Range report on my first every reloads - The Firearms Forum

1911Man · 03-15-2010, 07:47 AM

I posted this info last night, but for some reason it was "moved." Hmm..

Anyway, took my Springfield Loaded Stainless 1911 .45ACP to the range yesterday and fired my first reloads:

200g LSWC
4.6 of HP-38
COAL of 1.25"
Case mouth of .470".

The first round fired off fine, then I had a bit of a problem with chambering. I simply removed my mag and dropped out the cartridge, reloaded my mag and I was off and running. I had made 90 of them to take and fired off just 50. They all chambered perfectly. I did one in rapid fire and that went fine as well. I feel proud as mine worked. I've read so much, asked questions on here and other forums and have received such great info and feedback, watched Youtube.com videos, my RCBS video, and just talked to people at my local range but it really all came to fruition yesterday. I left that range with my chest out a bit and I walked taller. Life is good in St. Louis with this reloader. Thank you all for your feedback and answers to my questions.

LDBennett · 03-15-2010, 08:08 AM

I have reloaded for over 45 years, off and on. I remember the first ammo I reloaded, too, (32 Winchester Special for a Winchester Model 94) in about 1963. I have reloaded tens of thousands of rounds since then but I still like looking at my freshly reloaded ammo all shinny and bright. There is something to making things, which I spent a working lifetime doing as an engineer and a lifetime of building motorcycles (restoring, maintaining updating, modifying). It's all a rush to me.

LDBennett

woolleyworm · 04-07-2010, 05:15 AM

Congrats

It only gets better from this point !!

todd51 · 04-07-2010, 08:09 AM

Way to go. Nothing wrong with puffing that chest a bit when you complete a job well done. And another at a boy for doing all the research "before" you jumped to make that first round.

sorral · 04-07-2010, 08:28 AM

Congrats!

I have loaded 500 rounds of .45acp, but it was on my buddy's setup, a progressive press. All I had to do was supply componants and pull a handle 500 times. I now have my own press, and have loaded 100 rounds by myself, and can not wait for good weather to test fire a few.

JLA · 04-07-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woolleyworm

Congrats

It only gets better from this point !!

where you been woolley? Aint seen ya for a time...

mikld · 04-07-2010, 11:47 AM

Yer Hooked! Yeah, reloading is very satisfying! Reminds me of my first reloads in 1969, 38 special with Bullseye put together with a Lee Loader, shot them in a 3" Rossi (POS). I made up several hundred that way before I got a Lee Handloader. Wow, memories; about that same time I knew a redhead named Ginger...

DGG! · 04-07-2010, 02:54 PM

Well done! You need to post some targets to show us how accurate those loads are. I want pictures!

JLA · 04-07-2010, 04:54 PM

yeah pics would be good

1911Man · 04-08-2010, 01:10 PM

Pics? Not possible. I threw the targets away. THOUGH, I'm bangin' Saturday morning and you'll get some. How far away should I be shooting from?

JLA · 04-08-2010, 04:24 PM

25 yds. and take your time and give us some good groups... No shooter error here. then do some speed drills at 7 and 15 yds. post pics of those as well. thatll let us know how well you manage the loads in your weapon

have fun

If you think your good enough do a speed drill at 25 yds too. thats a 75 foot shooting scenario. well beyond the distance youd likely need to engage a threat...

1911Man · 04-09-2010, 12:39 PM

Ok, thanks. I'll see what I can do. I'm new to both shooting and reloading, but it will be interesting to see what I can do.

JLA · 04-09-2010, 09:47 PM

and fun too...

Hanover67 · 04-12-2010, 11:28 PM

There's a simple way to check your reloads to see if they will chamber. Take a flat piece of wood about 4"x6" and drill an angled hole the same size as a dowel which will fit inside your .45 barrel. Cut the dowel to length so that after you glue it in the hole and slide the barrel over it it comes up about 1/4 inch into the chamber with the barrel resting on the flat board. After reloading your ammo, slide the barrel up the dowel, drop in a round and release the barrel. If it chambers its OK, and as the barrel drops it will eject the loaded round. I made one of these "gauges" in about 5 minutes. Of course you have to put your barrel back in your gun to shoot it...

