Ammo price warning!

[weetabix]

I shot some 7.62x54R Wolf black box the other day. I cleaned as if it were corrosive. It was the filthiest stuff I think I've ever seen.

Norm -

Do you save money reloading? Seems like the price of bullets is almost as much as the price of a Silver Bear round. Do you shoot cast bullets? Those seem to be around 3-5 cents/round. I think I've read that if you keep your velocities reasonable, you don't wind up leading the barrel.

Also, could you recommend two manuals to read on reloading 9x18? That and 7.62x54R are probably what I'd be reloading, and I'd like to do some reading before I buy all the gear.

I've been collecting 9x19 brass at the range to size and trim for 9x18 when I start. I'm glad that others think brass is trash.

Edited to add: I also ordered 1500 rounds of Silver Bear yesterday.

[garry]

Here is my messy bench,

to anyone ready to start reloading, I say this: Buy a Turret Press. I have the single stage Lee
Challenger and I hate setting up the dies and then having to undo it after I get to the next stage. The Turret just holds the dies in place and ready to go so you can save a ton of set-up time ! I will NOT buy another single stage press. They are great for starting and learning but the Turret press is NO MORE DIFFICULT than a single stage press and you don't have to measure and set up the dies every time you decide to do something. Just rotate to the stage you want and leave the dies set at your preference. Some turrets have 7-holes so you can feasibly load two calibers and never have to unscrew a single die. Now THATS efficiency ! G BTW ... Lee stuff is alot less expensive than RCBS stuff and it is like the Ford/Chevy debate. Tho I must admit, when i use my neighbor's RCBS press, I DO get envious,but not much. Rcbs is built like a tank compared to my LEE Challenger, but I don't need a Tank to make bullets.

[normsutton]

weetabix

no pacific books on reloading those CAL.

if you want a book on cast bullets the LYMAN CAST BULLET
HANDBOOK,

LYMAN 48th EDITION RELOADING HANDBOOK is brand new you can get these at
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/index.htm

another good book to get is THE ABC's OF RELOADING 7th EDITION


NORM

[garry]

Norm, That Pacific Press looks Solid as a Rock ! Is it a well built /tough press? Would you suggest it , or is there any other model that you might like to have more? G

[normsutton]

Garry

This is Lee Challenger press after loading 1000 223's





I don't suggests a turret press because the bolt at the top becomes lose

the Pacific is no longer being made

this is the one I recommend other than a ROCK CHUCKER
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... t=11082005

lee dies work better with other bands of lock rings ( lee lock rings suck)

if I had to do it all over again i would buy this kit
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... t=11082005

its the best value for the money and it will last you a life time and your kids life time

NORM

[garry]

Thanks Norm ! I took off the rubber O-rings on my Lee Dies and now they lock up solid like the RCBS dies. That helped alot. Before I removed them the dies had play and wobbled. That Lee Challenger looks like someone stood on it ! lol
I am glad you showed me that picture ! The RCBS Rockchucker is certainly built stronger !!! You can order new parts for that Lee, i am sure you know this already. Anyways I will take it easy on my Lee press. when i get another press, I can always put the Lee to use priming and seating bullets and other "Light" work. G

[normsutton]

Garry

That guy who's press broke got the new parts for it but it took 3 weeks to get them form lee so he order them from midway they took a week any way he put the press back together he went at loading 223's again
well it broke again he took a hammer after that no more lee press ' some one gave him an old single arm lyman press a he been using that ever since.
on the lock rings every once in awhile midway has other brand's on sell they lock screws in them or go to gun shows you might be a find some.

NORM