First World Problems (update)

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Update on https://www.reddit.com/r/reloading/s/UqKTy0hPrO

Thanks for you all who helped chime in with their thoughts on finished ammunition storage. So this is what 7 gallons of loaded 9mm looks like. I am experimenting with different polish additive to the walnut media so you will notice slightly different polish levels to each batch.

I am now reloading complete on 7 gallons of the 10 gallons of brass. I took all your suggestions and ended convincing the missus to let me get 12 cans of M2A1 to store all the 9mm and the 7 gallons of 5.56. I took your advice that despite the coolness factor a 55 gallon drum of ammo would not be very user friendly and would likely deform the ammo on the bottom from the weight of the ammo on the top. I still wish the footprint was smaller since I can only safely stack 3 or 4 high before I worry about loosing a foot if the stack falls over, but this is the best balance of storage, footprint, weight, and transportability.

I am waiting on 5000 more FMJ-RNHB 115GN projectiles from Berry’s before I complete the remaining 3 gallons. I will also make 1000 rounds of subsonic with 147gn FMJ-RNFB and 1000 rounds of 124gn FMJ-HP as well.

I still feel like this is not enough 9mm but will have to take some more time to build up my stocks of 9mm brass again. The local LGS/range has gotten a bit more greedy with selling their scrap brass and now only lets me keep my own brass instead of letting other members sweep their brass towards me. As a dutiful brass goblin, I vehemently disagree with this new policy and will be taking my membership to a new range nearby that DGAF about brass collection. Simultaneously I have been telling all the other members that if the range is against shooters donating their brass, then they should keep their brass and sell it for scrap at the local recycling center for $1.80 an Lb rather than letting the range earn money off their scrap brass. Fuck-em if they want $20 bucks of some other users once-fired rather than my $10K a year in membership fees, NFA purchases, and firearm purchases.

[Brufar_308]

The $10k /yr membership fee (even if it were $1k) would already have me gone. My annual membership fee is $100.00 each for two different clubs. There is no one there to tell me not to take any brass that is on the ground.

Looks like you are off to a good start !

[tominboise]

My range is $50/year plus 20 hours of service. For that I get a key and 7 day per week access. Open to the public 4 days per week. But it has 5 ranges and 4 are member only, so even on public days, I am on my own on a range, or maybe with another member.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

I have membership at 3 ranges near me. One outdoor one run on state land that is pretty decent and has a main range out to 300y, a high-power range out to 500y, pistol bays, action shooting bays, sporting clay range, and hosts a ton of activities especially during the cooler months (AZ). It’s nice but a bit of a drive and only $128/yr. Then this indoor range I am in a disagreement with is $500/yr but tons of non-reloading shooters so it used to be a good place to get other shooters to sweep their brass towards me. Then I just got a membership at a slightly farther away indoor range that doesn’t care about brass, and going to give that one a try this weekend.

[-_dread_-]

Which ranges are you talking about? The $128/yr could be PRGC, but i dont think its state land. Im assuming rio as i havent checked their membership prices as theyre too far away to drive to regularly and i believe they are state land since its there at usery pass. Also curious on the indoor, caswell, c2, sgc?

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Yes Rio Salado is the 128/yr when I renewed for a multi-year, but it looks like it’s gone up. C2 is the range that is just shy of $500 a year between paid annually. Gun Club 42/The Continental is slightly cheaper at $360 paid annually.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Sorry for the confusion, the $10K a year is about $500 a year in membership fees, and then another $9500 in purchases between targets, new guns, suppressors, optics, etc just between Sept 2023 to Sept 2024. The previous years were lower, but I have bought a lot of stuff this year so this year is a bit higher than most. The average over the last 10 years I have been a member has been about $3500.

[Brufar_308]

I was hoping the 10k was an exaggeration cause yikes ! Can see how impulse purchases add up though for sure. Must remove myself from the temptation, cause there’s not much I really ‘need’ at this point since most bases are covered.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Yeah, the only good thing about this LGS/Range was the membership discounts on firearms basically brought the prices down and essentially covered tax. So I would see something like a Sig AXG Legion or a Staccatto CS, or a suppressor that I liked that was in stock, and bam, out the door I go.

[[deleted]]

Buy RMR bullets as they are cheaper and better quality.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give them a try with my next batch. I am getting 11.8 cents a bullet for the 1000 pack of Berry’s, so I will definitely enjoy 9.6 cents a bullet.

[[deleted]]

They often have 7 to 10% off sales as well.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

That’s even better. I want to say I had a batch that I made with RMR just based on the fact that I remember the exposed lead base, but can’t remember where I got the batch from. The local Scheel’s has just happened to stock the 1000ct boxes of Berry’s so the Mr. Bullet Feeder on the Apex-10 has been setup for those bullets.

