How much to reload?

How would you use your components?

  • Only reload what you shoot

    Votes: 69 62.7%
  • Load everything you have

    Votes: 41 37.3%

  • Total voters
    110
  • Poll closed .
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Reloading has opened up a whole new chapter in my shooting adventure, but I mainly shoot and load in smaller batches which keeps me busy doing something all the time.
 
Reloading Plan and Action

I reload for 13 rifle calibers, one rifle in eacn caliber. I try to keep 200-250 rounds on hand for each one, except for the 5.56x45 AR, which has a 1000rd. inventory. This said, I am still searching for a "pet load" for some of those rifles; others I already have found the most accurate load suitable for how I will typically use the rifle.

As an axample, take the .257 Roberts. I have an inventory of 115gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip rounds, and also of 115 gr. Nosler partitions. The two rounds have almost the same POI; the BT is a slightly better group than the Partition, which has a POI about 1" right and 1/2" higher than the BT @ 100 yds. I can either adjust the scope or the hold for a long shot with the Partitions, but default round is the 115gr. BT, with an inventory of 150rds.

I recently loaded 50rds. of Sierra 75gr. hollow points for the .257, which also group well (sub moa) but have a POI about 3.5" higher than the 115gr. bal. tips @ 100 yds. I may try "loading down" on the 75gr. Sierra to get the same POI as the Nosler BT's, if the group can be held below 1moa when doing that.

Same goes for the .243, and the 7mm WSM. Right now I only have a "pet load" at 140gr. for the 6.5x55 Swede, but I've loaded a few 120 gr. rounds to see how and where they group relative to the 140's. I'm still "fussing" with the .22 K-Hornet, and I have a good load sighted with 150gr. Partitions in the .270, but will be shooting some 130gr. next time out to the range.
 
I think u should load all if u have time. Maybe at time it would be cheaper,u know it wouldnt be less money. Plus too have just incase u need at the minute,like evacuations,zombie out break{lol),chaos of society.But most cause range ammo is a must?
 
I pretty much just load what I'm going to shoot. Otherwise, I'll find a load I like better and have a bunch of ammo stockpiled that I don't want to shoot.
 
If you only load each powder into 1 caliber, with 1 projectile, at 1 charge weight, go ahead and load it all. I have a half dozen pistol powders, they cross over between 4 calibers, 20+ projectiles, and a few different charge weights.

Rifles are even worse. Just for .308 I have 17 different projectiles, 3 different primers, 5 different types of brass, 2 types of dies, 8 powders, and about 100 recipes. To keep any amount of loaded rounds of each combo on the shelf just isn't practical. Keep 250 of 3 different "go to" loads for my target gun, and 60 hunting rounds.

But then again, I'm not afraid of poop hitting fans, I just like to shoot and experiment with different rounds and see what they do. So for me, as long as I have 2 mags of +P+ 9mm for my nightstand gun, components to load while I watch TV, and enough shotgun shells to last me until the next pallet turns up, I'm happy,
 
I keep 500/1000 loaded rounds of the calibers I shoot most. Maybe 100/200 of others I don't shoot as much. I have about 5000/6000 bullets and 20K of primers and powder to back that up. When I shoot I usually refill the cases within a few days. My shoulder will only let me load a couple of hundred at a time. All my shooting is handguns.
I have also accumulated the equipment and about 250# of lead to start casting. Still looking for more lead. Bullets seem to be the hardest thing for me to accumulate a supply of.
 
I reload what I shoot. The reason is that my stock of powders and primers; and to some extent bullets, are useable in a number of calibers. There's little reason to commit all of my components to a single application.
 
Thanks for the discussion. It's mostly academic at this point but I am interested in where folks stand. I load a lot more than I shoot and generally try to load what I have shot. Right now I am not really into load development. I did plenty of that in the course of the last "scare".
 
I keep about 300 rounds for each caliber except rifle. I usually only keep about fifty each. Since I moved getting to the range is a lot more expensive and a lot more trouble.
 
I try to load more than I shoot so I always have extra. I stock pile projectiles when I start to get below 500 for each caliber I shoot. Powder I am always looking for but have enough.
 
I voted load everything you have. I haven't had much time for reloading lately, and there is little ammo to be found to buy, but I've still got plenty of ammo to shoot from the reloads I'd squirreled away years ago for just such occasions.
 
You really need a middle choice. Zed isn't really a factor 'cause he will take componants or loaded ammo, I don't think he cares. And you can't grab a can of powder and head to the range, it has to be loaded. So I would load a bunch when I have time, then it's ready to shoot when I need it. Then if I want to try a new load, or get a new gun, I need the individual componants to develope a special round for that gun.
 
Personally, if you have the time, I would reload everything I have, and then get more components, so I can shoot more!
 
I'm running a progressive press equipped with a bullet feeder and a case feeder.
It takes me more than 20 minutes to do a complete caliber swap and get everything humming along nicely.

Once I'm running I like to load between 2,000 and 5,000 rounds to last me a whole year. I then swap over to another caliber and do the same.
I only shoot 9mm and .45ACP in semi auto pistol and 7.62x39 and .223 in semi auto rifle.

I only load precision rounds in small batches due to my limited quantity of Lapua brass.

I try to keep 5,000 of each type of primer and enough powder on hand for another run.
It's my projectiles that I need to keep more stock of.
 
I purposely omitted an "in between" choice as I figured that would be the one everybody chose. I'm enjoying the replies so far. I hope others are as well.

"Zed" is the zombie apocalypse, or a general SHTF scenario, where, hypothetically you may need more ammunition than you could reasonably carry, or impractically transport, but since we don't generally discuss zombies here I "euphemized" it.
 
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