Finally started reloading

Zorros · Dec 12, 2020

With components i bought last december. .45 Colt only. Lee Loader. They work just fine from an old model Vaquero. Light loads. The question is...where on the upper eastern shore can .45 colt bullets be had. I have enough primers and proibably enough Bullseye powder. But could use 250 plus lead bullets, 225-255 gr.

Johnny5k · Dec 12, 2020

I probably got a bunch of them around here somewhere I could be persuaded to part with. Ill try to dig out my box tomorrow and see what I have.

Blacksmith101 · Dec 13, 2020

Cast your own.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/

Tomcat · Dec 13, 2020

Showing in stock https://bangandclangllc.com/bullets/45-lc/

Zorros · Dec 13, 2020

I found 500 RN coated .452 250gr at acme. $75 delivered. I can recycle brass and i have Bullseye powder and 800 primers left. One question. With both new and once shot (by me) star line brass, no problem loading into the cyl of a colt SAA or a Vaquero. I reloaded some once shot by me .45 cases marked AP (i think armscorp) and sizing by hand the exact same way as the starline, the AP will not fully enter the cylinder of a vaquero or a colt. Go in about half way and stop. Any thoughts? I am using a LEE LOADER.

John from MD · Dec 13, 2020

Zorros said:
With components i bought last december. .45 Colt only. Lee Loader. They work just fine from an old model Vaquero. Light loads. The question is...where on the upper eastern shore can .45 colt bullets be had. I have enough primers and proibably enough Bullseye powder. But could use 250 plus lead bullets, 225-255 gr.

Bass Pro had Hornady 255gn cowboy bullets yesterday $39 for 500. They are on the top shelf where the bullets are.

John from MD · Dec 13, 2020

Zorros said:
I found 500 RN coated .452 250gr at acme. $75 delivered. I can recycle brass and i have Bullseye powder and 800 primers left. One question. With both new and once shot (by me) star line brass, no problem loading into the cyl of a colt SAA or a Vaquero. I reloaded some once shot by me .45 cases marked AP (i think armscorp) and sizing by hand the exact same way as the starline, the AP will not fully enter the cylinder of a vaquero or a colt. Go in about half way and stop. Any thoughts? I am using a LEE LOADER.

It's probably a harder alloy brass and the Lee die is at the outside of the SAAMI tolerances. The brass springs back and so it is too large to go into the chamber. You can check with a caliper to see how much it is off.

kaliroger · Dec 13, 2020

John from MD said:
It's probably a harder alloy brass and the Lee die is at the outside of the SAAMI tolerances. The brass springs back and so it is too large to go into the chamber. You can check with a caliper to see how much it is off.

If spring-back is the issue you may want to consider annealing the brass, BUT I never reloaded so I am not sure if it is practical to do so or SAFE!!

John from MD · Dec 13, 2020

kaliroger said:
If spring-back is the issue you may want to consider annealing the brass, BUT I never reloaded so I am not sure if it is practical to do so or SAFE!!

Annealing near the case head is not a good idea as the case could rupture.

Zorros · Dec 13, 2020

John from MD said:
Bass Pro had Hornady 255gn cowboy bullets yesterday $39 for 500. They are on the top shelf where the bullets are.

Great price, JOHN. Thanks to all who replied. Its hard to enjoy our sport without ammo. I have sufficient everyday stuff having bought by the case for a while (but was caught by surprise with the latest shortage) but these cowboy rds for 45 colt have always been too expensive to stock up on and these SAA COLT AND ruger revolvers are fun. I have also started shooting for the first time BP CAP AND BALL. Been sticking to a .36 colt 1851 navy but if i can find some 44 cal balls might shoot the 1860 army for comparison.

linkstate · Dec 13, 2020

Zorros said:
I found 500 RN coated .452 250gr at acme. $75 delivered. I can recycle brass and i have Bullseye powder and 800 primers left. One question. With both new and once shot (by me) star line brass, no problem loading into the cyl of a colt SAA or a Vaquero. I reloaded some once shot by me .45 cases marked AP (i think armscorp) and sizing by hand the exact same way as the starline, the AP will not fully enter the cylinder of a vaquero or a colt. Go in about half way and stop. Any thoughts? I am using a LEE LOADER.

The Lee Loader is designed to reload brass fired in a specific gun. Sometimes things work in different chambers, sometimes not.

Do you have calipers?

John from MD · Dec 13, 2020

Zorros said:
Great price, JOHN. Thanks to all who replied. Its hard to enjoy our sport without ammo. I have sufficient everyday stuff having bought by the case for a while (but was caught by surprise with the latest shortage) but these cowboy rds for 45 colt have always been too expensive to stock up on and these SAA COLT AND ruger revolvers are fun. I have also started shooting for the first time BP CAP AND BALL. Been sticking to a .36 colt 1851 navy but if i can find some 44 cal balls might shoot the 1860 army for comparison.

Where are you located? I make my own .451 lead balls and can spare some.

Bolts Rock · Dec 13, 2020

https://bulletsbyscarlett.com/

Pinecone · Dec 13, 2020

Blacksmith101 said:
Cast your own.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/

Try to find molds for sale.

Zorros · Dec 13, 2020

linkstate said:
The Lee Loader is designed to reload brass fired in a specific gun. Sometimes things work in different chambers, sometimes not.

Do you have calipers?

yes. The A P is ever so slighly wider than the starline.

Zorros · Dec 13, 2020

John from MD said:
Where are you located? I make my own .451 lead balls and can spare some.

John, i am in kent co.

John from MD · Dec 13, 2020

Zorros said:
John, i am in kent co.

Well, I'm not near you so you will have to jump on 213 and run up to Mollys or go over to Tuckahoe Sportsman on 404. I would call first but I would bet one or the other has them.

Blacksmith101 · Dec 14, 2020

Pinecone said:
Try to find molds for sale.

Yes I was looking at the Lee website awhile back and they only listed one mold in stock and that was an odd sized round ball. No other round balls, no rifle bullets, no pistol, nor shotgun not even buckshot, no black powder molds.

It will take a long time to get back to normal when the supply lines all the way back to the manufacturer are empty.

I did pick up a couple of molds from Nantchez Shooters Supplies they had in stock, figured I better buy them while I could.

Zorros · Dec 14, 2020

I remember when gas was $.29/gal. Then one day in ‘74 a shortage and its never been inexpensive. Wonder if this will be the same with bullets...then end-of $.17 9mm factory ammo.

Pinecone · Dec 16, 2020

Zorros said:
I remember when gas was $.29/gal. Then one day in ‘74 a shortage and its never been inexpensive. Wonder if this will be the same with bullets...then end-of $.17 9mm factory ammo.

We thought so last time we went through this, but prices did fall back to normal or even lower.

Finally started reloading

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