Question on reloading 204
- Thread starter BobbyJ
- Start date
It would load like any other rifle round. Depends on your tools when it comes to speed.
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I loaded for the .204 for several years and had good luck with TAC powder which is a ball powder that meters wonderfully from a powder throw so it can be loaded pretty quickly. As far as time vs money that is something only you can decide. Are we talking 50 rounds for a plinking session or 1000 for a p dog hunt.
Kevin Rohrer
New member
To actually answer the OP's question, about 2-hours if FL resizing and case trimming is needed. If not, and the powder measure is already set, about 1.5 hours.
Yes thanks for the replies.
So 2-3 hours if you are fast and know what you are doing. I'm guessing that means 6 hours for me
Right now I am pretty happy with accuracy of factory and prices are decent.
It seems like everyone on forums is a reloader. Some might even scoff at the notion of using factory ammo.
I'm just looking at it as a possibility but want to know exactly what I would be getting into. I woudl want to do it right and not get junky equipment which means probably 2k start up. I probably do not shoot enough to make it worth while.
I don't live near a PD state, only ground hogs, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes.
Would love to be able to shoot 300 rounds a day at PDs.
I go to the range or a buddies to shoot maybe 1x a week.
Also would like to hear from people that got into reloading and wish they did not. Like they end up with a bunch of dusty equipment they used once then went back to off the shelf. I know lots of people that bought treadmills and they end up collecting dust.
So 2-3 hours if you are fast and know what you are doing. I'm guessing that means 6 hours for me
Right now I am pretty happy with accuracy of factory and prices are decent.
It seems like everyone on forums is a reloader. Some might even scoff at the notion of using factory ammo.
I'm just looking at it as a possibility but want to know exactly what I would be getting into. I woudl want to do it right and not get junky equipment which means probably 2k start up. I probably do not shoot enough to make it worth while.
I don't live near a PD state, only ground hogs, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes.
Would love to be able to shoot 300 rounds a day at PDs.
I go to the range or a buddies to shoot maybe 1x a week.
Also would like to hear from people that got into reloading and wish they did not. Like they end up with a bunch of dusty equipment they used once then went back to off the shelf. I know lots of people that bought treadmills and they end up collecting dust.
While 2K is a pretty high number for basic equipment no one really reloads to save money. Someone here accused some of us for shooting in order to be able to reload. I love the challange of the process to make my ammo as perfect as possible for accuracy.
You can pick up a Lee Turret kit for 225 bucks or so which has most of the basics you would need. I would up grade the scale with a cheap electronic so lets raise that to $300. A set of Lee dies is another $35. You can clean cases just fine with soap and water in a bucket and trimming does not have to be done every firing. When you do need to trim there are $20 trimmers. A cheap electronic caliper is $15 at Harbor freight. $400 for basic usable equipment. If you want to dry tumble for cleaning add another hundred
A pound of powder is 7000 grains and using 25 grains per load for a .204 that works out to 280 loads per pound. So for 500 rounds components would cost 2 lbs of powder for $70, 5 sleeves of rifle primers $25 and 500 Sierra Blitz king bullets for $120. 50 Hornady Brass $25. Figure about $225. That can probably vary 25 dollars either way depending on what your load prices are or if you have to order.
You will start slow but after a few sessions you crank out 100 rounds of .223 plinking ammo on a turret at probably 100 rounds a hour. That is just neck sizing and and not counting the time to clean the cases and if you put some effort into that .204 will be shooting 1/4 inch groups at 100 with ammo you put together and that is what reloading is all about for me
You can pick up a Lee Turret kit for 225 bucks or so which has most of the basics you would need. I would up grade the scale with a cheap electronic so lets raise that to $300. A set of Lee dies is another $35. You can clean cases just fine with soap and water in a bucket and trimming does not have to be done every firing. When you do need to trim there are $20 trimmers. A cheap electronic caliper is $15 at Harbor freight. $400 for basic usable equipment. If you want to dry tumble for cleaning add another hundred
A pound of powder is 7000 grains and using 25 grains per load for a .204 that works out to 280 loads per pound. So for 500 rounds components would cost 2 lbs of powder for $70, 5 sleeves of rifle primers $25 and 500 Sierra Blitz king bullets for $120. 50 Hornady Brass $25. Figure about $225. That can probably vary 25 dollars either way depending on what your load prices are or if you have to order.
You will start slow but after a few sessions you crank out 100 rounds of .223 plinking ammo on a turret at probably 100 rounds a hour. That is just neck sizing and and not counting the time to clean the cases and if you put some effort into that .204 will be shooting 1/4 inch groups at 100 with ammo you put together and that is what reloading is all about for me
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
I load .204Ruger using a Lee Classic turret press and dispense the powder with an RCBS Chargemaster 1500.