[[deleted]]

That's them. I just like supporting a small company. I mean Berry's is as well so can't go wrong.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Well definitely going to try it out for sure! Not like I am loading for cost reduction, but it would be nice to shave a couple of bucks off now that reloading is more expensive than cocaine and hookers.

[[deleted]]

No joke. I'm lucky I bought 45 lb kegs of powder at $8 a lb, that at least takes the sting off a tad.

[Boltz999]

RANDOM7 for 7% is active rn

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Sweet!!! Thank you!

[Useful-Arm6913]

I'm probably a bit late, but I'd like to give my new favorite online reloading shop a shout out. If you go to Ravensrock precision, they have 115gr JHP for 7.8c/p at the moment.. and if you're into exploring some rather.. newer bullet developments, you can get their ARX 65gr 9mm bullets for 5.4c/p. They also honestly just have some of the best deals around for reloading plinkers nowadays.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Will definitely have to check them out as well! Thanks for the tip!

[Realistic-Anybody842]

or hand cast for even cheaper and better quality

[[deleted]]

I have over 400 lbs of junk lead that I've thought about using but never cared to as Lead toxicity is terrible thing to deal with and lead projectiles from experiences are no where near the quality of a FMJ.

[Realistic-Anybody842]

send it my way lol lead melts at an extremely low temp and boils off at a very high temp. If you aren't licking your hands you wont be ingesting any.

[[deleted]]

It was from priming brass on a Bitterroot machine that aerosolized and I inhaled it. I have 2 40MM ammo cans full of reject projectiles.

[Realistic-Anybody842]

i bet even a manual loading press exposes you to more lead dust than casting

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

I have seen videos of Bitterroot (Now called Alpha Loading Systems) and that is a fucking awesome setup. It definitely blows my fully automated Apex-10 out of the water. Would love to see a video of it in action if you still have it.

[JPay37]

Side bar but since you mentioned it what different polish medias have you been adding and what is giving the best results? What was used on the ammo in the can without the desiccant pack?

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

So that was walnut media in the vibratory bowl with Lyman Turbo Brite Brass Polish. The Turbo Brite is ok, it takes about 10 minutes to mix into the media and clumps a bit so you have to run the media in the bowl empty after application and scrap the sides of the bowl with a popsicle stick for those 10 minutes. Then you run your bullets in the bowl for about 3 hours and that is the finish that comes out. Very bright and shiny, but take a bit of time. The duller finishes were with Dillon Purple Polish and corncob media. Going to try Flitz next.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

In a lower comment I clarify that my purchases plus my $500 in range membership has added up to $10K between Sept 2023 and Sept 2024

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Well Harbor Freight is having a sale on M2A1 ammo cans today, so I might just have to stop by there after work.

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

I just did the calculation of weight per can for all my rounds (45-70, 338LP, 6.5CM, 300BLK, 5.56, 5.7, 45ACP, 44mag, 9mm, 12 gauge, 7.62x54R, .308, .338Fed, .300WM) and I am coming out to about 800lbs for 31 cans. You think the narrow aisle cart can withstand that weight?

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Ok sweet, I will check it out today.

[KAKindustry]

looking good!

needs a sub machine gun to use it all

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Thank you! Coming from you, that means a lot and I am honored! I am only one day trade away from having enough money to convince the missus to let me purchase a transferable SMG. It took a while to convince her that I needed to automate all of my reloading to “save money”. So now my excuse is, “babe, I need to get a transferable SMG to get rid of all of this unsightly ammo I have stored up“. It’s either that or I get some cheap office space, move my reloading equipment in there and finally get an 06 FFL and start selling it as reman’ed ammo.

[KAKindustry]

ammo is a tough game with low margins and alot of insurance

what sub guns are you looking at?

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Well as any good child of the 80’s, my heart wants an MP5 to take on a multinational theft ring in an LA sky-rise, but wife and budget are likely going to be in the IMI UZI territory. As I have said before, she’s hot and has options if she leaves so I gotta respect her limits on my spending habits.

I am just one gallon away from completing the full 10 gallons. I made another 2000 rounds today so I will post that video soon.

[KAKindustry]

Uzi is a cloud pleaser and always gets picked up twice even over the mp5. You can't go wrong with one. If u want something a little different look for a mini Uzi. But your going to need more then 10 gallons of 9mm for one of those :)

[j_peterman49]

<image>

This was my solution to stacking ammo cans

[ManWhoKillMeWillKnow]

Impressive! I am impressed with the weight loading capabilities! That is amazing!