Reloading/Handloading (Interested?)

[marineimaging]

I wonder if it would be worthwhile to post a Reloading/Handloading page??? I have been doing it for a few years and although prices have gone down recently it won't last forever. Once you learn the particulars you can do things others don't think of. For example, my Mossberg Patriot is .308 cal but my Mossberg Patrol is .308/7.62. If I were to find myself in a pinch and could find some Mosin Nagant or AK-47 bullets along with something lie a .270 or other large primer bullets, (or just some .30-30 bullets) I can make them into a 7.62x51 for my rifle as long as I have the brass and a 30 cal necking die. Just wondering if others would be interested in learning - sharing info.

 

[Southernscotty]

I wonder if it would be worthwhile to post a Reloading/Handloading page??? I have been doing it for a few years and although prices have gone down recently it won't last forever. Once you learn the particulars you can do things others don't think of. For example, my Mossberg Patriot is .308 cal but my Mossberg Patrol is .308/7.62. If I were to find myself in a pinch and could find some Mosin Nagant or AK-47 bullets along with something lie a .270 or other large primer bullets, (or just some .30-30 bullets) I can make them into a 7.62x51 for my rifle as long as I have the brass and a 30 cal necking die. Just wondering if others would be interested in learning - sharing info.

I have the needed equipment to start reloading, I just haven't started yet. I wanted to load some 357/38 wad cutters for starters and have been saving tire weights :]

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I have not been reforming brass, I know some who do for wildcat calibers, but so far, I have not needed to. Some have been doing fire-forming as part of the process as well.

 

[marineimaging]

I have the needed equipment to start reloading, I just haven't started yet. I wanted to load some 357/38 wad cutters for starters and have been saving tire weights :]

Respectfully you are talking about two different things. Hand-load, reloading, and bullet casting are three different processes that can be done without the other. I am referring to the elements of handloading and reloading using existing components. From that process you can then add casting as another step. To be honest I would suggest that nobody get into casting until they understand the entire process of loading.

 

[Southernscotty]

Respectfully you are talking about two different things. Hand-load, reloading, and bullet casting are three different processes that can be done without the other. I am referring to the elements of handloading and reloading using existing components. From that process you can then add casting as another step. To be honest I would suggest that nobody get into casting until they understand the entire process of loading.

Gotcha; I do not know much about any of it. I bought a manual but haven't tried loading anything yet.
I was told to save all my tire weights and melt them to use for plinking. So I have the equipment just not the knowledge and since ammo is still readily available I have put off trying to load my own.
Probably a good thing thing. lol
I have made my own muzzleloader buffalo bullets though and that is with a mold

 

[marineimaging]

Gotcha; I do not know much about any of it. I bought a manual but haven't tried loading anything yet.
I was told to save all my tire weights and melt them to use for plinking. So I have the equipment just not the knowledge and since ammo is still readily available I have put off trying to load my own.
Probably a good thing thing. lol
I have made my own muzzleloader buffalo bullets though and that is with a mold

That's good. You are then aware of certain things such as understand bullet composition and hardness and so on. Saving tire weights is good too as long as you have a place to store them and never have to worry about moving. But the wife and I live in a RV (by choice) and are very limited on weight and extras.

 

[Trey Veston]

I just loaded up another 100 rounds of 9mm tonight. I have a new Glock G19 Gen 5 MOS coming in on Tuesday and have about 8 different recipes in self-defense and target shooting rounds worked up for it.

Tonight was 147gr Hornady XTPs using Ramshot Silhouette and Titegroup, and then RMR 124gr JHPs using the same powders.

I enjoy reloading. It's very cost effective, especially when loading for my .45 Colt and 10mm.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I just loaded up another 100 rounds of 9mm tonight. I have a new Glock G19 Gen 5 MOS coming in on Tuesday and have about 8 different recipes in self-defense and target shooting rounds worked up for it.

Tonight was 147gr Hornady XTPs using Ramshot Silhouette and Titegroup, and then RMR 124gr JHPs using the same powders.

View attachment 246333

I enjoy reloading. It's very cost effective, especially when loading for my .45 Colt and 10mm.

I'm an opportunist, I watch for deals and then work up loads accordingly. With Pistol, I don't see a whole lot of difference between various powders; I do see more difference with bullets though. I have just loaded up (and tested) a bunch of .40 S & W and .45 ACP using 700X I got for next to nothing; I just finished working through some Clays and some VV N something. I have an 8 lb box of H38, which will be my next powder of opportunity.

My .45 shoots 200 gr LSWCs the best; my 9mm likes 124 gr plated. My .40 likes 180 gr TCFP bullets.

Rifle is a different game. Powder and bullet are critical for accuracy.

 

[marineimaging]

I just loaded up another 100 rounds of 9mm tonight. I have a new Glock G19 Gen 5 MOS coming in on Tuesday and have about 8 different recipes in self-defense and target shooting rounds worked up for it.

Tonight was 147gr Hornady XTPs using Ramshot Silhouette and Titegroup, and then RMR 124gr JHPs using the same powders.

