I shot my first reloads!!! - The Firearms Forum

newby · 09-08-2009, 11:25 AM

I did it!! I have put A LOT of time studying and reading posts on different forums- mostly this one. I loaded 5 .40 S&W and 5 .380 ACP. I used Green Dot and JHP. They shot like a charm except the .380 was having a little trouble loading the next round as evidenced by a very small mark on the side of each case (about half way up) after it was fired. I think that my OL was a little off so I will adjust that for the next batch. Ether OL or the load ramp has a sharpie on it and it is catching the case when shoved into place.

I have a lot of bullets to reload and I am pumped that I feel a little more confident now. I am going to get these two guns down to a science and then start on rifle next.

Thanks for all the expertise and allowing me to drop in on all of your conversations so that I can learn. It is too cool to be able to hear the gun go off and see a hole in the paper- all from a round that I loaded

308 at my gate · 09-08-2009, 11:33 AM

It is very cool indeed. Congradulations and I can relate to your excitement, I felt the same way when I first started reloading.

gdmoody · 09-08-2009, 12:06 PM

Congratulations Newby, and welcome to the Forum.

You are now officially addicted, to both reloading and to TFF.

fprefect · 09-08-2009, 01:09 PM

Congrats on your first reloads, and welcome to "The Long and Winding Road" of reloading. And believe it or not, there may be times when you may even experience a greater feeling of satisfaction than today. Take your time, double check all your loads and have fun.

F. Prefect

dsv424 · 09-08-2009, 01:22 PM

Newby, you bring back memories of a year ago when I first started. Sure is a great feeling when you pull that trigger on your very own reloaded ammo. I remember being apprehensive if I might have missed something or mis-understood someones advise. But man oh man I'll never forget that feeling of success! Congradulations, you are now hooked and it only gets better from here.

Don't hesitate to ask more questions as they arise.

Texxut · 09-08-2009, 01:52 PM

Welcome Newby !

Shot your first reloads and still have all your fingers!
You're off to a good start.

DWARREN123 · 09-08-2009, 02:56 PM

Feels good doesn't it!

FTK87 · 09-08-2009, 08:08 PM

Wow, post like this remind me why I love reloading, everytime I break somthing or screw up a batch or cuss my equipment and think to myself "why do I love this?" Then I remember that feeling, like when your first loads worked, or the first time my loads shot a MOA group. Wow I love shooting!

Congratulations and good luck on your future loads!

Insulation Tim · 09-08-2009, 09:23 PM

Feels good doesn't it? I only reload .45ACP but there are so many variables between powders, loads and bullets...it never gets boring, It's like one big Science Project.

Lotsdragon · 09-08-2009, 10:16 PM

Aint nothing better (well maybe spam made with bacon) than your first reloads going bang like they are supposed too! Too cool, have fun and be safe!

newby · 09-09-2009, 08:22 AM

I set up my powder measure (I am still trying to trust that mechanism a little more) and loaded another 50 rounds (40 S&W) last night. It took me about 2 hours to load the 50 rounds- I am still slow and check everything twice and three times. I got my press set up so that towards the end of the 50 rounds I did not have to measure OL as much and everything was coming out uniform. I have to learn to trust that too.

Tonight I am going to tackle another 50 rounds and then move toward my .380 brass and load about 50 of those sometime before Friday. I am going to stop off at the local indoor range on my way home at noon on Friday and see how these shoot.

mikld · 09-09-2009, 10:54 AM

Good job! Please, continue to double and triple check. Keeps you and your gun in one piece.

VegasTech702 · 09-10-2009, 02:25 AM

Nice! .380 is a finicky round to reload in my experience. The cases are really thin and small. They tend to crumple easily in my Lee powder through expanding die with pro disk. I just have to take my time on that function and be careful.

As far as functionality, I found the min loads to be best for accuracy coupled with the Lee Factory Crimp to aid in reliable feeding.

Suwannee Tim · 09-10-2009, 05:04 AM

You will eventually get more confident but you want to be certain that does not turn into complacency. I make as many mistakes as anyone but very few, really none of any importance get by me when reloading as I am constantly checking my work. Example, look up a load in one manual, verify it in another.

Texxut · 09-10-2009, 10:04 AM

Never "trust" it's right, always "know" it's right, verify everything.

Remember, you are making little bombs that you are going to set off, very close to you face.

