Thread: anyone else load their own ammo?

I've often found that like minds gravitate toward the same hobbies, so i thought I'd see if anyone else loaded their own ammo. I've been loading my own 45 ACP for a while now and find it to be a great way to relax. So who else loads their own?

Does Raggedy Ann have a cotton cleavage?

Talk to Glen (gssixgun)

Just got a rcbs for christmas... I have been slowly gathering equipment.

Did for years until I burned down my garage casting bullits was actually no big deal until the 10 lbs of pyrodex under my casting bench touched off which took out part of my nieghbors house and killed his dog.
Lots of fun and nobody got killed.No longer do that stuff.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Did for years until I burned down my garage casting bullits was actually no big deal until the 10 lbs of pyrodex under my casting bench touched off which took out part of my nieghbors house and killed his dog.
Lots of fun and nobody got killed.No longer do that stuff.

The fellow that developed pyrodex was killed in an explosion at a plant where they made the stuff IIRC. Anyway, I used to load for various handgun calibers, but some years ago all of the local indoor ranges stopped allowing reloads.

There are a couple of outdoor alternatives that do allow reloads, and I love to go to them, but they are hours away, so I just don't bother much anymore. Price of fuel and what not.

I reload and cast all my own bullets. I reload for all the popular pistol and rifle calibers and cast for all of them too. Try to shoot a couple times a week at least! I have been shooting for 30 years and first pulled the handle on a reloading press in 1998. Cast my first bullet in 1999. I actually cast a bunch yesterday and loaded a bunch as well. Loaded a bunch of ammo for my Pastor's 9MM. Shot it all up. Takes a lot less time to shoot then it does to load.

I have a Sig Sauer and I used to reload my own ammunition in .357 and .40. The .357 case is basically a .40 necked down to 9mm, but you can't really do that because if you were to actually neck down the 9mm to attempt this the case would be too short.

I found that with the 9mm bullet placement was the most difficult thing for me to learn, making sure it was seated far enough into the case but not too far. I learned a lot about pistol ammunition from making my own.

I used to reload a lot with my father, but since I moved out of state that's not been possible. I left all my reloading equipment with him.

Edit: For those who may not be familiar, Sig's .357 caliber ammunition is supposed to emulate in terms of fire power, at certain weights and speeds, the .357 magnum. I didn't want anyone thinking I thought this thing shot .357 mag rounds.

I load my own shotgun shells. It's way cheaper. But lead prices have been getting higher since the mid 90's. Sucks.

I cast and load my own 9mm, .40, .45, and .357.
I load my own 30-06.

I have a shotshell reloader, which I've owned for about three years and never used.


The next piece of equipment I get will be a swaging press.

Absolutely! I have a Dillon 650 for .45 and .40. I hand load .243 and 30-06.