About yourself...

I started reloading when I was 14, had a dillon square deal b that I hated!! Swapped it for a complete Lee single stage setup. I reload exclusively handgun calibers, don't shoot a rifle more than 20 times a year (except ak's and pistol caliber carbines).

I load for .357, .40, .45 acp, .44 mag, and occasionally 9 mm. I cast my own boolits for .357, .44, and .45, and Unique is my favorite powder, though I do also use blue dot and 2400.

I use a Lee Classic Cast Turret press, Lee dies, an RCBS Rangemaster scale, Lee priming tool, Lee molds, a Lyman lubrisizer, and alternate between a Lyman and a Lee furnace.

Favorite caliber- .44 Mag

I also started at 14 but it was with a Lee Hand loader for my 30-30. I have since moved on to reload for a fairly diverse group of calibers. Mostly I reload for rifles. These days I reload for the ones I cannot find, are not manufactured, or I want to use something that is not available in the bullet I want to use.

Presses I use or have used Lyman turrent press, Lee challenger, RCBS rockchucker, a very old but heavy Herters, and a Lee 50cal press. Scales, Herters and Cabelas Digital. RCBS case prep station, Lyman, Lee, and RCBS case trimmers, Midway and RCBS tumblers

Dies: Lee, RCBS, Lyman, CH, and Redding

Pistol calibers: 38 special, 357 mag and mazimum, 44 special and 44 mag.

Rifle caliners: 17 Remington, 22 hornet, 218 Bee, 223 Remington, 22-250, 22-243, 25-20, 257 Roberts, 257 Weatherby, 6.5X54 Mannlicher, 6.5X57, 264 WWin Mag, 270 Win, 270 WSM, 7-30 Waters, 7X57, 7mm-08, 7mmSTW, 308, 300 Weatherby, 348 Winchester, 350 Tem Mag, 375 Win, 38-55 WIn, 45-70, and 50BMG

I picked up my reloading equipment earlier this year and I'm trying to get myself going. I have dies for 44 mag 45ACP 45/70 25-06. Ive worked on a load for my 44 once but due to not having anywhere to shoot I stopped. Now I have some place and I just got my press set up. Its a Lee anniversary classic press. I have boolits orderd for my 25-06 and I'm pretty excited about working up a load for my encore in that caliber.

Sounds very similar to myself. I started when I was 15. Purchased a RCBS press and scale and never looked backed. Have used progressives in the past but sold them off and do everything on a Rock Chuckar.

Started casting my own slugs about 2 to 3 years ago. I cast for 44mag, 45acp, .357/.38 and 45-70. Fixin to start for the 30-30.

I have handloaded, 50 beowulf, 45-70, 300 mag, 8mm mauser, 7mm mag, 30-06, .270 win, .280 rem, .308, .30-30, 6mm rem, .243 win, .223, 45acp, 44 mag, .357/38, 38 super, 9mm, 12g, 20g

I only load for the 44 mag, 45 acp, 30-30 and 45-70 as of late. I just dont shoot anything else. I also load scattergun shells when I can fined "Re-claimed" lead shot at reasonable prices locally. Have pondered rrigging up a shot maker, but have reservations as I believe lead shot may be banned in the near future.

Casting your own slugs makes shooting unbelieveably cheap.


I only hunt with 44 mag handguns.

Have found Javelina 50/50 lube to be a "Do All" cast bullet lube and use nothing else.


I am a big dummy for not getting into casting many years ago. I use Win 296 exclusively for my 44 mag loads, my kids shoot loads loaded with win 231 or unique.

I have no use for the 9mm Luger/ Para cartridge or any plastic guns. (other than the little 22's)

I started about 40 years ago but quit for many years. I bought a couple of boxes of used stuff from a guy and learned how to do it. I've never gotten deeply into it but do enjoy it. I still use the RCBS press that I bought used.

I started again a couple of years ago when my now 12 year old Grandson was given a 222 by my Wife. I figured if he was going to hunt that he ought to understand the components, how and why they work, and be able to build his own. He now has a 243 and he/we are reloading for it.

At one time I loaded shotgun shells but quit messing with them a long time ago. Don't know what I did with the reloading gear but still have some old powder.

I was once going to get into casting and still think I ought to. I have all of the gear and a bunch of lead.

These days I load for 222, 243, 6.5 x 55 Swede, 30-06. I have dies for a lot more calibers but don't mess with them. I need to buy some 6BR dies and shoot a bench rest gun that I inherited from my Brother.

Like everyone else I've found that pulling a trigger has gotten a lot more expensive.

I started when i was 18, bought a RCBS starter kit and never looked back, Ive always been a hands on kinda person and love workin on my own stuff.

Right now I load 270, 280, 30wby, 223, 45 colt, and 44 mag.

