Large batches of reloads?

I have enough factory pistol loads to tide me over if they become scarce. I reload with lead, and keep enough on hand for 2-3 range trips. Rifle, if I have more than 5 pieces of brass, they are getting loaded.

Depends but it seems everytime I load too many of one load I find another I like better.

If it's a load I use for competition and have used the same load for a decade I might load thousands more but the last time I did that they lowered the power factor.

Machine guns can run through a lot of ammo too in one session so I do decent sized batches for them as well.

If it's a "work in progress" I might have as few as 5 rounds of different loads to test and when things get "tight" I tend to rather have the components vs loaded ammunition on hand. I can use the same powders for say 44 mag, 300 blackout, 458 socom, 357 mag and .22 hornet but only if I don't have it all loaded up

If you have loads that you know work good in your gun(s), and you keep a good eye on the process, you will be alright.

But if, in your process, something gets missed, such as bottleneck cases not sizing right. Or something else that runs amiss that prevents rounds from chambering. You may have a lot of rounds to pull.

Keep an eye on the powder drops and check weights frequently.

If you do it, just make sure you are vigilant on the process.

During the winter I reload all of my empty brass.

I am a "coffee can" reloader. Fired cases in one can, sized and primed cases go into a 2nd container and the loaded round goes into the 3rd plastic coffee containers.

I load over 95% of my handgun cartridges with lead bullets including my 45-70's. The other rifles get jacketed bullets.

There is no reason not to reload everything starting in January after the holidays and football season is over and Spring is a long 3+ months away.

I usually load 25 to 50 rounds per caliber. I like to fill up a 50 round MTM box then start all over when it's empty. I'm also in a state of perpetual load development so I don't like having all my brass or using the last of a certain powder/bullet and just have it sit there in case I get a wild hair and want to do some 'spearmints.

You may want 2k for each caliber sometimes you may need a hand truck to move them.

CC

To paraphrase one of our members in another post, load until boy scouts start arriving at your door "because that's where their compasses keep pointing."

For cartridges that I have an established load such as 45 ACP, 9x19, and 38 Special WC I've been loading 500 to 1000 at a session. When my inventory of a particular cartridge gets low, I gear up for a loading session.

Cartridges that I have not settled on a load, the batches are smaller, a 100 or 200 at a time.

Rifle batches are small as I seem to adjust loads more frequently. Although, last summer I did make a run of 700 204 Ruger cartridges getting ready for a prairie dog hunt.

I do keep a supply of components on hand ready for the next loading session. I replace them after the session.

I don't worry too much about loaded ammo. I keep the components stocked and try not to worry. Worrying does nobody any good. 200 rounds or so for my regular shooters, 100 or so for others. I do occasionally get bored though and run a few hundred of something like 357 or 9mm. Need to take a notion and bulk up on .223 as I just have about 20 rounds right now.

Be SURE you really like the load before you load up thousands. I like to work in 50 cal can lots of ammo. I will have two 50 cans per caliber, one can I pull out of to go to the range and the other sits in reserve. Once I empty one can I will reload all the brass and start working on the previous reserve ammo can. Usually this means I reload 800-1200 at a time. Consistency is key in reloading. I keep enough loaded ammo on hand to last me 1-2 years of range visits and then enough lead, powder and primers on deck to keep going an additional 3-5 years.

As long as you've got the room to store it, there's no harm in loading up as much as you are comfortable having on hand. For some that's a box of fifty, for others, several k. Just like zeroing in on that ideal load, finding balance in quantity can be a very personal journey.

Now, if you've already found that sweet spot, there's several months ahead to work out just how much is enough

How many reloads do you usually make up and just set aside?

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If you're Barney Fife .... one

I dunno, I can't stand having empty brass so I try to keep them all loaded. Tonight, I got about 150 9mm brass ready for the morning. If I would have to start moving stuff to the basement for fear of the floor giving out, then I have too much.

Reefinmike said:

Be SURE you really like the load before you load up thousands.

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I think that this is a key point.

Go ahead and load up a PILE of cartridges but only with a load that you know is right.

I like to have at least 500 reloads for semi-auto calibers and 100 for revolver calibers on the shelves.

FWIW ...

I also keep most of my brass reloaded. Since I load over 20 calibers, I reload for rifle when I have at least 50 cases so I don't waste a lot of time setting up the press. For pistol, I use a progressive press, and usually wait until I have several hundred cases.

I keep several hundred rounds loaded for each rifle and revolver, and several thousand for semi auto pistols.

I shoot for fun, so I don't spend much time fine tuning loads.

I like have a good supply of ammo, and components on hand. When fall and winter finally get here, I'll get serious about brass prep and loading.
str1

It's also a good idea to label the large batches well especially if your just going to store them for a long time, so you'll know what they are if you ever get around to shooting them.

I've always been a little leery of loading way in advance of my shooting schedule for a couple reasons mentioned; primarily if I were to discover some problem, I'd potentially have a much bigger pile of suspect ammo. I load two weeks to a month out. For me that means about 2-4k a month and I don't stock past that amount. However I know plenty of guys that will load half or more of their yearly consumption over the winter; so they might come out of the winter with 30-40k pistol rounds on the shelf.

I don't shoot rifle nearly as much, but I don't want to bother converting the press over for a handful of rounds either, so if I'm going to do a run of .223 blasting ammo I will usually do 1k and that will last me +/- a year.

Yeah, I do not see too many more days of leisurely shooting on the outdoor range as the weather cools down and soon enough my outdoor range will be covered in snow and ice, not very inviting. During the winters I focus on handgun and the indoor range as well as my loading. What I load during the winters are what I call my proven loads, those loads which have been tested and shoot well in a given rifle or multiple rifles. I will likely load a thousand each of .308 Winchester and .223 Remington plus lesser amounts of 44 Remington Magnum, 357 Magnum, 45 Colt and .45 ACP as well as a few others. Again, they will all be proven loads I have used and liked in the past.

Ron

I don't keep much in the way of loaded round inventory. I have no self control. I shoot them about as quick as I make them

I average about 1200 rounds of center-fire handgun a month. Its too hot to be out in the garage reloading about 8 months a year, hence when its "not summer" I crank out he ammo for the upcoming summer, which can be difficult as reloading season is also our best shooting season. I've standardized my 9mm & .45ACP loads and haven't changed anything in many years, although I'll have to work up new loads when I run out of Unique, haven't been able to find significant quantities to make the HazMat fee worthwhile in a long time I did restock with Accurate No.5 and BE-86, but if Unique should become available again in worthwhile quantities I'll buy it and set aside the others for a rainy day.

I store them in surplus GI 30 cal ammo cans -- about 1200 9mm to a can, 800 .45ACP to a can. Stocked up on the cans back when every gun show had them for $5 or 3/$12

My experience is that right around the time I get 800-1k of a particular load made up, I discover another load I like better for the same purpose.