09-08-2009, 11:25 AM	#1
newby Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 16	I shot my first reloads!!! I did it!! I have put A LOT of time studying and reading posts on different forums- mostly this one. I loaded 5 .40 S&W and 5 .380 ACP. I used Green Dot and JHP. They shot like a charm except the .380 was having a little trouble loading the next round as evidenced by a very small mark on the side of each case (about half way up) after it was fired. I think that my OL was a little off so I will adjust that for the next batch. Ether OL or the load ramp has a sharpie on it and it is catching the case when shoved into place. I have a lot of bullets to reload and I am pumped that I feel a little more confident now. I am going to get these two guns down to a science and then start on rifle next. Thanks for all the expertise and allowing me to drop in on all of your conversations so that I can learn. It is too cool to be able to hear the gun go off and see a hole in the paper- all from a round that I loaded -->

09-08-2009, 11:33 AM	#2
308 at my gate Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lost in SW USA. Posts: 847	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! It is very cool indeed. Congradulations and I can relate to your excitement, I felt the same way when I first started reloading. __________________ You got to love it.

09-08-2009, 12:06 PM	#3
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,358	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Congratulations Newby, and welcome to the Forum. You are now officially addicted, to both reloading and to TFF. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-08-2009, 01:09 PM	#4
fprefect V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Branson, MO Posts: 63	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Congrats on your first reloads, and welcome to "The Long and Winding Road" of reloading. And believe it or not, there may be times when you may even experience a greater feeling of satisfaction than today. Take your time, double check all your loads and have fun. F. Prefect

09-08-2009, 01:22 PM	#5
dsv424 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Garland, Tx. Posts: 279	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Newby, you bring back memories of a year ago when I first started. Sure is a great feeling when you pull that trigger on your very own reloaded ammo. I remember being apprehensive if I might have missed something or mis-understood someones advise. But man oh man I'll never forget that feeling of success! Congradulations, you are now hooked and it only gets better from here. Don't hesitate to ask more questions as they arise.

09-08-2009, 01:52 PM	#6
Texxut V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 264	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Welcome Newby ! Shot your first reloads and still have all your fingers! You're off to a good start.

09-08-2009, 02:56 PM	#7
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 764	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Feels good doesn't it! __________________ Have a nice day!

09-08-2009, 08:08 PM	#8
FTK87 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chouteau, Oklahoma Posts: 481	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Wow, post like this remind me why I love reloading, everytime I break somthing or screw up a batch or cuss my equipment and think to myself "why do I love this?" Then I remember that feeling, like when your first loads worked, or the first time my loads shot a MOA group. Wow I love shooting! Congratulations and good luck on your future loads!

09-08-2009, 09:23 PM	#9
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,300	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Feels good doesn't it? I only reload .45ACP but there are so many variables between powders, loads and bullets...it never gets boring, It's like one big Science Project. __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"*

09-08-2009, 10:16 PM	#10
Lotsdragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Potosi, Mo Posts: 813	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Aint nothing better (well maybe spam made with bacon) than your first reloads going bang like they are supposed too! Too cool, have fun and be safe! __________________ "First comes smiles,then lies.Last is gunfire" Roland Deschain

09-09-2009, 08:22 AM	#11
newby Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 16	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! I set up my powder measure (I am still trying to trust that mechanism a little more) and loaded another 50 rounds (40 S&W) last night. It took me about 2 hours to load the 50 rounds- I am still slow and check everything twice and three times. I got my press set up so that towards the end of the 50 rounds I did not have to measure OL as much and everything was coming out uniform. I have to learn to trust that too. Tonight I am going to tackle another 50 rounds and then move toward my .380 brass and load about 50 of those sometime before Friday. I am going to stop off at the local indoor range on my way home at noon on Friday and see how these shoot.

09-09-2009, 10:54 AM	#12
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Good job! Please, continue to double and triple check. Keeps you and your gun in one piece. __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

09-10-2009, 02:25 AM	#13
VegasTech702 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 360	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Nice! .380 is a finicky round to reload in my experience. The cases are really thin and small. They tend to crumple easily in my Lee powder through expanding die with pro disk. I just have to take my time on that function and be careful. As far as functionality, I found the min loads to be best for accuracy coupled with the Lee Factory Crimp to aid in reliable feeding. __________________ I am looking for a new, creative thing to say in my signature.

09-10-2009, 05:04 AM	#14
Suwannee Tim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,227	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! You will eventually get more confident but you want to be certain that does not turn into complacency. I make as many mistakes as anyone but very few, really none of any importance get by me when reloading as I am constantly checking my work. Example, look up a load in one manual, verify it in another.

09-10-2009, 10:04 AM	#15
Texxut V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Utah Posts: 264	Re: I shot my first reloads!!! Never "trust" it's right, always "know" it's right, verify everything. Remember, you are making little bombs that you are going to set off, very close to you face.