Anyone Make Specific Loads for Specific Guns?

[.308 Norma]

Is this normal or just me being really picky?

Picky, picky, picky! So? Most "handloaders" are. Regular ol' "reloaders" - not so much.

 

[DMW1116]

I remember asking the guy that got me started in reloading what length he trimmed his cases. He was having trouble with a load that grouped ok at 100 yards but fell apart at 300 and beyond. He looked at me and asked what I meant. He reloads for different purposes than I do. Granted, my rifle reloads that group well at 100 yards may do the same thing, as I haven’t tried them that far. The range I use has a max of 200 and I’ve gone to 150 for sighting in my 308.

 

[Dudedog]

I often do but I also often make loads for just about everything in a given caliber as well.

This reflects pretty much what I do.
All my 9mms have their favorite, I have found that what works best in one usually works well in the others.
My 2 .45s don't agree either but pretty much the same.
The AR and the Mini 14 don't agree either but the Mini just gets what the AR likes as it doesn't make much difference with the Mini.
So for practice I may use one flavor, for a match I will feed each it's favorite.
(probably makes no difference given how I shoot in USPSA but I figure I need all the help I can get)

 

[kalielkslayer]

For hunting rifles, lots and lots of expensive bullets sent down range striving for the best accuracy, and the most velocity possible without sacrificing that accuracy.

For handgun? Needs to function; fit in mag, feed reliably, go bang every time , eject reliably.

For revolvers I’m a lil more specific based on accuracy, but reliably is still #1.

 

[bdb242]

I have 3 rifles that I load for that shoot better than I ever will, all are custom chambered for "wildcat" rounds. .223 semi's get some work on loads, bolt gun .223's get much more attention. Hunting rifles all have favorites that I re-check every couple of years with the advent of new powders and new bullets. Just a hobby.

 

[Archie]

I have several loads for revolvers that are simply not commercially available. That may be a bit off the track of this thread, but they are specific loads for the function of those guns.

I load for a number of 1st World War rifles. They are military issued rifles and soldiers fired the 'issue' ammunition, not specificly 'fitted' ammunition in those rifles. So I work up a load to the original claimed performance levels and use that in all the 'issue' rifles of that caliber. All seem to be adequate for enemies of the realm out to three hundred yards (or the equivalent in meters, arshins, schritt, whatever).

Most handguns are quite happy to shoot almost any interchangeably. All the .45 ACP pistols I have shoot hardball (or equivalent) well enough to make a 'head shot' out to 25 yards or so (50 yards when my eyes worked better). Except for one target pistol set up for wadcutter level loads only. I have to load that one individually (a 'powder puff' 200 grain lead SWC).

Some hunting type rifles have specific loads, some for more than one bullet weight. Probably more accuracy than is needed, but it suits my OCD.

 

[9x56MS]

Since I do not own more than one rifle in each caliber all my reloads are for specific guns. I also use specific bullets depending upon how and where I intend to hunt.

 

[DMW1116]

That’s the simplest way. Though I would like to duplicate my 223 in both bolt and semi configurations.

 

[Blue68f100]

For my rifle loads I have a general load that will shoot in all my guns. I also have specialty loads that give me the best accuracy in each gun. Since I do my own gunsmithing I normally using the same reamer so I setup all the chambers the same. My hand guns loads are used across the board with a few exceptions. I do have special loads for my BE accuracy guns.