Thread: To reload or to not reload

Originally Posted by flock

Reloading is like painting you ether love it or hate it. I hate painting.

I don't mind painting, it's one of the less physically demanding "jobs" I get to do!

Originally Posted by rupert

Depending on how meticulous you are, you may be able to significantly increase the accuracy by hand loading. It also depends on how accurate your best factory ammo is. For example, I find it hard to handload better than factory Lapua 6.5x55 156gr. What size groups (5 shot/100m) do you currently achieve?

My grouping at 100m over 5 shots is yet to be determined as I've not been properly setup on the 2 occasions I've made it to the range, so I'll let you know on that one. Barretta claim sub 1 MOA on the Franchi but then there's me, lol, I'll come back to you on this as a range visit is due

Originally Posted by TeRei

Buy 100 cases, 100 LRP, 2209 and stack em with 85gr Sierra GMK.

Sounds great although even though you used english words...I've no idea what you actually said....apart from 85g

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Yip.get someone to do it for you in bulk.better still you buy the bits n they "help you" do it...that way you get your ammo and dip toes in reloading at same time.

I'm more of a "dive in head first" kinda guy

If you can find one a lee loader and some decent scales is where I started then you can decide from there how far you want to go with it. A lee loader will make perfectly fine hunting ammo and you'll always be able to sell it if its not for you or you want to up grade

My 2 cents is this;

If you just want ammo to shoot things, buy your preferred ammo in bulk when it is in stock or get someone to load for you and go shoot things and be happy.

If you want to have another hobby, to tinker, to have some satisfaction/ frustration of doing yourself, to go down endless rabbits holes of deciding which bullet/powder combo will be best and finally but not least, to find another bottomless pit to pour your money into while pretending your saving money then reload.

Originally Posted by Zedrex

Hearing you, I think a big part of it for me is giving my tech head an outlet that produces something, I can be a bit of a detail freak and reloading would seem to require some of that. Cost of gear isn't an issue. As a builder I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on buying "kit"...it's always an investment imo, thanks for your thoughts, they make a lot of sense

Hi mate, if money is not an issue and you are a bit of a perfectionist then buy the best gear you won't regret it.

You won't save any money however you will be able to make precision ammo whenever you need it. It would still be good to watch someone who knows what he's doing reload some ammo so you get an idea of what to do, take plenty of notes and don't be afraid to ask questions on the forum and watch plenty of youtube videos.

Write down the proceedure from start to finish, repitition will help you to master what you are doing but I still always check my list while preping brass and reloading to make sure I haven't missed a step.

Good quality tools will make the reloading process a pleasure, good luck!

Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

My 2 cents is this;

If you just want ammo to shoot things, buy your preferred ammo in bulk when it is in stock or get someone to load for you and go shoot things and be happy.

If you want to have another hobby, to tinker, to have some satisfaction/ frustration of doing yourself, to go down endless rabbits holes of deciding which bullet/powder combo will be best and finally but not least, to find another bottomless pit to pour your money into while pretending your saving money then reload.

There's a LOT of sense to what you say, no arguments there.....but.....rainy days....I don't do telly and I'm VERY VERY BAD at DOING NOTHING but yeah, I hear ya...so many things I want to do or at least try out!

The more you know the less you know.
You've been warned!

Sent from my SM-A556E using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Hi mate, if money is not an issue and you are a bit of a perfectionist then buy the best gear you won't regret it.

You won't save any money however you will be able to make precision ammo whenever you need it. It would still be good to watch someone who knows what he's doing reload some ammo so you get an idea of what to do, take plenty of notes and don't be afraid to ask questions on the forum and watch plenty of youtube videos.

Write down the proceedure from start to finish, repitition will help you to master what you are doing but I still always check my list while preping brass and reloading to make sure I haven't missed a step.

Good quality tools will make the reloading process a pleasure, good luck!

lets be honest, no hobbies actually save you money..that's just what we tell ourselves in order to justify the latest expenditure. Money IS an issue just I've always invested in the best I can afford, cry once and all that!

Yep, that makes sense, as you obviously do your own, how big a batch do you do in one go and how long does that take, or do you spread the steps over a couple of evenings, say prep and prime brass one night, then finish off another night?

Originally Posted by blip

If you can find one a lee loader and some decent scales is where I started then you can decide from there how far you want to go with it. A lee loader will make perfectly fine hunting ammo and you'll always be able to sell it if its not for you or you want to up grade

A classic Lee loader is a beautiful thing. But, you will just sell it in about a year. So, just buy a press, scales and RGB Lee dies and off you go.

Originally Posted by Zedrex

Yep, that makes sense, as you obviously do your own, how big a batch do you do in one go and how long does that take, or do you spread the steps over a couple of evenings, say prep and prime brass one night, then finish off another night?

I normally deprime and clean brass one day then champer case inside and out, and full length size and put away. Priming, powder charge and seating projectile a week or so before going hunting so I don't load huge amounts in one go.

I only do hunting, I'm not a paper shooter so only load what I need for hunting.
I'm still a fussy bugger and load for precision.

according to my shocking math's, I'm looking at 500 rounds to cover the 32-20, 200 each for the 7mm08 and 6.5. That allows for buying a press and dies, some of which I actually bought over 20 years ago but new prices. So just over a year to get ahead of the two rifles and two years for the lever action.

In reality, I just look forward to quietly reloading every month. Very relaxing, and if you just work on packets of ammo v loading components alone,

caliber, cost per round reload, factory round cost, shots per month.
7mm08 $2.064 $4.500 15/month
32-20 $0.925 can't buy them period! but about $2 20/month
22 $ 0.240 $0.240 20-50/month
6.5cm $1.980 $4.950 20/month

just enjoy doing it mostly.
Sorry no layout.

Usage all goes up per month when my daughter goes with me. (which is fairly often)

One thing to buy first is a reloading manual the one put out by the bullet manufacturer you chose is the best, and read the first chapters on setting up
and using the tools, it is not hard to load ammo just have to be aware of the process involved.