Green Country Ammo?

[John Kloehr]

Since reloading is still a bit away (working through options as I have time), thinking about buying some .38 Special lead RNFP in case I want to try out my Evil Roy/Grimes 1873.

 

This site passes my basic sniff tests:

 

https://greencountryammo.com/product/38spl-158-swc-reman-100-gca/

 

Anyone have any experience with this reman ammo or have a recommendation for another source/vendor I should consider?

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Well 100 rounds for $31 is dirt cheap!  158gr at 895fps is a little hot but legal.

 

Scarlet's ammo costs more but is a little more suited to this game. 

[John Kloehr]

Did not know Scarlett produced ammo, thought it was just reloading supplies.

 

Agree her ammo is a better match for the game and is I see it is made with new brass.

 

For 500 rounds with shipping and not including tax, I come up with $178.40 vs 442.50. Huge difference but probably get what I pay for.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

3 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

For 500 rounds with shipping and not including tax, I come up with $178.40 vs 442.50.

And...how much would it cost to get into reloading?

 

Phantom

[John Kloehr]

2 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

And...how much would it cost to get into reloading?

Bullets, powder, and a single-stage press, around $500. With a progressive, around $1,000. Then the time for learning...

 

I think I have almost everything else.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

11 minutes ago, John Kloehr said:

Bullets, powder, and a single-stage press, around $500. With a progressive, around $1,000. Then the time for learning...

 

I think I have almost everything else.

Yeah, I know how much it cost. The point I was trying to make is if you're going to spend that much money for ammo, why wouldn't you invest in getting your reloading ability done. 

 

Time for learning? Pretty much no time at all. The knowledge needed to load for 38 Spl (or other straight walled calibers), is pretty small.

 

If you're going to shoot this game with any regularity, don't waste any more time buying finished ammo. It's a complete and total was of money.

 

Phantom

[Shawnee Hills]

4 hours ago, John Kloehr said:

Since reloading is still a bit away (working through options as I have time), thinking about buying some .38 Special lead RNFP in case I want to try out my Evil Roy/Grimes 1873.

 

This site passes my basic sniff tests:

 

https://greencountryammo.com/product/38spl-158-swc-reman-100-gca/

 

Anyone have any experience with this reman ammo or have a recommendation for another source/vendor I should consider?

Those crimps appear like they could be a bit weak.  Your revolvers won't care but your rifle might not like feeding them.

 

While buying ammo in the short-term can get you shooting matches quickly, reloading your own is far better in the long run.  Reloading not only allows you to tailor the loads to your liking but also allows you to shoot a lot more rounds for the same money.

Edited December 1, 2024 by Shawnee Hills
Typos

[Frederick Jackson Turner]

I would encourage you, and anyone getting into this sport, to begin reloading as a cost-saving measure.  Money saved = more ammo = more shooting = more fun!

 

That said, while the price ain't too daunting,  158 gr at 895 is a good deal hotter than you need for this game.

 

Cheers,

FJT

[Cholla]

Many vendors have starter reloading kits at bargain prices for Black Friday and cyber Monday. You should check Midway, Brownells, and Midsouth before they end. 

[John Kloehr]

On 12/1/2024 at 3:36 PM, Cholla said:

Many vendors have starter reloading kits at bargain prices for Black Friday and cyber Monday. You should check Midway, Brownells, and Midsouth before they end. 

Am looking. The strongly recommended Dillon gear is not showing up as a deal. Put about an hour into it today, going to back off and learn more about the offerings over the next few days. I'll probably be waking up a former thread of mine with some questions. I already have a bunch of questions but will probably find answers to many of them with a little due diligence.

 

Appreciate everyone's support and encouragement so far as I switch to reloading.

Edited December 2, 2024 by John Kloehr

[Shawnee Hills]

Dillon is running a sale (today only) on the XL750.  Buy the machine and get a case feeder and case feeder plate for free.  Never have seen them do that before.  Granted, that’s probably more than you want to spend but it’ll be a lifetime machine with solid backing. 

[Cholla]

Cyber Monday is almost over. With it goes the savings.

 

 

[watab kid]

the only reason i would buy the ammois if you had a shoot coming too soon to get geared up - then save the brass for reloading , i would encourage you to do as phantom sugested and get geared up as soon as possible for the 38s , 

 

the shot shells can be bought for less than you can reload them right now , so putting that off a little is not a big deal , however loading your own shotshells to a very light recoil load is something you may well want to do in the future , you can load lighter than the low recoil commercial rounds 

[Sedalia Dave]

Don't get too wrapped up in the velocity numbers of factory ammo.  In all likelihood it was test fired from a 20" test barrel. Revolver velocities will be a lot less.

 

Honestly you are way over thinking this. There is no one perfect reloading press for all applications. 

 

That said you will be way better off in the long run by buying the gear to start reloading your own ammo.  Even an inexpensive Lee Classic turret press will make quality ammo and will allow you to save money for additional firearms or future press upgrades.

 

 

I Have a Dillon SDB, Lyman Turret, Lee APP. Lee Hand Press, and a RCBS Rock Chucker that I use regularly. Each has it's strengths and weakness.

 

 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

I HATE reloading and if I had unlimited funds - I would never pull the handle on a reloader ever again.

 

But I do not have unlimited funds and I going to assume you do not either.

 

But if you are going to play this game; becoming a fair shooter requires a fair amount of shooting.

If you wish to become "fairly good" - it requires 4x more shooting.

And if you want more than that - it requires 10x more shooting.

 

All this shooting becomes expensive quickly and the only way to support that much shooting is reloading.

 

You can enter reloading for very minimal cost on a single stage reloader - but honestly, I would rather NEVER shoot than do so.

 

So a progressive press is the bare minimum to supply ammo for this game.

(now after stating that; I guarantee - someone will pipe up and state that they reload every round on a single stage press and have done so for a 20 years and a million rounds...  These people have "issues" - ignore them  ).

But even a progressive press does NOT require spending 1 - 2k on a a reloader to offset the cost of shooting.

 

Midway has Lee Pro 1000 progressive presses for well under $300 right now.

This press will easily and safely load 300 rounds an hour (more than enough for a monthly) and your break even point for reloading versus buying loaded ammo is less than 1000 rounds.

 

Not as sexy as Big Blue - but a solid tool that gets you going immediately.

A year from now - upgrade to better and pass the Lee down to the next new shooter that shows up stating that they would shoot if ammo was cheaper.

 

Or keep the Lee and use it for less shot secondary calibers.

Either way - reloading pays for itself very quickly with savings per round, the ability to tailor your rounds to your preferences for recoil/ cleanliness/ feel and component availabilty.

To load for differing situations; knockdown targets, long range, main match, etc.

 

Reloading sucks; but having to pay 4x more to buy someone elses ammo or missing shoots because you don't have ammo sucks more.

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

Even if you can't afford to start reloading right away at least get started accumulating what you need. When you have everything then you are ready to go. If money is tight enough that you are unable to shoot while getting ready to reload I don't know what to tell you. 

[Kodiak Bill]

Green country is legit. I’ve used them several times.

[Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903]

On 12/1/2024 at 11:25 AM, John Kloehr said:

Bullets, powder, and a single-stage press, around $500. With a progressive, around $1,000. Then the time for learning...

 

I think I have almost everything else.

Check around with people in your local club, I have an extra single stage press I could setup and loan someone to start with as well as show them  how to reload. There is probably someone in your local club that does as well.  

 

Randy