Do you shoot out of the box or reload?
- Thread starter Dr_2_B
- Start date
Threefeathers
Moderator
Reload-shoot
doen't reload- dry fire
doen't reload- dry fire
+1 and Amen.Bib Caliber said:
I've been reloading for 40+ years and started casting about 20-years ago. I've got several guns that have never tasted a factory load.
There's a poll about the cost of going to the range, and I couldn't believe what some folks were saying about ammo costs. So, I checked-out some on-line ammo prices... Yikes, damn near fell out of my chair! I'm happy to have a significant volume of re-loads stowed away.
reload
With only few exceptions, I reload everything that I shoot. The calibers that I shoot the most are .45ACP, .30-06, .223, .44 Mag.
The exceptions are: rimfires, ammo that I bought in bulk when it was less expensive than reloading (9mm Makarov, for instance), factory ammo that has been given to me (example, a sick friend who can no longer shoot, gifted me with boxes of .44s, .38s, 9mms), and factory ammo for carry guns (I only shoot enough of that to know that it works).
Since the bulk of my shooting with the .45 is match shooting and I use the same ammo in the matches as I do in practice, I chose the third option in the poll. The same is true for the .44 and the rifle calibers. What I practice with is what I hunt with.
Pete
With only few exceptions, I reload everything that I shoot. The calibers that I shoot the most are .45ACP, .30-06, .223, .44 Mag.
The exceptions are: rimfires, ammo that I bought in bulk when it was less expensive than reloading (9mm Makarov, for instance), factory ammo that has been given to me (example, a sick friend who can no longer shoot, gifted me with boxes of .44s, .38s, 9mms), and factory ammo for carry guns (I only shoot enough of that to know that it works).
Since the bulk of my shooting with the .45 is match shooting and I use the same ammo in the matches as I do in practice, I chose the third option in the poll. The same is true for the .44 and the rifle calibers. What I practice with is what I hunt with.
Pete
I have a few guns that have never seen one round of factory ammo..
Others have seen a little factory fodder, but it was mainly due to rounds being cheaper than I could load it at the time or times when I ran out and needed something faster than I could have loaded it. Otherwise, I pretty much load it all if I can help it.
Others have seen a little factory fodder, but it was mainly due to rounds being cheaper than I could load it at the time or times when I ran out and needed something faster than I could have loaded it. Otherwise, I pretty much load it all if I can help it.
I used to reload for everything I shot, especially .38/.357.
I have the equipment, but of course life's other priorities means I don't have the bench set up for it. I really should clear off the bench again and set up for it.
During my last job, I had enough disposable income to sock away quite a bit of FMJ and even a good amount of JHP ammo. Buying case lots and doing group-buys helped.
We used to group-buy into a case or two of ammo and once fired, reload the cases until they started splitting at the mouth.
I keep most of my factory brass, especially for odd cartridges like .41 Mag, for reloading in the future.
I have the equipment, but of course life's other priorities means I don't have the bench set up for it. I really should clear off the bench again and set up for it.
During my last job, I had enough disposable income to sock away quite a bit of FMJ and even a good amount of JHP ammo. Buying case lots and doing group-buys helped.
We used to group-buy into a case or two of ammo and once fired, reload the cases until they started splitting at the mouth.
I keep most of my factory brass, especially for odd cartridges like .41 Mag, for reloading in the future.JollyRoger
New member
I can get a fair supply of .40 and 9mm through work, but reload for .38 spl, .380, and 32 long. Way cheaper.
You guys in small quarters might want to consider a Lee hand press. The thing works really well and uses regular dies. For less than $100 you can get the press, a priming tool, dies, etc. Everything you need can fit in an ammo can, and you'll make your money back after a few boxes. Real handy.
Anybody have a source for cast .380's?
You guys in small quarters might want to consider a Lee hand press. The thing works really well and uses regular dies. For less than $100 you can get the press, a priming tool, dies, etc. Everything you need can fit in an ammo can, and you'll make your money back after a few boxes. Real handy.
