Too many questions, old back to it Newbie

upnover

upnover

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Ok so as I mentioned in my intro post used to load, got out, nearly 30 years absent, getting back into it.
so yeah, I have a lot of questions.
1. Where do you all get your load data? back in the day, I used to primarily use my Speer reloading manual, Number 10. Looking online I found I think it was number 14, but was printed back in 2006. SO my other question here is, what books give the most/best info these days? I know some who reload and don't even go by a book at all, getting data somewhere else. AND, some of the numbers quoted to me were way off from what the book I have says. As in, their loads where a lot lighter, nearly half of what I am seeing in the book I have(same powder)
2. What's your preferred method of lubing cases? I see all types, and procedures.
3. For 9mm, what's the easiest to find powder? and Where do you get it? From what I have seen so far, the powders are cheaper online, until they add in the hazmat charges. I live in Morganton, and so far from what I have found, there isn't any place here that sells reloading supplies. I think the closest place to me is down Hwy 10, not far from where you turn off Hwy 18.
4. So dang many types of bullets, pro's? con's? what grain. I won't be doing competitions at all, looks fun, but just not able. ALl I am looking for is something accurate, and dependable, something that won't damage my pistol. Plinking, and self protection is pretty much my goals.
 
1) Lyman #49. Also, most manufacturers have a lot of their data published online, like www.hodgdonreloading.com Some of the lower numbers these days might be attributed to liability mitigation.

2) I am a case sprayer. If I'm doing a small batch, I'll stand them up on a loading block and spray...if I'm doing a lot, I'll throw them in a ziploc bag and spray a bunch in there and shake the bag around. Rifle cases only. I don't lube pistol cases

3) I am a big fan of Titegroup. I can find it pretty regularly at my local store.

4) If you're just shooting paper with your 9mm pistol, look at plated 115gr bullets, like the ones made by Xtreme:
https://www.xtremebullets.com/9mm-115-RN-p/xc9mm-115rn-b0500.htm
 
1. the powder manufacturer as a 1st check, a trusted website like cast boolits 2nd check, and people here 3rd check
2.isopropyl alcohol + lanolin oil in one of those spray bottles you get from the optometrist to clean your glasses. mix, shake spray in a zip lock bag with brass and then shake for 30 sec
3. I use HS-6
4.Lead bullets in my pistol plinkers. Missouri bullet co, rocky mountain reloader, or whoever is having a sale
 
Pretty much @11B CIB what said.

Lyman has #50 out now. I have Lyman, Speer, Hornady, Nosler, and Sierra books, and I recommend them pretty much in that order. If you are going to shoot plated bullets, like Xtreme, then I suggest getting the Speer book, their data seems to correlate more with my results. Their TMJ bullets are basically just thick plated. All of the powder manufacturers have data online. There is the Lee book, but that is nothing more than data that is available online from the powder manufacturers, with some of the information left out. I never depend on one source of data, I always get data from as many sources as possible.

I've shot a LOT of Xtreme plated bullets and have had good luck with them. I have started using RMR (rocky mountain reloading) bullets lately, their prices are often better and they have free shipping. They ship almost immediately, where Xtreme might take a month to get the bullets.

For 9mm, I really like Power Pistol and BE86, but there are a lot of powders that work well in 9mm. Titegroup is good for mild to medium loads.

I live in Raleigh, and the best place for me to buy powder and primers is from the gun shows. I would look for the local gun shows in your area. As you have found out, buying powder or primers online has hazmat fees attached to it.

For 9mm, as long as you have a carbide sizing die, no lube is needed.
 
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Answers to your questions from my perspective:

1. I use lee dies and they come with a load data sheet that's pretty good. Other than that, all powder manufactures have data online so that's easy to reference. Not to take anything away from this site, but the reloading section of Brian Enos's forum is excellent, tons of info there.

2. Hornady one shot case lube cant be beat for pistol brass. Lubes the cases well and leaves them dry with no residual stickiness that needs to be tumbled off later. I know some folks don't lube their pistol brass with carbide dies, I'm not one of those people, everything's just a lot smoother with a little lube.

3. Cant help you much there unless you come to Wilmington, then I can suggest some pretty decent places.

4. Coated lead bullets have become very popular these days, all the benefits of traditional lubed lead without dealing with the grease in the lube ring and extra smoke. They do require a little more care when reloading then FMJ or plated bullets. If you aren't going to be loading high volume I would probably go with a quality plated round nose bullet. They feed and function well in all guns. Xtreme bullets have worked well for me, they happen to be running a 10% off and free shipping sale right now through the 4th of July I believe.
 
I ordered some bullets from X=treme yesterday. Enough to get me started pretty good.
One thing several have mentioned is getting the data from the powder manufacturer, which leaves the question of which powder to buy to begin with.
Only my 9mm die set will come from Lee as of right now. All my other dies are RCBS.
I have heard both use lube, don't have to(with the carbide dies) Me I think I will, fir ease of cycling the handle.

