End of the year reloading regrets and plans for new year

[LiveLife]

As another year is ending, do you have any reloading related regrets you did not fulfill this year?

If so, what do you plan to do in the coming year?

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I hope to find a place locally to buy powder where it doesn't cost $50 to ship 4 lbs of powder. Finally found some H4350 and it will cost me $50 to have it shipped. Really takes the fun out of reloading.

 

[LiveLife]

One of my regrets is I did not fulfill my plans to start casting lead bullets and powder coating them for pistol/.300BLK loads this year.

My plan is to cast outdoors but due to much rain that falls in our area, I will be building a new covered work area attached to the work shop.

 

[LiveLife]

Not having enough powder on hand was one of my reloading regrets several years ago.

I resolved that regret through Where are there reloading components thread and thanks to Recob's and other online vendors, have all the powders restocked (along with some new ones) except Promo but I have plenty on hand along with 8 lbs of Red Dot so will restock Promo when I find some.

 

[spitballer]

I regret that I didn't get to the .224 64gr Berger varmint bullets this year. I've been saving them for last to test with a 12" twist but I'm still finishing up an exhaustive exploration of the Nosler 55gr ballistic tips

 

[rogn]

Regrets that I didnt get enough 8#s of powder when they were only 80$ a few years ago.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Just didn't do enough of it.

Nearly 2 years ago I moved and went from having a large shop with all my stuff set up to having a press and powder measure screwed to a 2x8 that I attach to my apartment's bar with C-clamps. It's a huge PITA and because of that I rarely drag it out and use it. I think I set it up 3 times the entire year.

 

[JimKirk]

Not having enough powder on hand was one of my reloading regrets

Due to circumstances beyond my control ...

 

[Reloadron]

Every year starts out with so many things and so little time. I retired a few years ago and wonder how I found time to go to work.

Something I wanted to do this year and never got to was to record some chamber pressure curves. Not with a focus on actual pressure but a focus on the actual pressure curves for some different 308 Winchester loads using different powders. Maybe in 2016 it will happen. On the bright side I did get several new loads over the chronograph and had some good quality range time put in.

Ron

 

[HexHead]

Only that I haven't made doing so more of a priority, and have an ammo shortage, but not a component shortage.

I hope to change that as my New Year's resolution.

 

[cfullgraf]

Most notable was that I did not do load development on a 22x6.8 rifle. I need to get to it this spring as I am hoping to take it prairie dog hunting in the summer.

On the other hand, I did fire up the "bullet casting machine" for the first time in 20 years. I just had to try powder coated bullets.

 

[vaalpens]

I was planning to start reloading a new caliber this year, but the act of purchasing the new gun never materialized.

Hopefully in 2016 I will be able to include an additional caliber in my reloading stable.

 

[OilyPablo]

Too many dies, not enough time.

 

[number1wrench]

More opportunity to work up loads for field usage. In last month I have created a working test range for short range proof.

 

[splattergun]

I regret that I did not take enough time to shoot my test loads for load development. This has caused a bottleneck in my loading operations. My plan is to take more sick time in order to clear out my backlog of test loads so that I can spend more time in the loading room.

OTH, I resolved several years ago to never make another New Year resolution.

 

[tcj]

Not ordering the Labradar chrono earlier and not having the funds now.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

No regrets at all! I have powder/primers stored at 2 different locations to keep within state/local laws.

 

[StrutStopper]

Gotta pick up primers when I see them. Last trip to the LGS (last week) they were out of anything that I use. I'm still good for now, but need to buy it when I see it. Also, I still haven't gotten into loading .223. I have a Lee Pro 1000 that I picked up second hand a couple years ago before I started reloading that's all set-up for .223 but I still haven't loaded round 1. I need to pick up a new powder measure though. I stole the one that came with that press and use it on my LCT.

 

[jmorris]

I regret not knowing more than I do.

Going to shoot the BP rifle that my Uncle never finished (that I put together a few years ago) and make my first batch of BP from scratch.

 

[R.W.Dale]

To not only find an iOS based virtual reloading logbook but to consolidate and upload all my old pen n paper loads to the cloud.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I regret having primed all of my 357 brass with magnum primers, and then finally deciding to use powders that didnt require them, and would perhaps shoot more consistently, with regular primers. Oh well, so be it!

Next years refinement:
Instead of priming all brass as part of the "prep" process, consider priming as part of the load and matched to the powder within the batch.

 

[surveyor]

I still haven't made it to casting/powder coating yet, or cuting brass down for 22 tcm/ 300 blk.
4 presses on the bench now.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

Not trying Accurate Arms' version of 4350 until I couldn't find IMR4350. My .270s love that stuff! 3/8" three shot groups with cheap Speer 130 gr. Hot Cor bullets.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I only started reloading in 2015. Should have taken that leap (addiction?) Much sooner. Hoping to have more time and more calibers to experiment with in 2016..… hopefully the job (finances) and the family will allow for more in 2016. Got some new bullets on the way..... 180gr xtps for 357, raniers 115 hps for 9mm and 200gr xtps for 45.

 

[Duvel]

I only regret that it's so cold outside!