Anybody have a source for cast .380's?
I don't reload. I know myself well enough that I would see it as just another chore that I must find/make time for in order to finally get out and enjoy what I want to be doing, which is shooting. So for me, it is worth the expense of buying ammo in order to avoid the (to me) aggravation) of having to reload my own. Just like the cost of the gas to get to the range, I just look at the ammo as the cost of shooting, and it doesn't bother me.
These days, I do mostly shoot .38spl in my .357's and keep an eye out for bargains/sales/show-deals. I recently got my first 1911 in .45acp, but if I keep my eye out for deals, I can get .45 for about the same as .38spl, so that's not really added expense. And I think maybe I will get a 9mm finally since those rounds are so much cheaper then anything else (thinking maybe a Beretta 92FS Inox?).
These days, I do mostly shoot .38spl in my .357's and keep an eye out for bargains/sales/show-deals. I recently got my first 1911 in .45acp, but if I keep my eye out for deals, I can get .45 for about the same as .38spl, so that's not really added expense. And I think maybe I will get a 9mm finally since those rounds are so much cheaper then anything else (thinking maybe a Beretta 92FS Inox?).
I started shooting at 15 years old and we joined a sportsman's club. Many saturdays saw me watching guys shoot PPC with .38 Spl wadcutters and S&W 686's and every one of them was reloading. I decided right away that it was something I wanted to try. So at 16 years old, I began reloading .38 Special SWC. About the same time I picked up skeet shooting, so loading shotshells became an absolute must.
Since then, I've fallen in love with reloading and if I have a gun in that caliber, I am rolling my own for it. If I anticipate a new gun in a different caliber, I start gathering the tools and components I need for it. In the case of my last handgun purchase, one of the big reasons I bought it was because I was already set up for the caliber but had nothing to shoot it in, so I added it to my "want" list.
Do I buy factory ammo? Sure, but only if it's at an absolute steal price. Or, I buy a few boxes of factory fodder when I'm building up a supply of brass. And all my defense ammo is factory loaded, both home defense and carry.
But generally speaking, I don't shoot factory ammo unless it's defense stuff or unless I'm emptying out the stuff they put in it, so I can put my own stuff in it!
To me, reloading is a totally separate but related hobby from shooting. For me, it's a way to do "gun stuff" at home, when I have a spare 30 minutes or a free 4 hours. Don't have to drive anywhere, do have to pack up gear, don't need a place to shoot, don't have to clean guns when I get back. Reloading is a way to enjoy the hobby right here at home whenever it's convenient for me.
For anyone in the thread that doesn't reloads but has considered it or wants to, come over to the Handloading and Reloading area of The Firing Line. There's no questions that haven't been asked, and lots of friendly folks to help.
Since then, I've fallen in love with reloading and if I have a gun in that caliber, I am rolling my own for it. If I anticipate a new gun in a different caliber, I start gathering the tools and components I need for it. In the case of my last handgun purchase, one of the big reasons I bought it was because I was already set up for the caliber but had nothing to shoot it in, so I added it to my "want" list.
Do I buy factory ammo? Sure, but only if it's at an absolute steal price. Or, I buy a few boxes of factory fodder when I'm building up a supply of brass. And all my defense ammo is factory loaded, both home defense and carry.
But generally speaking, I don't shoot factory ammo unless it's defense stuff or unless I'm emptying out the stuff they put in it, so I can put my own stuff in it!
To me, reloading is a totally separate but related hobby from shooting. For me, it's a way to do "gun stuff" at home, when I have a spare 30 minutes or a free 4 hours. Don't have to drive anywhere, do have to pack up gear, don't need a place to shoot, don't have to clean guns when I get back. Reloading is a way to enjoy the hobby right here at home whenever it's convenient for me.
For anyone in the thread that doesn't reloads but has considered it or wants to, come over to the Handloading and Reloading area of The Firing Line. There's no questions that haven't been asked, and lots of friendly folks to help.
SilentHitz
New member
Same here, I got interested as a kid watching my Dad load for dove and squirrel season...with an old Lee kit that you had to smack with a hammer.
