backtocrappie

[backtocrappie]

All G&A discussion can go here in a permanent dedicated thread.

[backtocrappie]

In light of the ammo shortage I pulled my dies and loading gear this year, for the first time in 20 years. Time had taken it's toll on the 2 remaining die sets I have left. On the left is a 30-30 Win which is the way they looked when I pulled them out of storage. On the right is an easy half hour of labor on my .223, fine steel wool and WD40. I finished them with spray solvent (not on my O-rings) for a perfectly clean finish. Big lesson learned, never use water based resizing lube. I had to wrap steel wool around a flat head and cram it down in the dies and twist continuously til they were spotless inside.

[backtocrappie]

Good ole Lee! I sent them a problem and they sent an answer. My dies are at least 20 years old, I'm missing my 30-30 data sheet, they are sending me a new one in snail mail no charge. Luckily they still support my old gear.

[backtocrappie]

I haven't dealt with this co. yet, but I hear they are best around. Post a co. if ya got one, be nice to see how many resources pop up.

Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
http://www.e-gunparts.com/

[slab]

I can create a separate board for guns and ammo if you would like.  I don't think a dedicated thread is the best idea, particularly if it gets long.

[backtocrappie]

While thats good idea, I'm not seeing the traffic I'd hoped for on this topic. Wait and see?

[skeeter]

would you guys help me decide what to buy? i want to be able to reload my 9mm, 270, and maybe some others

[backtocrappie]

Be happy to lend ya some input,skeeter. I use middle of the road gear, because A: I do that with everything, but moreover if an accident happens I sure don't want to be caught using the lowest priced reloading gear. My pick was Lee everything. I use Sierra bullets and whatever primer I can find, but a word of warning on reloading stuffs and supplies- Obama is pres, and panic buying has wiped out supplies of everything.

[JWhitebydam]

Maybe, just maybe things are looking up a little?

I was at Wally World getting some oil and stuff yesterday evening,
peeked at the sporting goods area, and there were TWO boxes of
.357 magnums sitting on the shelf and nobody standing there to snatch them up 

[OCB]

I'm just stock piling. Got enough to hold off a small army now and still adding!

[cook]

Just a question for you experts on ammo.For just regular off the shelf commercial ammo,what is the best way to store it and is there a "shelf life"?I just keep mine in a locked metal cabinet in a seperate finished room in the basement.Has a.c. so far humidity and rusting hasn't been an issue.I burn up the .22/.22WMR/7.62 pretty regularly,but some other rounds sit around for years.

[backtocrappie]

I don't know of any shelf life on ammo, that doesn't say there isn't one. A bullet is for all intent and purpose, a hermetically sealed unit. If the outside of the case is clean, and been keep cool and dry, theres really no reason for it to "go bad". I have fired rounds that are 20 years old and work just fine. But for good measure keep it DRY. I have heard that Iowa class battleships still use ammo form WWII on their big guns. 

[cook]

Crap,gotta add more ammo-found a deal on a Lee Enfield .303 that I can't pass up.Saw a whole rack of them about 15 years ago at a dealer,your pick for 99$ and passed on it at the time...kicked myself ever since.
Then I saw  an ad for a mark4 sporter yesterday for 200$..I'm not going to miss it again.

Anyone else got one?

[backtocrappie]

Update:

The latest scuttlebutt from a buddy of mine whose deep into the gun world, tells me the prices are starting to slack off. Ammo manufactures are finally getting caught up and the demand is decreasing as people finally get their stock piles up to par. Dealers are releasing more from their stock as sales start to slump a little. So while the worst part may be over on a temporary basis it's still no excuse not stock up, that is, given the current state of affairs and all it's potential.

[pomoxis]

would you guys help me decide what to buy? i want to be able to reload my 9mm, 270, and maybe some others

When I shot competition in the Navy I used a Dillion 550 to load my practice rounds. It was consistent and easy. There may be other presses out there just as good but if I were to get back into reloading I'd be looking at Dillon. I always had good service from them.