jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (09/10/86)
Article: 9:11 > >I want to start reloading .38 and .357 mag shells and was wondering if >anyone could recommend what I should get as far as equipment and supplies. >Could you also include expected costs. Thanks. > > Brad > ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!ix459 Hurray! Something besides flashlights to talk about. I'm not too sure on some of the current prices, but I'll tell what I did and why. I also wanted to start reloading for my .357 (Stainless Blackhawk), since I figured I could do a lot better than the factory stuff I had shot. When I decided to buy, I also wanted to be able to reload rifle ammo in the future, so that influenced my decision some. Anyways, after looking around a lot, I settled on an RCBS Rockchucker. I actually bought it as part of an RCBS package, along with another accessory package. Together, the two packages gave me: Rockchucker press w/ .357 dies and three bullet seating plugs (Some people buy .38 dies and use them for both .38 and .357) Bullet lube pad w/lube goop powder measure scale powder trickler loading blocks case neck and primer pocket brushes powder funnel plus a couple of other little things I don't remember. I added the RCBS case trimmer and a couple more loading blocks, plus a Lee primer tool (the one with the primer tray). I have been very satisfied with this setup, and to date have reloaded over 12,000 rounds of .357, 9mm, .30-06, .223, .44 mag, .45 acp, and .357 Herret. The Rockchucker has performed with no sweat, including caseforming for the Herret. Every now and then I look with lust on the Dillon progressive (RL-450?), but I'm not happy with the idea of not being able to inspect each of my cases after they're cleaned and de-primed. Also, I like inserting primers with the Lee tool. I currently work in batches of 500 pistol or 200 rifle cases. In order: - de-prime - polish - inspect for cracks, etc. - re-prime - add powder - seat and crimp bullet I do this for all the case in the batch. I usually have a bunch of cases aroumd that have been cleaned and primed, so I can add powder and seat and crimp bullets at the rate of about 100-125 rounds/hour and still be careful. I use the big Lyman vibrating polisher to clean cases after de-priming, and a progressive tool would involve extra steps to do that. I might buy the Dillon just for adding powder, seating and crimping, especially for the pistols, but I always seem to want something else more (like the S&W Stainless .45, drool, drool). At the time I got into it, I bought the whole deal for ~$275, but you can get started a lot cheaper than that, either with the Lee or Mequon loaders, or by picking and choosing your components. This has definitely worked great for me, since I wouldn't be able to shoot even a fraction of what I do now if I didn't reload. The only thing I would do different is to buy the Lyman case trimmer. The RCBS trimmer's chuck for the case doesn't lend itself to easily repeatable settings for each case, the Lyman's has a different setup and is more repeatable. If I was going to do it over, I would do it the same way I did before: Decide what you want to spend money on, and pick whatever you can get cheapest. I happen to prefer Lyman and RCBS, but I don't know of any bad stuff on the market. Shooters are touchy about getting ripped off, and any bozo manufacturers don't seem to last long. I also buy from a couple of mailorder places, Esman's (PA.), and Mid-South Shooter's Supply (TN?). Mid-South especially has been great, good service, fast delivery, rarely out of stock on something I want, and GREAT prices. I tend to use them for high-dollar stuff, like the Lyman case polisher, or stuff I have a hard time getting otherwise, like S.S. magazines for the S&W 659. The local guys get plenty of business from me still, including gun purchases, but there are some things that I just wouldn't own without Mid-South. Highly recommended. Let's get some interesting discussions going for a change, if anyone wants to talk more about reloading and you don't want to post, e-mail me direct. BTW, is anyone else ripped that Ruger doesn't sell the Rabch Rifle (.223, scope mounts, etc.) in Stainless? I had always heard that the original Stainless Mini-14 was real popular with ranchers, etc. It would seem that the scoped version would be even more popular. Steve Boyle UUCP.teddy!svb {decvax, linus, mit-eddie, cbosgd, masscomp}!genrad!teddy!svb Steve Boyle, GenRad, MS 06, 300 Baker Ave., Concord, MA. 01742 This is my first submission, any comments are welcomed. Thanks, Steve Boyle
jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (09/17/86)
In-Reply-To: <1257@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Article: 9:21
Could you please post the mailing addresses of the mail-order houses that
you use.
Thanks, Rick.
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/* This is the standard disclaimer that the above junk is mine alone. */
/* path={hplabs,ihnp4}!amdahl!wre */jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard) (09/19/86)
In-Reply-To: <1257@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Article: 9:26
[ The author has been trying to get ahold of this person. Steve? Where are
you, and what happened to your mailer? -jh]
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Steve,
Could you pass along Mid-South Shooter's Supply address? Thanks.
Mark O'Shea
_______________
In reference to an article posted by:
UUCP.teddy!svb
{decvax, linus, mit-eddie, cbosgd, masscomp}!genrad!teddy!svb
Steve Boyle, GenRad, MS 06, 300 Baker Ave., Concord, MA. 01742
jkh@jade.UUCP (04/03/87)
Try the new Hodgdon reloading book, it may have some loads for the 32 H&R. The latest booklet from Hercules has some data which I will list. bullet bullseye red dot green dot unique herco blue dot 85g J 3.4g 3.4g 3.5 4.1 4.6 6.6 95g L 3.4g 3.1g 3.5 4.0 ` The 85g bullet is jacketed and the 95g is a cast lead. herco and blue dot are not recommended for the cast bullet.