Don't bother.

Status
Not open for further replies.

ed dixon

Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2002
Messages
459
Location
Ireland
How many here reload on a regular basis, but exclude some of the calibers they own? In other words, do you load for rifles, but figure 9mm is cheap enough and maybe not shot enough, so why bother? Are there folk who load thousands a month but still buy the step-child in the bunch?
 
I load them all, but typically will buy 30-30, 7.62x39, 8mm Mauser, and 7.62x51.
 
I handload to some extent for all calibers I own.
I shoot factory .223 90% of the time. Wolf .223 runs flawlessly in my ARs and exhibits perfectly adequate accuracy for me. It costs about the same as my handloads. I do handload .223 for my bolt guns and my 24" Varmiteer AR. But, I shoot thousands of rounds to one between my regular ARs and my other .223s.
I have several calibers that I don't shoot enough to justify loading. .32 ACP and .25 ACP come to mind. I have the dies, some brass, and some bullets, but have only done it a few times just to do it.
I have never been able to load 7.62x25 that functions in my guns. Again, I can, but don't.
I have the dies to load for 7.5x55 but have no source of brass.
I handload 9mm but occasionally shoot factory. I don't shoot a whole lot of 9mm. I shoot Wolf 9mm in my submachine gun.
 
Right now, I don't load .44 mag.
Don't have enough brass, and my reloads would be the same price as PMC fodder.
Oddly enough, I do load 9mm.
I shoot 9mm lots.
$3.00 a box to load full-power hollow-point 124's.
Accurate ones.
That's almost like .22
I also haven't set up my press for .45 colt, I have all the stuff I need, but don't use the caliber enough to justify it.
Also, I don't load 10mm at this minute, I have a glock that weakens my brass, so I don't want to wreck my brass.
At some point, I will reload for my razorback, prolly when I get a new 610.
Also, I stopped loading for my 357SIG, I sold one, and got conversion barrels for 9mm, and .40 for my lonely 357SIG.
 
.32acp
I bought an Ortgies with a somewhat pitted bore in this caliber from a retired LEO and it never occured to me to reload for it. Maybe if I found a set of used dies really, really cheap.......
Otherwise I reload everything rifle, pistol and shotshell.
 
i don't load for:
30-30
7.62x39
45 acp
shotshells

everything else i load for. i don't load for those because 1- ammo is cheap enough that i don't feel compelled to, and 2- i don't shoot those calibers very much.
 
Nagant rant

".32acp
I bought an Ortgies with a somewhat pitted bore in this caliber from a retired LEO and it never occured to me to reload for it. Maybe if I found a set of used dies really, really cheap......."

Sebago, National Bullet Co. in Ohio makes a LRN bullet for the .32 which makes light loading really easy and inexpensive. I bought a set of .32acp dies over ebay for little money.

I find this caliber a good candidate for loading to make soft loads for plinking.


To answer the greater question, I have so far not loaded 9mmLuger -- didn't even buy the dies.

But I enjoy the .32acp, .380acp, 9x18 (Makarov-LSWC), and, of course, who wouldn't enjoy loading for revolvers: .38spl, and I just started loading for my 1895 Russuan Nagant. Now, that is a pure joy!

Lee sells a hybrid 3-die set for the 7.62 Nagant that employs .32-20 brass. The steel sizer die reshapes new (shouldered) .32-20 brass (I use Statline since their rim is not too fat for the Nagant), giving it the proper straight tapered shape of the original Nagant case, but, of course, a bit shorter length. The expander die does what it is supposed to do, and has the Lee flow-through hollow space if that's how you like to add powder. The seater die also applies a nice roll crimp. You will not get the complete gas seal using this system, but the gun fires accurately without solar flares shooting out the sides, as there is a little bit of a seal.

So far, I've used AA#5 and Win231, and Berry's plated 83gr HBWC in .312: diameter).

As a starting point, check out this Nagant loading project web site by George Fisher: http://www.geocities.com/gfisherws36/nagant/m1895.htm

www.makarov.com and Midway sell the Lee die set.
 
