Dub
Senior Member
Ran a single stage eons ago. It's purpose was to provide some accurate hunting rounds for deer rifles & .44mag wheel guns.
I didn't then, nor do I now, own anything fancy on my hunting stuff. Everything is simply off the rack and "as is" with the exception being an occasional trigger job or trigger replacement. I was simply amazed at how little effort was required to produce excellent accuracy in each of the guns I hand loaded for. Simply followed the manuals and worked my way up in powder charge & seating depth and evaluated each change.
My hand loading fell off as soon as my hunting did. Seemed like there was always something that was getting in the way....work schedule, surgeries & recovery, family stuff...etc. I let the lease & hunting club stuff go, too.
Now, though....I find myself shooting handguns more often. Fun times at the range.
I've been able to keep my 9mm's fed with factory stuff but my .45acp guns are more costly. I figured that I could save a little bit with hand loading....but mainly, I'd enjoy the process. It's a gun-related hobby that I can indulge in while being at home and helping my wife out as she recovers from some ongoing medical stuff that she's doing great with.
A quick trip to the range a couple times a week will give allow for some fun trigger therapy.
I'm building a small bench and setting up in a spare bedroom. It'll be smallish....but provided I'm organized....it'll suffice. We are planning on moving within the next year and she's okay with my idea of setting up a mancave room when we do. Reloading gear, gun safe, comfortable recliners/love seat, big TV & surround sound.
For now, though....a small bench will work.
My dad and my son are both college basketball fans....specifically NC Tarheel fans. They'll likely approve of the colors.
Been picking up current manuals from the bullet manufacturers I'll be using....mostly for future hunting stuff and for cross reference for current handgun target loads.
I enjoy shooting 200gr lswc's in my .45acp 1911's and each of them have been feeding them very well. I've been buying them from Wilson Combat's remanufactured ammo when it goes on sale. WC shows the components used for these.
It'll be great getting dialed in a similar 200gr lswc load using the newer coated bullets. I've been getting some stellar recommendations from a North Carolina based company and will starting with them first.
One thing is for certain.....my mail lady won't be liking me ordering bullets. These little suckers each had 500 rounds in them. Small, densely packed and HEAVY.
Getting powder and primers is gong to take more planning and looking around. Got these on sale for 1 cent hazmat fee + free shipping and at decent price on sale. CCI & Winchester primers were sold out. Big difference between sales prices + reduced S&H fees vs when it's not.
Hoping to have my bench set up in the next couple days and will be getting stuff mounted on it.
These guys had me covered on their elevated mount systems.
It will be mighty useful having it elevated to a more comfortable working height. I also will be using their press lighting system, too.
Modern day resource of Youtube will certainly be an asset....but I figured I couldn't go wrong getting a DVD copy of this, too.
I waited way too long to get back into things, but recent events had me hanging closer to the house for the foreseeable future and I was going stir-crazy at times. This will be a fun and gratifying hobby that will be entertaining, stress relieving and useful. I'll be able to sneak in there in the wee hours when I tend to be bumping around and can crank out whatever rounds will be needed for the weeks ahead.
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