Component consolidation

[thughes]

I've been stocking up on components in preparation for the inevitable launch of the ammo BG check and database nonsense. I shoot 12ga SG, .380, 9mm, .45, 5.56, 7.62x54R, 7.62x39, 7.5x55 Swiss, .308, and 30-06. I have tucked away several crates of both 7.62 flavors so I am not worried about reloading for them yet.

On the powder side, I stock 700x (shotgun and pistols) and 4064 (rifles). For bullets I have been grabbing some great deals from RMR, got a crap ton of 9mm, .45, and .223. I need to get some light stuff for the .380 and a bunch more .308 bullets.

So, when I mention consolidation I was referring to the fact that 2 different powders can cover all my reloading needs and all of the centerfire rifle calibers I shoot (with the exception of 5.56) utilize .30 cal projectiles of varying weights. I currently get away with just 150 and 175 gn in .30 cal and was only stocking 55gn .223 but that needs to change with the addition of a new 1/7 twist upper.

I've also got a minimum of 1000 each SRP, LRP, SPP, LPP form CCI, F&S in Henrietta is pretty well stocked with primers too so that'll save hazmat charges when it's time to restock.

How are you guys managing your reloading supplies? Do you have a bunch of different specialty powders you need to stock? Do you cast your own projectiles? (something I'm interested in learning about) Talk to me....

[Guest]

I've been stocking up I have tucked away several crates

Several crates?? ..lemme see here, where the hell I put that redflag hotline tip number..

[thughes]

OPSEC, b itch! (You're gonna want a friend with a safe full of Mosins and a few crates of boolits when the SHTF)

[gtnorry]

Well that's why I want to trade those 2 powders - to get down to only 3 favorites. I only reload for my 9 & 45 but have all the equipment for 223. I have 6k in primers for both and enough brass. Powder supply is ok. For my rifle and shotguns I have enough factory stuff for a while.
Your right about Field & Stream. Good supply of primers at $35 per 1000 and they keep sending me coupons for $25 off $100 purchase. So I keep buying more primers. So that brings a 1000 down to $26.66 including tax

[Glockdude]

Thughes that is quite an investment!


What do you guys use for powder for 5.56/223 and also for 9mm?

[Pissed Off Patriot]

Regarding the 7.62x54r, are you reloading commercial boxer primed brass 54r, or milsurp berdan primed brass?

[thughes]

Thughes that is quite an investment!

My stash has been built over the last several years........

[thughes]

Regarding the 7.62x54r, are you reloading commercial boxer primed brass 54r, or milsurp berdan primed brass?

I don't reload the Russian stuff. I purchased a few crates when it was cheap and retailers were still shipping to NY, am now just finishing up my first 440 rnd tin.

[gtnorry]

Thughes that is quite an investment!


What do you guys use for powder for 5.56/223 and also for 9mm?

for 9s I like Unique, Red Dot, Accurate #2 but I do use a few others

[Pissed Off Patriot]

I don't reload the Russian stuff. I purchased a few crates when it was cheap and retailers were still shipping to NY, am now just finishing up my first 440 rnd tin.

Yes, but the 440 rd. tins are steel case. There is also milsurp brass cased, but of course it is berdan primed and corrosive, so reloading is very difficult. I'm trying to figure out if there is any value to the empty brass cases other than scrap value.

[dsdmmat]

19 grains of IMR 4198 under a 55 grain bullet on the 223 works well in both gas and bolt guns.

IMR 4064 is a great slow powder for 30 caliber rifles but if you want a powder that will do good in both bolt and gas guns as well as 223/ 30 caliber rifles Varget, AA 2015BR, IMR 4895, BL2(c) and IMR 3031 are good choices. Although with lead bullets in a 308 you can use IMR 4198 too.

For pistol powders I use a variety of them ( if I could find 700x I would grab some). But for most of my reloading for handguns lately it has been unique, Green dot, AA7, HS7, AA5, IMR 4227.

primers usually get pretty scarce in a panic, you might want to stock 5k or better of each type you need.

Depends on what you shoot, but a pound of pistol powder will normally load 1100 rounds. So if you have 2 pounds of red dot you probably want 2500-3000 pistol primers.
I will typically load handgun cartridges all winter long so I can shoot them all summer without having to worry about loading up any on a day I should be shooting.

I am loading up 45 ACP this weekend 5.4 grains of green dot behind a 200 grain semi wadcutter. Did 650 this morning and am waiting on clean brass to come out of the tumbler to load up about 600 more.

