Reloading .45?

[ukerduker]

Part of my ritual of going to shoot at Gallatin Gun Club is picking up as much brass as possible during and after we shoot. Normally I look for 9mm, 40S&W, and 223, but we pick everything up, as long as it's a brass case. At the end of a good day, we usually have 800-1000 cases.

I have a small collection of .45 ACP brass that I am not going to use. It's approx 200-300 cases. Anyone need/want this?

[Rightwinger]

When and where Uker?

Do you need any .38?

[musicman]

Awesome! Glad to see this posted... does my heart good!

I like your reply too, RW!

[Rightwinger]

We ain't got much but will share what we got!

[ukerduker]

When and where Uker?

Do you need any .38?

Rightwinger,

PM sent.

Thanks for the .38 offer, but I currently only shoot 9mm, 40S&W, & 223

[musicman]

Well hey, I ain't shy. Rightwinger, if you've got .38 just takin' up valuable real estate at your place, I'll be glad to get it out of the way for you! I may be out cruising in the mornings with my Dad this Friday and Saturday. May be a good reason to visit a place I've never been before!

[Rightwinger]

Won't be near the house in Westmorlavia after Thursday morning, maybe Wednesday night if the company deposits checks early! Going hunting for at least 3 days!

We can find each other sometime soon though. I work off I-40 and Hwy 109 between Lebanon and Mt. Juliet if your out that way I can throw 100 or 200 your way, need to count up whats in the box. I have a 442 on lay away but can't seem to get the last of it saved up to pick it up. I'll be keeping enough to get me well started!

If your not headed east anytime soon, I'll let you know the next time I venture into the Big City.

[Rightwinger]

Thanks Ukerduker! I appreciate your time and the brass. Holler when you get ready to roll your own!

[ukerduker]

No problem Rightwinger. Glad to help.

I do have a question about a my future press. I am about to order the RCBS Rock Chucker Master kit from Midwayusa. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=646599

If I going to start reloading 223 REM, what additional parts will I need? It doesn't appear to come with any dies.

[Rightwinger]

Ok you need calipers....don't go digital here, don't go hog wild on the costs either

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=128288

Scales, go digital here! I have a Dillon but you have to pick your price point. Get one that calibrates with an included calibration weight and is 110 volt. No batteries.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=118094

A powder trickler, this is a good one (I own it)

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=487186

Case gauge!! Midway doesn't carry them but this is an "almost" example.

When your done sizing, drop the case in the gauge which represents your chamber. If its short or overlength, you see it immediately. The guy that made my 458 actually took barrel stubs and made one with free bore and rifling so you can drop your fully loaded rounds in and see where they hit in the chamber and match up to the bore!

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=268983

Dies, if your going RCBS, stay with them

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=440502

Shell holders. Get them singly as you add calibers to your set or get the set.

I think its a #10 for RCBS but Midway doesn't show any standard ones. Check Cabela's or Reloaders Bench locally.

Lube Wax...! Must have or you'll be drilling out a broken/stuck case!

Imperial is THE stuff, don't get caught up in sprays and lube pads! Just run your finger over the top of this, rub it on the case, size and wipe it off. I'm still on my first can two years and 1000's or rounds done.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=519525

Case trimmers. This one you'll have to pick. My brother uses the Lyman with great results and it doesn't wear your fingers out.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=795961

I still use this since I went with Lee first. Its simple and effective. you just twist the ball with the appropriate case length trimmer gauge and it does the rest. As you add calibers, just buy the gauge, they all screw into the ball and trimmer head. You'll need a chamfer tool as well to clean up the inner and outer edges. The link is to Lee's site, all these items are there. You'll also see that universal decapper I told you about. You get a decapper with your die set so you don't really need it, but if you want to deprime hundreds of shells at a sittin or let that boy take care of it, this is the deal.

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1177876758.5265=/html/catalog/casecon.html#DecappingDie

Case tumbler and media. Get the corn cob, not the nutshell. The walnut shells leave residue in the cases IMO.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=587176

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=110664

Optional but very handy, case holder trays

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=888804

There is a ton of other stuff that is nice to have or I may have forgotten but to me, this will have you set so you don't run into any issues and can more easily enjoy your entry into loading! You have a primer tool in your set so that is good to go so you can clean, size, prime, press home a round. Now you need powder and bullets!

Oh and one other recommendation. I decap and clean the primer pocket before I throw them in the tumbler. This will keep your cob media cleaner longer and get more of what you need cleaned. Plus you can do this part of the process really quick, like just after you come in from the range and your brass will not get corrosion spots or buildup.

[ukerduker]

Damn, I feel slightly overwhelmed.

I am ordering my press(kit), dies, 223 gauge, wax, and a 223 holder tonight to get started. I am in no hurry, but I just needed a list to get me started. It's hard to judge the items that you must have to begin reloading.

I will deprime all my range collected brass then buy my tumbler and media at a later date. I will also purchase my trimmer later.

I appreciate the help in getting my feet on the ground. I will definately be in-touch as I get ready to reload my first few rounds.

Thanks Rightwinger!

[Rightwinger]

Yeah, it seems a little overwhelming getting the set up. When you look at the dies, you think...this is cheap! Then you find out everything else you probably need. My wife asked me what the heck I was doing all that typing for?? I looked at the list and said, wow, did I really do all that too?

Look at it this way, bologna sandwiches are cheap. But when you add the bread, cheese, mayo, mustard, pickle and tomato to make a good bologna sandwich, you jack up the cost....at least for the set up.

After you get it all in the fridge, you just buy bread and bologna for a long time.

[Rightwinger]

Oh, holler some time in the next week or so after you get your first batch of brass deprimed and give it to me. I'll tumble it clean for you so you can get started. If you want you can come up and I'll run through a batch of .223 and show you the process rooter to tooter while your brass cleans up.

Grab Triple Digit Ride on the way and we will make him bring dinner!

[ukerduker]

Yeah, it seems a little overwhelming getting the set up. When you look at the dies, you think...this is cheap! Then you find out everything else you probably need. My wife asked me what the heck I was doing all that typing for?? I looked at the list and said, wow, did I really do all that too?

Look at it this way, bologna sandwiches are cheap. But when you add the bread, cheese, mayo, mustard, pickle and tomato to make a good bologna sandwich, you jack up the cost....at least for the set up.

After you get it all in the fridge, you just buy bread and bologna for a long time.

Good anology!

Edited January 1, 2009 by ukerduker