Author Topic: Reloading period! (Read 1173 times)

snuffer#1 · « **on:** December 23, 2006, 10:11:38 PM »

I use a Lee Anniv. kit. I like it and it serves me well and I don't have issues with it. Don't get me wrong, I would love to reload a lot of stuff in a short amount of time, but I take my time. And what is more important accuracy or quantity? I reload cause I like to take my time and EVERY CATRIDGE I make is important to me.

With my Lee equip. everything I shoot except for the revolvers, shoots a sub 1" groups. My 223 at 200yds is shooting just under 1/2 inch. That's a NEF/HR 223 with a 4x12x40 scope, and my Lee stuff!

snuffer

victorcharlie · « **Reply #1 on:** December 24, 2006, 12:15:23 AM »

Lee's been in the business for a long time..........It's good equipment at a low price........I've got to agree with you.....nothing wrong with Lee IMO......and is a good value for the money.....

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** December 24, 2006, 12:42:51 AM »

I recomend that exact package to beginners. It works and will load quality ammo for the rest of your life. I just dont have the time to single stage load anything anymore. It just eats up to much shooting time.

jack19512 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:18:09 AM »

Quote from: snuffer#1 on December 23, 2006, 10:11:38 PM

And what is more important accuracy or quantity?

To a lot of people both would be important. That's why some would not be satisfied with my reloading equipment. I am lucky not to need 1000 rounds a month. I take my time and concentrate on accuracy, that is why my reloads come out so accurate also.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #4 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:48:44 AM »

I do not reload fast either and I am like that by choice. I used to shoot 200 rifle rounds a week and 300 or so handgun rounds. I love practicing at anything I have ever done in life. I still did not handload fast. I am sure that there are those who can reload 5 times faster than me and still be just as accurate. I think this is about "comfort zone" and an individual's definition of being "accurate." As far as equipment, to each his own. It's a matter of taste and affordability in some situations.

Almtnman · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2006, 03:19:25 AM »

I'm like the rest of you, I reload slow and take my time also. I don't want to put out a bunch of rounds in a short period of time, because I enjoy reloading as a hobby and it's a very rewarding hobby especially when one of my loads has did what I wanted it to do. I didn't get into reloading as a manufacturing process, only to load myself up some very accurate loads that I enjoy seeing how they perform. Sometimes when I'm loading rifle loads, I'll even place the powder in the scale pan and trickle in that last few grains just to see if I can get it right on the mark. I enjoy doing that.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2006, 03:45:54 AM »

I have been reloading for @45 years and have never used a Dillon type press nor even a turret head press. During that time I loaded (and still do) for several rifles. And, until recently, I made one or more Pdog trips a year. This alone entailed 1000+ rounds per rifle. I also shoot competitively. So I grind out a lotsa ammo. I've never thought of reloading as a hobby that was measured by how much you could do in how little time. Unless you're reloading for some sort of spray and pray AK47 or a M16 clone in .223, accuracy has got to be your bottem line.
I've never shot in any of those "cowboy" shoots where lotsa ammo is burned or the pistol matches. Maybe a Dillon type could be justified there. I don't know. But even then, bottem line is you've got to hit something. There are no points awarded for how much noise you make.

I have read post from beginning reloaders asking how much ammo they could expect ot churn out per hour with press xxx. I think that is entirely the wrong approach.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2006, 04:06:19 AM »

Good post in my opinion. I also know some people are faster than me at other things too.... like going through reloads at the range. I take my time there too and try to record as much info as possible. This is the way I do things and it surely might not be the best for all. Some people are just simply faster.

Almtnman · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2006, 07:49:49 AM »

Quote from: bigjeepman on December 24, 2006, 04:06:19 AM

Good post in my opinion. I also know some people are faster than me at other things too.... like going through reloads at the range. I take my time there too and try to record as much info as possible. This is the way I do things and it surely might not be the best for all. Some people are just simply faster.

Fast doesn't always mean that they are accurate. I take my time at the range also, picking out when I want to pull the trigger.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2006, 07:50:11 PM »

I also reload slowly.I own 3 Lee presses,1 RCBS,and 3 Lyman presses.All mounted.I run an assembly line,so to speak.Sometimes I just use one or two,according to what Iam loading.A shooting buddy of mine says "I shoot to reload".He maybe right.I take alot of time and care with my loads.They also very shiny and pretty.If it doesn't look good,I don't shoot it....period.I shoot around 500 to 700 rounds every couple of weeks are so.I reload for every gun I own,except my .22 rimfires.That is the only factory ammo I buy.It doesn't matter what brand of equipment you use as long as you are happy with it and you get good results.I can afford a Dillon or two are three for that matter,but I chose not too.Each to his own.Take care and "Good Shooting"...........Rick

Little Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** December 26, 2006, 04:28:46 AM »

I take my time as well. I don’t know if I reload to shoot or shoot to reload. I enjoy both. I also like many Lee products. I also like RCBS as well. I think the RCBS kits are a great value as well and they are sold right in the stores where I live. My groups mirror like yours does. I am one happy person with my groups that I hand load for. I take my time to do load development. Most of my rifles now have been tested with many different load combinations and I have it down to just the right recipe for certain hunting. The fun is when you want to change a recipe to do something different with the same rifle.

