Reloading - Pros & Cons

[Harrison S]

If we are being 100% honest with each other... what are the pros and cons to reloading?... is it really cheaper than buying factory... is it easy for newcomers to get into... equipment needs vs wants... etc...

Just an interesting topic to see people views on...

[wanneroo]

Generally yes it is cheaper than factory.

It allows you to tailor your loads some, gives you some independence to reload your own brass in hard times, it is a fun hobby testing things out and experimenting, etc.

The equipment to reload is pretty durable and for the most part lasts a lifetime.

[Finniss]

The biggest pro for me is projectile choice increasing versatility. I use 85 to 180gn in my .270. Factory offerings are really 130-150gn with the odd box of 110 showing up. Im sure i could use 150s for everything, but low recoil 85s at >3600fps drop fallow and goats far quicker than factory ammo ever did and 180s do a better job on camels.....saved me buying a 243 and 3006...maybe.

Making subsonic ammo is handy too especially with an appropriate projectile that usually doesn't come factory loaded.

I think cost vs factory will depend on cartridge and how often you shoot.chasing an accurate load in a dud rifle can get expensive quick....

Find someone with experience in the shooting/hunting type you intend to do and narrow down what you need and buy once. I started with a lee loader (the hammer one) then found out I eventually needed to full length resize so bought a press and dies as well.

Ongoing costs outside of ammo components exist as well...im on my 4th set of electronic scales, different case lubes went in the bin until I found one that wasn't rubbish, tumbling media or cleaning fluids cost too.

[No1Mk3]

It is a lot cheaper than buying factory in most cases, as wanneroo states it allows you to tailor a load to a specific firearm to improve performance, it is easy for newcomers to try, just make sure you buy a manual from a known name such as Speer, Norma, Hornady, Nick Harvey etc and stick to it, don't experiment or vary the data until you are well versed and experienced yourself in reloading which takes time. Equipment can be as basic and cheap or as expensive and complex as you like but I would recommend starting at the most basic set that requires each stage to be completed in order so as to learn, understand and master those elements before even thinking of progressive reloading presses. I started with an $11 kit which comprised a set of glorified pliers into which a die was screwed and a set of powder dippers and made perfectly acceptable hunting ammo for a couple of years in 30-30, 303 and 8x57 plus a Lee kit which needed a mallet to use to make 308. Scales are nice but not necessary to make good usable ammo, but as you progress they will become essential for chasing accuracy and consistency.

[No1Mk3]

Lee Dippers.jpg (7.44 KiB) Viewed 386 times

Lyman 310.jpg (42.57 KiB) Viewed 386 times

What I used to reload for about 2 years. The powder dippers worked fine without a scale however most powders listed with them are no longer available to us and a scale may be needed these days, a balance scale is very accurate and well priced but even the cheaper digitals will suffice with some mucking about with having to constantly re-zero.

[Fester]

Cheaper and more accurate ammo for sure.
Can also tailor-make the ammo for purpose and tune it to the rifle.
Any projectile imaginable can be used.
Subsonic, cheap cast ammo for lever action plinking.

The biggest downside is the time you need to put in, as it's huge.
The amount of equipment and machines to do the crap case cleaning and prep is also huge.
You can shoot more, and likely will, with testing and load development put in.

If you love shooting and want to shoot a lot, it is a necessary part of doing it, and who would want to buy that much ammo.
To enjoy all the different types of shooting, including longer range plates and stuff, there is no other way.
I can mix it up and shoot the .223 like a 22lr to not waste as much dearer ammo.

Once fully set up and loading for all centrefire cals, the equipment and buying is now minimal, and slowly just paying itself off so no great loss.

[Wapiti]

My opinion - if you do a bit of shooting, you have to handload.
Rifles for field use:
If you want the best, most consistent and most reliably available ammunition for your firearms, you have to reload.
Buy up when components are at their most economical, and stock up on all consumables. Isolate yourself from stupid world events that hold up supplies of factory components.
Ever bought factory 300 and 375 RUM or 338 Lapua ammo, or Weatherby calibres? The fun stuff? $<200-$400/20 cartridges, no thanks.
Pistols:
I have no use or need for simple lead bullets because I use pistols for primary production. The 9mm I use is cheap as chips for hollow-point ammo, which I need, and the 44 mag pretty much is the same as the cost of reloading good jacketed HP ammo as is factory already made up.
So I only handload for rifles, not pistols.

[Damo300]

All of the above.

I really only buy shop ammo for the brass.

[Harrison S]

Shop ammo for the brass makes 100% sense... personally I dont yet reload, but definitely thinking about it.

What are the solid recommendations for a good starter kit... one that will stand the test of time, and one that im not going to need to upgrade anytime soon??

[wrenchman]

I was reloading for a while when I had kids I stopped when my son expressed a interest I got back into it so I do reload for all the reasons stated but it is also a way to spend time with my son

[Damo300]

Shop ammo for the brass makes 100% sense... personally I dont yet reload, but definitely thinking about it.

What are the solid recommendations for a good starter kit... one that will stand the test of time, and one that im not going to need to upgrade anytime soon??

I wouldn't recommend a kit as such.
You end up only using a little bit and buying better quality components, and the kits cost a fortune.


Keep an eye on the gun sales sites. .
I've found the SSAA gun sales has reloading gear all the time.

Press. Mine is a Lee press and it has the primer press inclusive.
Primer pocket cleaner.
Neck chamfer tool.
Digital vernier gauge.
Bullet Comparators (they fit to vernier for more consistent length measurement)
Digital scales (have to measure in grain. Hornady do a set)
Powder thrower.
Powder tickler.
Funnel.

