From Reloader to Handloader

[WrongHanded]

I'd like to hear the thoughts of those experienced handloaders on the forum.

Reloading is following published data. Handloading is something all together more involved.

At what point do you think a reloader becomes a handloader? What benchmarks would you look to? What do you see as the critical differences?

Edited to add: Okay, perhaps I should expound on the part where I said "Reloading is following published data."

Reloading is (in my opinion) following published data to get a passable load to use instead of factory ammo.

I should have more clearly stated that when I started the thread.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The reloader strives to save money by reusing spent brass and duplicating factory loads or downloading for plinking. Perhaps even finding the most economical powder, bullet, primer combo.

Handloaders strive to make ammunition the very best it can possibly be to increase range and/or decrease group size. Economy is determined by a budget and a standard and not so much lowest cost. Meticulous attention to detail is a trait of a hand loader and “good enough” is not in their vocabulary.

Whereas, a reloader will buy factory ammo to shoot up and then reload, this is a wasted step for a hand loader who will initially buy new brass of the highest quality and whichever components they see fit to attain their ends. Factory ammo need not apply most of the time.

Great pains are taken to improve the case, seat the bullet perfectly, drop a precise amount of powder in the most precise way so it sits consistently in the case from round to round in the horizontal firing position. And on and on.

 

[JD Tactical]

The critical differences I see are:

• Looking for the smallest ES possible while minimizing group size
• Playing with COAL to maximize case capacity while maintaining safe pressures and group size

I have done both. For example, my plinking load for a 5.56 is much less refined than my LR hunting loads on which I meticulously measure critical features of each one.

Regarding published data. I always look at several sources of data first to determine a starting load. If I am looking for speed, I work my load up until I see first pressure signs, then I back off my load to a safe level that produces good accuracy and ES as mentioned above.

 

[PWC]

Tomato....Tomaatoe, potatato....pataatoe, some people have too much time on their hands.

 

[Otto]

Custodial engineer or janitor? Lawyer or liar?

 

[LiveLife]

Reloading is following published data. Handloading is something all together more involved.

I used to think reloading was assembling rounds using previously fired cases compared to handloading was assembling rounds using new brass.

Then I learned handloading is type of reloading where utmost care is exercised to produce more consistent rounds, whether using new or used brass.

At what point do you think a reloader becomes a handloader? What benchmarks would you look to? What do you see as the critical differences?

To me for pistol loading, a reloader becomes a handloader when pursuit of reloading variables and consistency in reloading practice produce minimal variance in finished round dimensions and smaller group size.

For most reloaders, following variance are expected and accepted for general purpose/range blasting ammunition:

• Mixed headstamp brass with no regard for number of firings or condition of brass/lot #/history as long as resized brass fit the barrel chamber/case gage
• Bullet setback of several thousandths acceptable
• Any available bullet at lowest cost (jacketed, plated, coated, etc.) and no regard to nose profile (ogive) consistency
• Bullet weight variance of 1.0+ gr
• Powder charge variance up to 0.2+ gr with no preference for powder
• OAL variance of .005"+
• Any available primer
• No regard to inspecting/cleaning primer pockets and primer seating depth
• No regard to muzzle velocity (just need to cycle the slide and extract/eject spent brass)

For some reloaders, especially match shooters, following variance are desired which moves them closer to "handloading":

• Sorted headstamp brass with regard to number of firings and condition of brass/lot #/history
• Minimal bullet setback when rounds fed/chambered from the magazine
• Particular bullet type and brand for nose profile (ogive) consistency
• Bullet weight variance of less than 1.0 gr
• Powder charge variance of less than 0.1 gr with preference to specific powder
• OAL variance closer to .001"
• Preferred primer brand
• Primer pockets inspected/cleaned and press/hand primed to desired depth (below flush)
• Consideration for muzzle velocity ES/SD

When pursuing accuracy testing, I desire the following variance which I consider "handloading":

• Sorted headstamp that does not produce any bullet setback when rounds fed/chambered from the magazine
• Particular bullet type (jacketed) with consistent nose profile that produce OAL variance of less than .001"
• Bullet weight variance of less than 0.5 gr preferred
• Powder charge variance of less than 0.05 gr preferred
• Preferred primer brand
• Primer pockets inspected/cleaned and press/hand primed to desired depth (.004"+ below flush)
  
• Lowest muzzle velocity ES/SD

 

[swagbrdr]

I didn’t know there was a difference. I guess I do both depending on the caliber looking at the definitions above.

 

[rabid wombat]

Using your definition, read the following through...several hand loaders are here....

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/standard-pressure-heavy-45-colt-question.868804/

@Walkalong
@JShirley
@mrawesome22-250
@murf

I apologize if I missed someone.

The best I can describe the difference, cook vs chef. I can cook, or follow a recipe. My wife can randomly take ingredients and make something good. (The real trick I have, I can read a recipe and determine if the wife will like it...)

What you see in the attached thread is the ability to safely working up a load where none appears to exist.

Separately, most of us do not differentiate between the two.

 

[FROGO207]

You reload blasting/good enough ammo.
You handload ammo to closely repeat the previous round and attempt ending up with one bullet sized hole in target.

I enjoy assembling both types.

 

[Walkalong]

I apologize if I missed someone.

A lot of folks here would qualify as handloaders by the threads definition.

