Low Anxiety Handgun Reloading

[steve210]

Is Power Pistol a flake or stick powder?

CFE is a ball powder and doesnt fill half the case. It stresses me out ! Lol

Power pistol is a flake powder, 5 grains fills the case a little over half full. A double charge runs the case over.

 

[Evlshnngns]

90gr cast and a middle load of 700x for 38 special. Its pathetic, and fun to shoot.

The lee powder disc on a swage/charge die is awesome.

 

[joshb]

I've got a progressive if ya want to call it that. "RCBS Piggyback Progressive Conversion". It is the Rube Goldberg of progressives, and it takes a patient and tolerant attitude to successfully operate it.

I've been thinking of setting it up for awhile and cranking out some 38's. It's been sitting unused for about ten years, and I may have forgiven it enough to have another date with it. jd

I load just like you do. I prep and prime a TON of cases. Fill a bin and put it next to the Rockchucker. Only charged cases go in the loading block. One difference tho, is that I have 5 cheap wood loading blocks and I fill them all before setting bullets.
My Piggyback just gathers dust.

 

[3Ackleys]

I load in the winter, on a Hornady AP progresive. I don't go too fast, but can get 350-400 rounds per hour. Most loads are as the OP does, light plinking loads. I don't hunt with a handgun much anymore, but always have one with me in the mountains. So I do have heavy loads for each. Each year I load for 4-6 of the cartridges I shoot. Fill all empty brass I have, usually 400-800 each. I do buy new brass whenever I find a good deal. Like a few weeks ago I picked up 600 Starline 41 Mag. They are going to be loaded in the next few days, prob. have enough commponents to load 1000 or so. I have 4 revolvers I shoot 41 Mag in.
The only one I don't load for is 9mm, I really don't find it worth it to mess with that little bugger when I can find loaded ammo pretty cheap.
I load for revolvers:
32 H&R
327 Fed
38 Spec
357 Mag
41 Mag
44 Spec & Mag
45 Colt
And for 1911's
22 TCM
10 MM
45 ACP

 

[GetReal]

I buy bulk 1x tumbled 9mm brass, load and shoot it once, and donate it to the range where I shot it.

Only other pistols I shoot are 22rf. Those are more difficult to reload for.

 

[Jsjac]

I load lots of 9mm. I load on a Dillon 1100 with a bullet feeder.
We shoot lots of 9mm. My daughter and I practice a lot. I also shoot a couple of the shooting games.
Just started finding brass plated steel 9mm cases.
When I started loading handgun ammo I was using Unique powder. It would over flow if I made a mistake and double charged a 9mm case.
Now I am using Sport Pistol powder. It seems to not be available anymore. So I will switch to W231 or Tight Group when I am done with the Sport Pistol powder.

 

[Luke M]

The only way !

 

[Iowa Fox]

45acp here. These days my grandson who will be 22 in Feb is my loading partner. .
We cast all our own bullets usually 1K at a pour. I could powder coat them and I do for some of my other bullets but for the 45 acp we still run them thru the Star. I usually take care of brass by myself while he is at work and its a boring time consuming job. I let him do all the loading on a Square Deal using Bullseye or 700x and Grandma usually fix's him a nice meal while he is here . I'm so old and shaky anymore he shoots them all.

 

[std7mag]

I load everything on my Lee 4 hole turret press.
From plinking pistol ammo to 7mm WBY Mag hunting ammo and even any competition ammo.

I like cast bullets for plinking and use it for carry ammo also.

For jacketed bullets I use Sierra JHP and the Sig V-Crown (made by Sierra).

My carry ammo for the 9mm and 45ACP I use Ramshot Silhouette.

For plinking I typically use Alliant RedDot and GreenDot.

Velocity for plinking ammo and carry ammo is similar so that I know when (hopefully never) I need to put multiple rounds on target it's the same.

 

[GotRDid]

For ease of loading...

I use Hornady 147 gr rn or hp, with a boattail base, so I dont have to flare the case mouth, or worry about insufficient crimp.

The bullets arent cheap:

147 rn - 0.18 ea
147 hp - 0.29 ea

Pricey, but I will trade money for time and efficiency / ease of operation every time.

I love the 147 gr weight bullets for my subsonic shooting with suppressors, and particularly the Hornady XTP HP with the boat tail. Cost is the single reason I don’t shoot more of them. I did find some Zero 147 HP and they have a “stepped” base to prevent the slight bulge in case wall if not seated precisely. This would happen occasionally when using a myriad of mixed brass accumulated from my years as a Firearms Instructor for my Dept. (The practice ammo was typically whatever was cheapest for the annual contract of 50-60K rounds.)
I have tried many of the cheaper coated, plated, and jacketed straight based bullets and they tend to exhibit the aforementioned occasional “print” on the exterior of the casing.
I am intrigued by the selection of bullets you pictured, so please share with us your source for the boat tailed bullets you are using.
Thank You in advance, Sir.

