Ammo Factory Up and Running
- Thread starter CobraGuy
- Start date
- Location
- sudbury, ontario
Get yourself a Dillon
Take your pistol apart and feed a couple manually into/out of your chamber; make sure they go all the way in. Or get a case gauge to check 'em. I've seen a couple 9mm reloaders (including myself) not resize them all the way to the back (my Hornady LnL AP gives me a lot of trouble with 9mm, I gauge every round), then the case will jam in the chamber and lock the gun up.
Thanks for the tip. I checked them with a case gauge and they seem good, but I will double check them in the chamber (with the pistol apart of course).
I knew at least one person was going to post "get a Dillon". I went with the Lee to learn without spending a huge amount of money. The Lee Loadmaster has it's little quirks, but once you adjust for them / fix them, the machine seems to work pretty well.
Isn't that the truth. I have already spent a small fortune on reloading, but I will get my money out of it I am sure.
I knew at least one person was going to post "get a Dillon". I went with the Lee to learn without spending a huge amount of money. The Lee Loadmaster has it's little quirks, but once you adjust for them / fix them, the machine seems to work pretty well.
Isn't that the truth. I have already spent a small fortune on reloading, but I will get my money out of it I am sure.
I just finished doing the same thing. Loaded my first 50 rounds of 308. I'm hooked already.
When I'm working on a load, I will typically load from 5 to 30 each of various powder charges, depending on the caliber. Handgun rounds typically get more, first batch of rifle loads get less.
Using a Sharpie, I mark the primers with a distinct color for each charge, making a note of it both in my reloading log, and a note that goes in wiht the test loads.
Once I'm satisfied of a particular load, then i go into production mode.
BTW, I've had a Lee Progressive 1000 for many years, and have only had a few moments of frustration with it.
Using a Sharpie, I mark the primers with a distinct color for each charge, making a note of it both in my reloading log, and a note that goes in wiht the test loads.
Once I'm satisfied of a particular load, then i go into production mode.
BTW, I've had a Lee Progressive 1000 for many years, and have only had a few moments of frustration with it.
Congrats and welcome to the reloading world. Never again would you have to worry about having to pick up ammo from a store just so you could go plinking. It's a good feeling. 
Sadly, every piece of brass you see on the floor at the range will be like pieces of gold. ha!
Sadly, every piece of brass you see on the floor at the range will be like pieces of gold. ha!
One tip with Lee, which I didn't know about: If something breaks, go to the lee precision website, and find the broken part. You add it to your cart, and they'll send it to you for free, you only pay for shipping. Given all the hate that Lee receives and how everyone keeps saying dillon are the only ones with ironclad guarantee, I thought I'd have to pay for everything that would ever break, but nope, replacement parts are free.
Bought a challenger on the EE with a broken primer arm. Got it for a song. Lee is sending me the replacement, and it'll be like a new press.
Congrats and welcome to the reloading world. Never again would you have to worry about having to pick up ammo from a store just so you could go plinking. It's a good feeling.
Sadly, every piece of brass you see on the floor at the range will be like pieces of gold. ha!
Well now instead of buying ammo, your going to be buying components. My first year I spent way more on components than the damn press cost!
Shhhhh! That's a given. Can't leave a store now without picking up a pound or more of powder or bullets or primers. Like grabbing a pack of gum at the grocery checkout counter. lol
I have already fallen into the reloading trap. I keep ordering "extra" items so I don't run low, even though I have only loaded 10 rounds so far....lol
My first 500 box of bullets looked like it would take forever to empty.... 4 weeks later I was already 80% done lol. This was for 308 win too.
Now I buy by the thousands and 8'ers
The best gauge for 9mm ammo is the chamber. use the barrel as the gauge. Push a round in and see if it will fall out. If it does, the bullet is not engaging the rifling, so ammo is good.
If round sticks in the chamber, there is a flare on the case mouth, a case bulge or the bullet is hitting the rifling.
When you change bullet weight or shape or brand, test again. Each bullet is different.
Make a note of the correct OAL for each bullet type you use.
Also, make sure the loaded ammo fits the magazine....
Welcome to the club.
If round sticks in the chamber, there is a flare on the case mouth, a case bulge or the bullet is hitting the rifling.
When you change bullet weight or shape or brand, test again. Each bullet is different.
Make a note of the correct OAL for each bullet type you use.
Also, make sure the loaded ammo fits the magazine....
Welcome to the club.
