Anybody reload/handload?

wilkersk said:
The sporting club I was in went through a period of political turmoil and problems with vandalism and rounds going over the berm. It just got to be no fun. I spend a full day repairing 50 or 60 target frames. Then, I turn around and find knuckleheads with "tactical" shotguns (YGBFSM!!!) cutting those very same frames in half at 7 yards on the pistol range.
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I see those "tacti-cool" guys here too. Lots of "spray and pray" using copious amounts of now precious, hard to get ammunition rather than focus on precision and technique. Not saying that going through rapid fire exercise can't be fun, but I tend to do it with .22LR which was fairly easy to come by and can't be reloaded. But even then, .22LR can be an excellent teacher of precision. For example, I have a GSG 1911 and it is easy to use, but will really highlight poor technique.
 
rtk11 said:
I see those "tacti-cool" guys here too. Lots of "spray and pray" using copious amounts of now precious, hard to get ammunition rather than focus on precision and technique. ...
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from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlement": Alan Q: "I saw, it was very American. Fire enough bullets and hope to hit the target"
 
Law of unintended consequences...shortage of ammo makes shooters take better aim resulting in less need for ammo.
 
Bob Noel said:
from "The League of Extraordinary Gentlement": Alan Q: "I saw, it was very American. Fire enough bullets and hope to hit the target"
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cgrab said:
Law of unintended consequences...shortage of ammo makes shooters take better aim resulting in less need for ammo.
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Rapid fire can be fun, but very hard to control. And if you have to carry that ammo any distance, I can guess that most will take a limited quantity and be precise with it.

One of my all time favorite movies is Tombstone, and I really enjoy the single action revolvers. Mine is in .44 Magnum. No need to carry more than 6 (all the cylinder will hold) since it's very effective, it's very accurate, and my wrist hurts after 6 rounds. :p And the brass stays in the cylinder, so easy policing of brass. ;)

As for reloading... still worth pursuing in my opinion. Good for those "bad weather days" where you don't want to fly, and the components don't go bad if stored well. Vacuum sealers (like those you use for Sous Vide cooking) do a fine job of keeping both components and ammo sealed and dry.
 
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Matthew Rogers said:
How many bullets do you really need?
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I never keep more than a few thousand rounds handy. I also never keep fewer than a few thousand rounds handy.
Though as of now, I'm gonna divest myself of my reloading gear; a local may trade a guitar for it. I'd rather have the guitar than the reloader.
 
rtk11 said:
Rapid fire can be fun, but very hard to control. And if you have to carry that ammo any distance, I can guess that most will take a limited quantity and be precise with it.

As for reloading... still worth pursuing in my opinion. Good for those "bad weather days" where you don't want to fly, and the components don't go bad if stored well. Vacuum sealers (like those you use for Sous Vide cooking) do a fine job of keeping both components and ammo sealed and dry.
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That's what I liked about IPSC. Speed wins, but you aren't relieved from the need to hit the targets. The guys that win make every shot count.
 
Tom-D said:
As does the 30:06 and any case that is based on the :06

the 45 ACP is actually a 30:06 case cut off and reamed to fit the bullet.
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30-06 is also the case used to make .308, .243, 7mm-08, 6mm BR, 7mm BR and probably at least a half dozen more
 
I gotta set something up for this spring. One of my youngest son's friends' family has a ranch out in western NE, and apparently they have a prairie dog problem I've got a .223 varminter, and a .22-250 tack driver that can reach out and touch something rodent-size out several hundred yards. I think their prairie dogs could give me a good reason to do more reloading.
 
Ghery said:
I handloaded for my .30-06 nearly 50 years ago. Haven't done anything since. Now, for black powder I used cast lead bullets for .44, .52 and .58 cal revolvers and rifles. I bought the .44 round balls ready to load, but cast my own for the rifles. I still have a significant amount of lead for future casting (bought a bunch years ago from a metal surplus place that had a bunch of lead sheeting from a dentist's office).
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Oh, and in spite of the number I have, cartridge guns are a passing fad. They'll never catch on. (or so said my CWSA friends :) )
 
Powder Does it go bad? I have about 50 rounds of 30:06 that was loaded 20 years ago. powder was IMR 4831.
 
Tom-D said:
Powder Does it go bad? I have about 50 rounds of 30:06 that was loaded 20 years ago. powder was IMR 4831.
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Got ya beat. I've got a few .30-06 handloads that I put together about 50 years ago, powder is IMR 3031. The last time I shot some they still went BANG!
 
Ghery said:
Got ya beat. I've got a few .30-06 handloads that I put together about 50 years ago, powder is IMR 3031. The last time I shot some they still went BANG!
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the amount of BANG worries me.
 
