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Rollie
03-30-2009, 01:50 PM
I'm on a fact finding mission and have a question.

How many bullets would 1# (lb) of powder make.

And is there a formula (i.e. 1# / ????) = ?.

I'm just trying to figure out costs now.

Thanks

Mongchi
03-30-2009, 02:02 PM
1lb of powder equals 7,000gr. so if you are using say 7gr of Power Pistol for a 38Spec, 1lb will load 1,000 rounds. If you are loading say a 300 Win Mag with 70gr you will only get 100 rounds.

Now that is bang for your buck!

Steve

Rollie
03-30-2009, 02:03 PM
For a .40 SW ?

For a .45 Colt and ACP


Thanks

Rollie
03-30-2009, 02:30 PM
Also I am pricing out Brass, bullets, primers and powder and it seems that the price is not that much different than buying. So i am going to make an assumption than I am doing something wrong or just have no clue what I am doing?

Brass 1000 $90
Bullet 1000 $100
Primer 1000 $30
Powder ~ $15

Equals about $235 per 1000 rounds for 165 gr .40 FMJ.

Am I totally off base.

Mongchi
03-30-2009, 02:31 PM
A guy on this site Versifier once told me, First off, one current manual is not enough to properly evaluate loads. Sometimes there are occasional mistakes in data entry, and even the best proofreaders make an occasional slip. Two is minimum, three is insurance.

What I am trying to say is depending on the bullet and powder and velocity you want the amount of powder will change. Most powders will load between 800-1200 rounds per pound. The best thing to do is get say 3 books and look at the at what they recommend for powder charges. You can also get info from the powder and bullet manufactures web site.

Hope this helps.
Steve

Mongchi
03-30-2009, 02:36 PM
Your very close on the price. If you are buying new brass, that can cost you, but when you reload the brass is when the price drops.

Steve

Rollie
03-30-2009, 02:43 PM
Firing an automatic how do i get the brass since it ejects it all over?

I figured reloading my brass would be cheaper.

Mongchi
03-30-2009, 02:55 PM
I pick it up on my hands and knees. If you at an indoor range you can sweep it into a pile first.

Under my Dad's deck there are probably tens of thousand of spent brass. Just pick up what you can.

You can save some on "Once Shot" brass. Before I started reloading, which by the way, was not long ago, the guy at the rilfe range loved me. They would pick up (after politely asking) my once shot brass. At the time I didn't know what I was losing. Now I ask friend and family to save me theirs. I probably have 200-300 spent cases of 45 Auto and I don't even own a 45. But some day I might!

Steve

versifier
03-30-2009, 04:55 PM
There have been all kinds of ideas to catch the brass semi autos spit out, including mowing the lawn close, tarps, baffles, and a little thingy (technical term) that you wear on your hand with a net that catches the brass. Get creative, we all do. :wink:

Prices on everything shooting related right now are off the deep end and tool and supply manufacturers can't keep up with current demand. It's probably the only healthy section of the whole economy. Hopefully things will calm down after the panic buying and hoarding is over and folks find themselves with 10x more supplies than they will ever use in two lifetimes. Then we can prowl the yard sales and clean up. I am not expecting prices on factory ammo to drop at all, it never has before, but I am hoping that those on reloading supplies will get back to sane levels. As long as the government doesn't do something bone-headed that is.

runfiverun
03-31-2009, 02:13 AM
where you save money s in buying in bulk.
this does two things for you .more consistency then even factory can provide,and you can tailor the power level you need.
if you buy in 8lb cannisters it is like getting a pound of ppowder free.
buying bullets in bulk will save you also.
primers nowdays are the same price whether you buy 1 box or five in the same sleeve however all 5 are from the same lot.
so lets run it down for a 40.
8 lbs of powder='s about 140.00
5,000 primers is about 150.00
and 5,000 bullets in bulk is lets say 400.00
so for 690.00 with your scrounged 250 pieces of brass you get 5,000 rounds and
if your charge is 6 grains you have enough powder left over for about 4,000 more rounds.
now the cost of 5,000 rounds if you can find them is gonna be what?
450.00 per thousand lets say 400 x5 ='s $2,000,run the numbers the second time now.
5,000 primers 150.00
5,000 bullets=400.00 again
and new rem brass at 200 per thousand.
man bullets are expensive no wonder i make my own.
by casting them 5,000 costs less then 100.00.
so for 1440 dollars you have shot 9,000 rounds, still 600.00 less then buying 5,000 new.
you have just paid for a dillon 550 and a die set. and still have 1,000 primers,bullets and some brass kicking around.

Rollie
03-31-2009, 12:58 PM
Thanks Run,

Any suggestions on good places to buy the bulk items you mentioned and which machine to start with.

Also I take it reloading Glock 22 bullets is not a good idea? I've been reading that is not the best thing to do.

Thanks Again!!

versifier
03-31-2009, 04:57 PM
The brand of press isn't that important, but you should learn on a single stage. Beginners Kits are available from most of the big manufacturers with all of the common tools at significant savings for getting them as a package. I would lean towards RCBS and the Rock Chucker Supreme Master Single Stage Press Kit. You will still need a couple more manuals, a case trimmer, and die sets/shell holders. A copy of The ABC's of Reloading wouldn't hurt, either.

