MurphyEF wrote:
But my only experience was with 12ga more than 15 years ago.
I'm looking for info from you experts and experienced folks out here.
Sorry fella, but you picked a terrible time to get into this. Honestly, the worst possible time in at least the last 30 years, maybe ever. I load pretty much everything I shoot, but would not get into it now if I didn't already have everything I need.
Powder is scarce and very limited selection, but primers are nearly impossible to find unless you happen to get lucky. Those of us who already reload are mostly just using our existing stock of primers, while trying to pick up the odd brick here and there when possible. All indications from the industry are that it's going to continue this way for at least a couple years, and probably will not return to the previous "normal" ever.
I'm not a "doom and gloom" kind of guy, but if you can't find primers, don't bother buying the rest of the stuff. You're a lot better off spending that same money on ammo right now, it's a lot more expensive than a couple years ago but at least it's available for the most part.