Reloaders unite

[Spreedizzle 1]

There seems to be quite a few people on here that are both educated about and enjoy their 2nd amendment right to gun ownership. I created this thread in hopes that there are others that enjoy the craftsmanship of reloading ammunition with hand loads.

Personally, I reload my .280 Remington and my .40 cal S&W. I reload both with a full RCBS Crusher II kit, powder measure, case trimmer, mechanical scale, and the other typical accessories.

.280...favorite round is 50 grains of IMR 4350, loaded with a 160 grain 7mm Nosler AccuBond Spitzer. Combo produces about 2850 ft per second and sub-moa at 100 yards. Factory loads out of my Tikka M695 give me about 1.25" at 100, so I am quite pleased with the extended accuracy of my hand loads.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff228/s...le/IMG_3108.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff228/s...le/IMG_3109.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff228/s...le/IMG_3110.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff228/s...le/IMG_3111.jpg

I SEVERELY miss my home I sold in NC, and the garage and workbench that I had there to give my hand loads proper justice and space to work. But wherever you go....sometimes you must improvise. ;)

[Monty22 833]

Hey Spree- maybe you can help me- I've been looking into getting started reloading, but have been procrastinating for about 2 years now. I have a press I have yet to be able to Identify, other than it's a Dillon from at least 7 years ago. I got a box of stuff from the armorer of a local municipality I shoot with. I'm not exactly sure what I'll need to have a bare bones set up. I'm assuming a tumbler, scale and trimmer/reamer, and some other odds and ends. I'm looking to do .40, 5.56 and maybe .380. I have a substantial amount of .223/5.56 brass already. Any idea what the start up cost would be? I've seen some of the Lee starter sets and similar, but wasn't suer if it was worth getting- your thoughts are appreciated.

[Trooper 8]

Good thread. I reload shotshell because I shoot a ton of trap each year but I want to get into F-class so I am looking to start reloading metallic as well. I got Handloading for Competition by Glen M. Zediker. I've concluded it's not a get up to speed book. I ordered The ABCs of Reloading which I think will serve my purpose much better. I have a long time to learn since I'm starting my MBA next month and won't be doing a lot of serious shooting again for a couple years.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Stupid question, but is reloading using spent casing and rebuilding bullets by hand. I've only been skeet shooting once, and range shooting once, and don't own any guns, so have no idea about anything

[Trooper 8]

Stupid question, but is reloading using spent casing and rebuilding bullets by hand. I've only been skeet shooting once, and range shooting once, and don't own any guns, so have no idea about anything

Yeah. For shotgunning and pistol shooting, it can save you a decent amount of money if you shoot a lot. For rifle it can save money as well but with precision shooting only handloads can deliver to the potential of the rifle.

Just for the record, and not trying to be smart, but the bullet is actually only the projectile part of a cartridge. Cartridge = Case + Primer + Powder + Bullet

Shotshell = Hull (case) + Primer + Powder + Wad (a cup that holds the shot) + Shot

You can also fire a slug, a solid projectile, from a shotshell but it isn't very common to reload for them.

[Rustpot 1]

Stupid question, but is reloading using spent casing and rebuilding bullets by hand. I've only been skeet shooting once, and range shooting once, and don't own any guns, so have no idea about anything

There are several different styles. You can cast your own bullets or buy loose bullets. Spent brass/hulls from more premium ammo is reused and new primers are pressed into the casings.

I knew a guy who mixed his own powder, cast bullets and shot and machined spent casings to keep better tolerances on everything.

You can go as hardcore as you want with everything, but most components (brass/hulls, primers, powder, bullets/shot) are available at retail.

[PiKappaPhi 0]

Yup, planning on getting into it. I use to shoot only 9mm (Springfield EMP and XD9sc) and I could deal with purchasing the ammunition at that price. I have recently purchased a Springfield Loaded 1911 so I will need to start reloading for .45. I have a couple of older Brett Hull GI stuff is anyone wants to do a bit of swapping, even have some .40 S&W casings I need to move :)

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Dad doesn't shoot much anymore but we have a reloader. When I was a kid I'd have to fetch all of the shells.

[Monty22 833]

I was just at the range yesterday, and I noticed that other than .22's, there wasn't the normal assortment of spent brass on the ground or in the cans. It would seem more folks are getting into reloading or saving it for scrap.