Its a blast and I wouldnt have it any other way.

matt

I started reloading when i was about 16yrs old, 24yrs ago. Started out with a Redding press and various other scales and other parts. All pretty much handed down by a friend of the family who no longer had an interest in reloading. He, and a couple of manuals, taught me the basics, and it just kinda grew from there. over the years I have reloaded for 9mm, 45acp, 44mag, 222rem, 223, 243, 7mm08, 280rem imp, 25-06, 30-06, and probably a couple of others that aren't coming to mind at this time.

It's a labor of love for me, and I wouldn't give it up if I had to. I am also one of those control freaks that likes to do everything I can by myself. Kinda like bow hunting. I bought my first dozen arrows ready to shoot, after that I buy shafts and build them myself. Or my trucks, where I'll happily rebuild a motor myself before I'll pay to have it done. There's no better sense of accomplishment, to me, than seeing my ammo perform beyond my capabilities.

Been going for about 5 years.. Lee Anniversay Kit with single stage and Lee Classic Turret. I use the Turret for Handgun nad 223 The single stage for all rifles. I use Lee and RCBS dies.
38 special 357 mag... 45 acp 223, 250 Savage 25:06 257 wby. and 7:08

Just started recently. Lee everything, Deluxe turret, Lee dies, and I load 7mm-08, 7mag, soon .223 and most enjoyably 9MM. I love the 9 cause it's cheap to load and you can load so many.

I started about 10 years ago. I use a RCBS press and reload for 22-250, 25-06, 300win mag, and 45 colt. I also roll my own shotgun shells most of the time.

Started hand loading in about '92 or '93. The RCBS kit has been a great investment that has helped my shooting and in general has helped me learn a lot more about rifles, too.

The one thing I wish I had done much sooner was to get a chronograph. It is the most valuable part of my loading equipment. I have learned more in the last 5 years using it than the previous 10+ years without it.

I load for about a dozen rifle cartridges & a couple of pistols.

I have always wanted to start reloading so about 2-3 years ago I decided to start gathering equipment. I wasn't in a hurry (mainly due to budget)so I decided be patient and only buy good deals. Over the course of two years I lurked around several forums and ebay. I found a used RCBS press, RCBS 505 scales, Hornady LNL powder measure, and the other small items needed. I am happy to be reloading at a fairly low start-up cost. After a little time I became addicted. About the same time my grandmothers house was hit by a tornado. I salvaged lumber and built a fancy bench. I can not tell you how nice it is to have a work area vs a rickety old table in the corner of the garage. There are the bench plans I found online. I would recommend it to anyone who has the space. I don't look forward to moving this. http://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/downloads/bench_plans.pdf. If I pick-up a new caliber, I will also get the dies.

I learned most of what I know from a friend that reloads and the internet. I am currently watching for a second single stage press to add to my bench to use for bullet seating. Reloading is great to tinker with when I get a free hour or two on Saturdays.

That's a really neat set of plans for a bench. They bring it down to the stupid level so it is easily understood even by me.

I am real happy with it. I didn't use sliding doors, that is the only thing I changed.

I started reloading about 8 months ago. Started on an old Lyman All-American turret, then a Rock Chucker which was a massive improvement over the Lyman. Got a Dillon 550B about four months ago. Sold the Rock Chucker. The 550 is an awesome press. My wife and I can put out well over 400 rounds an hour of pistol ammo. Close to that in .233. She keeps primers fed and the bin empty. A few weeks ago added a Forster Co-Ax to the bench. It's a great press too.

I taught myself how to reload when I was 19 years old, I'm 30 now, still having fun and learning all the time. Cartridges I have reloaded are as follows : .22 Mag ( yes, I have handloaded ammo for this cartridge ).22 Hornet, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .220 Swift, .243 Win, 6mm Rem, .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25-06 Rem, .257 Wby Mag, 6.5x55mm Swede, .264 Win Mag, .270 Win, .270 WSM, .270 Wby Mag, 7mm-08 Rem, 7x57mm Mauser, .280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm RUM, .30-30 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .300 H&H Mag, .30-338 Mag, .300 Wby Mag, .300 RUM, .338 Win Mag, .338 RUM, .357 S&W Mag, .35 Whelen, .375 H&H Mag, .45-70 Gov.

.22 mag; how did you do that?

I used to shoot with some industrious guys that wanted a higher BC bullet in the 22Mag. They had made a bullet puller, and dies for case work and bullet seating. They were loading 52gr match bullets in the 22 Mag, and getting some great accuracy.

Wow too cool, I wish I had some friends like that.

As Kmon1 said, I use a bullet puller to remove the factory bullets. I modified a .25 ACP shellholder for the .22 Mag and I use a .22 Hornet bullet seating die. I generally use Speer 33 grain TNT's or 40 grain Nosler BT's. 296 is a good powder for the .22 Magnum. As a warning to anyone who might not know, the .22LR does not use .224" bullets so don't try to handload this cartridge with them.

That's fascinating.

I had never even thought of it.