooling down a bit so I can get back in there and do some more reloading.

[krwada]

Nice!

Welcome to the addiction.

Shoot to reload ... Reload to shoot!

It is all good.

[Enfield47]

Glad to hear all went well. I'll bet you had quite the grin knowing your reloads worked.

[jwest]

Welcome to the addiction.

Shoot to reload ... Reload to shoot!

It is all good.

^^^ This is the TRUTH! Ha! But, it is so much fun!
Yes, welcome to the addiction!

[Seaweed02]

I hit my garage this morning and loaded

I hit my garage this morning and loaded 250 more of those same 45 acp rounds. I split it up into two batches, but I forgot to look into each and every case during the first batch. Because I don't want a squib load, or heaven forbid a double charge of powder, I am thinking about pulling all of the first batch and doing it again. What do you guys think? Also, would I need to resize and expand, or just use the exander die?

[BigBronco]

Just expand. If loaded on a single station or a progressive with out a powder check system Pull the bullets. Always lean towards the safer choice.

[jwest]

Hello Seaweed,

Ah, yes - reloader's anxiety. We all get it.

I have some of those LED lights from Dremmel festooned all over my reloading presses just for this reason - so I can eyeball every charge and step.

I don't load 45 ACP - but, one idea - and this is very dependent on the recipe, bullet, brass, charge, etc - you can weigh a good round or known golden round, and get an idea if what you have done is in the ballpark.

Again, this is component dependent and how much gunpowder is used in the recipe. It is only meant to be a guideline.

I would say though - if you have any doubts - pull them. And, for good measure, if it was me, I would go through the whole process, slowly and surely.

It is not unusual to experience reloader's anxiety - we all get it.

HTH,
jwest