Reloading as a winter hobby

[ricohman]

I rebuild tube amps and SS gear during the loooong Saskatchewan winter months. It has been a great way to pass the time.
I've been looking for another hobby and I've now begun to reload my own ammo. Since it can cost a buck each time I send a round downrange with my S&W .44 magnum and over $3 a shot my .375 H&H I decided to take the plunge. I've had a Hornady single stage press for years but never opened the box. My buddy gave this to me years ago.
I've now loaded 100 rounds for the .44 and I find it a great way to pass the time. I've even ordered a new Hornady Lock N load AP press and more material. I think I will load .45 ACP next.
I enjoy the weighing, measuring and setting up the dies just so. Highly addictive.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Tube amps!!!!!!!! Now you're talking my language! Got any pics? I just rewired my Strat for the first time. Talk about an adventure. My dad has done reloading for years and loves it. He has a little room with all sorts of funky dyes, presses, and scales. I suppose it saves you money in the long run, but I think he spends way more on gizmos and toys that go with it all.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I have been reloading for years. I do allot with and MANY different calibers both pistol and rifle. I enjoy casting my own bullets and just about every part of the process is therapeutic.

Just a bit of FYI if you are given or scrounge any 45 acp brass...... look to see what size primer they use. Speer has been producing small primer brass (which works fine) and if you mix them with large primer (regular 45 acp) it creates priming problems. Thanks speer for creating a solution to a non-existent problem !

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Economics 101;

If the cost of a product goes down more of it gets consumed. Therefore it is a zero sum game.

Psychology 101

The more of using something you enjoy the happier your feel. Priceless.

Reloading is to men is as knitting is to women. Relaxing and if you do it right it fits perfectly.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Bob_VT, I will watch for that. Thanks for the tip! I have 1000 rounds of norico .45 ACP and I am saving the brass. I have to check if they are the funky military priming holes though.

kfa4303, I think you may be right about about the reloading equipment. But 4 boxes of .44 is around $230 here and an afternoon in the range can eat up a box or two pretty quick.
Now the tube amps.....
I rebuild stereo amps, not the guitar variety. Of course the topology will be very similar. I have done a pair of 120w Dynaco MK VI mono blocks, an ST70, Dynaco MK III mono blocks and some preamps. Here is a pic of the Mark VI's. All new electrolytic capacitors, resistors, multi can and poly caps.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I've even ordered a new Hornady Lock N load AP press and more material. I think I will load .45 ACP next.
I enjoy the weighing, measuring and setting up the dies just so. Highly addictive.

You will really like the Hornady Lock N load, especially for loading handgun ammunition. I have a Hornady Projector, and it is just an older version of the Lock N load. You might consider getting a hand primer seater, because it will speed up the reloading process, and the Hornady presses are a pain to watch the deprimig/priming setup, and is prone to problems. Reloading used to save lots of money, but not so much now a-days. I like to shop on ebay for dies and older presses and parts that has been my hobby for 20 years. It is addicting...

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Winter hobby? I wish I could only reload in the winter LOL...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Bob_VT, I will watch for that. Thanks for the tip! I have 1000 rounds of norico .45 ACP and I am saving the brass. I have to check if they are the funky military priming holes though.

Yep, the Norinco were boxer primed with large primers. The "funky" primers are berdan primed.

The 45 acp, .223, and many of the .308 that are military are excellent brass (thicker walled) HOWEVER, they might have crimped in primers. I use a RCBS primer swager kit to clear out the crimp. The primary drawback to any brass (range brass or surplus brass) is the first time prep of the cases to inspect it and get it into re-loadable condition.

 

[gm280]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I can't believe you all are talking about two of my hobbies in the same thread. I have been reloading for over 40 years and with the exception of 22 rim fire, I can't remember that last time I've shot anything but my own reloads. I reload well over 20 plus different calibers AND mold my own bullets too. I don't know how many bullet molds I presently have at this time and all the sizer/lubricator equipment to go with molding. I never leave any center fire brass lay on the ground even if it isn't mine. I ask others if they want their spent brass and usually the answer is "you can have it". Now all those thousands of empty rounds of brass are very expensive to buy anymore.
And rebuilding amps, especially tube amps is another thing I enjoy doing. I have a Music Man 120HD amp head unit I yet to get too to rebuild. It is a hybrid tube/transistor setup with the transistor section as the preamp and the tube as the output stage. I actually found it set out at the curb for the trash men to pick up... Now it's mine...