[Meketrefe]

This is an important subject and like thuges mentioned you cannot build overnight. It might take years of planning and stashing away.
At some point I had so many calibers that I lost track, between both commercial and wildcats. So I decided to move some of the equipment
towards a set of calibers. I still have some of the brass and rifles / pistols/ and barrels on the others but I started to move towards a more
consistent easier to maintain approach.
This is what I have done and continue doing:

- The pistol calibers that I use they can take all the same bullets and even exchange with rifle. 356, 357 and 358 bullets some that I can use for rifle like the 180gr hornady.
So from 90gr to 250gr I have several pouplar casings that take the same bullets, primers and powders with the 9mm luger and 357SIG being my primary carry calibers but
I can also use the same equipment for some rifle like the 357 magnum and amazing 358 winchester.

- For the main rifles I stick to both 5.56/223 and 308w service rounds. 5.56 bulk bullet deals are hard to beat and the brass, primers and many type of powders cover a wide range of needs. I had the 7.62x39 but decided to get rid of it as neither the rifles nor the ammunition gave any advantage of any kind. I always stayed away from eastern steel and corrosive ammo, sold a few akm type chambered for this also because I do not want any firearms that would shoot not be be worth convert to shooting with corrosive / surplus stuff. I however for two decades accumulated 7.62x51 NATO surplus with clean powders and nice reloadeable brass. I have enough that I would not need to ever buy again unless I go back into fast shooting competition and I do not shoot so fast anymore, I do more with one bullet now that I used to do with 20 before.

- Regrading the reloading equipment I use a multiplier of 5 times the amount of brass. So lets say aside from the long term loaded and brand new if someone has 5K casings of 308w once fired you could expect to reload 5 times and therefore 25K bullets and 25K primers and the corresponding amount of powder. I would not exceed overall more than one can shoot on a lifetime that is also a mistake some folks make. Specially components that must be sealed long term storage conditions so they will still be good lets say 20 or 30 years from now. In reality we know one shoudl be able to get many more reloads from each piece of brass specially shooting bolt action but one might use the same brass to produced other offspring cartriges or some might be lost so planning with plenty in advance and based on one's needs is a wise move.

-Since 5.56(223R) and 7.62x51(308w) are our service rounds it is a perfect commodity to stock up on and to either use it or barter with. Also the caliber / bore are the most popular by a large stretch giving a lot of options to provide specialty ammunition, wildcats and other popular calibers from the very same bullets, primers and powders.
5.56 bullets from cheap 55gr fmj for practice to the amazing 70gr solid and 80gr match bullets for long range target or even tactial uses. The 308 from 110gr amazing varmint
loads all the way to 230gr bullets that can be used with a winchester magnum for extreme long range hunting or tactical and through the amazing assortment of 150gr, 168gr and 175gr.
But there is nothing one would not be able to cover with those calibers alone.

At the same time if one likes a few specialty cartridges one could come up with several that are offspring of the same cases used so both the parent cases can be easily used
for other cartriges using the same or popular powders and same bullets. Like the 7.62x40, 30 carbine, 30/30, 300WSM, 300winmag could use the same 30 caliber bullets in different weights.

Even the 9mm/356/357 bullets can be used with cartriges like the 357 magnum, 35 remington for lever and the 358w that can be easily made from 308w brass too and with the
larger 358 bullets will take down anything walking the planet.

The largest 358 bullets could also be used for smaller casing subsonics or for something like the 358 norma magnum or even form them from a winmag.

So plenty of bullets, primers and versatile powders will cover every single need any shooting might have. And this is the reason I abandoned the 7mm, 338 lapua, 44, 45 caliber, 40 caliber, 50 caliber among others. There is nothing those can do the others could not do even better and in practical terms.

So still I have a way to go but this is where I am going...

A) 9mm/357/358 for pistol rounds, lever and rifle.

B) 5.56/223 for rifle and small amount of pistol.

C) 30 caliber for anything from pistol to the largest magnums with 1 mile effective range and the super-popular 308w and 30.06 that are the brick and mortar of hunters all over the world including the USA.

D) 358 (shared along with the 356/357 in pistol) for big game hunting but also bad ass pistol.

E) And then lots of shot for the 12ga, primers, wads, and even have a way to make evergency slugs w/o additional cost.

Of course I keep a fair amount of equipment to feed a few toys like 6mm bullets (very popular department) that makes a great resource for 6x45, 6BR, 243w all can be made
from 5.56 and 308w cases. the 6x45 is actually easier to reload and more accurate than the best 223 itself and it runs great in AR and 223 type bolt actions.
I also keep the 6.5BR and 6.8spc but not something I need to worry for the long term since I have enough to last me and pass on.