I finally got around to putting my new reloading equipment to good use. This last week I made a trip to the local gun shop to pick up a set of shell holders for my Lee Quick Priming tool. Today I got around to finishing up a full set of cartridges for my .40 caliber Beretta 9000S pistol.
I already had the cases cleaned and deprimed, so I began to install the new primers into the cases. I only had one box of small pistol primers on hand, that meant that I wouldn’t be able to reload all my empty cases. As you may know, primers are hard to come by now days. Just completing 100 rounds will give me a good feel for the process anyways, don’t want to over do it! Installing the primers was pretty easy and went quick.
Now it was time to set the flaring die up, that also went pretty quick and easy. The flare die opens up the hole in the case ever so slightly, which allows the projectile to be seated a little easier. This step is important when not using boattail rounds. After the flaring was finished it was time to set up the seating die.
I thought I had this part down pat, boy was I wrong! The first round I ran through it was WAY over seated! It wrinkled the case wall and jammed the round down into the case. First round and first mistake, not good. It took a while to figure out what was happening. I finally realized that I had the die installed properly but it was the finger adjustment screw in the top of the die was screwed all the way in. Once I got that figured out I was well on my way.
I was using IMR 800X powder with 180 grain JHP rounds from Hornady. Using the reloading charts available to 
me, it showed that I needed to use the .7cc Lee dipper for my powder load. Everything was lining up now and I began to roll. It didn’t take long until I had put the other 99 good rounds in the box for a future date at the gun range to be tested!
It was a good learning experience to see exactly what I needed to do to make a box of rounds for my pistol. I have reloaded in the past with a good friend of mine teaching me and watching me all the way. This was the first time I have went through the process by myself. Once I got by the first mistake and understood what went wrong I didn’t have any problems. I did stop periodically through the process to use the micrometer to measure the cartridge lenths to make sure everything was staying within the appropriate length extremes.
Look at the price on the old box that I used to put the new rounds into. $29.99 for 100 rounds of 165 grain wad cutters. I recently purchased a 50 round box of .40 cal 180 grain JHP Remington’s for $36.00. This 100 round box of 180 grain JHP cost me less than $30 to reload, atleast $42 in savings! Now I can’t wait to hit the range!
