[timbo]

I have a question. Why is it that handloading tends to yield more accurate ammo for a gun? What is done differently than many loads off the shelf?

[Pendragon]

Thats a seriously unfounded assumption.

I think handloads can POTENTIALLY be more accurate.

If they are, its because somone tried different bullets and powders until they found a recipie that fits a certain gun just right.

If you try tons of different factory loads, you will probably find some that shoot really well in a particular gun.

Finally, most shooters are not good enough to know when their gun is more or less accurate. Gun and bullet accuracy is mostly wasted because people are shaky and wobbly platforms accurate shooting.

[swingset]

Pendragon,

You overlook an obvious advantage to handloading, which is if done correctly, factors out many inconsistencies that present themselves in a factory load.

Many handloaders meticulously spec/mic and prep their cases, weigh every component, trickle their powder down to it's smallest variance, etc.

Also, cases can be neck sized which tailor the brass to the chamber. Plus, seating depth can be tuned to hit the rifling optimally.

And, another advantage is the use of powders which may not be available in factory loads. Also, you can tweak the load by charge to eek out even more performance from handloading.

It goes way beyond a gun likes a certain bullet.

True for average joes they may not see it, but for anyone who's shot benchrest or highpower comp, it matters a whole lot.

[Kamicosmos]

I agree whole heartedly with Swingset.

Handguns may not see a huge gain in accuracy, although I have made some loads that my (insert random gun here) absolutley hated.

Now rifles on the other hand. Wow. Just starting loads I cut groups sizes in half, and that's after trying 4 different Premium Factory loads! I haven't even started the actual 'development' for my rifle yet.

Plus it's nice to be able to load a box of ammo for about a quarter of what a factory load runs. (Applicable cost saving arguments here...)

[jsalcedo]

I can only reveal anecdotally of course, that I have not ever found factory ammo that was even close to my most amateur handloads.


In .38 special I have tried 7 different brands of factory loads that produced
flyers and inconsistent groups in my particular guns.

Once I took the used brass and loaded my own with published data
group size diminished signifcantly and flyers were eliminated.

In .44 magnum my handloads did not make much of a difference.
It is still a work in progress.

The most amazing results were with .45acp.

After trying literally 16 or 17 different brands, weights, bullet types
I was getting the normal 3 inch groups at 15 yards with most of my
.45 acp guns.

Disgusted, I worked up 4 different loads and took them out and found one
that outperformed all of them in the accuracy department.

I'm convinced that my home setup and careful attention makes ammo that is potentially superior in all ways that I can measure.

YRMV

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I was shooting at a bullseye event a couple of weeks ago for the first or second time. One of the fellows there was advising me to start handloading because he thought the factory loads had too much recoil.

Now, I've not got a lot of time, and I can afford a bit of factory ammo if I want to shoot bullseye. So I'm far from certain whether I want to take his advice.

How big is the recoil issue in practice, and if ro, are there any commercially available .45ACP loads that wouuld reduce recoil?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Thanx,
- pdmoderator

[Pendragon]

I did not over look that aspect, I just did not write it down. I think it falls under the "potentially" part.

As mentioned, it probably is more true of rifles than handguns, but I always default to handguns.

I enjoy handloading but I think it would be silly of me to claim my loads are "more accurate". I simply am not a good enough shooter to say for certain. They seem more accurate, they might be, but I would not claimit outright.

What I do like is that in about 2000 rounds of .45ACP, I have not had a single stoppage and perhaps the recoil is a bit lighter - I lean towards the lower end of the power curve - some people load like they are shooting kevlar targets or something...

[uglymofo]

Contrary to Pendragon's view, there's NOTHING FUN ABOUT RELOADING :rolleyes: :D . I'd 'way rather be shooting, sleeping, racing, running, or fishing.

I agree with Swingset; with diligent practices, one can produce ammo that is 4-6x more accurate for about 1/3 the cost (for rifle ammo) in my experience. (That is, I get .5" groups in my sleep with my reloads, where some rifle ammo only yields 2" groups, and we're not even discussing military surplus junk.) Pistol ammo is way more economical than that, I just haven't kept track how much less it costs per round, but the bullets alone are about 1/4 the price of target rifle bullets, so costs are probably 1/7-1/10th of factory (at least, for 45acp).

That's not to say reloading is cheaper; accumulating the components at a good (or rockbottom) price necessitates buying in bulk. For example, serious reloaders buy their rifle bullets by the 1000's. I've personally got about $2000 tied up in unassembled components right now in the garage. And I'd only consider myself a semi-serious reloader.

As to 45ACP reloads, one can reload those anywhere within the recommended reloading charge, and go from creampuff loads to "hand cannon" rounds.

