Do you reload?
- Thread starter TennJed
- Start date
That's how I felt when I was paying $5-$6 for factory .38 reloads and $10-$11 for the WWB bulk 100 rd packs at Wal Mart three years ago, before the price EXPLOSION of 2008.
After price gouge 08 took place, I picked up a used Lyman "All American" turret press, and a beam scale for about $70 along with some primers and a bunch of brass. It was the only economical way to keep shooting. Couldn't see skipping meals to buy one box of ammo every few weeks as reasonable.
I reload .38 Special and .45 Colt now, and while I don't particularly enjoy the reloading process, it's a necessity for me to afford to shoot.
Reminds me of when I was a kid. Learned to wrench on cars/trucks NOT because I enjoyed it , but because I HAD to in order to keep the old iron running to enjoy my time behind the wheel
Still wondering why 9mm and 40 have come down in price, and the 38 Special has not. 9mm and 38 used to be about $1 difference or less for a box of 50, now .38 Special is double or more.
I reload for everything I shoot except .22 RF.
When the MilSurp ammo glut hit a few years back I stopped as I couldn't reload for the crazy ammo prices. Now things have reverted I reload .303 Brit, 7.62 NATO, & have recently added .357 S&W magnum to the list.
One rule of thumb seems to be that you can reload for about 50% the cost of the best store buys, & with better matching to your individual guns chambers, something no factory can do.
Space is nice, but far from essential, re-loaders have used everything from small old closets to used bar stools for compact reloading setups.
When the MilSurp ammo glut hit a few years back I stopped as I couldn't reload for the crazy ammo prices. Now things have reverted I reload .303 Brit, 7.62 NATO, & have recently added .357 S&W magnum to the list.
One rule of thumb seems to be that you can reload for about 50% the cost of the best store buys, & with better matching to your individual guns chambers, something no factory can do.
Space is nice, but far from essential, re-loaders have used everything from small old closets to used bar stools for compact reloading setups.
Yes ...and I've been doing it for off and on about 50 yrs now. I started with my grandpa when I was about 10 - on metallic and on shotshells.
Today I load handgun calibers ...9mm, . 40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag and in shotshells I load 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410 ....
In handgun calibers - I currently shoot / reload about 15,000 rds a year - but I have to add another 5,000 to it for what the adult kids and the grandkids shoot when they're around - so call it 20,000 rds a year... I use a Dillon 650 with a case feeder / easily cranks out about 800 rds an hour.
In shotshells - I don't shoot competition anymore / and mostly I shoot 20ga and 28ga for Skeet and some sporting clays ... so about another 20,000 shells a year... I use all Mec 9000-HN hydraulic machines on shotshells.
The setup really doesn't take up a lot of room in my basement shop .../and I really enjoy it as part of the firearms hobby. This weekend my 19 yr old grandson and one of his fraternity brothers will come over and load up 10 or 12 boxes of 9mm ...so we can go shooting next week - they like loading some of their own ammo...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55543&d=1262629099
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http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66976&d=1296760035
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66977&d=1296760035
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Reloading is really easy / and for years I mounted my loaders to a 2 X 24" X 36" plank -- and then clamped it down to a sawhorse in the garage / then returned it to a shelf when I wasn't using it. It is a good idea to find a mentor in your local area to help you out with equipment selection pros and cons / and that can tutor you a little. Ask some of the guys at your local range - and you might find someone to help you out.
Today I load handgun calibers ...9mm, . 40S&W, .45 acp, .38 spl, .357 mag and .44 mag and in shotshells I load 12ga, 20ga, 28ga and .410 ....
In handgun calibers - I currently shoot / reload about 15,000 rds a year - but I have to add another 5,000 to it for what the adult kids and the grandkids shoot when they're around - so call it 20,000 rds a year... I use a Dillon 650 with a case feeder / easily cranks out about 800 rds an hour.
In shotshells - I don't shoot competition anymore / and mostly I shoot 20ga and 28ga for Skeet and some sporting clays ... so about another 20,000 shells a year... I use all Mec 9000-HN hydraulic machines on shotshells.
The setup really doesn't take up a lot of room in my basement shop .../and I really enjoy it as part of the firearms hobby. This weekend my 19 yr old grandson and one of his fraternity brothers will come over and load up 10 or 12 boxes of 9mm ...so we can go shooting next week - they like loading some of their own ammo...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55543&d=1262629099
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=41077&d=1232046534
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66976&d=1296760035
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66977&d=1296760035
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66978&d=1296760035
Reloading is really easy / and for years I mounted my loaders to a 2 X 24" X 36" plank -- and then clamped it down to a sawhorse in the garage / then returned it to a shelf when I wasn't using it. It is a good idea to find a mentor in your local area to help you out with equipment selection pros and cons / and that can tutor you a little. Ask some of the guys at your local range - and you might find someone to help you out.
carprivershooter
New member
Darn straight.
I reload for all my current guns, 9mm, 40 cal, 38 call, 357 mag, 44 spl, 44mag, 45 colt and 45 ACP,380 cal. M1 Carbine, and will be reloading 5.56/223. For me it's part of shooting. I get to develop a load for my shooting style and needs. Cost is also a part of the reason I reload. Like I tell my wife it keeps me home and out of trouble and the bars. All my equipment is Lee except my scale. I will be using a Lee progressive for the .223, I currently use a Lee turret. If your new to reloadign or thinking about starting read and research. Develop a system and stay with. Don't reload when tired, or when you will be distracted. you will need to stay focused.
