Handloading in General

Bruno2

Active Fanatic
Joined
Oct 6, 2010
Messages
25
Location
Broken Arrow , Oklahoma
I see we are just getting started in our reloading section of this board. I would like to throw out some general info so that anybody curios could possibly spark some interest.

The art of handloading is a hobby that most people start to save some money for their on going love of shooting. However, once you get bitten by this bug you will find it to be most intersting and very helpful to your love of shooting.

Hanloading will allow you to make custom ammo that will suit your needs better than any ammo bought over the counter . pistol ammo can be made to reduce recoil, or even just the opposite. There is not much accuracy to be gained with handloading pistol ammo , but , there is quite a bit of money to be saved. Some indoor ranges require that you shoot non jacketed ammo at their facilities. Sometimes these ranges provide ammo for you to buy and sometimes they dint. With handloading you will never be dependent on buying ammo from the range and paying their mark up.


Hanloading shotshells will allow you to customize ammo for your needs. Rather it be hunting or shooting clay games reloading shotshells will save you a ton of money. The diversity that can be achieved is second to none . I load for all of my upland bird hunting . I can make high power pheasant loads for about $4.00 a box vs paying $12.00-$15.00 at the store. This allows me to make a variety of different loads that will suit the conditions of the weather and the conditions of the birds as well. I load managed recoil ammo for my clay games. I can shoot 100-300 rnds a weekend w/o having to worry about being sore or bruised. This will make your weekends and gaming far more enjoyable as well.

Hanloading for rifles. This is by far the best aspect of handloading in my opinion. The accuracy gains from reloading is off the charts . Even when compared to buying premium ammo at the stores. Every gun is different. Not all factory ammo even the premiums will perform in every rifle well. When loading for a rifle certain things need to be taken into consideration b/c so many variables apply to this type of reloading. Things to be considered such as barrel length. This will help determine what type of powder your gun will like . Short barrels require a faster burning powder for optimum results. Longer barrels require the slower burning powders. Rate of twist is very important when selecting grain weight of projectiles. Seating depth plays a major role in accuracy also.

A lot of what I have posted here is just the tip of the iceberg and I look forward to helping as many newbies as I can with getting started, learning basics and moving on to the advanced aspects of the hobby.
 
Register to hide this ad
great post, all except the part about it being cheaper. I started handloading so it would be "cheaper", except it just meant I could spend the same amount and shoot a whole lot more, which gets you fired up to shoot even more and pretty soon, much like a crack head I'm diggin in the couch cushions to make a run to mitch to stock up on even more precious lead and other various commodities! I do love handloading because there is something spiritual about the creation process (at least to me) Sitting at the bench in peace and serenity, taking the various components and measuring and remeasuring and assembling these little (9mm) beauties that I know will perform their required tasks when called upon! I definately feel closer to the shooting in general when I'm running handcrafted ammo, much like a brewmaster probably enjoys tasting his own creation. I imagine if you've never handloaded it can sound a little hokie, but come on, it's zeke we're talking about!
 
[quote author=zeke1911 link=topic=248.msg1860#msg1860 date=1286469328]
I imagine if you've never handloaded it can sound a little hokie, but come on, it's zeke we're talking about!
[/quote]

exactly, don't ever change Buddy.

I agree, I'm not finding it cheaper for the same reasons.
I end up with more ammo readily available, so I spend more time at the range.
 
[quote author=zeke1911 link=topic=248.msg1860#msg1860 date=1286469328]
I imagine if you've never handloaded it can sound a little hokie, but come on, it's zeke we're talking about!
[/quote]

I like how Zeke refers to himself in 3rd person HAHAHAHA
 
Per round there is a savings. However , If you are like me not only do I shoot more , but , I also buy a lot more reloading toys and gadgets. This really doesn't equal a savings in the end . I am very content handloading . The skill that can be put into the craft is endless. This hobby is truly something that can never be mastered . So there is always a desire to better the product that you are making. There are just so many techniques and tools , not to mention components. It is endless.

I have to agree with the time spent at the bench being serene. I am at peace with the world in perfect harmony. Until I realize that I stuck a case in the GD MF'n resizing die and it wont come out w/o a major undertaking or realize that the powder drop may have run out of powder 4 , 5 maybe 6 revolutions ago. When everything is going well its a great hobby and something you can be proud of when you are finished .
 
[quote author=Bruno2 link=topic=248.msg1882#msg1882 date=1286487768]I am at peace with the world in perfect harmony. Until I realize that I stuck a case in the GD MF'n resizing die and it wont come out w/o a major undertaking or realize that the powder drop may have run out of powder 4 , 5 maybe 6 revolutions ago.
[/quote]

LMFAO.

Totally agree.
 
You guys make a guy smile and then realize your the topic of the jokes and then the smile grows even larger, until one day you face cracks! I used to have stuck case fun, till I switched to the square deal and through technical innovations on dillons part, thru vigorous research and developement they have created a system so unique that other companies have yet to duplicate or replicate it. I have never had a stuck case, that and a light spritz of case lube.
 
Can you make #7 1/2 bird shot any cheaper than you can buy it at WalMart? I was told by an H&H emplyee that it was almost a wash. I kno wmy Dad reloaded all of my childhood shotshells but those were different times.
 
Its a crap shoot. You can load for about $4.00 per box. I believe that walmart sells them almost that cheap. The rub lies with purchasing the loader. A progressive loader for shotshells is just about the only way to go. A good unit will cost you around $400.00. It takes a lot of $0.75 savings to pay for it. Not to mention the components cost. I shoot shotgun games every weekend . I use around 4-8 boxes of shells per weekend. I also load for hunting . This absorbs more of the cost that it takes to get started. Still a good investment in the long run. I bought my loaders off EBay. My Hornady's sell new for about $599 each. I bought mine used for $175.00. That helps too.
 
Back
Top