powder and primers?

[shrapmetal]

i havent started reloading yet but would like to start putting some powder and primers away for a rainy day. i have no idea what to buy. i would like to reload 223, 308, 9mm, and 50bmg. what powder and primers should i stock up on?

[jerrymrc]

i havent started reloading yet but would like to start putting some powder and primers away for a rainy day. i have no idea what to buy. i would like to reload 223, 308, 9mm, and 50bmg. what powder and primers should i stock up on?


I will leave the 50bmg stuff to someone else. Primers.
CCI #34 and 41 for the .223/.308 WSP for the 9mm.

Powders. I have good loads for both .223 and .308 with Varget, BLC2, AA2460, H335 and win748. the first four work well with 53-69gr in .223 and 147-168gr in .308 I have taken to using a slower powder for my pistols. I like AA5 and 7 for my 9-.45 loads

I have used other powders/primers and have other loads that that are .223 and .308 only

I point to the above powders because I have had success in loading both .223 and .308 with them and you could pick one and load both and be happy.

Just my two cents on the subject.

[shrapmetal]

thanks for the great info. is there a shelf life on powder and primers?

[MuzzleFlash]

According to my reloading manual, there must be a shelf life because they mention the smell test for bad powder. My guess is that properly cared for, it's at least 25 years. If you're worried, you can always put the primer boxes and powder containers in freezer bags. Cool, dry storage without large temperature swings is best. That's why it's not a good idea to store ammo you want to keep forever in a garage. Ammo and its components age much faster when cycled through temperature extremes. You may also want to invest in primer sealer.

Properly loaded and cared for, ammo can outlive you. In the last year, I've shot off about 250 rnds of Des Moines Arsenal .50 BMG tracer with 1943 headstamps. None of them lit but only two didn't fire. I've been at MG shoots where the smell of cordite is think in the air. Guys are shooting .303 Brit ammo from WWI in their water cooled Vickers and Maxims.

Obviously, never store primers loose and never place powder in anything other than its factory container, etc. Absolutely never store powder in a safe. That's a recipe for killing firemen.

And if your powder does go bad, use it in the garden for fertilizer.

[jerrymrc]

Foxtrot has many good thinks to say. A couple of things I thought about. I assume the .223 are for an AR? I assumed the .308 was for a gas gun also. If a bolt .308 then not all I posted applies.

My use of the CCI primers is because I load .223 for AR's and AK's I found it a PIA to change some of my loads that I had worked up using WLR and WSR primers when I started buying CCI 41's and 34's in some applications.

The recommendation that you start reloading first is a good one. Not everyone has a wife that when you go off to work you can remind her to trim those 500 pieces of brass today.

Remember one thing that Foxtrot said.( because not every load works for every gun.)Some are more picky than others.

Keep very detailed records and mark everything. I learned the hard way years ago about that.

I load for everything I shoot but I do have surplus put away. Currently loading 9x18, 9x19, 7.62x25, 357sig 45acp, .223, 7.62x39 .308 and 7.62x54r