Dies come in the kits suitable for your calibre. I get the 4 die kits, because I like to neck size sometimes, and I like to crimp as well. The other 2 dies are the full length resize, and the projectile seating die.
The Lee die kits have all the case measurement info in the included paperwork.
There is also a case trimming die sold separately.
It is a quick release press, so instead of winding the treads of the dies all the way down, the dies fit in a quick release collar (that sold seperatly) to allow quick swap overs.

It will all make sense once you start, but I wouldn't buy a kit again. Keep an eye on those Web sites every day.
One will come up.



For case cleaning, I do this every 3rd reload. I just purchased a cheap jewelry tumbler off ebay, and got the stainless media.


Annealing.
When you get to this stage, I recommend and "ugly annealer" off ebay. Aussie made. Genius idea.

[Fester]

Shop ammo for the brass makes 100% sense... personally I dont yet reload, but definitely thinking about it.

What are the solid recommendations for a good starter kit... one that will stand the test of time, and one that im not going to need to upgrade anytime soon??

If the RCBS Rockchucker basic kit is still going at the sale prices at the usual big shops, jump on one.
Although the press looks the same as a Hrndy Lock & load, the RCBS weighs in at about twice the weight and will do anything, as well as last forever.

I started with a Hrdy kit and slowly upgraded everything bar the press from red to green.
Then a used Rockchucker came up, and cheap.

I still use the Hrdy quick change sleeves, so dies are fitted in their sleeves and adjusted, just plonk them in the press by hand, and start loading.
I would advise anyone to just buy a 20 pack of the sleeves that each die screws into and stays adjusted and set up for life.

To have 2 presses set up was just a waste of bench space for me, and rather than having the old press just gathering dust, when I found the primer arm parts, still new in their bag, I sold it on the SSAA site, quick and easy sale.

Lee are too cheap for a reason, and even their presses are known to break.
Blokes that swear by the brand, likely load low volume.
For me, the few die sets even wore out or failed in one way or another.
Then I found Redding, and the basic 2 die sets were a cut above the other brands in deign, and quality.
They also used to cost about $95, so all my Lee resizing dies were replaced.

Buy once, cry once is cheaper in the long run.

[fnq22]

Reloading 9mm today while it was raining and doing the sums in my head....

Primers 20c
Projectiles 17.6c
powder 6c

so 43.6c plus brass (once fired factory brass...
plus tumbling with corn media[
and currently takes me about 40 minutes for 50 rounds with 4 dies .

9mm Ammo inc 115 and 125 grain ammo has been avaialble for $400 per 1000 (40c per round) lately so i bought 3000 rounds for practise and brass but its a bit hot for club matchs so slows me down a bit..

So while rifle calibre reloading is cheaper common pistol calibre generally is not when buying cheap factory ammo in bulk when available... but handloading any calibre gives you the ability to tailor your load to whatever purpose you desire whenever you want..and for competative IPSC shooters neccessary to acheive the minimum power factors required.....and i personally am already finding it quite a rewarding pastime.

Before i recently started reloading I found i was also missing out on something when chatting to the more experienced guys at the range because i had nothing to offer conversations pertaining to reloading, of which there is many...lol..



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[mickb]

Cost depends on how much you shoot. If your only shooting a few boxes of ammo its not needed. Also you usually only start recouping the costs when reloading multiple times. EG Individually assembled ammo can cost as much as factory, the advantage is you use the brass multiple times so it makes it cheaper to reload after the first firing. Main advantages for me are getting the power levels and options I need. You will likely have fun reloading and if not the gear is easy to sell.

[Bugman]

I have been reloading for over 40 years. For pistol, I now use a Dillon Square Deal and for rifles I use an RCBS Rock Chucker mainly because I shoot limited amounts of 223. I still have my RCBS 10:10 scales, still highly accurate after all these years.

[Willie]

I have been reloading for over 40 years. For pistol, I now use a Dillon Square Deal and for rifles I use an RCBS Rock Chucker mainly because I shoot limited amounts of 223. I still have my RCBS 10:10 scales, still highly accurate after all these years.

Yes. I am a Dillon Square Deal fan. Suits me to a T.

[Damo300]

Haven't had a drama with my cheap Lee stuff. I only went cheap in case I didn't like it.
Turns out I love it, but my method is slow and precise, and I take my time.

I'm not reloading ammo factories, but I have loaded a hell of a lot with it, in various calibres without an ouce of trouble.
It's second hand press from SSAA gunsales too, and the gent I got it from had loaded a bunch as well.

If it does break, simply toss it and I will buy a more quality one I suppose, but if it ain't broke....
Some people are just rough as guts too.
I'm trying to understand how you break the press.

I didn't want to go spending 10k on loading gear if I didn't enjoy it.
I got told not to get a kit, rather buy it individually, as some of the kit is just pure rubbish.
I headed the warning and I believe I have enough to suit my needs.
But I'm just a dirty old hunter.
I only kill paper when zeroing.

[mickb]

For the OP just so you know one of the more minimal setups that works.

Lee handpress. only 30cm long, less than 2.0kg . Dont need to bolt it to the bench, its held two handed and squeezed. You can even do it in front of the TV.
https://www.ozgunmart.com.au/lee-breech ... only-90685

Plano tacklebox for the reloading gear( including the hand press) and components your looking to load.
https://www.spotonfishing.com.au/produc ... 7915318498

This is my mobile setup and can accompany me to private property so I can handload and test as I shoot.

[Fester]

Just to explain the value of the RSBS Rockchucker kit for around $600 if still available.

When I bought my Hrdy kit, it was over $400.
An RCBS kit was over $800.

That was about 10 years ago.

The Hrdy scales are fit for the garbage bin but RCBS load cell is up with the best and should last a long time.

[mchughcb]

Buy 223 factory in bulk. Sell brass and save years of your life not reloading.