 

[GetReal]

I love the 147 gr weight bullets for my subsonic shooting with suppressors,

I am intrigued by the selection of bullets you pictured, so please share with us your source for the boat tailed bullets you are using.
Thank You in advance, Sir.

They are both from Midway.

The hp are XTPs in Hornady boxes. The r n are bulk pack from Hornady by Midway.

I do find using the chamfered / boattail base avoids the case bulge of other bullets.

 

[jds holler]

I use a lot of these. They ship for free over $100.
They shoot pretty darned good in everything I've tried them in. In my 357 I use the 125 gr. and shoot 16" gong at 100 yds. That load is 7 gr. of Bullseye. Pretty snappy, but still a grain or two under max.
No anxiety. 1000 rounds per pound of powder. jd

115 Grain 9mm | Flat Nose Bullets | Bulk 9mm Bullets

Looking for 115 Grain 9mm bullets for reloading? These 9mm plated bullets are flat head bullets that can be bought in bulk. Shop our bulk 9mm bullets!

www.berrysmfg.com

 

[Little Church Mouse]

From Ingot to Target: A Cast Bullet Guide for Handgunners

https://mckinlay-clark.com/nzha/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/From-Ingot-to-Target.-Cast-bullet-guide..pdf

A joint effort by Glen E. Fryxell and Robert L. Applegate
Forward by John Taffin

 

[D-4297]

I shoot plates, pins, IPSC, IDPA, Silhouttes, big and small bore. I usually load the 45 ACP with 200 H&G cast but for pins I load the 252grain revolver SWC 45 Auto rim bullet for my 7" long slide. I roll my own bullets and loads.
View attachment 1727540 View attachment 1727545
Para Ord LDA custom 45 ACP 8 round, stainless, like 200s in the LDA.

As a former member of "The Herd" , I like your grips . Classy !

 

[sscoyote]

Awww heck the simplest "reloading" procedure that I've fallen in love with is HP'ing 22 LR Fed Automatch mostly for long-range pd shooting. I can hear meat reports now out to 250 yds. LOVE IT!!

 

[Jpete]

One thing about light loads in a progressive loader is an under charged load. Flake powders like Unique, 700x, Red Dot and so on, seem to create an under charged load with some powder measures. The flakes will stack up occasionally and not fill the cavity correctly in the measure.

 

[nakneker]

I load a lot of plinking rounds for 45 colt, 41 mag, 10mm, 9mm, 44 mag and 357. I guess my time isn’t worth much because I enjoy my Rock Chucker, I consider it therapeutic, not too much mention a lot of fun to have loads that don’t wear on the palm after 30 rounds. I double check each case after I have a few trays charged for double charges and go.

Raven Rock is probably the place that gets most of “plinking Loads” business. They run crazy deals on bullets and brass, Theres almost always something there at a deal, I need to get them off my favorites page, feels like I make a monthly payment to them.

I stopped using mixed range brass. Brass is the biggest factor to the bottom line, with low pressure plinking loads it lasts forever if you take care of it. I typically order most my brass direct from Starline unless I find a deal on new brass elsewhere. Range brass just created too many headaches with off brand issues like TSA 9mm or things like Glock bulge.

I don’t cast my own, another Rabbit hole I’ve been curious about but never have dived in to. Im sure that would save more $$ but cost more time.

Subsonic loads with and without suppressors have gotten most my attention as of late.

I also have levers in 45 colt, 44, and 357. I’d like to pick one up in 10mm too. It’s nice being able to double pistol and lever ammo.

 

[std7mag]

One thing about light loads in a progressive loader is an under charged load. Flake powders like Unique, 700x, Red Dot and so on, seem to create an under charged load with some powder measures. The flakes will stack up occasionally and not fill the cavity correctly in the measure.

I've seen this also.
I'm using the Lee auto disk that attached to the expander die.

I keep a constant eye on powder levels and check weigh every 5-10 powder throws.

 

[DGP4]

You can use a special die in your progressive press to avoid both a double charge and under charge.

RCBS 6mm-284 Winchester, 284 Winchester, 6.5mm-284 Winchester Lockout

The RCBS Lock-Out Die is the perfect die to run in a progressive reloading press to determine if a case has been overcharged with powder or undercharged...

www.midwayusa.com

I wouldn't use a progressive without it.