R1_Demon

Maximus, Albert, Argie, Jakobi - thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it. ArmyDad - Thank you for the information as well. I wasn't really sure between wet and dry regarding the tumbler and have read on here people loving both of the ways, so it seemed to be a toss up. Only thing I noticed is that a lot of people mentioned that the wet SS media seemed to clean the primer pockets better, but they did say that separating the SS media was a pain in the arse. LOL So, that is the only thing that still put me on the fence regarding a wet tumbler. Also, as for the chrono - I did look at the Competition Electronics Pro with the Data Link and had that in mind. But I have also seen the Caldwell Precision Chronograph Premium Kit as well. Does basically the same thing, but it connects with a 15' audio cable. Not really a big deal to me whether it is Bluetooth or hardwired for the most part. So, I'm going back and forth between those two as well. Grumpy - I also greatly appreciate your input. I definitely have 5 gal buckets lying around here, so that is easy and I already have a plastic colander as well, so heck, I'm halfway there! LOL I think I found a Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ tumbler on Amazon for $30 with free Prime shipping. So, I would just need to get the media to go with it. I also found their wet tumbler on Amazon for like $127 and that comes with the SS media with it, so that is why I was considering the wet tumbler too.

Thanks dsu96. I appreciate the info and heads up. I'm waiting for the bench to come in to mount my reloader to. Then we can go from there and see how it goes. I'm definitely going to do the 10 at a time thing until I make sure that everything is good to go and I'm on the right track. I don't want to have to take apart 100 rounds or something stupid like that. LOL

I don't even know if I've seen a Para, so I can't help you. LOL But I would agree with what the others said though...seriously. It is easy to want to jump right in and buy high dollar things to get started. Believe me, I know and understand. But listen to what these experienced people have to say as they have "been there, done that" and will help you see through the initial excitement and let you see what you really need.

Mine goes right back on the coffee table in the living room, so when the daughter's boyfriend/date comes over to pick her up, he KNOWS to have her home on time. Totally kidding guys and gals...I don't want to get any hate mail for this. LOL I keep everything secured whether it is on my person or it isn't, just as Youngeyes mentioned. It isn't worth the risk. As for the OP's original question, as long as you have some media in there to remove the moisture and make sure it isn't wet when you put it away, I don't see a major issue with keeping it in the bag, but I personally wouldn't just because I would rather have it "breathe" and have air around it so that nothing does tend to stick to it or rust and it can't really do that while stuffed in a bag.

I would put it in the proper reloading section of the forum depending on the caliber.

I got a cookie....but I had to give it to myself, so I'm not sure how much that counts. LOL!

Good info. I've never adjusted any sights on a pistol before (all of them have been non-adjusting) because I haven't had to, but this is good info. Appreciate the post by the OP and the answers by everyone. Good deal.

Uhhhh...nope, I didn't know that. I actually only went off the USPSA site to find matches, so I didn't see that Bud's had matches. Hmmm... I know that S and D Indoor Range has IDPA every Thursday as well, but that was all I knew. I appreciate the info. It doesn't say anything regarding any upcoming matches, but I can always give them a call.

Uhhhh...is there any recoil coming from that firearm or what? LOL! It looks like it doesn't even move. Anyway, I digress...I would agree that you should have a certain amount of lean/movement and bend to your stature to counteract the recoil and to be able to reach around obstacles to reach your targets.

It sounds to me that when you hesitate to fire in that split second that you are still anticipating the recoil and lowing the muzzle a bit and that is why when you do finally fire you are off (expectedly). It does sound like you are improving, which is great, but you need to keep up the dry fire practice and possibly have your wife (if she doesn't mind helping you) load some of your live fire mags and put in a couple of dummy rounds here and there so you don't know when to expect it and then have her video tape you (phone, GoPro, whatever) so that you can watch EXACTLY what you are doing. It is one thing when someone tells you what you are doing wrong (and it is helpful to a certain degree), but it is much, much more advantageous if you can actually see (and review, several times) what you are doing...exactly. I am actually looking at having my wife do this or using my GoPro to do this very thing. So, I can review, over and over, what I'm doing right or wrong. Everyone can always improve. But I think that will help you and I think if she can load your mags and put in dummy rounds so that you don't know when to expect them, that you can see if you truly are still flinching and dropping the muzzle expecting that recoil (or trying to fight the recoil) when you hit the dummy round. Maybe if you see yourself doing that on video, it might help you a bit better. Oh and I definitely understand about the wife getting sick of hearing about it...trust me on this. LOL!!!!! You aren't alone in that boat! LOL!

Hey all you fancy reloaders! Since I'm just getting into reloading, I'm going over some of the stuff I have to get to finish off getting everything I might need. For my first batch of cartridges, I actually purchased once fired mixed .40 brass that was already ready to go (cleaned, deprimed, all that jazz), however, in the future I'm hoping to get some either from ranges and, of course, reload my own from the stuff I shoot. My question is, how often do you have to trim .40 brass? How about chamfering it? Reason I ask is I was coming down with a list of stuff I still need to look at getting and these things ended up on my list so far: Chronograph Data Link for Chronograph (if it doesn't have an app type connection already inside to connect to an iPhone/iPad) Primer Flip Tray Tumbler (Wet? Dry? Ultrasonic?) Media for tumbler (Wet? Dry?) Brass dryer (if I go wet or ultrasonic) Brass/Media separator (wet or dry) Ammo Boxes (to store completed ammo) Primer pocket cleaner Case trimmer Case deburring/chamfering tool I think that was it. Those aren't in any particular order of preference, but I am trying to put them in order, so that is why I'm trying to find out if I truly need a case trimmer right now for .40 cases. Right now I'm only planning on reloading .40 S&W. I may venture into other cartridges I shoot (9mm, .45ACP, .380ACP, 5.56mm, .308WIN, etc...), but for now, it is only .40 for USPSA. I know I'm going to need the chrono because I'll have to test my loads to see if they make major PF or not. So, that is kind of a given at this point, but I'm wondering how "necessary" the rest of it is right away to reload. Thanks!