It can be hard to improve on OEM pistol rounds, if the right OEM round is chosen as a baseline. Factory rifle loads are a whole different story. No offense Pendragon, but if accuracy from your own reloads isn't better than factory rounds with your rifles, I think you're doing something wrong. It's really not very demanding to produce rounds that are better than OEM, and all other things being consistent (like the expertise or lack of skill of the shooter) groups should diminish in direct relation to the diligence of the reloader (up to a point).

[444]

"Why is it that handloading tends to yield more accurate ammo for a gun?"

Because you have tailored the load to your particular rifle. Factory ammo is made to work decent in any rifle of that caliber.
It is obvious that you can change the powder, the bullet, the primer, and the case; trying various combinations, hopefully finding one that proves to be more accurate than the rest.
But the more serious reloader would just be getting started. You can spend more time prepping the case. You can ensure that all the cases are trimmed to the same length, you can uniform all the primer pockets, you can deburr all the flash holes, you can neck size the cases so that they fire formed to your chamber.
Then of course you can adjust your over all length to find that sweet spot that jibes with the barrel harmonics to produce the tightest groups possible.

You think the factory does any of that ?

[Justin]

How big is the recoil issue in practice, and if ro, are there any commercially available .45ACP loads that wouuld reduce recoil? It's a matter of distraction. Loads that have less recoil give you more time to recover and get your next shot lined up. Also you're far less likely to develop a flinch or anticipate the shot.

[P95Carry]

I was going to add my own 0.02 .. but lookin thru again ..... I think it's all been covered! :)

[HankB]

"Why is it that handloading tends to yield more accurate ammo for a gun?"Tolerances.

Factory loaded ammunition is generally going to be made so it will fit in EVERY gun made to take that cartridge. Normal tolerances of a few thousandths of an inch can, and do, stack up to produce errors. For example, if your chamber is cut on the high side of the tolerance, and your ammo is at the minimum, the cartridge will be loose in the chamber. Generally, this is not helpful to accuracy.

Throw in neck turning, sorting cases, deburring flash holes, adjusting seating depth, bullet brand, powder, etc., and a careful handloader will turn out ammo that's better in HIS firearm than anything available commercially.

[C.R.Sam]

Above plus...

A. You are going to pay dearly for fine accuracy.
Either in green by buying premium match ammunition.
Or with your sweat and time rolling your own.

B. Individual guns often prefer ammo tailored specifically to them.

Sam

[Ivanimal]

There are OEM's like black hills that put the better components together with the right powders. The same thing I have been doing for years. The results are better accuracy and reliable loads. I find that whatever kind of game I am looking for has a different bullet to go with it. For example I use 200 grain Swift scirrocco for elk, 180 grain nosler ballistic tip for muledeer, and 150 grain nosler partition for coastal deer. All these loads are for the same Remington model 700 in 300 win.mag. I hunt with 3 friends and we all use the same caliber and loads for simplicity. I dont give a hoot about cost, performance is what I require. I havent seen any of these loads in factory ammo. Even if I could find them they wouldnt make them as well as I do.
As far as it being fun or not: I love reloading and hate TV, your results may vary.

[Delmar]

I saw only one thing left out...
Reloading keeps all these crazies off the street for a little while longer:D

As has been pointed out, reloading may or may not be to your liking. If you like to tinker with things and get satisfaction from assembling stuff using precision gauges and what not, you'll likely find that you have a new hobby.
Kinda like muscle cars-there are those who have no idea of what goes on under the hood and could care less. Then, there are those who are into grease up to their elbows looking to tweak the last bit of performance out of their ride!

[Clark]

If I put Federal Gold Match or PMC target ammo in my concentricity gauge, I will see .004" of runout. I can load .001" ammo.

The odd thing is that my case of Greek 303Brit surplus from AIM all measures .001", and it shoots like it too.

[wingman]

I have been handloading over 35 years and find it to be relaxing,(I know
to some it is work), but most of all I have yet to find a handgun or rifle that
I could not get more accuracy from with my handloads. Takes work and time
but well worth the effort, as a side note for accuracy test on handguns use
a bench rest.

[Standing Wolf]

Some hand loads are vastly inferior to factory ammunition, but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, you can usually tailor loads for a given gun that will consistently outperform factory loads with 20%+ smaller groups. I work toward both accuracy and light recoil for the sake of my arthritis, and have achieved reasonably good results.

All that said™, the critical factor remains the shooter first and last, in my opinion.

[Sheldon]

I think even putting aside the fact that you can "tune" a load to a particular firearm you have, that reloads you make are done on the same machine as opposed to who knows how many different machines are running to produce factory ammo. Also a lot of the bulk bargain ammo out there is cheaper for a reason. It maybe ammo that was not the standard of a higher line of ammo or end runs or setup runs so that can be a factor as well. The consistancy of all your ammo going thru the same dies on the same press makes a big difference. You also can so easily change the powder charge for lighter loads. Take the recoil out , or lightening it, from the shooting equation goes a LONG way to making you a better shooter.