Do you reload?

[donaldspark]

I started to reload when I was shooting a lot more then I'm currently able to do. I got into it to save money which I did. It gave me more money to put back into reloading so now I can reload for all the weapons I own.
I know the feeling of watching groups get tighter or finding the perfect mix for a target load. For me the best is taking game with loading I worked up just for that purpose.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I would say I reload for most of my calibers. I have some oddball calibers that I can't find components for. I also have some oddball calibers that I can find components for and I reload for, but if I come across ammo for a decent price I scoop it up because it is hard to come by. Then I have a few calibers that I don't shoot often enough to bother with reloading (i.e. .25 & .32).

I answered yes but I have since confused myself.

 

[P5 Guy]

I handload nearly all my center fire ammunition.
The exception is 7.62x39.

 

[FROGO207]

Well lets see---------I reload for 40+ different cartridges so far. 22 Hornet/25 ACP to 500 NE/500 S&W MAG. Yes I also have some dies for cartridges I do not yet own firearms. There are some like 7.62X54R that I have 20K surplus rounds to shoot before I reload for it other than making accurate hunting rounds. But I CAN reload for it if need be at any time. I also have many firearms that have never seen a factory round fired since I have owned them. FWIW anybody that shoots with ANY regularity should be a reloader already. Cost per round as well as accuracy is most often better when using hand loaded ammo versus buying factory---at least with MY firearms and pre panic purchased reloading supplies. YMMV

 

[claiborne]

Yes

for all my center fire calibers

 

[Warp]

I voted wrong.

I went spaz and voted yes based on the thread title, just before reading and comprehending the actual question.

So if you want to look at numbers, switch a yes to a no.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

No I don't, mainly because the wife has seen what a double-charge can do.

Do you not drive because the wife has seen what an auto accident can do?
Better not walk across the room. Lifetime odds of dying from a fall are 1 in 184 according to Forbes. Don't let her find out about that.

 

[Warp]

Do you not drive because the wife has seen what an auto accident can do?
Better not walk across the room. Lifetime odds of dying from a fall are 1 in 184 according to Forbes. Don't let her find out about that.

Risk can be mitigated. Wear a seat belt, buy a safe car, drive defensively, install hand railings when and where required, shoot factory ammo...

Double charges sure seem to be more common and more likely with handloads/reloads than with factory ammo.

That said, if you pay attention and use good practices and procedures, and you are an avid enthusiast and/or you shoot a lot, and have some time at home to spend on it, it sure seems like it is worthwhile.

Which is why I reload.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Risk can be mitigated.

Very true.
And good reloading practices mitigate the risk of a double charge. I certainly don't advocate half assing it.

I have double charged one case in the 4 years I've been handloading. Due to solid reloading practices, it didn't even come close to getting a bullet seated on it. It was caught and corrected way before then.

At the factory how many individual rounds to you think goes through a hands on QC?
1 in 10,000?
1 in 25,000?

Ever single one of mine do and they all do it more than once. They are hand inspected when they come out of the tumbler. They are inspected after priming. They are inspected with a light shone into them after charging to make sure each case was charged and the volume of powder is consistent. They are hand inspected again when the final seat and crimp are applied before being put into a box.
My handloads are as safe or safer than any factory ammo out there and with good solid practices anyone's can be. If someone is a "throw it together and hope it works" kind of person, that person should certainly not handload their own ammo.

 

[howlnmad]

I would say that 90% of my centerfire ammo is handloaded by me and 100% of all my shotgun ammo.

 

[Warp]

Very true.
And good reloading practices mitigate the risk of a double charge. I certainly don't advocate half assing it.

I have double charged one case in the 4 years I've been handloading. Due to solid reloading practices, it didn't even come close to getting a bullet seated on it. It was caught and corrected way before then.

At the factory how many individual rounds to you think goes through a hands on QC?
1 in 10,000?
1 in 25,000?

Ever single one of mine do and they all do it more than once. They are hand inspected when they come out of the tumbler. They are inspected after priming. They are inspected with a light shone into them after charging to make sure each case was charged and the volume of powder is consistent. They are hand inspected again when the final seat and crimp are applied before being put into a box.
My handloads are as safe or safer than any factory ammo out there and with good solid practices anyone's can be. If someone is a "throw it together and hope it works" kind of person, that person should certainly not handload their own ammo.

"At the factory" I think over charged or double charged rounds are exceptionally less-common than on the reloading bench.

Of course individual practices are the deciding factor.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

BTW, I agree that double charges are more common in handloads. I don't think anyone could dispute that.
But I'm not going to stop because the wife tells me to, that's for darn sure.

 

[NapalmMan67]

Only been reloading a few years, but it's way more than 50% of what I shoot- I really like the savings over factory made. I have been using my factory ammo stockpiles and reloading the brass.

I only load for a handful of calibers- 9mm, 357, 45 ACP/Colt and .308. Ok, just over a handful since I do load for 7.35 Carcano too.

Relaoding is like a sore pecker- you just can't beat it.


.

 

[whipper]

I reload all of my center fire ammo.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I plan to, but have absolutely nowhere to set up in my home.

 

[hartcreek]

No where tpo set up in your home.....that is a load of crap. Go down to your local Sears store or a good hardwar store and you will find a folding type bench. Some even have wood vices built in. Mount a press to it and get reloading.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

460Kodiak, take a look at that sticky "Show us a picture of your reloading bench". There are some very creative benches for folks that don't have much extra space. Some of them are pretty incredible.

You may still not have room, I don't know your exact situation, but some of those guys sure do make the most out of a little.

 

[larryh1108]

When I cracked my bench when I had a stuck 44 Mag casing, I went and bought this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200322&pf_rd_i=507846

I have to say, it works better than I expected and sits in a corner when not in use. Handy little stand.

 

[chig56]

Yes, I reload for all my centerfires because I love doing it. And yes, I have more loaded ammo than I'll use today or tomorrow but possibly not the next day.

 

[ETXhiker]

Welcome, Chig56.

I have been reloading over 30 years and reload everything except rimfire and shotgun. I love it so much, I would do it even if it didn't save money.

 

[huntsman]

Do you reload for more than half your shooting needs. I know it's not always practical to reload everything you shoot.

I reload all my shotgun ammo(buck,bird) no clay games just hunting and shooting. I buy all my handgun ammo and shotgun slugs.

 

[wankerjake]

~98% of my ammunition is handloaded by me. Best thing I've done regarding firearms. I shoot what I want, when I want, and a fraction of the cost per round.

 

[larryh1108]

I am amazed that after nearly 300 votes, almost 85% of the people here handload/reload. Never in my wildest dreams would I have figured that many people reload. My OP stated I thought it was 1 in 3 who reloaded. Who would have thought.....

 

[Warp]

I am amazed that after nearly 300 votes, almost 85% of the people here handload/reload. Never in my wildest dreams would I have figured that many people reload. My OP stated I thought it was 1 in 3 who reloaded. Who would have thought.....

There is a bias at work here.

You are only polling people who are actively participating on a firearms related forum.

I think that at any given time, especially over the short term of single digits of days, the type of people who see the thread, click on it, and vote, are far from representative of the hobby at large.

Also, people seem more inclined to click and vote when the thread title does apply to them than when it does not. So, reloaders are more likely to visit this thread than non-reloaders

 

[larryh1108]

I suppose you are right. That's why I didn't post it in the reloading section. Also, the title is simple... do you reload?. I wanted to get the fliers with a simple title and poll. However, I am still surprised although it's in a forum of gun lovers, not just guys who like guns.