How many of you remember when...

[mmcauliffe]

How many of you veterans remember when you shot the very first cartridge you hand loaded?

Well, today was that day for me. Some of you might recognize my "handle" as being very VERY new and you would be correct.

Reading and re-reading loading manuals, asking questions,lots of questions) both here and at the local range, the day was finally here to head for the range with my newly hand loaded cartridges.

After me & "the guys" in our local gun club shot our twice/month "rimfire varmint league" I broke out my .22-250 AND brought out my very first,20) hand loaded cartridges. I figured all the guys were going to leave and gather for lunch as usual while I hung back and started setting-up...WRONG!

Totally focused,nervous as hell) at some point I realized the guys weren't going anywhere...they were waiting to watch me shoot...ohhh gawd, I'm going to make a damn fool of myself.

My hands were shaking as I loaded the first cartridge. With all eyes on me, all I wanted to do was pull the damn trigger and get it over with but I actually calmed down,a little) and managed to make a respectable shot. The next 4 were pretty scattered and managed a pretty poor, 100yard 5 shot group of 1.237" My second group, and after the guys left was a little better at .687" and the third was .603" The fourth group...I shot 2 rounds and realized the barrel was getting a touch on the hot side, new shooters had been showing up waiting for the line to "go cold" so I packed up and went home, I was pretty happy actually with the way things went.

The groups will shrink, I'm certain of that but today was all about getting the first shots out there.

I had soooo much fun today...I hope most, if not all, remember that this is what's it's all about.

All the Best,
Mike

 

[waterdog]

Mike,,,,Because you enjoyed the day and shooting your first re-loaded ammo, I expect you will be a re-loader from now on. There is nothing like shooting your first half inch group, or shooting your first groundhog or deer with the ammo you made.

Think about all these shooters that compete and load their ammo. Good ammo is one of the most important parts of competition.

I have been re-loading for over 35 years and still to this day learn new things. None of us know it all and that is one of the good things about this 6BR site. It gives us a chance to read what others are doing, and to share some of our knowledge as well.

Mike, you talked about how much you enjoyed the day. Shooting your own loads made it even better..My advice to you is enjoy every trip to the range or where ever you are shooting. To this day, it still thrills me to set down behind a gun and see what I can get out of it.....I wish you many more happy shooting days.

Larry Isenhour

 

[Cheaha]

How many of you veterans remember when you shot the very first cartridge you hand loaded?

Well, today was that day for me. Some of you might recognize my "handle" as being very VERY new and you would be correct.

Reading and re-reading loading manuals, asking questions,lots of questions) both here and at the local range, the day was finally here to head for the range with my newly hand loaded cartridges.

After me & "the guys" in our local gun club shot our twice/month "rimfire varmint league" I broke out my .22-250 AND brought out my very first,20) hand loaded cartridges. I figured all the guys were going to leave and gather for lunch as usual while I hung back and started setting-up...WRONG!

Totally focused,nervous as hell) at some point I realized the guys weren't going anywhere...they were waiting to watch me shoot...ohhh gawd, I'm going to make a damn fool of myself.

My hands were shaking as I loaded the first cartridge. With all eyes on me, all I wanted to do was pull the damn trigger and get it over with but I actually calmed down,a little) and managed to make a respectable shot. The next 4 were pretty scattered and managed a pretty poor, 100yard 5 shot group of 1.237" My second group, and after the guys left was a little better at .687" and the third was .603" The fourth group...I shot 2 rounds and realized the barrel was getting a touch on the hot side, new shooters had been showing up waiting for the line to "go cold" so I packed up and went home, I was pretty happy actually with the way things went.

The groups will shrink, I'm certain of that but today was all about getting the first shots out there.

I had soooo much fun today...I hope most, if not all, remember that this is what's it's all about.

All the Best,
Mike

Mike,

Congrats on handloading. I started myself in 1981 and have been learning ever since. Try some RL-15 with a good 50-53gr bullet in that 22-250. I've owned several 22-250's over the years and everyone loved that combo.

 

[Shoot1000]

Congratulations! You have taken a step into a process of never ending, learning and reloading your own rounds. Now for the price of a couples of boxes of loaded ammo you will be able to shoot considerably more rounds. Fortunately we now have the web and a wealth of info at our fingertips,as you already know) to help as we grow in this process. Good luck.

 

[chino1969]

I consider reloading to be a very satisfying and enjoyable part of shooting; particularly when you start to develop a 'feel' for it. There's no sense in having a carefully assembled rifle if you don't intend to reload because you will never fully realize it's potential. Reloading opens a whole new dimension and you will learn as much as you are willing to digest.
Chino69

 

[SDWhirlwind]

As the others have stated there is a great feeling to 'create' something from components that does something usually better than what can be bought. I started in 75 and have many thousands of rounds behind me but still enjoy it. The only thing that brought a greater feeling of accomplishment for me was shooting my first complete rifle build. A 6mm that happened to be a finicky one was frustrating at first thinking it was something I did wrong. Finally because of my reloading experiences I found that acceptable load. Have done several since that were great from the getgo. Creating something whether a finished cartridge or a fine rifle brings pride that many couldn't/don't understand. Congratulations!!!

 

[tuck2]

With my then new Lymon Tru Line Jr press with 7/8 inch dia 270 Win neck dies I loaded some 130 Gr Hornady bullets with Hodgon 4831 surplus powder in Winchester cases. I dont remember what primer I used, hey that was back in 1952 or 3 . I do remember shooting a one inch 100 Yd group with my then new Winchester Mdl 70 270 Win. I was luckey, A kind old gunsmith helped me develop the reloaded ammo.

 

[mmcauliffe]

There is nothing like shooting your first half inch group, or shooting your first groundhog or deer with the ammo you made.
Larry Isenhour

You got that right! I went back to the range today and shot with the rest of the guys in their Centerfire Varmint League.

100 yards:
Shot 3 sighters and then started on a couple of 5 round groups. First group was a 0.476" and the second group was a 0.363"!!!

Looks like I stumbled on a decent load for my first try

 

[jcullen]

Try catching that guy with the green gun.......

 

[M700]

I fondly remember helping Grandpa by seating bullets for his rifle loads back about 1960 or so, when I was 4 - 6 years old. It was a few more years before I got to shoot any of the big guns though.

Have been happily handloading all of my life I guess. First time I fired a centerfire rifle I think I was about 10 years old, with Dad's .30-06 Springfield. Very likely that I'd handloaded that particular round, and yes, it knocked the snot out of me! I very clearly remember that. We didn't shoot much except handloads, and I always helped with the loading, so it's quite likely that was my round. By the time I was 18, I was handloading all my own ammo for .30-06, 6mm Rem, and .45 Colt. It's been a great hobby, and my sons have also grown up loading their own ammo, & helping me at the bench.

Regards, and thanks for the good memories! Guy

 

[mmcauliffe]

Try catching that guy with the green gun.......

Hey John, I figured there had to be at least one guy from the club here.

Geeze, you were on fire today with your "old gun". How did ya make out with that new purty green one?

Let me know when you want to sell that old POS tack driver you used today...like I've not spent enough money in the last 2 months.

Good shooting my friend!

 

[jcullen]

Mike... Just forming cases and the rifle shoots good groups, gonna be a keeper.......John