View attachment 246333

I enjoy reloading. It's very cost effective, especially when loading for my .45 Colt and 10mm.

I noticed you are loading full blown HP. Have you looked into loading HAP rounds as practice? They have the same physical characteristics as HP but don't have the cuts for controlled expansion like the higher priced HP. Just something to consider.

 

[Trey Veston]

I noticed you are loading full blown HP. Have you looked into loading HAP rounds as practice? They have the same physical characteristics as HP but don't have the cuts for controlled expansion like the higher priced HP. Just something to consider.

I have to order in most of my bullets, except the RMR JHPs, which are made locally and cost under $.12 per bullet.

I don't shoot enough to bother trying to save a few cents per round.

 

[A Realist]

I've been handloading for a number of years now, and it does pay off. I just don't know that there is enough interest here or enough people who do it to start a separate Reloading/Handloading page.

 

[marineimaging]

Probably not.

I've been handloading for a number of years now, and it does pay off. I just don't know that there is enough interest here or enough people who do it to start a separate Reloading/Handloading page.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Anyone use polymer coated bullets? I'm not overly fond of them; I have had feeding issues with both .45 and .40 S & W; but none with FMJ or hard cast lead. I have had to do a bunch of feeding ramp work in my .40, and I gave up on them in my .45 (now I only shoot 200 gr. SWC hard cast lead; and man, does my pistol ever like them!

Unfortunately, there is not much choice in 40 S & W projectiles.

 

[A Realist]

Anyone use polymer coated bullets? I'm not overly fond of them; I have had feeding issues with both .45 and .40 S & W; but none with FMJ or hard cast lead. I have had to do a bunch of feeding ramp work in my .40, and I gave up on them in my .45 (now I only shoot 200 gr. SWC hard cast lead; and man, does my pistol ever like them!

Unfortunately, there is not much choice in 40 S & W projectiles.

I use Missouri Bullets coated 185 Grain SWC Flat-Base in my .45 and they work great with excellent accuracy. Matter of fact, coated bullets work in all of my .45s. I just purchased a 9mm 1911 target pistol and will be trying coated bullets in that one.

I've never had any issues with them; however, all of my pistols are of the 1911 variety so I can't speak for other types of pistols.

 

[marineimaging]

Anyone use polymer coated bullets? I'm not overly fond of them; I have had feeding issues with both .45 and .40 S & W; but none with FMJ or hard cast lead. I have had to do a bunch of feeding ramp work in my .40, and I gave up on them in my .45 (now I only shoot 200 gr. SWC hard cast lead; and man, does my pistol ever like them!

Unfortunately, there is not much choice in 40 S & W projectiles.

I have not. I don't dislike progress, but I have this notion that some day we will need to be making our own and polymers just won't be in the mix. Also, I have been a manufacturing engineer in plastics injection molding factories and i cannot get over the idea of polymers and lead and heat being a good thing. It might be, but I don't see a huge advantage over coated vs jacketed.

 

[A Realist]

My apologies. I'm confusing "polymer coated" with "powder coated".

 

[marineimaging]

My apologies. I'm confusing "polymer coated" with "powder coated".

That is a difference of a horse color being not the same as the other one. LOL

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I have not. I don't dislike progress, but I have this notion that some day we will need to be making our own and polymers just won't be in the mix. Also, I have been a manufacturing engineer in plastics injection molding factories and i cannot get over the idea of polymers and lead and heat being a good thing. It might be, but I don't see a huge advantage over coated vs jacketed.

Me too, both thermal and reactive injection molding. I agree, I see no advantage. I don't cast bullets; but I do shoot a lot of hard cast; and so far from a shooters and reloaders stand point; I would sooner work withe either hard cast or Jacketed or Plated bullets.

However, this was the case of take what I could get at the time.

 

[marineimaging]

Me too, both thermal and reactive injection molding. I agree, I see no advantage. I don't cast bullets; but I do shoot a lot of hard cast; and so far from a shooters and reloaders stand point; I would sooner work withe either hard cast or Jacketed or Plated bullets.

However, this was the case of take what I could get at the time.

Been there myself. During the shortage I bought a bunch of Extreme plated HP from Freedom Munitions in Houston to reload. Both are now closed and bankrupt and I am not surprised. I went thorough my bullets and found about 1 of every 45-50 having incomplete plating. When shooting from a PC carbine at 50 yards I could tell they were unevenly plated because most of them were flyers. (I could shoot the same course with the same powder and load but using Hornady 124 HP and have 1 flyer out of 50, maybe.) Pistol shooters didn't have an issue because the imbalance didn't affect short range pistol shooting enough for them to realize that a longer shot would have not even been on paper.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Caliber bullets were made locally, by a young professional guy who is also an avid shooter. He was having these copper plated, but they were of even weight, and shot as consistent as the best and better than most. Companies refused to plate for him because either they were anti-gun, or they did not want to be bothered. It was a sad day when I could no longer get these locally made beauties.

If I were younger, I might consider starting to cast again, but I have no equipment and no lead left, no place indoors where I would want to work with lead; and no time either. I found sizing lubing to be a pain and a mess.