any of you gun lovers re-load your shells?

[luke0927]

im thinking about getting into his seems like fun and a good way to save some money how difficult is it and how do i get started. by the way i just go a new pistol for my 21st bday

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=343 7&return=Y

still looking to get that kimber .45 though i really liked that raptor wolfdog put up im going to go look for one.

also im going next week to get the paper work for my CWP. do i go to the courthouse/ sheriffs station/ probate court or where anyone know?

[dmince]

Here in PA you go to your County Courthouse to the Sheriff office.

RCBS make a nice sgl. station press for learning to reload. Then locate a reloading friend to run thu a couple shell with you to show you the ropes. It's not that hard. Just keep an eye on what you are doing as you are reloading.

Also, check out www.1911forum.com

Lots of info there.

[luke0927]

Thanks i really don't have any friend who reload looks like i might have to wing it....

[DeepBlueZ]

I used to reload 5.56 rounds at a gunsmith shop I used to work at briefly.


It's fairly simple once you run through a few.

as was said, just be aware. correct powder charge and proper headspacing are VITAL for safe operation.;)

[shrike]

I used to reload 5.56 rounds at a gunsmith shop I used to work at briefly.


It's fairly simple once you run through a few.

as was said, just be aware. correct powder charge and proper headspacing are VITAL for safe operation.;)

+ use the tables, don't experiment with hotter or weaker charges. Several good books around too.

It is really calming. Plus you get accuracy and consistancy you could not ever buy.

However, screw with this game, and you might ruin a good chamber or be buying yourself a

http://openprosthetics.org/images/59.gif

[wolfdogs]

no. my brother does, but he does an awfull lot of shooting. i dont........i do just enough to keep me keen ;)

[abepro]

Me and my dad do are shotgun loads. Saves a ton of money, we use to do alot of trap shooting. Only problem we ran into was some of our reloads wouldn't eject properly from my semi-auto. No problem with my pump or my dads o/u. My dad does all his rifle rounds and handguns. We did this alot when I was a teenager. I thought it was alot of fun..

[shrike]

http://www.midwayusa.com/

[luke0927]

i was told if you use good equipement press, scale etc... and follow the recomended powder weights you should be fine. There should be a min amount of powder and a max. you can play around in between the two to find the load that best works with your bullet and shooting situation...?

[Jizz]

Depends on how much you shoot.

I.E. see the above post... how long will it take to make up the cost of all that -- including the time to MFG your own bullets.

I shoot 200-300 rounds per week -- NO WAY am I reloading! Run to the local Bass Pro and 5 mins later I am on my way home... total of 30 minute round trip -- well worth it for me to pay for pre-loads.

But there are bennies to re-loading.

[radarwz]

I have five Kimbers. Wouldn't part with any of them. I looked at reloading .45 but it would take years and way more shooting than I do to justfy the expense. Not true with some other cal's and types. Do your research and don't forget to figure in your time.

[GMMillwright]

My dad and I reloaded .45 and .40 with his Dillon multistation press. Expensive, but 40 reloaded rounds a minute is pretty sweet.

[luke0927]

yes my time is very limited so it might not be the best thing for me right now... i guess just shoot cheaper shell and keep a couple boxes of good shells on hand for hunting/self defense etc...

[-db-]

Reloading is fine as a hobby or if you're a perfectionist who demands the utmost in consistency and such with your ammo but as far as saving money it's a bust- don't get into it for that reason alone. Like mentioned, think of an hourly wage you'd be happy making at work or whatever and add up the hours you'd spend on reloading (not to mention the cost of the presses, lathes, and other items used) and you'll quickly find it saves no money. After all, your time is worth something, right? :)

[luke0927]

[QUOTE=-db-]Reloading is fine as a hobby or if you're a perfectionist who demands the utmost in consistency and such with your ammo but as far as saving money it's a bust- don't get into it for that reason alone. Like mentioned, think of an hourly wage you'd be happy making at work or whatever and add up the hours you'd spend on reloading (not to mention the cost of the presses, lathes, and other items used) and you'll quickly find it saves no money. After all, your time is worth something, right? :)[/QUOT

thanks

oh trust me i know what valuable time is im sitting at my customers site doing config changes that i have been finished with sittion on a con call waiting for zoning to complete i was supposed to be out of here by 10pm its now 1:20am and no end in sight looks like another 80hrs week. and ive got to be at another upgrade at 6am woo who!!!!!

[abepro]

Reloading is fine as a hobby or if you're a perfectionist who demands the utmost in consistency and such with your ammo but as far as saving money it's a bust- don't get into it for that reason alone. Like mentioned, think of an hourly wage you'd be happy making at work or whatever and add up the hours you'd spend on reloading (not to mention the cost of the presses, lathes, and other items used) and you'll quickly find it saves no money. After all, your time is worth something, right? :)


You can save money, you don't have to spend thousands on equipment. All our stuff was second-hand from auctions, estate sales. I agree if you just do it to save money it's a waste.