[Spreedizzle 1]

I was just at the range yesterday, and I noticed that other than .22's, there wasn't the normal assortment of spent brass on the ground or in the cans. It would seem more folks are getting into reloading or saving it for scrap.

35% of the cost of shooting is in the brass. By most "average" estimates.....you can cover the cost of your equipment for reloading by shooting 11 boxes of ammunition, and from that point forward you are saving money with your shooting.

[tomh7 2]

My fiance has been shooting for a while and she has gotten me into it. She bought me a Springfield XD 45 this past Christmas (I wanted a 9mm because ammo is cheap but she has a .40S&W Sig and I couldn't keep my man card if the woman had a bigger gun than me). Since the cost of ammo is so high for the larger calibers, I have thought about getting into doing my own reloads. Where would be a good place to start as fare as learning how to do it and what equipment is needed?

[Spreedizzle 1]

My fiance has been shooting for a while and she has gotten me into it. She bought me a Springfield XD 45 this past Christmas (I wanted a 9mm because ammo is cheap but she has a .40S&W Sig and I couldn't keep my man card if the woman had a bigger gun than me). Since the cost of ammo is so high for the larger calibers, I have thought about getting into doing my own reloads. Where would be a good place to start as fare as learning how to do it and what equipment is needed?

I have a Springfield XD in the .40 S&W. Fantastic shooting gun, easy to clean, and especially great with regards to value.

For your reloading, I have linked for you the page on Cabelas which offers various levels of "starter kits". Most of these are pretty good and fairly comprehensive with regards to how to actually load your own ammunition. I do recommend you either have a friend walk you through it, or you can purchase a dvd (such as the one offered by RCBS) which is very intuitive and will walk you through step by step on how to properly load your own ammunition. And of course....if you have more specific questions....pop them on here and we will see what we all can do to help you out.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...entId=cat602007

[Rustpot 1]

It's pretty much a press with fittings for each caliber and primers, weighing/dispensing the powder and proper storage of the powder and primers.

You can get fancy and buy actual trimming/deburring tools or just use standard hardware store equipment.

It's not the most complicated process in the world, but the startup cost is what is most prohibitive.

[tomh7 2]

Thanks guys... Maybe this weekend, the boss and I will head up to Cabelas and check it out.

[Jeff 0]

Well, at the moment I am just hoarding my brass. I do not have a reloading set-up yet, as I live in an apt. and have two big dogs. It'll have to wait until I get a house. (Or convince a shooting friend with a house to split the cost and get a nice setup ;) )

I probably have a good 5,000 brass cases shot once from 30-06, .308 to .45acp. Since I picked up hockey again, I shoot much, much less. Maybe this'll motivate me to take a recently purchased P9s to the range and make sure it works. I bought it over 3 months ago and have not made it to the range in that time.

[Spreedizzle 1]

Jeff......NONSENSE!!!

Take a look at my pics at the beginning of the thread, that is my setup in my apartment. If you need further pics, let me know and I'll snap some up for you.

I had my setup on a great work bench that I built in my house in NC, but the job transfer came in and I wasn't about to buy a house in Louisiana......so back to apartment life for now. ;)

[Monty22 833]

Ok, I picked up a tumbler at Cabala's , so I'm slightly closer to actually starting to reload. Is there a consensus "best" manual ? I noticed most of the suppliers have there own. When I get a chance I'll take some pics and email Dillon for a model ID and instruction booklet.

[Trooper 8]

Ok, I picked up a tumbler at Cabala's , so I'm slightly closer to actually starting to reload. Is there a consensus "best" manual ? I noticed most of the suppliers have there own. When I get a chance I'll take some pics and email Dillon for a model ID and instruction booklet.

The ABCs of Reloading is a very good book to start. Then get a one or two manuals from the powder or bullet maker you are going to use.

[Monty22 833]

Great trooper, I'll check it out.

I figured out the press I got is a Dillon Square Deal "B". I was able to download the manual off their site so now I acan figure out if any parts are missing and how to set it up. Unfortunately, It appears to only be for pistol caliber reloading. Not sure If I'd be better off getting this one cleaned up and selling it , then buying a press that will allow me to load both pistol and rifle, or getting a basic press for rifle calibers. Any thoughts?

[Trooper 8]

It depends. In general, pistol and shotshell reloading are high-volume processes. Rifle can be either high-volume or precision. Most rifle loading is done on a single stage or a turret press.