Example: My Winchester 94 Buffalo Bill in 30-30 shoots the Speer 170 grain bullet very accurately for Deer hunting. I want to make an Antelope load for this same rifle for a hunting trip I am planning on this year. I am now in the process of developing a load for the 130 grain Speer pointed soft point. This rifle has a 26 inch barrel and I should be able to get 2400 FPS from this rifle with this bullet. It will be a two shot rifle. One in chamber and one in the tube. Why would I want to use my 30-30? I have a nice 308 that shoots great. Because I just want to do something different and have fun working up a load with the 30-30.

Little Joe

Cheesehead · « **Reply #11 on:** December 26, 2006, 08:17:28 AM »

I like reloading rifle ammo single stage, to weigh every powder charge ect. But I shoot lots of 45 acp and 44 mag in competition and practice. So,, I load the pistol ammo on a progressive press at a fairly high rate with massive amounts of components on hand since they are consumed quickly. This is also fun. I do the single stage rifle and progressive pistol reloading all on the same press, a Dillion 550, the only reloading press I own.

Cheese

PlacitasSlim · « **Reply #12 on:** December 26, 2006, 08:25:20 AM »

I agree with taking your time. The wife .38 and I .44 both shoot cowboy action, so I have gone to an RCBS Pro2000 progressive for these. We go through so much ammo that that made sense. For my accuracy and has to go bang period ammo, I use my single stage Rock Chucker and can have more time to devote to that due to the progerssive.

223Shooter · « **Reply #13 on:** December 26, 2006, 12:29:54 PM »

I totally agree with "Little Joe". I "handload" each and every round. My .223, 06 and 40 S&W loads are very accurate. Plus..I enjoy spending time loading my ammo. When I pull down on a coyote with my .223, I am confident that my NEF will do it's part if I do mine. I will have my 35 Rem in a Marlin 336 soon. I plan on reloading it too. I try to tweek all of the accuracy out of all my rifles that they can deliver. Handloading does just that. Ain't it great........

Savage · « **Reply #14 on:** December 26, 2006, 01:25:43 PM »

For the first 30yrs or so of reloading, I single staged pistol. rifle, and shotgun ammo. I enjoyied it a lot. I shoot mostly pistol these days, and in large quanties. So----------nowdays I load on a progressive, usually 500rds at a time. Takes less than two hours of my time from start to finish. Ahh, life is good. Still have the old Rock Chucker and a couple of Mec 600s. They haven't been on the bench in 5yrs or so. These days I reload so I can afford to shoot!
Savage

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #15 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:02:32 PM »

Cheesehead I'm with you. I shoot a lot of 44 mag and 9mm mostly just for plinking and for this I use a dillon progressive. All my rifle ammo is done in a single stage though.

boommer · « **Reply #16 on:** December 27, 2006, 05:38:17 PM »

pistols on progressive ( unless there heavy loads !!! ) rifle on YE-OLD rock-chucker!!! LET'S SAY THATS MY RULE !

MnMike · « **Reply #17 on:** December 27, 2006, 05:53:35 PM »

It is not what you shoot.
It is not how often you shoot.
It is not how much you reload.
It is not the tools that you reload with.

It is that you shoot and reload to your personal goals. That is why we are on this forum.

mike

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #18 on:** December 27, 2006, 07:00:59 PM »

Very well put MnMike.........Rick

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 28, 2006, 01:21:12 AM »

Quote from: snuffer#1 on December 23, 2006, 10:11:38 PM

....what is more important accuracy or quantity?
snuffer

The two do not have to be mutually exclusive.

williamlayton · « **Reply #20 on:** December 29, 2006, 03:38:11 AM »

YUP!
I have a friend who shoots a lot and he shoots a variety of guns--depending on the game and the gun--He reloads with a Dillon and gets very accurated discharge of powder, depending on his needs.
He does not care for the process even though he is very good at the process and he is very careful--after an incident which blew up a gun he was shooting. He knows what happened and how it happened--after the fact.
Could it have been prevented? Yup!
I guess we are all lucky too some extent, not having been distracted at some times--and lucky that sometimes when we got distracted we didn't make a mistake.
Same story as with an AD--I have had one of those. I remember it as an uncalled for and preventable thing--but it happened.
Blessings