[-db-]

You can save money, you don't have to spend thousands on equipment. All our stuff was second-hand from auctions, estate sales. I agree if you just do it to save money it's a waste.

I imagine it might actually save money if you got all the stuff cheap, had tons of free time with nothing better to do and you pumped out a LOT of rounds doing it. I might get into it myself some day once I start buying rifles but I'll be doing it to produce perfect ammunition and being a machinist I like tinkering with that kind of stuff. :)

[slacker]

i just go a buy more

[Pavia]

I recommend you get into it. It's a worthy hobby. You'll really learn alot about ballistics and firearms.

As far as a cost savings, it depends on the caliber. I don't reload 9mm, 5.56, or any common military rounds because it's cheap enough to buy factory.

It is worth it for my more unique calibers. I save a bunch in reloading 44-40, 45 Long Colt, 45-70 and 50-70 Govt

[MtnGoat]

For the most part I shoot wildcat cartridges. I'm always shooting for the best accuracy I can get. Reloading is the only way that I can do either. As far as time to reload, there are fast ways to do it. See http://dillonprecision.com/default.cfm? but, it is expensive. Reloading is one of those things that must be done by the book. Don't take shortcuts.

[HagerGTO]

We reloaded shotgun shells, .45, and 9mm. There is no saving money on shotgun shells. After buying shot, powder, and the wads. No savings. .45 wasn't bad because honestly who shoots a .45 ACP for accuracy. 9mm can't say much for. We have plenty of bullets but we never shoot that particular gun. "Light" trigger.

[OpenWheel]

I have pocket field loaders for my rifles, 357, and an old Mech 600 for shotgun shells. I don't shoot much, so that works ok with me.

You can make some pretty kewl rounds for the 357 with a hand loader. Makes a nice small scattergun with the right ballbearings used for projectiles.

[Scurvy]

How can it be cheaper than buying ammo in bulk. 1000rnds 9mm for 120 bucks from ammoman.com

[abepro]

We reloaded shotgun shells, .45, and 9mm. There is no saving money on shotgun shells. After buying shot, powder, and the wads. No savings. .45 wasn't bad because honestly who shoots a .45 ACP for accuracy. 9mm can't say much for. We have plenty of bullets but we never shoot that particular gun. "Light" trigger.


Then you are not doing something right. You can generally save a half to a third of the cost. The reason you don't save money in the long run is because you end up shooting more rounds than you would have. Our trap rounds are dirt cheap. Alot of my dads rifle rounds are more expensive then store bought. But you get what you want and can tailor it to your guns and what you are doing with them. You can't reload fifty shotgun shells and expect it to pay off.. :soapbox:

[b727pic]

As far as time to reload, there are fast ways to do it. See http://dillonprecision.com/default.cfm? but, it is expensive. Reloading is one of those things that must be done by the book. Don't take shortcuts.

+1
I have the XL650 with all the bells and whistles. can crank out close to 800 rounds per hour when I put my game face on....Lol. Hard to beat a dillon, their customer service is outstanding......

[timmymac]

I definitely agree with the Dillon products being an incredible value. Their factory support folks are just awesome people, and extremely knowledgable. They brag about (and back up) their "No BS warrenty." If anything breaks or wears out on a Dillon press, they will fix it.

I started with the Dillon Square Deal B press (cranked about 20,000 reloads of 9mm and .45 through it). I sold the SDB and bought the XL650 with the case feeder... Currently I reload 9mm, 45, and .308 rifle.

Once the adjustments are completed and everything is set up, I can crank out over 60 rounds per minute of whatever caliber. I usually load up a grunch of ammo at a time, because it's a pain to switch calibers.

My .308 loads are very cheap compared to Federal Match ammo, and I get comparable accuracy. Then again, for .308 I'm using virgin Lake City Match brass, sized and trimmed in batches, and sierra match-king bullets, with very consistent powder charges. As Martha says, "It's So Easy!"

Reloading is something that you either are willing to do in order to get increased accuracy, or to get lots of practice ammo cheaply. As with anything, there is a range of 'seriousness' in reloading.

[Desertraptor]

This can be interesting when you get a shell with no charge.

I uesd to reload .357 , .38 and .32. I came across a few shells in comp that had none or not enough charge and the bullet either didnt leave the barrel which can be a scarey prospect if you dont realise it or a bullt which has just enough grunt to reach the target but not penetrate.

I wish I had photos of this. Once I went to the target to find a bullet half way thru the target and another time a target with a imprint of the bullet and the bullet on the ground at my feet.

Of course making sure the hopper is full would alleviate this problem :)