This is your sign to start reloading

[u/Fickle_Ice_7584]

I'm sure there's lots of people like me, who want to start reloading but don't know where to start. It's intimidating at first, especially when you hear horror stories of people blowing themselves up. Maybe you think you need the perfect reloading bench/set up, maybe space is an issue for you.

I'm here to tell you/show you, you don't need much to start your reloading journey ($1000 and a dream) I'm currently living in the MIL's home so I couldn't make a permanent work bench or anything that I couldn't take down with ease. So I built a bench off a folding plastic table. It's a bit janky, and on my first version the press was ripping off the table every pull of the arm, made some improvements and she's holding up pretty good.

I'm a self proclaimed RETARD and I've managed to figure out how to reload 44 mag and it's been a blast, so far I've made 172 rounds, 100 FTX 225gr and 72 CPTC 240gr using H110 powder, my groups are on par if not better than factory ammo after my first attempt, I'm confident I can dial these in further with more tinkering, groups aren't amazing but I'm proud of what I have accomplished so far.

Top left of picture 2 is my handloaded FTX 225gr vs Factory Hornaday leverevolution at 50 yards

Bottom right is my 240gr vs PMC bronze 240s on top

3rd pic is my FTX 225s at 100 yards with Bushnell 1-4 lpvo

Reloading has taken my love of shooting to a whole new level, I'm excited to get off work these days so I can get my next batch ready for the weekend. Where before I started reloading I'd struggle to find something to do with my free time that felt worth it, long time gamer that just doesn't enjoy gaming anymore.

So if you've been on the fence a while or just started thinking about it this is the universe telling you to do it! Money is temporary, glory lasts forever.

[u/ProtoJazz]

I had a hell of a time getting my first few batches of 38 special to work reliably. They kept getting stuck right at the end of the barrel. Just prairie dogging copper.

Turned out to be 2 things

First issue was, Id planned everything out printed out the spec sheets and everything. But somehow I ended up with a different bag of bullets than I'd printed the spec sheet for. Unsure which part I got wrong. But they were close, but not quite the same seating depth. With an already pretty minimal charge, seating it all the way might make a difference.

The other issue turned out to just be I was never properly cleaning the rifle. Went at it with a brass brush for a bit and really cleaned up that first bit of the barrel and suddenly things were traveling out the other end like normal.

Now 357, and 45 colt, not a single problem so far. Other than 45 colt having a small, shitty rim that the universal holders don't seem to like.

[u/Murray3-Dvideos → u/ProtoJazz]

You must have been loading well below the minimum charge levels for that to happen, maybe combined with a 24 or 26" barrel? . I once loaded a .38 without powder and the primer alone sent the 158gr copper plated bullet 16" down the 20" barrel. I run 4grs of Titegroup behind that same bullet and it has 920fps out of that 20" barrel. I suspect a shorter barrel would yield even faster velocities since there's much less friction.

[u/ProtoJazz → u/Murray3-Dvideos]

Yeah, big rifle, right at the min which was likely based on a 4 inch revolver

[u/Fickle_Ice_7584 → u/ProtoJazz]

Getting in the habit of double/triple checking things over definitely saves you in the long run. I trimmed my first 75 cases wayyyy too short cuz I was misreading my digital calipers, almost charged the cases but thankfully had a moment of clarity n compared my brass to a factory round and realized I almost made a horrible mistake

[u/Murray3-Dvideos → u/Fickle_Ice_7584]

You start out pretty paranoid and for very good reasons.... but eventually as you become more experienced and knowledgeable on the process you start to really rationalize what's worth being paranoid over and what isn't.