I reload for all my current guns, 9mm, 40 cal, 38 call, 357 mag, 44 spl, 44mag, 45 colt and 45 ACP,380 cal. M1 Carbine, and will be reloading 5.56/223. For me it's part of shooting. I get to develop a load for my shooting style and needs. Cost is also a part of the reason I reload. Like I tell my wife it keeps me home and out of trouble and the bars. All my equipment is Lee except my scale. I will be using a Lee progressive for the .223, I currently use a Lee turret. If your new to reloadign or thinking about starting read and research. Develop a system and stay with. Don't reload when tired, or when you will be distracted. you will need to stay focused.
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Yes ... but not as much as I should
I have a very old RCBS Rock Chucker Jr.
I loaded a fair amount in decades gone buy; then kinda drifted out of shooting.
In the last five years I've been back at it, and when ammo got scarce I hauled out the press and started loading again.
Last year ammo became available and I sloughed off and started buying again out of pure lazyness.
But -- reloading would allow more shooting for the same money, and I like shooting -- so I'm thinking about a Hornade LNL progressive press.
I like the idea that its a good progressive that I can expand (if desired) with a case feeder and a bullet feeder.
Note: Yep, there are other excellent presses - I just happen to like the on-line videos of setting-up/using the Hornady.
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I have a very old RCBS Rock Chucker Jr.
I loaded a fair amount in decades gone buy; then kinda drifted out of shooting.
In the last five years I've been back at it, and when ammo got scarce I hauled out the press and started loading again.
Last year ammo became available and I sloughed off and started buying again out of pure lazyness.
But -- reloading would allow more shooting for the same money, and I like shooting -- so I'm thinking about a Hornade LNL progressive press.
I like the idea that its a good progressive that I can expand (if desired) with a case feeder and a bullet feeder.
Note: Yep, there are other excellent presses - I just happen to like the on-line videos of setting-up/using the Hornady.
.
.
Dr_Decible_Jr
Inactive
Reloading
I started to reload my own ammo about a year ago. I bought a RCBS rock chuncker. i got it at Bass Proshop. I bought the complete setup. It came with everything that I needed to start reloading. But it did not come with the dies that I needed for the calibers that I was going to reload, powder, or primers. those I had to buy. I found that for the same price I was paying for .357 Mag ammo I could go to Dillon and get 500 lead bullets for the same price as a box of ammo. So I do my own reloading for .38 Spl, .38 +P, 357 Mag, and 40 S&W.
I started to reload my own ammo about a year ago. I bought a RCBS rock chuncker. i got it at Bass Proshop. I bought the complete setup. It came with everything that I needed to start reloading. But it did not come with the dies that I needed for the calibers that I was going to reload, powder, or primers. those I had to buy. I found that for the same price I was paying for .357 Mag ammo I could go to Dillon and get 500 lead bullets for the same price as a box of ammo. So I do my own reloading for .38 Spl, .38 +P, 357 Mag, and 40 S&W.
Nothing wrong with the Hornady LNL ...its expandable ....just like the Dillon 650 press.
They're very similar in how they perform. They both allow the installation of a "powder check" die ....Hornady calls theirs the "powder cop" and Dillon calls their a "powder check"....and in my view, in a new press, I wouldn't buy a press without that option.
For what its worth / I've tested a bullet feeder ...and I'd rather put the bullet on the case by hand --- it allows me a second to look in a little mirror / just to verify there is powder in the case ( even though I still use the powder check die too ). The one I tested ( on a buddies Dillon 650 ) was from GSI Intl / and it adds to the noise in the room .../ where the case feeder is noisy too ....but it really speeds things up ...
They're very similar in how they perform. They both allow the installation of a "powder check" die ....Hornady calls theirs the "powder cop" and Dillon calls their a "powder check"....and in my view, in a new press, I wouldn't buy a press without that option.
For what its worth / I've tested a bullet feeder ...and I'd rather put the bullet on the case by hand --- it allows me a second to look in a little mirror / just to verify there is powder in the case ( even though I still use the powder check die too ). The one I tested ( on a buddies Dillon 650 ) was from GSI Intl / and it adds to the noise in the room .../ where the case feeder is noisy too ....but it really speeds things up ...
Single Six
New member
I don't. I know that it would make economic sense to do it, but I don't. Fear of the unknown, I suppose. Plus I have nowhere in my house that I could use as a reloading area.
Very rewarding hobby. Been at it since 1965 or so. Started to get more accuracy out of my rifles.
Then on to revolver and pistol rounds, even moulding handgun bullets out of wheel weights.
The pluses are loading for your particular gun, chamber, velocity and so forth.
Relaxing because you have to focus on the task, and your'e not thinking about other stuff like the gas bill.
Always something new to learn, so it's not boring. I still use the single stage process because I'm now retired, and have more time than money. If I were still working and short on time I would definitly go with a good progressive set up.
You don't need a lot of fancy expensive equiptment to get started. I started with one of those $9.95 Lee starter sets. It made really good ammo for the rifle that I was using at the time.
If your'e thinking of getting started I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have, and look forward to a lot more. Good Luck, Eagle
Then on to revolver and pistol rounds, even moulding handgun bullets out of wheel weights.
The pluses are loading for your particular gun, chamber, velocity and so forth.
Relaxing because you have to focus on the task, and your'e not thinking about other stuff like the gas bill.
Always something new to learn, so it's not boring. I still use the single stage process because I'm now retired, and have more time than money. If I were still working and short on time I would definitly go with a good progressive set up.
You don't need a lot of fancy expensive equiptment to get started. I started with one of those $9.95 Lee starter sets. It made really good ammo for the rifle that I was using at the time.
If your'e thinking of getting started I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have, and look forward to a lot more. Good Luck, Eagle