I’m considering doind my own reloading. Has/does anyones done any? Is it worth the initial cost vs. buying preloaded ammo? I shoot a 7mm and shells are kinda pricey,as well as for the 357’s i shoot. I’ve been doing some research and the beginner kits dont seem too badly priced. Any input is ,as always,appreciated.
17’ High Tide CC
60 Yamaha
I’ve been loading for 25 years. After the initial cost it saves you money but realization those savings are based on how much you shoot.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
I agree with Salty.
I realize considerable savings with my .300 WSM. The cheapest ammo for .300 WSM still runs $35 for 20 rounds. I reload with premium bullets for less than half. Not only is it cheaper, but I have loads developed that are custom tailored to my rifle. Definitely worth it if you shoot as much as I do and demand precision.
I load for tons of other calibers, but I realize the greatest savings in .300 WSM and .44 magnum.
quote:
Originally posted by duckcommanderI agree with Salty.
I realize considerable savings with my .300 WSM. The cheapest ammo for .300 WSM still runs $35 for 20 rounds. I reload with premium bullets for less than half. Not only is it cheaper, but I have loads developed that are custom tailored to my rifle. Definitely worth it if you shoot as much as I do and demand precision.
I load for tons of other calibers, but I realize the greatest savings in .300 WSM and .44 magnum.
I realize savings for everything that I load for but I’ve had the equipment for a long time. I find that I get the most savings from the 7mm Mag, 7mm08 and .41 Rem Mag. The 7mm08 is a pet load that is not commercially available since I use a 150grn bullet. I can also set bullets to depths I want based on performance results from tests that exceed those given by factory load. IE: I typically set the bullet .010 off the lands reducing the “jump”. It also gives you the flexibility to custom tailor the velocity in order to achieve maximum accuracy, the highest velocity is not always the most accurate. Also, you can use different powders that give completely different results with virtually the same velocities.
Reloading is as much a hobby as it is a savings tool.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
You really are not saving money after you buy all the equipment, powder, primers, bullets etc… In the long run if you shoot enough, yes you will save. The main advantage I have in reloading is all my handloads exceed the best match ammo money can buy. I use premium bullets, know exactly how much powder is in every casing and my accuracy is guaranteed. Once you find a load that works in a specific gun and that you really like, you can make a whole bunch. But as far as saving? Prob not saving much. A box of bullets alone are $40.00 let alone powder and all the other tools needed. It is fun though
Mark, finally bought my equipment (RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Reloading Kit). Loaded my first 50 (.270Win) yesterday and will be at the range testing powder charges this weekend. This rifle shoots 1" groups with factory ammo. I can’t wait to see what it does with custom
I’ve been reloading for almost twenty years and it’s a lot of fun and very rewarding. Especially shooting a nice deer with your load that you worked up yourself. If your main motivation is to save money, you probably won’t notice the savings any time soon. I ended up shooting a good bit more for the same money as buying factory ammo. Like the others have said, it great to be able to tailor the load exactly like you want it. Generally you can get more accuracy too.
I would recommend getting at LEAST two recent loading manuals. Always compare loads between them. Just changing different brand bullets, even though they are the same weight, can change pressures a good bit. Also, start off loading in small batches, no more than 5 or 10 at a time. You don’t want to load 50 or 100 rounds and find out that your powder charge or seating depth is causing too much pressure. Don’t start at maximum loads either!
Seems like a lot to take in, but just take your time and read the manuals and you will be just fine.
Corn Breads right. You should make up several batches of 4-5 rounds with slightly different powder charges. Each gun, in my experience, likes a slightly different load. Find the round your gun likes and then reload in mass. By playing with only a couple of grains of powder and testing different bullets I have been able to make “single hole” rounds for all of my guns. Most people don’t try to achieve that but it is very rewarding once you find that magic reload.