What got you started??

[Vaquero]

What got you started in the reloading game?
I had been interested for a while but wasn't sure it was something I could do.
After purchasing a .41 mag. BH and finding that ammo was hard to find and much more expensive than anything else I was shooting.
Liking it a lot and discouraged by the ammo situation, I decided to bite the bullet, so the 41 was my starting cal. and for the first 3 years or so I added a few other pistol calibers, before I finally bought the first rifle die set.
Now, I load for every cf cartridge I own, be it rifle or pistol.
So what got you started?

RP

[Hatchdog]

In the early 80’s I started shooting handgun silhouette and found both the volume of ammo needed plus the need for accuracy got me started reloading. I was working for a sporting goods distributor at the time and in our warehouse we had a press set up. So I self taught myself how to reload using that press. Enjoyed it so much I bought a set up for home and then started loading my hunting ammo too. I had a buddy who had a shotshell press and I got some time in on that too.

[BigAl52]

I had a Music teacher in Elementary school who moved into our neighborhood after I left elementary school. I became friends with his middle son. His older brother had very bad hearing and wore one of those old style hearing devices around his neck. The dad and sons hunted somewhat and had some land in Eastern Washington. Oldest boys name was Roy. I still remember riding around with Roy in his first car. It was 51 Nash Ambassador. Reminded me of an upside down bathtub. He bought a 243 and bought all the stuff to reload for it. The dad and middle son Ron along with myself all learned how to reload from his experience with this 243. I myself started with a Lee Handloader kit for 357. From there Ive expanded to loading what I load for now which is every caliber I own and then some. Been reloading since before I was old enough to buy my first gun.

[CT_Shooter]

Before he passed away, my Father-in-law gave me my first firearms; a Colt 38 special Official Police revolver that he got from a retired policeman, a 1908 25 acp Pocket Semi-auto pistol that belonged to his father, and a Sears/Savage Ranger Bolt Action Single Shot 22LR that he bought new as a teenager. At the time, I didn't have a permit so the handguns and the bolt from the rifle went into my safe deposit box at the bank and the rifle itself went into the back of a clothes closet.

In the Fall of 2013, I decided to get a pistol permit (I was 62 at the time). I took the required NRA pistol course and got the permit in December, 2013. The first firearm that I purchased was a Henry Classic 22, which was followed by a Henry 357 BBB. I chose it as a companion for the Colt OP revolver.

In 2012, a new President of the US was elected and I'm sure everyone remembers the panic buying that followed. Faced with bare ammunition shelves everywhere, reloading 38/357 calibers made a lot of sense.

I bought a Lee Challenger Reloading Kit, a four carbide die set and everything else I'd need from Amazon in October, 2014.

With the help of Hornady's ninth edition and several YouTube videos, I learned to reload. I'm so glad I did. It's almost as much fun as shooting and I'm not concerned about bare shelves and high prices at the LGS. I have enough brass, bullets, powder, and primers to last until I meet my Father-in-Law again on the other side.

[Headhog]

Necessity. I loved shooting and actively participating in pistol competitions, so with a young family factory ammo was too costly. Saved my pennies a bought an RCBS jr press. Still have and use that press 47 years latter. Added a few more presses since, but always rely on that press my rifle loads.

Paul

[Vaquero]

With the help of Hornady's ninth edition and several YouTube videos, I learned to reload. I'm so glad I did. It's almost as much fun as shooting and I'm not concerned about bare shelves and high prices at the LGS.

I really enjoy it myself, I've told a few people that,
I wasn't sure if, I shot to reload more, or reloaded to shoot more ...

RP

[Mags]

Looming ammo shortage. Saw it coming.

[5shot]

After an ugly divorce in 1977 I ended up in a small apartment with not much money and a few pieces of junk furniture. I bought an RCBS Rockchucker, a Redding Model 1 balance beam scale, a Speer manual and a few other basics. I drilled holes in the kitchen table and mounted the loading press. When my soon to be new wife first walked into the apartment and saw the RCBS bolted to the kitchen table she didn't make nothing of it. I knew right then and there she was the one!

[BrokenolMarine]

I first started reloaded because like Al Bundy, I was married, with children. I bought a single stage press, 38 dies, and a pound of powder. I would buy one box of 100 bullets, a box of primers, and load 100 rounds, shoot them 25 at a time.

Later, I could buy bullets and primers in bulk, but still loaded 100 at a time. It wasn't until I left the Corps and went into LE and started shooting PPC that I moved up to the progressive press. I could write off the matches, the reloading, and supplies as professional development. I was a department firearms instructor by then AND working midnight patrol.

[fortyshooter]

45 Colt got me into loading since you could not find great shooting loads and cheaper in the long run. Now I load most all I shoot.

[BrokenolMarine]

I really had to move up to the progressive press when I was shooting 10,000 rounds a year in practice and matches for PPC. I thought I was shooting a lot, but the top shooters in the league, the Masters, were shooting five times that or more. Those guys were shooting PPC, IPSC, Bullseye, Skeet, Trap, Three Gun... If it went boom, they were shooting it. By the time I stopped competing I had toolheads for the Dillon set up for 38 Wadcutter, 38 Semi-wadcutter, 357 magnum, 9mm, 40, and 45. I didn't LOAD 223 or shotgun, as a firearms instructor, I bought that in case lots when I ordered for the Department, but paid out of pocket. (All above board, the department manager at the distributor was retired from the PD and knew I was shooting competition and teaching for the department.)