Tom-D said:
Powder Does it go bad? I have about 50 rounds of 30:06 that was loaded 20 years ago. powder was IMR 4831.
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If stored properly, it should still work. There's some vintage milsurp ammo (some approaching 65-70 years old) that function fine.
 
Tom-D said:
Powder Does it go bad? I have about 50 rounds of 30:06 that was loaded 20 years ago. powder was IMR 4831.
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Loaded rounds should be ok (as long as they don't have a lot of corrosion... do they still look clean?)

Properly sealed powder containers should be ok... not as good as fresh, but still ok.

I had some ACC 2520 a friend gave me, used it, and then bought some new ACC 2520. The powder density was significantly different. I don't believe Accurate changed the formulation of the powder. Conclusion, old old old powder will shoot differently than new/fresh powder. More important for benchrest shooters than plinkers.
 
I'm still working through a container of Bullseye that probably dates back to the 1990s. If I were loading for competition, I'd use new... but for plinking and general target shooting, it's fine. The old ammo is still at least as accurate as I am.
 
I have powders and primers that are 20+ years old but have been in house levels of heat/cold and the are just fine. I just used some 20 gauge shells yesterday on a bird hunt that are 30+ years old and they worked just fine as well
 
Ghery said:
True enough, but the amount in this case was fine. :p
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No so old IMR 3031, you must check 3031 for the loss of it's burn rate retardant. It shows up as a red dust.
shake some on to a clean sheet of paper, if it comes up clean/ no red dust it is good to go.
 
Tom-D said:
No so old IMR 3031, you must check 3031 for the loss of it's burn rate retardant. It shows up as a red dust.
shake some on to a clean sheet of paper, if it comes up clean/ no red dust it is good to go.
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This was in ammo that had been loaded years before. I don't think I have any IMR 3031 in a can anymore, but if I find some I'll keep your advice in mind and check it. Thanks.
 
Ghery said:
This was in ammo that had been loaded years before. I don't think I have any IMR 3031 in a can anymore, but if I find some I'll keep your advice in mind and check it. Thanks.
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I took this lesson from Dick Green, an old gun smith friend.
 
I've re-loaded quite some amount and even possessed an ammo manufacturing license at one time. But lately, I've slowed down and just keep it simple with a Lee Loader. It is somewhat satisfying!!
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kgruber said:
I've re-loaded quite some amount and even possessed an ammo manufacturing license at one time. But lately, I've slowed down and just keep it simple with a Lee Loader. It is somewhat satisfying!!
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I've got one of those -- 10 gauge
 
Berry’s plated bullets seem to become available at BPS/Cabelas regularly. I have used those for quite a while with great success in my handguns.

Your biggest hurdle will be finding primers. Most people have already resorting to putting any primer that will fit in the pocket and building their own load (i.e. small magnum rifle primer in 9mm). Small pistol primers are like hen’s teeth. If you see some and are truly interested in reloading, buy now and think later.
 
Back when 2000 came in to being .
I was still actively farming My year end inventory was 10,000 gallons of fuel , 12,500 Gallons of Water in Cistern, And 40,000 rounds of various rifle and pistol cartridges , 10,000 primers , 50 lbs of various rifle and black powder . Reloading dies for a dozen different caliburs . Deep freeze full, Diesel Tractor and Generator at the ready.
My Nephew who worked for Microsoft (still does ) came out to spend the New Years with us .(just in case )
One of my South African friends commented , "My word , you are prepaired to over take a small African Country". ;)
 
I’ve been a reloader since way back, started with the Lee load kit pictured above & a Mallot. It’s more a hobby than a big $$ saver. I have a few rounds you almost have to reload for, 8mm Lebel comes to mind. I go west in search of prairie dogs most every Summer, usually high round count shooting.

As posted, primers are the hard thing now, one can find the other components if you cast a wide net.

Trying to get the most out of the 380, I loaded these recently.
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Southpaw said:
Back when 2000 came in to being .
And 40,000 rounds of various rifle and pistol cartridges , 10,000 primers , 50 lbs of various rifle and black powder . Reloading dies for a dozen different caliburs .
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There are some areas of the country where that would be considered "almost out"
 
I’ve been reloading for a few years. Started of with a Dillon 550 and reloading 9mm and .45. Didn’t really save much reloading the 9mm, but was worth it for the .45. Then I started shooting sporting clays and now mostly reload shotshells. Mostly 16 ga and 28 ga. Wasn’t really worth reloading 12 ga, but I can. And thankfully I have quite a few hulls if needed. I’ve been thinking of getting the dies for 410 as well, I have a 410 and it’s fun to shoot from time to time.

And since it’s generally cheaper to buy supplies by the thousands I’m good for a while. The primers are a worry, I have enough to last a year or so, they have some for sale at a local gun club, but your limited on how many you can buy.
 
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