Also from other mfgrs are Lee Classic Cast Press Kit, Hornady LnL Single Stage Press Reloading Kit, Redding Boss Single Stage Press Reloading Kit, and Lyman Crusher 2 Single Stage Press Kit. They vary in the specific tools that come with them, so it's wise to check them all out and compare, which you could do online at www.midwayusa.com

Brass from .40S&W Glocks with factory barrels is dangerous to even consider reloading. The case head is insufficiently supported and the brass bulges, seriously weakening it. Aftermarket barrels are available for most Glock models. I had a 1st gen Glock 23 that I could get two loadings per case out of IF I used the lightest possible charge. Anything with a heavier charge or factory ammo was bulged and unusable. Not worth it. I was about to order a new barrel when I was offered an almost new G21 at a very good deal. I got more for the G23 than I paid for the G21 and have been happy shooting .45ACP ever since. If you want to shoot and reload for your .40cal Glock, be safe and get an aftermarket barrel for it.

runfiverun
03-31-2009, 05:24 PM
versifier covered it in a nutshell right there.
i think that is why i don't have a 40, and got rid of my taurus 9mm.

Rollie
03-31-2009, 09:20 PM
Is that all Glocks or just first gen? I just recently bought my Glock 22 and was wondering if it needs a new barrel or have they fixed the problem?

Thanks

versifier
03-31-2009, 10:09 PM
The new ones (Gen 3 and later, with the accessory rail) do have a little better case head support, but I do not know that it is enough. There is a little bit more to it than meets the eye. Glocks are designed to function reliably with a wide variety of ammo under combat conditions. To insure positive feeding, the chambers are a bit oversized. This is not a big deal for a military weapon as they don't shoot reloads, and the company not only does not recommend handloads, but the use of them will void the warranty. They are designed to keep soldiers alive, not to keep us loaders happy. This does not stop most of us from reloading for them however. :mrgreen: It just means that we have learned to be very careful and really inspect the brass before loading. If it's bulged, you can spot it instantly by rolling a case on a flat surface. I think it would be reasonably safe in a new model if you didn't load them too hot, but OTOH the .40S&W and 10mm develop very high chamber pressures for handguns, and especially since Glocks are not known for fine accuracy, it really makes sense to spend another c-note and get a barrel for it just to be on the safe side. I am happy with their accuracy for carry guns, but I'm not looking for Minute Of Angle, merely Minute Of A$$hole: if I can keep ALL shots on the paper at 50yds relaxed, then I am confident I can keep them all in the torso of a problem at 25yds or less. If I wanted a target pistol, I'd be shooting a custom 1911.

NOTE: If you want to load any cast bullets, you have to get an aftermarket barrel with conventional cut or button rifling. With most cast bullets, the polygonal rifling of a .40/10mm Glock will lead foul very quickly and cause pressure spikes that can blow the pistol up (and aren't too healthy for the shooter). There are ways around this, but they are for loaders and casters of many, many years experience and I'm not going to discuss them here. 8)

Rollie
04-06-2009, 03:32 PM
First off thank you for all the answers. And I do have a 3rd gen gun.

Second can I get a Storm Lake barrel for My Glock 22 that is 9mm and/or .357 and it will shoot those calibers? Without problems?

They sell conversion barrels for .40 to 357 or 9mm.

And would these be okay to reload the brass?

Thanks

versifier
04-06-2009, 04:37 PM
If you have a G22, you can also get a .357Sig barrel to go along with the .40S&W, but not a 9mm. You would have to have a different slide to handle the smaller headed case. You could reload anything you shoot in one of the aftermarket barrels, and with cast bullets if you want. Bottleneck pistol cases are a lot more work to load than straightwall cases, though. They have to be lubed and sized like rifle cases.

missionary5155
04-06-2009, 09:01 PM
Greetings
One pound of powder will not make any boolits.. ya need LEAD.
For my silly answer...
Mike in Peru

runfiverun
04-07-2009, 02:34 AM
mike ,that was my very first thought also.

swamp
04-07-2009, 02:12 PM
Firing an automatic how do i get the brass since it ejects it all over?

I figured reloading my brass would be cheaper.

I ran into a guy who had a brass catcher he purchased; unfortunately they are hard to find these days so I built my own.

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/45005/2699364520101870711S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2699364520101870711YfWKSm)

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/43899/2437881300101870711S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2437881300101870711JgExAM)

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/14702/2446450040101870711S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2446450040101870711QfgYHY)

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/43067/2865242980101870711S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2865242980101870711aFtrZI)

I made it out of an NRA "T" shirt. The frame is a wire coat hanger and you need all the wire you can get from it. It is one continuous wire; the handle is a loop that goes up and bends off in two directions (to the front and back of the gun). Then they bend up to form the box and where they come together at the top, you bend the wire into the catch basket so as to keep it open to accept the shells as they eject. You then sow fabric together to make a bag of sorts then loop it round the wire and sew it so it stays on. For the handle I covered the wire loop with M/F Velcro to make a comfortable handle that would be adjustable. I used the adhesive of the Velcro to make the handle attach to the wire by sandwiching the wire between the adhesive sides of the Velcro and attached them in such a way as to have the male/female of the Velcro facing each other so complete the opening for your hand.

It's tough to explain, I hope this helps.

You can Google "brass catcher" and find some for sale.

versifier
04-07-2009, 04:08 PM
I have one of the commercial ones. The only drawback is that my Glock ejects up instead of out like my 1911's. When they work, they're fantastic. When they don't.... back to crawling. I have seen the black rifle versions, too, and they seemed to work very well.

swamp
04-07-2009, 04:54 PM
I have one of the commercial ones. The only drawback is that my Glock ejects up instead of out like my 1911's. When they work, they're fantastic. When they don't.... back to crawling. I have seen the black rifle versions, too, and they seemed to work very well.

Yea mine catches probably 95% of the brass and the ones it misses are at your feet; none of them catch them all.