We had a deal going with a major reloading supplier. About twice a year, a group order was called in, and two of the Police Sergeants drove down with a F350 Dually Pickup pulling an enclosed trailer and picked up the bulk order. Primers, powder, bullets, any other reloading supplies such as tool heads, dies, presses, and accessories. We got a pretty good discount for the large order, and the pickup. MY order was usually several twenty pounds or so of powder for the year, and about 10,000 primers and bullets split between large and small pistol and 38 and 45 Semi-wadcutter. Every now and then I'd toss in 1,000 9mm and 1,000 38 full wadcutter. MIne was one of the smaller orders on the list.

WAY cheaper than buying loaded ammo, even if you bought by the case, plus I liked sitting at the press late at night while everyone was asleep and loading 500 rounds or so.

[BigAl52]

I really had to move up to the progressive press when I was shooting 10,000 rounds a year in practice and matches for PPC. I thought I was shooting a lot, but the top shooters in the league, the Masters, were shooting five times that or more. Those guys were shooting PPC, IPSC, Bullseye, Skeet, Trap, Three Gun... If it went boom, they were shooting it. By the time I stopped competing I had toolheads for the Dillon set up for 38 Wadcutter, 38 Semi-wadcutter, 357 magnum, 9mm, 40, and 45. I didn't LOAD 223 or shotgun, as a firearms instructor, I bought that in case lots when I ordered for the Department, but paid out of pocket. (All above board, the department manager at the distributor was retired from the PD and knew I was shooting competition and teaching for the department.)

We had a deal going with a major reloading supplier. About twice a year, a group order was called in, and two of the Police Sergeants drove down with a F350 Dually Pickup pulling an enclosed trailer and picked up the bulk order. Primers, powder, bullets, any other reloading supplies such as tool heads, dies, presses, and accessories. We got a pretty good discount for the large order, and the pickup. MY order was usually several twenty pounds or so of powder for the year, and about 10,000 primers and bullets split between large and small pistol and 38 and 45 Semi-wadcutter. Every now and then I'd toss in 1,000 9mm and 1,000 38 full wadcutter. MIne was one of the smaller orders on the list.

WAY cheaper than buying loaded ammo, even if you bought by the case, plus I liked sitting at the press late at night while everyone was asleep and loading 500 rounds or so.

BOM
If you were loading and shooting 38 special today what would be your bullet and load of choice for just plinking?

[BrokenolMarine]

I have ammunition loaded with bullets purchased from Georgia Arms. I really liked their 158 grain lswc, and loaded it over 3.7 grains of W231 with small pistol primers and this shot very well out of my six inch guns. This load falls under the max load for 231 powder and has manageable recoil in the six inch guns. I would start with a lighter load, shoot some groups, and work up to it.

[BrokenolMarine]

I have mentioned before, my master class mentors spent a lot of time testing loads: bullets, primers, powders, micrometers, five shot groups, data sheets. Repeat. Tweeking each load to perfection then moving on. I found the loads that worked for me with the powder I had and stuck with it....

Working fifty hour weeks, wife and four kids at home... Trying to find time... For anything. Plus I was far from Master class.

[Travlin]

In 1968 I bought Colt Trooper .357. In 1969 I bought a Herters Super O reloading press, some dies, and a powder scale. Soon after that a friend brought me a big ammo can full of once fired military .38 cases. Next I bought a Lyman bullet mould and a 450 sizer and dies. I still have and use all of it except the brass which got reloaded many times The Herters press has needle bearings in the linkage.I s†ill have the 1969 invoice.

[Rifletom]

I was a late bloomer in anything firearms and handloading. In '74 bought a 1895 Chileano Mauser in 7x57, my first firearm. Buddy of mine said I ought to load my own. Sooo, in '77, I started buying components, a press[Rockchukar, which I still use!] and Gary showed me the ropes. This lead to handloading everything in rifles and handguns, which I still do. I find it very relaxing and abolutely enjoyable. Got my semi-custom 7x57 back a few months ago from my friend Dave who passed away recently. Thats why I was in Idaho last week. Tomorrow, I start handloading once again for that cherished Mauser. I don't name my firearms, but, this one I'll call Dave. And man, do I like to handload. Thanks for reading folks.
And Thanks to Randy for starting this thread.

[Luv the lever]

Ammo shortage peaked my interest and the cost of 38 spl. I have a close friend who is Distinguished 3 times and shoots Camp Perry annually that introduced me to reloading. I’ve learned few lessons but reload several pistol and rifle rounds.

[Oldman53]

Started reloading brass 410 when shortage hit, that led to reloading for 45-70 govt and 45 colt.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

In 1972 I bought myself a Browning P35..........My Dad bought me the Lee pounder loader and a 1 cavity Lee 9mm mold..........And away I went. I now have 4 Dillon presses setup....4 Mec presses setup......An RCBS press setup......about 25 bullet molds.......A shot maker and lots of lead
But my own pistol range and skeet field on my property.....Life is good!!!

[Hatchdog]

In 1972 I bought myself a Browning P35..........My Dad bought me the Lee pounder loader and a 1 cavity Lee 9mm mold..........And away I went. I now have 4 Dillon presses setup....4 Mec presses setup......An RCBS press setup......about 25 bullet molds.......A shot maker and lots of lead
But my own pistol range and skeet field on my property.....Life is good!!!

Wow, from such a humble start to your current setup. Well done sir!