I think I just caught something

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So I just shot my first reloads and I haven't giggled like this and years. I now understand what you guys mean when you say you shoot to reload, can't wait to get more of these done. Started with 9mm because I was told it was easy to learn on, just picked a charge weight between the starting and max weight and I think I already found a really good match to my pistol. Shots were at 5 yrds standing unsupported with my carry RAMI. Picture is the first 10 and after my box of 50 it was just a ragged hole. I've rarely shot this pistol this well, any more improvement in accuracy would be wasted on me right now. I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend.
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Sure is fun, aint it? I started on 9mm too. Power Pistol and Montana Gold jacketed bullets. Eight years ago maybe.



Now I buy guns, usually in new cartridges, just so I have something new and exciting to load for.
 
Congratulation on your first reloads:):):)

I know the feeling. I started reloading a year and a half ago. Very addicting isn't it.

Don't think for one minute you will save any money. You will just shoot a lot more so you can get the brass to reload more.

Welcome to the hobby and be safe
 
Congrats on a really good group, and welcome to the addiction !!

If you can believe, there is actually more accuracy to wrangle out of your reloads. 9x19 Luger is not an "easy" round to start with. Small changes make big differences in shot placement and the operation of the pistol.

• Go back and this time vary the amount of powder. You'll want to start at your present load and make 8-10 rounds with 0.2gn less, 8-10 more with 0.1gn less, 8-10 more with 0.1gn more, and 8-10 with 0.2gn more. These small incremental changes are what we call shooting a load "ladder". If you'll do each group on its own target, you'll zero in on the best load, and may even find one better.

• Although most gun fights take place at 5yds, you'll want to move your targets out to at least 10yds (and maybe even 15) so that you can really detect small improvements in group size.

• Although you have a great looking target, the human eye can be tricked. Thus, the shape and size of the target can affect your group. May I suggest that you work with a much simpler 2" black circle. The adage is to 'aim small to shoot small'. A smaller, denser, more regular shape will help you. So try printing your own targets on your computer.

Hope this helps.
 
Congratulations. It is always more satisfying shooting your own.
Like rfwobbly said, vary charges and move back a little.
I like to find the distance that makes the bull's-eye match the front sight. This makes it easier for me to aim. Your choice of target works well for the squared sights of most semiauto handguns.
 
Congratulations! I remember that feeling well as it was only about a year ago for me. I started with 45 acp.

Now I load 10mm and 38 Special also. Once you catch the bug, shooting factory ammo feels wrong.
 
Welcome to the club! I have been reloading for nearly 60 years and except for rimfire ammo, I probably haven't bought 500 rounds of factory loads in that time. You will become a better shot since you can afford to shoot more.

This pretty much describes me. However I don't shoot to reload, I reload to shoot. I regard reloading as work I have to do to shoot with more accuracy and find it really enjoyable to find my bullets all landing in a little bitty spot. That justifies the work I put in at the reloading bench.
 
Welcome to the addiction. :thumbup:

Shooting used to be my hobby. Then I started reloading, then reloading became my hobby. I shot more, just so I could reload.

Then I started wet tumbling, and making the dirty brass shine again became my hobby. Shooting and reloading are just the means to that end. :)
 
You are really looking for a bullet/powder load combination that is in tune with the harmonics of this specific barrel. Try a different gun and your load may shoot a wide group.
 
Load was 115gr JRN over 3.9gr of titegroup with Winchester primers. The COL I wrote on the box got smudged and I can't read it so I'll have to load up some more to get that, I haven't touched the dies since so shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, can't decide if it feels more like a small town welcome or a cult recruiting. ;)

I intend to work my way up to shooting out to longer distances but I haven't been able to shoot more often than once a month for most of the year so I kept the distance close to pad my ego a little. The target was just what ever they had that had the most places to shoot on the same paper as I was shooting with a friend, the range requires you buy their targets. They used to have one that had 20 2" circles that were all numbered and 10 2"x4" squares that I would normally use but they must have run out.
 
If you can shoot from a rest/bags, will help you test the loads at longer distances. By all means try to fill in the gaps from min to max to expand your knowledge on how loads react with minor changes. This is part of the enjoyment of hand loading. As you get more experienced and shooting more your skills will improve.
 
KIMG0248.jpg KIMG0251.jpg KIMG0244.jpg This is moving faster than my high school relationship. Casted my first bullets last night, hope to load and maybe shoot them today. 124gr .356 for 9mm. My reloading mentor already casts fishing weights so we both took a dive into this. Having trouble with the powder coat, if I can't figure it out soon I'll be posting up another thread.
 
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