Reloading what and how & why

[Chronos]

Cavok it may come as a surprise to you given you repeatedly mention cost but to me and the majority of reloaders the decision to reload has nothing to do with cost (high volume shooters like IPSC being the exception)

For myself reloading is the only way to control both the reloading components and the load itself for optimum accuracy and if hunting effectiveness.

A deer hunter who only shoots 10-20 animals a year would take a long time to recoup the cost if reloading gear.

For him reloading is about making his rifle more accurate and choising the best bullet for his intended game

For a target shooter, the off the shelf options rarely shoot any better than premium hunting ammo and reloading offers him a 1/2 moa accuracy improvement or more

Chronos

[cavok]

Cavok it may come as a surprise to you given you repeatedly mention cost but to me and the majority of reloaders the decision to reload has nothing to do with cost (high volume shooters like IPSC being the exception)

For myself reloading is the only way to control both the reloading components and the load itself for optimum accuracy and if hunting effectiveness.

A deer hunter who only shoots 10-20 animals a year would take a long time to recoup the cost if reloading gear.

For him reloading is about making his rifle more accurate and choising the best bullet for his intended game

For a target shooter, the off the shelf options rarely shoot any better than premium hunting ammo and reloading offers him a 1/2 moa accuracy improvement or more

Chronos

I am pleased that in what you wrote I 100% agree, I agree with every word you wrote, how could one not? However to some shooters everything revolves around cost, they buy the least expensive gun, and I am speaking about rifles and some absolutely crap pistols. They find all manner of ammunition on special, heaps out there, dealers are the worst, bulk buy then get rid of it as fast as they can. Usedguns.com has a great deal of cheap, not inexpensive ammunition for sale, all calibres, just look under Ammunition / Reloading. Some packets look to old, not for me.
As for the reference you make to controlling components for optimum accuracy and then effectiveness/game selection is what it SHOULD be about, but not to some. As for rifle target shooters they have the most to gain, assuming they do put a number of rounds down range.

As for any deer hunter who only shoots 20 deer per year, no benefit to them, maybe not. But while practicing their skill set many years prior to that date, they put heaps of rounds down range, I know one such person, now not so many. He purchased a single stage press back in the dim dark ages, has great pleasure in telling me so whenever I see him, still going strong, I once jokingly said the best he could reload was 30-40 per hour, he said that all ne ever needs . Hence also great for professional deer hunters, who seldom shoot (now).

[Warrigul]

Cavok it may come as a surprise to you given you repeatedly mention cost but to me and the majority of reloaders the decision to reload has nothing to do with cost (high volume shooters like IPSC being the exception)

For myself reloading is the only way to control both the reloading components and the load itself for optimum accuracy and if hunting effectiveness.

A deer hunter who only shoots 10-20 animals a year would take a long time to recoup the cost if reloading gear.

For him reloading is about making his rifle more accurate and choising the best bullet for his intended game

For a target shooter, the off the shelf options rarely shoot any better than premium hunting ammo and reloading offers him a 1/2 moa accuracy improvement or more

Chronos

Bullshite I reckon it is all about cost for 90% of reloaders, I hate reloading and I don't know anyone that particularly loves it either.

I have just bought 1000 rounds of remington .303 for a dollar a round because it is close to what I can reload 174 FMJ for (73 cents a round). It is worth the 27 cents to not have to frig around with .303 for a few months.

It may be fun for a target shooter, well for the first 10,000 or so rounds anyway, but if I could buy as good as I make I would do so.

On the hunting scene I can't see any difference between my reloads or winchester supreme, both fast, as accurate as the user the only difference the supremes are 2.50 a round versus 90 cents- the ONLY reason I reload for this deer rifle.

Usually those obsessed with "hunting effectiveness" haven't hunted much.

If it weren't for cost then I can think of many better ways to spend hours of my life. I enjoy sending them down range, reloading not so much.

[cavok]

Apologies, with respect, why the hell would anyone buy .303 rounds, why the hell would anyone want to shoot a .303. A friend of my last year or the year before got, many thousand .303 rounds from Ex India military surplus or whatever, 1947 was on the cases. In ever 100 4 or 5 failed, I will never understand, but to him this was a good deal. As for why reloading for target shooter, the massive cost savings and production 9mm is not loaded in major power factor, so, I load and enjoy the time, like gardening, why would anyone enjoy gardening, or watch cricket.

[Gregg]

Cavok it may come as a surprise to you given you repeatedly mention cost but to me and the majority of reloaders the decision to reload has nothing to do with cost (high volume shooters like IPSC being the exception)

It's as much a hobby as a money saver for me.

[cavok]

Cavok it may come as a surprise to you given you repeatedly mention cost but to me and the majority of reloaders the decision to reload has nothing to do with cost (high volume shooters like IPSC being the exception)

It's as much a hobby as a money saver for me.

Hobby is a great pastime, nothing beats the satisfaction of a job done well, I agree with you. Shoot well.