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride! Money, what's money? Oh, is that that stuff that supposedly goes into my bank account every two weeks and comes out the very next day for shiny new stuff that shows up at my door a few days later and makes me smile like an idiot? Welcome to the forums!

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride! Very nice firearm you have there! Wow...very nice.

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride! Like Mr. Jack said, we would always appreciate the data in the Loading forum. I don't even shoot 9mm that often, but I would still appreciate it because you never know when you might go and load 9mm.

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride!

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride!

HPJ - No, no...I wouldn't do that. I have plenty of holster time/experience. Just not with this particular holster/firearm combo is all. But I understand your point and you are correct. That would be a good way to get DQ'd if I had no experience at all. I'm sure I will go out and watch to see how things are going to go. Plus, it will be fun.

N3WWN - I appreciate the heads up. I guess I misread some of the other info where people had said to just load 10 rounds or so. They must have meant for testing loads and going from there. I probably misread it. It makes sense to run 100-200 through the firearm to be sure that it cycles properly and there are no issues. Good points on not wanting the press to move. I agree, I don't want it to move, so that is why I have a couple of very good C clamps I was going to use. I'm now looking for a table/bench to get. I found one online, but it is a metal one (with a metal top). I don't know if I like that very much or if it will be an issue. I was thinking more along the lines of wood considering I'm working with powder/primers/etc. I don't think having that on metal would be good. But then again, I could always cut and put a piece of 1/8" or 1/4" plywood over the metal top of the table. The guy only wants $25 for the bench/table and it is decent size, so that is why I'm considering it. I'll just have to see how solid it is. As you said, I don't want it moving while I'm pulling the handle to the reloader.

Coolness. Hopefully I can order it this week. Thanks for the info.

I would agree with the rest...no sense in taking all that gear off and then having to put it back on and reset it and all that jazz. Plus, it will give you even more time with your dot and such. Plus, as you said, you are going out to have fun and not really caring how/where you place. Just enjoy it, work on your skills with your dot and you will have fun with it. Just run open.

Will, I appreciate the info, as with the info everyone else has given. Unfortunately I'm not ready for this weekend. Holster hasn't come in, reloads aren't made or tested (plus I need to get a chrono to test them) and on top of it, it is supposed to rain all day on Sunday (match day). Just seems like it is not in the cards for me to shoot my first match this weekend. However, that doesn't mean I'm giving up or just putting it off forever or something. I've still been reading up a ton here and getting things ready to reload my rounds and all that. I guess I'm the type that also tries to research stuff a ton before I take the leap and do most times as well. Any which way, I just think that the extra time will get me even more ready for the June match. I will have time to dry fire and practice with the holster once it comes in and all that jazz. I just think it is the right thing to do (wait) instead of trying to push it for Sunday when things aren't ready. More prep time never hurts.

Welcome from Kentucky! Enjoy the ride!

This may sound like a stupid question, but I have seen on some of the ammo sites where they will mention .40 bullets with .400" sizing and .401" sizing. Is it possible that your SNS bullets are the larger sizing and that is causing your problem? While the Blue Bullets are the smaller sizing and are passing the plunk and spin with no issues due to that .001" difference? I'm just guessing here and trying to shoot out some food for thought is all. I know that isn't much of a difference, but adding on the case and all that, maybe it is enough to cause issues in the barrel? I just know I have seen some bullet manufacturers say something like "down to .400" " instead of it being the .401" standard or something like that. Just shooting in the dark here. Maybe someone else has a better thought for you. Maybe you could pull the bullets and measure them to verify the width? Or check the width of them as they are in the cases and see if there is a difference and that is why they aren't passing the plunk and spin test? Maybe they are too wide instead of too long?

I know this isn't much of a consolation, but I've never seen round nosed bullets in .40S&W. I've only seen either HP or TC bullets. So, that may be your issue. Then again, I haven't shot 200gr bullets either. I've only shot up to 180gr TC or HP bullets. My first indication was going to be the magazine springs, but you already said you took care of that with new mag internals and then new mags. So, that takes care of that. Only other thing I can think of is if the feed ramp isn't clean or has some sort of burr or issue with it. Otherwise, it may be possible the round nose is catching on the very bottom of the feed ramp and nose diving when the mag spring tries to push the rest of the case up. Have you tried any TC rounds in the exact same mags/firearm and if so what was the result of shooting those? If you have no feeding issues with TC rounds in the exact same setup without changing a thing, I would say it is the bullet profile.

I'm an idiot...I bought Hornady XTP HP's for my first set because the company I bought all my reloading equipment had them there and I figured I'd just order everything at once for my first "go around" at loading. However, since I've learned all this cool stuff and the places where you all get your bullets and supplies from in this thread, I'm sure this will be the last time I get those bullets to shoot/reload. Except that Hornady is giving away 500 free bullets for me purchasing the loader and another 100 bullets for the dies, so I might as well take the free bullets after all. LOL!