03-15-2010, 07:47 AM	#1
1911Man Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Louis Posts: 39	Range report on my first every reloads I posted this info last night, but for some reason it was "moved." Hmm.. Anyway, took my Springfield Loaded Stainless 1911 .45ACP to the range yesterday and fired my first reloads: 200g LSWC 4.6 of HP-38 COAL of 1.25" Case mouth of .470". The first round fired off fine, then I had a bit of a problem with chambering. I simply removed my mag and dropped out the cartridge, reloaded my mag and I was off and running. I had made 90 of them to take and fired off just 50. They all chambered perfectly. I did one in rapid fire and that went fine as well. I feel proud as mine worked. I've read so much, asked questions on here and other forums and have received such great info and feedback, watched Youtube.com videos, my RCBS video, and just talked to people at my local range but it really all came to fruition yesterday. I left that range with my chest out a bit and I walked taller. Life is good in St. Louis with this reloader. Thank you all for your feedback and answers to my questions. __________________ Liberals suck. -->

03-15-2010, 08:08 AM	#2
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,718	Re: Range report on my first every reloads I have reloaded for over 45 years, off and on. I remember the first ammo I reloaded, too, (32 Winchester Special for a Winchester Model 94) in about 1963. I have reloaded tens of thousands of rounds since then but I still like looking at my freshly reloaded ammo all shinny and bright. There is something to making things, which I spent a working lifetime doing as an engineer and a lifetime of building motorcycles (restoring, maintaining updating, modifying). It's all a rush to me. LDBennett

04-07-2010, 05:15 AM	#3
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,885	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Congrats It only gets better from this point !! __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

04-07-2010, 08:09 AM	#4
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,575	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Way to go. Nothing wrong with puffing that chest a bit when you complete a job well done. And another at a boy for doing all the research "before" you jumped to make that first round. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

04-07-2010, 08:28 AM	#5
sorral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Congrats! I have loaded 500 rounds of .45acp, but it was on my buddy's setup, a progressive press. All I had to do was supply componants and pull a handle 500 times. I now have my own press, and have loaded 100 rounds by myself, and can not wait for good weather to test fire a few. __________________ "Guns don't kill people, husbands that come home early do"- Larry the Cable Guy 100% Infidel and lovin it!

04-07-2010, 11:47 AM	#7
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Yer Hooked! Yeah, reloading is *very* satisfying! Reminds me of my first reloads in 1969, 38 special with Bullseye put together with a Lee Loader, shot them in a 3" Rossi (POS). I made up several hundred that way before I got a Lee Handloader. Wow, memories; about that same time I knew a redhead named Ginger... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

04-07-2010, 02:54 PM	#8
DGG! V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 160	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Well done! You need to post some targets to show us how accurate those loads are. I want pictures!

04-07-2010, 04:54 PM	#9
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Range report on my first every reloads yeah pics would be good __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

04-08-2010, 01:10 PM	#10
1911Man Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Louis Posts: 39	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Pics? Not possible. I threw the targets away. THOUGH, I'm bangin' Saturday morning and you'll get some. How far away should I be shooting from? __________________ Liberals suck.

04-08-2010, 04:24 PM	#11
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Range report on my first every reloads 25 yds. and take your time and give us some good groups... No shooter error here. then do some speed drills at 7 and 15 yds. post pics of those as well. thatll let us know how well you manage the loads in your weapon have fun If you think your good enough do a speed drill at 25 yds too. thats a 75 foot shooting scenario. well beyond the distance youd likely need to engage a threat... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

04-09-2010, 12:39 PM	#12
1911Man Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Louis Posts: 39	Re: Range report on my first every reloads Ok, thanks. I'll see what I can do. I'm new to both shooting and reloading, but it will be interesting to see what I can do. __________________ Liberals suck.

04-09-2010, 09:47 PM	#13
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Range report on my first every reloads and fun too... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

04-12-2010, 11:28 PM	#14
Hanover67 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 33	Re: Range report on my first every reloads There's a simple way to check your reloads to see if they will chamber. Take a flat piece of wood about 4"x6" and drill an angled hole the same size as a dowel which will fit inside your .45 barrel. Cut the dowel to length so that after you glue it in the hole and slide the barrel over it it comes up about 1/4 inch into the chamber with the barrel resting on the flat board. After reloading your ammo, slide the barrel up the dowel, drop in a round and release the barrel. If it chambers its OK, and as the barrel drops it will eject the loaded round. I made one of these "gauges" in about 5 minutes. Of course you have to put your barrel back in your gun to shoot it...