This was mine, that I bought in 1968, for $1.35. I believe it was new, for that year.

Note the $1.75 price for 4831. It would even be a a real bargain, adjust for inflation @ $15.85.

1963 for me. It looks like I paid $1.60 for it. Had to look up something in it today.

Hodgdon
Back when they still had Trap100

Speer #10, wore the cover off the first one, replaced it with a better copy.

Lyman, 1968. Still refer to it occasionally. Sharpe was my inspiration though. I about wore out the library's copies of his two books before I acquired copies of my own.

I met Phil Sharpe as a little kid, or so my Dad told me. He had a coworker who was Sharpe's neighbor and tagged along on a couple visits with me in tow. Dad acquired some odds and ends at Sharpe's estate sale, one of which was a box of pre war FA .30 match ammo which I still have.

Lyman also. Forget the year.

rgchristensen wrote on Oct 14^th, 2024 at 6:43pm:


Same for me.  I bought it mail order from Ray Riling in 1962.  I was in the Navy, stationed at West Loch Naval Ammunition Depot, Pearl Harbor.  No opportunity to load, but I could at least read about it.

Speer no.7, though I don't know what year it is from, gifted to me from an early mentor. Still have it, and was tickled when Frank's posting sent me in search of it. Fun thread.

The "complete instructions" that came with the Lee Loader that I bought in 1966 for my first centerfire rifle, an 1894 Winchester in 32Spl. I still have and use both. I probably have at least 20 (or more) manuals floating around here.

Waterman  I use to go to San Francisco to visit some friends who lived a block off mission St. walking distance to F Bob Chows shop. I picked up many of the free loading handouts there. In fact bought my first Colt single action 38 Special there and left it with him to do a trigger job on it. Still have some targets he had with his advertising on them. Quit over 40 years ago, but smoked then, and still have some match books with his info on them. These were weekends when I was in college, and if I wasn't delivering pianos would head to the city to take in some music, visit friends, and every couple months make a side trip to buy cast handgun bullets just to the west of the street(19th Ave. if memory serves) that heads to the Golden Gate. As I am writing this, can't recall the name of the shop, but the bullets were really reasonable and well made. I will have to head to the shop to jog my memory, as I still have some I think. Please cut me a little slack as I am still trying to shake the remnants of a bout with the latest covid strain.

I shopped the San Francisco Gun Exchange on occasion. But more often the San Jose Gun Exchange as it was pretty much in my backyard.

I was stationed at The Presidio of San Francisco in the mid 80’s.  Lots of very cool old guns in that store off Mission street.  I wish I knew more about them back then so I would have spent money buying what are now very collectible antiques.  I remember the guy that had the biggest assortment of cast bullets I’ve ever seen.  He was a short walk from our barracks in the old hospital on the south end of the Presidio.

The second time is was stationed in California 5 years later at Ft Ord, the politicians had ruined gun buying.  It was cash and carry after showing an ID and filling the 4473 in 1986.  By 1992 it was over a week wait to buy a gun.

rkba2nd wrote on Oct 16^th, 2024 at 12:22am:


Very small, sent you a PM.

Hornady Vol. 2----1973----It ruined me.

-----J35

Mine was a line and reloading manual number 43 circa 1964. The accurate loads in it were pretty decent.

Lyman 45th edition. Still in use occasionally.

The copy right date on my edition of that manual, is July of 1958. Adjusted for inflation, those prices are:

$5.00= 54.60
$6.50= 71.00
$10.00=109.20