I still use an old Rock Chucker RCBS...and it works as good as when I bought it 20 years ago. I don't hesitate to carry reloaded SD ammo, just gotta know what combo works for which pistol.
And you're right, it is a whole other aspect of shooting...very satisfying when you find that "perfect recipe ".
I have the equipment, . . . just haven't been doing any where near what I would like to do lately in the reloading department.
My son and I reloaded every hull we could find a few years back, . . . burned us both out for a while, . . . plus I still have bunches of ammo stuck away and just need to go shoot some of it up.
Just may get to do that when the work load settles down some around here.
May God bless,
Dwight
My son and I reloaded every hull we could find a few years back, . . . burned us both out for a while, . . . plus I still have bunches of ammo stuck away and just need to go shoot some of it up.
Just may get to do that when the work load settles down some around here.
May God bless,
Dwight
bluetopper
New member
I started reloading about a year and a half ago and find it a great relaxing hobby. I reload for 45acp, 38, 9mm and just have aquired the components to reload for 44 Mag as I have a Redhawk in layaway.
Very fun to try and find the best powder and load that suits you.
Nobody taught me anything, I just read and started doing it.
I have a Lee deluxe turret press but I load in large single stage batches. I like to examine my powder in the cases before I seat a bullet.
Very fun to try and find the best powder and load that suits you.
Nobody taught me anything, I just read and started doing it.
I have a Lee deluxe turret press but I load in large single stage batches. I like to examine my powder in the cases before I seat a bullet.
I am in a similar boat with Sturmgewehre, when I started reloading I reloaded often.. but my equipment is crap and I didnt really enjoy the process so I started buying cases of ammo. With prices going the way they are now, even the case price is too much so I have started reloading again but limiting the amount of .357/45 that I shoot so that I dont have to do it as often.. Now if Sturmgewehre were to offer me a really great deal on his used 15 year old 550, maybe I would reload more 
overkill556x45
New member
I do both. I shoot WWB 9mm, and reload .45acp (as well as .308win and .223rem). WWB 9mm is still a couple dollars cheaper to buy at wally world (if you count re-use of brass it is a few cents/100 cheaper). 45 is considerably cheaper to reload (using cast bullets, no newfangled jacketed bullets).
I have thought about buying 9mm bullets and primers, and just buying 100 packs of WWB and saving the brass, as it was cheaper than unfired brass. I still may reload for it because I enjoy reloading.
edit: I just looked at brass prices and looks like WWB outpaced unfired brass. I was buying WWB for $18/100 and brass is $15ish/100. May have to look harder at reloading...
I have thought about buying 9mm bullets and primers, and just buying 100 packs of WWB and saving the brass, as it was cheaper than unfired brass. I still may reload for it because I enjoy reloading.
edit: I just looked at brass prices and looks like WWB outpaced unfired brass. I was buying WWB for $18/100 and brass is $15ish/100. May have to look harder at reloading...
It can be alot of fun. I am a 'burned out' reloader here. I'm over 50 y.o. and started loading shotshells at age 12 on a MEC 600 Jr. Went on to work at a sporting goods/gunshop as a teenager and got into metallic cartridge loading. Started out just to make affordable ammo for my .38/.357 and .30-30. As more guns came, so did a set of dies in that caliber. Later, I determined casting would be just the ticket for even cheaper shooting. So, a large electric casting furnace and at least one, sometimes two or three sets of moulds/handles for each caliber ( by then there was 12+ different calibers). I had an endless source of free wheelweights, so I would spend days per month making, lubing and sizing bullets. All through my 20's and 30's I did alot, I mean ALOT of shooting. During my 40's that tapered off quite a bit with family and work obligations.
Now, I'm freshly retired and enjoy shooting enough, but find that I'm just sort of tired of the whole reloading bit.
Enjoy...........
Now, I'm freshly retired and enjoy shooting enough, but find that I'm just sort of tired of the whole reloading bit.
Enjoy...........