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Neato! They look like a rack-mount unit of some sort. What sort of stereos do you run of of them? Is it for a home theater, or something like that? I've never tried to fiddle with the innards of an amp myself. Although, I may need to soon. I have a great little 60w tube works amp, but the pots are dirty so there's lots of snap, crackle, pop when turning certain dials. It also seems to jump from nice and quiet to ear splittingly loud with just the slightest twist of the volume. Not sure why that is. I've always been more of a player than a gear guy, but I have had a couple of sweet tube amp over the years including an old 50s era Magnatone (w/true analog vibrato) as well as an old 70s era Ampeg B-15N, flip top bass amp. That things was sweeeeeeeeet! Broke my heart to let it go :/ Keep an eye out in the forums, there are quite a few closet guitar pickers hiding here.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

.....and you can do it on the boat

 

[gm280]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Change to Bow and Arrow hunting, you don't have to re-load arrows.

I actually hunted with bow and arrows for a while back when I was hunting. My house used to be the bow hunting communitie's place to practice shooting bows too. And I have a called "Robinhood" as well which made the owner of the destroyed arrow ill knowing the cost per each. I even was making my own arrows from bought shafts, fletching, knocks, inserts, scales and the jigs to do all that too. My two adult boys and I hunted together for decades. Now more into fishing and guns then hunting.

 

[rbh]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

luv those amps

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I'm going to get it back one of these days....... I'd also love to tack down an old Fender Bassman head, and a Twin Reverb, and a JCM 900 and a..............

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Tube amps!!!!!!!! Now you're talking my language! Got any pics? I just rewired my Strat for the first time. Talk about an adventure. My dad has done reloading for years and loves it. He has a little room with all sorts of funky dyes, presses, and scales. I suppose it saves you money in the long run, but I think he spends way more on gizmos and toys that go with it all.

a man after my own heart. I rewired my Mex Strat a few years back with Amer pickups. Wow what a difference. Was scary taking that pickguard off for the first time though.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I haven't done any reloading yet. I keep looking at it and then realize I have too many hobbies already..but.....just one more might come in handy.

I did the same thing with arrows for awhile. It was fun. I still have my bow target in the yard. haven't been very focused on it the last couple years.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

a man after my own heart. I rewired my Mex Strat a few years back with Amer pickups. Wow what a difference. Was scary taking that pickguard off for the first time though.

I just rewired my Made in Japan strat with new USA strat pots and 5-switch along with an "orange drop" capacitor. It definitely made a difference by beefing up the tone a bit. I'll probably do the pups next, but I'm not sure which ones to get. I tend towards a more vintage sort of sound, but there are soooooooo many to choose from.

check out this clip from the 2014 NAMM show. They're making stock, MIDI capble, Bluetooth Strats. They even have a little port on the back that lets you change the internal wiring without actually having to remove the pick guard. I'm very analog myself, but it's net technology. Keep pickin' and grinin'

NAMM 2014: Fender Deluxe Strat Plus - Solderless Upgrade System from Fender (Video) - YouTube

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I used to have a link to a bunch of differeent strat pickups and their sound. you're right there is sooooo much to choose from. pup's will blow you away when you change them. even the wiring changes from 18 or 20 ga to 12ga.

I think I put in the Fender Texas Specials. it's been awhile since I did it.

do a youtube search for switching them
How to replace pickups in a Stratocaster by Seymour Duncan - YouTube

this is the one I used for "inspiration" ie: courage to try it. LOL

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I hear good things about the Texas Specials. Are those what SRV and Eric Johnson use? I really need to just build a Frankenstrat from the ground up. Apparently, the MIJ strats have a bit of a cult following so I'd kinda like to keep mine as original as I can. I saved all the old pots in case I ever want to reinstall them.

 

[82rude]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I rebuild tube amps and SS gear during the loooong Saskatchewan winter months. It has been a great way to pass the time.
I've been looking for another hobby and I've now begun to reload my own ammo. Since it can cost a buck each time I send a round downrange with my S&W .44 magnum and over $3 a shot my .375 H&H I decided to take the plunge. I've had a Hornady single stage press for years but never opened the box. My buddy gave this to me years ago.
I've now loaded 100 rounds for the .44 and I find it a great way to pass the time. I've even ordered a new Hornady Lock N load AP press and more material. I think I will load .45 ACP next.
I enjoy the weighing, measuring and setting up the dies just so. Highly addictive.

first off, I love the amps.havnt reloaded for several years but I have a lee progressive system with just a few dies..375 h&h,30.06 and .44 mag .also 7.62 x54r.boy you sure can get lost for hours reloading.