I can load a round per minute, easily, once the prep work is done. Trimming is rarely needed. Cleaning takes a matter of 2-3 minutes because all I do is dump the cases in the tumbler, add a little polish and walk away. When it's done, just dump out the media.
I use a Franklin Arsenal case prep machine. Probably spend 1 minute on each case, cleaning the primer pocket, trimming an deburring.
Clean up takes maybe 10 minutes.
I don't know where you get "good" ammo for $23/50. The cheapest of decent ammo is usually about $1/round.
Loading your own will cost about 15-20 cents for the bullet, 3-5 cents for the primer and anywhere from 7-12 cents for the powder, give or take. Properly handled, cases will last AT LEAST 10 shots and can go upwards of 30. Actually, I've not lost a single case to shooting related failure yet, though I'm no high volume shooter and I use Norma cases.
You can certainly be up and loading for ~$500. I have far more than the basic equipment, including a $350 scale and I've not spent over $1,000.
I can load a round per minute, easily, once the prep work is done. Trimming is rarely needed. Cleaning takes a matter of 2-3 minutes because all I do is dump the cases in the tumbler, add a little polish and walk away. When it's done, just dump out the media.
I use a Franklin Arsenal case prep machine. Probably spend 1 minute on each case, cleaning the primer pocket, trimming an deburring.
Clean up takes maybe 10 minutes.
I don't know where you get "good" ammo for $23/50. The cheapest of decent ammo is usually about $1/round.
Loading your own will cost about 15-20 cents for the bullet, 3-5 cents for the primer and anywhere from 7-12 cents for the powder, give or take. Properly handled, cases will last AT LEAST 10 shots and can go upwards of 30. Actually, I've not lost a single case to shooting related failure yet, though I'm no high volume shooter and I use Norma cases.
You can certainly be up and loading for ~$500. I have far more than the basic equipment, including a $350 scale and I've not spent over $1,000.
If I had to pay 1.00 a round I might have more incentive.
I look for sales from midway etc on the net. When they have one I'll buy 500 rounds. Last one I think was fioucchi ammo 32 and 40 gr shoots 1/2 moa can't complain. I don't usually walk into a store and pay retail for ammo then yes it could be $1.00 a shot.
I look for sales from midway etc on the net. When they have one I'll buy 500 rounds. Last one I think was fioucchi ammo 32 and 40 gr shoots 1/2 moa can't complain. I don't usually walk into a store and pay retail for ammo then yes it could be $1.00 a shot.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
hounddawg said:
Speak for yourself. I very much reload to save money. That's my only reason for reloading. If my reloads are generally equal to average factory ammo in accuracy, I'm happy. I'm not a bullseye competitor.
And there's no way I would (or could) ever invest two thousand dollars in a reloading setup.
I agree on the Lee Turret kit, except that I think it can be bought for well under $200 (unless prices have gone up a lot). That's what I use, and I've done many thousands of rounds with it.hounddawg said:
Many thanks to all the excellent answers.
Oh forgot to ask how dangerous reloading is. Is it easy to overload one?
I ask because my brother in law bought ammo from a guy that reloaded and one load blew up his glock.
And like a year ago a guy at the range had his gun blow up and was taken out by ambulance. I assume he might have reloaded and maybe put in too much powder.
Oh forgot to ask how dangerous reloading is. Is it easy to overload one?
I ask because my brother in law bought ammo from a guy that reloaded and one load blew up his glock.
And like a year ago a guy at the range had his gun blow up and was taken out by ambulance. I assume he might have reloaded and maybe put in too much powder.
Reloading is as safe as the reloader
If you can follow directions to the letter, and divote your full attention it is very safe. Pistol charges which are smaller with less case fill, are easier to double charge without noticing. Not as likely with rifle cases.
Reloading does free you being a slave to store bought,remember the last 8years. If you only buy, you can only shoot what you have.
Save your brass anyways,
If you can follow directions to the letter, and divote your full attention it is very safe. Pistol charges which are smaller with less case fill, are easier to double charge without noticing. Not as likely with rifle cases.
Reloading does free you being a slave to store bought,remember the last 8years. If you only buy, you can only shoot what you have.
Save your brass anyways,
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wild willy
New member
You put gasoline in your car?When done wisely and safely its not any more dangerous than that.
Colorado Redneck
New member
My only rule about shooting ammo hand loaded by anyone but me: Don't do that! Ever.
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Reloading is a potentially dangerous activity.
Done correctly, by a reloader that understands what they’re doing and follows basic safety precautions, it’s no worse than any number of other activities. Get cocky, take short cuts, don’t pay attention, you can blow your gun up and kill yourself.
I don’t recommend it to anyone who’s not safety conscious and procedurally oriented.
Done correctly, by a reloader that understands what they’re doing and follows basic safety precautions, it’s no worse than any number of other activities. Get cocky, take short cuts, don’t pay attention, you can blow your gun up and kill yourself.
I don’t recommend it to anyone who’s not safety conscious and procedurally oriented.