[cavok]

Pushed the post now submit button. Silly me.

[VICHunter]

A deer hunter who only shoots 10-20 animals a year would take a long time to recoup the cost if reloading gear.

this_guy.gif (8.43 KiB) Viewed 6099 times

[Jack V]

If you want to develop dependable precision accuracy for a particular firearm then re-loading is the next logical step.

Some don't like it and others can't do without it. It's a personal choice. However once you produce really accurate ammo for a gun it is harder to go back to factory ammo in many cases . Some factory ammo might be very suitable to your gun but then a few years later something changes and it's not as good .

This can also happen with different batches of component's also but you get better consistency overall loading your own if you develop the skills required.

Some hand loaders make no better ammo than factory and that is fine if it suits their purpose .

[loopal]

Pushed the post now submit button. Silly me.

I always get to the end of my post and hit 'Enter' and just wait... and wait... and wait...

And then realise hitting 'Enter' doesn't post the comment

[Hardcast]

As for dropping loaded rounds into a rifle, to check to see if they fit,

NOT ME.

I make up a 'dummy round' for every rifle and every different projectile for that rifle.

Empty case, projectile fitted and crimped.

Use it to set your bullet seating die each time you reload.

[cavok]

As for dropping loaded rounds into a rifle, to check to see if they fit,

NOT ME.

I make up a 'dummy round' for every rifle and every different projectile for that rifle.

Empty case, projectile fitted and crimped.

Use it to set your bullet seating die each time you reload.

Sorry, but if there is no bolt, otherwise you could not drop the round into the barrel, what the heck could possibly go wrong, the rounds aren't magic. All you would want to see if you made the first round, is if the rounds fits, (not to long) as then it will stick up high. If not crimped correctly it won't drop in it sticks, simple to just pull it out and figure what you have done wrong with your loading press.

[Chronos]

Sorry, but if there is no bolt, otherwise you could not drop the round into the barrel, what the heck could possibly go wrong, the rounds aren't magic. All you would want to see if you made the first round, is if the rounds fits, (not to long) as then it will stick up high. If not crimped correctly it won't drop in it sticks, simple to just pull it out and figure what you have done wrong with your loading press.

What I think is missing is without the bolt there is no reference for case length. Your case could be touching the shoulder of the chamber and your bullet could be .120" from the lands or it could be sitting on the lands holding the case. .080" off the shoulder. There's no way to be sure, you're just guessing.

Buy the correct equipment and use known techniques to determine the best COAL for your chamber.

http://youtu.be/u6P3GeLn2BA
http://youtu.be/M92w4YoxbEM

Chronos

[bigfellascott]

As for dropping loaded rounds into a rifle, to check to see if they fit,

NOT ME.

I make up a 'dummy round' for every rifle and every different projectile for that rifle.

Empty case, projectile fitted and crimped.

Use it to set your bullet seating die each time you reload.

I use the loaded case method myself

[mausermate]

I hate reloading and I don't know anyone that particularly loves it either.

that proves it....I'm not normal. Think I'll go and load a few rounds to cheer myself up.

[cavok]

I hate reloading and I don't know anyone that particularly loves it either.

that proves it....I'm not normal. Think I'll go and load a few rounds to cheer myself up.

I agree with you, I just loaded 350 rounds for this weekend, a great match coming up in Drouin, yes it's on the map, I just need to find it, for 2 days at least.
Reloading is fun, if it does not fire first time, guess whom one has to blame.

[Farmjer]

Empty case, projectile fitted and crimped.

Use it to set your bullet seating die each time you reload.

I've just done this for mine.

Real time saver for the seating depth settings, should have done it ages ago.

[Jack V]

What I think is missing is without the bolt there is no reference for case length. Your case could be touching the shoulder of the chamber and your bullet could be .120" from the lands or it could be sitting on the lands holding the case. .080" off the shoulder. There's no way to be sure, you're just guessing.

Buy the correct equipment and use known techniques to determine the best COAL for your chamber.

http://youtu.be/u6P3GeLn2BA
http://youtu.be/M92w4YoxbEM

Chronos

Exactly , but I thought I was wasting my breath .

[Westy]

I don't wish to put you off and I don't want to sound patronising. I can see what you are trying to achieve, and the intent is honorable, but in some ways you are generalising a little too much for a beginner and then making assumptions about prior knowledge. Most people new to the sport come into contact with the reloading bug but to be honest they would be better off buying one of the many reloading manuals and following it verbatim rather than trying to use a forum.

The best way to learn is at someone elses bench, I was very lucky in having a very experienced club member teach me the basics and then mentor me as I went along. Most will rely on others and literature. EVERYONE will make some mistakes and hopefully learn more as they go along.

I think kindly, experienced mentors, such as yourself, and good quality manuals are the best place for a new reloader to start. Forums will often solve specific problems and that is their forte.

Any forum needs input and I did enjoy your pistol article.

Just my humble opinions.

x 2 Warrigal