Of the calibers I own the only thing I don't reload is .22 LR, because it's rimfire. if I could get primed cases I'd probably handload that for better accuracy and reliablity ;)

.40 S&W
.357 mag & .38 special
.44 mag
.50 AE
.30-06
.308
.340 Weatherby Mag
All get reloaded.
 
I don't bother to load my own .380 A.C.P. ammunition: a.) it's cheap; b.) I don't have a gun with the accuracy potential to make it worthwhile, and c.) I don't take that gun to the range more than once or twice a year, anyway.

If I ever find a High Standard .380 at a reasonable price in good condition, I'll probably order dies and brass and bullets.
 
The only I own but don't reload for is the .22 lr's. :)

I have been thinking about not loading 9mm, and have not loaded all that much for it due to price difference, but I decided to buy the tools for it when I was almost out of it and the local shop didn't have any at home (and wouldn't get for months). :rolleyes:

Now I'm waiting for my progressive, and then I'll load more 9mm. :cool:
 
Where are you getting cheap 380 ACP ammunition? 9mm will be the last caliber I start loading for. I have my 41 Mag and 45 ACP dies. Now I need to order 44 Mag/Spl, 380 ACP, and 40 S&W dies, or maybe 357/39 Spl too.
 
I load for everything I own. It gives me a certain satisfaction to hunt with my own ammo. It also allows me to tailor my loads to the situation at hand. One of the first things I do when I buy a new gun is to buy dies, bullets, and cases; usually before I leave the gun shop. I also like the time I get too spend building the ammo. Some may find it boring, but I just crank up the tunes and load away. I don't think I've fired more than 10 rounds of factory ammo in the last ten years.

Fabrat
 
I'm just starting reloading, and I'm already trying to figure out if there's a way to reload (or more precisely, "load") .17 HMR - ha. My press came with 9x19 conversion kit, but that's the one cartridge I doubt I'll be reloading.
 
I probably won't load 9mm very often, but I might for the heck of it, I have the dies.

I suppose if I came by a .25 auto I would likely decline to load for it, also:)
 
I typically purchase - - -

9X19mm, just because it's relatively cheap to buy Blazer for practice and match shooting, and I prefer to carry factory JHP when I carry my High Power.

I'm set up to load .25 ACP and .32 ACP, but have only one pistol for each, and seldom shoot either one.

Now, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .38 Spl, on the other hand - - - I load LOTS of them.

Best,
Johnny
 
I've debated whether or not to reload 9mm and finally decided that I WILL. I haven't been happy with some of the surplus stuff I've been seeing and I'd rather make my own.

I use to reload 7.62x39 but sold my reloading stuff to a TFL member. Kinda lost interest in that caliber.

I still buy 357mag ammo since I don't have reloading dies. YET!!

I have everything I need for 308 reloading but just haven't gotten around to it.

99% of the .223 I shoot are my handloads.
 
I load for everything I own. (About 15 calibers right now) plus have dies etc for about 10 I dont own.
 
for caz223

Where do you get 9mm hollow points cheap enough to load rounds @ $3.00 for 50 ?
Powder and primer run me ~$.02 > $.03 a round
Where do you get "Hollow Point" (I assume jacketed) for 3>4 cents apiece
 
I don't load much .308 ammo for my L1A1 as surplus is so cheap. I do load some softpoint ammo for for my step brother to hunt with. Once in a while I'll load some ammo for a pin shoot other than that it's surplus.
 
I reload and buy 12g. I reload only .308. I buy 9mm and .22.
In the future ( when I buy the guns) I will reload 10mm and buy .223.
 
I dont reload the .22LR...

I don't have a 9mm pistol, don't reload for it, but have the dies and brass...Go figure. (Garage sales make you buy stuff you don't need, the price was right.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soda,
99% of the .223 I shoot are my handloads.

Got any 69gr MK loads you'd like to share? I just started loading them. Did some with 4064 and some with BLC-2.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top