As a long time shooter and newish (4 yr) reloader, i wonder how many reload. I know most here will but how many buy the bulk surplus/bulk for everything vs reloading everything vs pulling the FMJs out of the surplus/bulk and putting an SP for hunting vs buying an odd box for hunting with.
I own "standard" caliber guns and found that I can buy bulk ammo for cheaper than getting geared for reloading. Maybe if I shot more I would consider reloading but my couple of times a month range visits still didn't justify acquiring the material and learning yet another skill. There is also a time factor to consider.
When I was with the teams, the Armorers reloaded to our specifications and made recommendations on the load. Since then I've just used factory Match ammunition.
It's not that I wouldn't be interested in reloading myself, but if I just started doing it, I wouldn't be accomplished. It would likely just screw-up my DOPE.
None you improvise, one (or more) is luxury.
Bulk plinking ammo is hard for me to beat, cost-wise, to factory or surplus.
But my ‘match’ ammo is really not much more expensive to make than bulk. The majority of cost is the projectile. So if you can get them on sale, you will be ahead.
Ie bulk factory 9mm no savings. I can’t beat that. But, JHP 9mm I make for 16 cents a pop.
Surplus .308 can be had for .40-.50 cents a round. I can’t beat that either. But I can make great hunting or match ammo for .60 a round vs the dollar plus that you pay for high end stuff.
I can match bulk .223 prices, but my time has value, so I just buy bulk. But, if I can snag excess .224 VMax projectiles off of the used section of CGN, I can usually get ballistic tip ‘varmint ‘ rounds made for the same cost as ‘freedom bucket’ FMJ.....
I can’t match the cost of bird shot 12 ga. But I can make 00 buck for 1/2 factory cost.
Pick your rounds to make, And you can either stockpile or shoot more for the same cost. Where reloading shines is the ability to have consistency of powder loads. My loads are within .1 of a grain of each other. (Average .308 powder load is 42gr, to give a reference) Helps immensely with keeping groups tight. As does controlling length of cartridges for your chamber, etc.
Any questions, feel free as always!
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One is none, two is one.
Nope no real questions , I buy bulk .22 LR, 12G ,& surplus for my Russians, and generally hand load/reload everything else. I run a RCBS IV about 50 rd per hour when I get on a roll & a DILLON 550 about 350 rounds per hour. Was just seeing if i was an oddball or fitting in with the masses
I’d say your right in the norm:)
I rock the 550 for 9 and .223 bulk.
When I want to get fancy .223 or .308, it’s the single stage for me.
After I got a SMOKING deal on amazon, I grabbed a Hornady auto charge for the match stuff. Loving it!
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One is none, two is one.
Well I guess I have a busy day ahead of me. Went to the range after the RCMP have ignored range rules and not cleaned up after themselves. I managed to sweep together just over 5lb of 9 mm brass. Its odd when you put it like that. It works out to about 1400 cases with about 400 of them being the nickle plated style.
Well I guess I have a busy day ahead of me. Went to the range after the RCMP have ignored range rules and not cleaned up after themselves. I managed to sweep together just over 5lb of 9 mm brass. Its odd when you put it like that. It works out to about 1400 cases with about 400 of them being the nickle plated style.
So you were able to score 1400 cases of 9mm... I'd think that if I was reloading I'd give them my phone number and volunteer to clean-up the next time they shoot as well... 🙂
None you improvise, one (or more) is luxury.
I'd do that, only they were complete buttheads to me and tried to arrest me/ seize my firearms over my LAR PISTOL mags in my AR. After running a shooting serial while i was on the range. As a Fmr RSO I know they failed to follow their SOP about clearing the range and posting it was off limits as per their agreement to use our range. YEA they try to make that they know the law . I asked them to pull up the Special Bulletin 72 on magazines or call a CFO. In the end they called my Range President and tried to get me kicked out /Barred. Only problem is they have tried it before.
Not nice! They were either being *ricks or you were less than friendly. Knowing that you love the Police, it must have been that they were *ricks! 🙂
I've always wanted to really like the RCMP and although I've worked with some great guys from that department, I've met more than a few that were arrogant. My son feels the same way and he's with the RCMP. What can I say? It's a mix. It seems the newer the recruit, the less common sense he has.A reflection of Society perhaps...
None you improvise, one (or more) is luxury.
fixed it. they were on the hyper active side. And they have tried it again over the same thing. small town cops that could be doing meaning full law enforcement. Maybe they got fed up rousting the drunks drinking at the bus stops . I'm not sure but I just wish if they come up tovthe range try not to irritate the ppl that pay to maintain and use the range lawfully. There they are visitors. kinda goes over the heads of them
I do both.
Any small arms ammunition and rimfire I purchase, eventually will include that in my reloading, buying rifle ammo to keep brass for future need.
But atm I only reload 223/5.56, lowers costs, which means more ammo to shoot for training and stockpile. The ability to reload your own ammo is invaluable.
I always go when I see them on the calendar, after the queen’s cowboys have left the range. They are notorious slobs. ie they finish at noon, I go at 12:05.
I got hundreds of 9mm and .223 brass for free after a single range trip. They also do clearing drills and leave LIVE rounds on the range floor. So free ammo as well.
Think of it as getting a smidgen of tax money back 🙂
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One is none, two is one.
Reloading from a prepping perspective will give you with the ability to reload the ammo you use as long as you have primers and powder on hand (part of your preps).
Reloading from a sports shooting perspective:
1. lowered costs versus quality store bought ammo
2. you get to "dial" in your ammo to your rifles. Which translated in English means that the ammo you have reloaded for each rifle will be the best performing giving you the tightest groups at 100 meters and 300 meters for larger calibers (ranges). It does take some time to do load development with different powders, primers and bullets etc but when I have it I then reload my total for that rifle and wupti ! that rifle project is complete.
Bulk surplus ammo is great and easy to build your ammo stocks. Some of us just prefer to tinker and optimize all our loads for better accurazy at longer distances.