Thanks everyone so far for responses! All info appreciated.

Now, Any loaders here in or near Morganton?
 
Lyman- powder manufacturer- bullet manufacturer- internet postings.

Don't lube pistol cases, carbide or whatever Hornady uses dies. Spray bulk rifle, wipe on small batch.

Titegroup, bullseye, red dot, clay dot, dozen others appropriate. Can't help for local sources.

Plinking bullet Blue Bullets 120/124 whatever. Price, quality, local. SNS puts out a decent product also. For SD/HD/stockpile I'd go XTP, Gold dot, Golden Saber whichever I could find, and switch to a slower powder for more velocity.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
 
I also buy a lot of bullets from RMR. Good prices and fast shipping for quality bullets. Titegroup is a good all around powder, Universal is another.

I do almost all my brass with my Lee hand press. I can sit in my recliner and size/deprime my brass in comfort! Loading is done at the bench.
 
I get my load data from a variety of sources, but generally the powder manufacturers have the best, most up to date data. Hodgdon publishes their reloading guide and charges $10 for it, Alliant will mail you one for free.
Nosler is by far my favorite bullet mfg. data source since they put everything that is in their book, out on the internet in PDF format, and the charts are easy to use. Hornady is a good one to have (and if you have one, you have them all pretty much the same with Lee). Don't forget that every set of Lee dies comes with load data in that caliber and it's fairly extensive. I find myself using that quite a bit

my preferred method of lubing cases is not to. That is, with carbide pistol dies, it doesn't need lube. Now I will use a bit of Lee or other type of case lube on my fingers, smear it on every 10th case or so, and it makes resizing longer cases like .38, 45LC, etc a bit easier. With rifle, either the bag and spray or pad method depending on what I feel is needed for the size case I'm resizing. Oh and I make my own lanolin-alcohol mix.

for 9mm, Tightgroup is BY FAR the easiest to find, and generally the cheapest by the pound. Academy sports carries it just like every other place that carries powder. $20 a lb is about average.
At 4.0gr per round, that means I get around 1750 rds out of a lb of tightgroup. And that is with 124gr plated Berry or Xtreme plated projectiles.
For cast or PC bullets, I use bullseye since TG is known to degrade the PC on the bottom of coated projectiles.

It doesn't get much better than plated 124s and 4 grains of TG on steel, unless I'm shooting my new cast and coated 135s. That load cycles every gun I have, runs right around 1100fps, and is cheap to boot. cheaper than the cheapest factory ammo.
 
Ikarus1 said:
my preferred method of lubing cases is not to. That is, with carbide pistol dies, it doesn't need lube. Now I will use a bit of Lee or other type of case lube on my fingers, smear it on every 10th case or so, and it makes resizing longer cases like .38, 45LC, etc a bit easier.
Click to expand...

I've been doing a similar thing.. I leave a bottle of Breakfree on the bench and touch my finger to the bottle tip and a case every 10 - 20 rounds as I insert it into the press. Like Ikarus said, it makes it easier.
 
Got my list, per recommendations, heading down to Bullseye in Vale NC.
Talked to the fellow on the phone, very helpful, read some good things about them.
In case anyone else is looking, he's open Wed-Fri 9-6 and Sat till 2
later in the year, I guess before hunting season, he's also open on Tuesday.
 
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upnover said:
Got my list, per recommendations, heading down to Bullseye in Vale NC.
Talked to the fellow on the phone, very helpful, read some good things about them.
In case anyone else is looking, he's open Wed-Fri 9-6 and Sat till 2
later in the year, I guess before hunting season, he's also open on Tuesday.
Click to expand...

Let us know what powders/bullets you decide on.
 
OK, I bought 2 pounds of TiteGroup, 2 cases or CCI 550 primers(2000), a bottle of One Shot case lube
Also got a RCBS(used) case trimmer, and a RCBS 30 30 die set(also used, but if it was wasn't much) and an Older Rock Chucker?? Press(Heavy!!!)

See who can come the closest to price paid, excluding the one person I have told Winner to get 2 1/2 eaten Chocolate Chip cookies!

I was given roughly 500 lead (wad cutter maybe) 124 grain bullets yesterday, and I have 500 E-treme 147 plated RN on the way.
 
Three pistol powders I've used are BLC-2, Unique, and CFE Pistol. If I can't load it with those I don't need that caliber. I shoot lead because it's cheap. I don't lube pistol because I use carbide dies. Rifle gets Hornady one shot in a ziploc bag already mentioned. Load data comes mostly from online but I have a couple manuals and magazines laying around.

As far as what you paid here's my breakdown

2lbs powder $50-55
2k primers $60-70
Used case trimmer $25-35
Used dies $20-25
Used rock chucker $75-125

Total is $230-310
 
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