I always considered them the same thing. I guess I look at handloading/reloading as having different levels, but how those would be defined I don't know.

 

[AJC1]

So if you cast and load your own where does that leave you. Are we going to assign levels like a black belt or is this a cross the line event. People who load ammunition for competition are a lot different than those that dont because a quality standard is mandatory.

 

[WrongHanded]

So if you cast and load your own where does that leave you. Are we going to assign levels like a black belt or is this a cross the line event. People who load ammunition for competition are a lot different than those that dont because a quality standard is mandatory.

I don't know. What do you think?

 

[PWC]

I have an empty case, how I fill it and with what care I take, for whatever I intend to use it for, is my preference, my process. Call it....

There is no white belt, green belt, brown belt, black belt levels of distinction among those that make their own ammunition.

 

[AJC1]

I don't know. What do you think?

Well experience is way important than time, some people load for 10 years exactly the same and never learn anything new. A person I respect understands the process and knows from experience how to deal with problems that come up. So as arbitrary as any line could be, is reloading at least 5 different rounds with say 4-5k each and going through a full accuracy load development with ocw, seating depth, several bullets and a few powders in search of a good load. I believe if you add casting and PC or lube on top of it all your depth of knowledge is respected.

 

[Waterboy3313]

This is pretty interesting. I always thought of myself as reloader. I use a single stage press and measure everything. I just thought I was OCD. I shoot for accuracy and experiment with loads within published guidelines. If my 357 loads can hit where I want at 150 yards I guess I call it good enough. I would consider myself a hobbyist doing something I enjoy doing that supports my shooting hobby. I didn't start reloading to save money but it works out that I usually do.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I really hesitate to jump in this fray, but.....

Reloading is simply a well researched mechanical process. Take this much of this powder, use this projectile, put it together and shoot it.

Handloading, IMO, is the searching for safe, suitable (possibly unwritten) loadings outside the norm. This is generally a practice for much more experienced loaders.

This could be for unusual cartridges, or using salvaged components in more ubiquitous cartridges, to include using salvaged powder.

 

[lordpaxman]

I don’t buy there’s a difference at all. I’m not drinking the koolaid. In the end, our hand loads are reloaded by us.

 

[gotboostvr]

My 38sp loads are reloaded, about this much powder, whatever bullets cheapest, whatever dirty mixed headstamp brass, whichever small primer I have on hand. They're low/middle of the road plinking loads, a little variance isn't a big deal since I'm not chasing bughole groups.

My 308win loads are handloaded. EXACTLY this bullet, EXACTLY this tumbled, trimmed and deburred brass, EXACTLY this much powder, EXACTLY this primer, EXACTLY this COAL.

That, and going off the beaten path like @Walkalong thread are the distinction I make.

 

[Walkalong]

My 6 Dasher is handloaded by the definition put forth here. Although there is a little bit of data out there now. Not with the powder I am using though.

 

[AJC1]

Related to the same thing a lot of powder manufacturers have data that is not published. An email got me 6.5×55 sweed data for hunter when there was none.

 

[WrongHanded]

I added to the OP as below.

Edited to add: Okay, perhaps I should expound on the part where I said "Reloading is following published data."

Reloading is (in my opinion) following published data to get a passable load to use instead of factory ammo.

I should have more clearly stated that when I started the thread.

That original sentence was a little thoughtless.

 

[Obturation]

I suppose you can't "reload" new brass as it's never been loaded yet in the first place.
Like others, to me, a reloader is looking for quantity of factory type ammo.
A handloader tailors their load to an individual firearm with great care for the purpose of reliability , consistency and accuracy . also the handloader should be able to take any messed up mixture of components and create useable ammo from it, published or otherwise and has the knowledge to do it safely and knows when things are too risky to try.

I don't refer to myself as a reloader , don't think it properly describes me and I often use new components that have been bought as components , not collected or fired brass. Of course I do reload my brass but I don't load any cartridge that I can buy for under 50 cents, it's not worth my time. I only load on a single stage press and I trim all my brass. Typically I load what I can't buy or can't buy affordably . plus I like the big stuff, I'm not going to pay $2-3 per cartridge for something not made specifically for my firearm. I do consult published data but I use it as a starting point in development, some of my loads that have been proven safe in my gun I wouldn't dare utter the recipe for, not only because of ridicule from guys who think they know better but because they very likely won't be safe in someone else's gun.
Potato/ potaaaaaato

 

[Waterboy3313]

As mentioned before this is a hobby for me I don't know exactly where I fall in this description. I spend a lot of time being meticulous in what I do to be exact as I can with the equipment I have. I am not a hunter or a competition shooter. I shoot and enjoy it. I don't care how expensive my stuff is but I strive to load the most accurate ammo my skill level and equipment will allow me to. Sometimes I buy new unfired brass maybe it's because I can't find it on the ground or I just want new stuff. Either way new brass or range pick up I treat it all the same. I clean primer pockets I measure and trim straight walled pistol brass. I don't necessarily polish it in a tumbler but I do run it through an ultra sonic cleaner.

I measure almost every OAL if not every single one even if it has a cannelure. I spend the time to work up a load for each gun I shoot based off of published loads then I start adjusting OALs and powder charges again to Taylor a specific load to a specific gun.

I've never had anyone show me how to reload. I decided I wanted to try it and I read and I did research over and over again. I probably asked a lot of questions here that some people might have thought were stupid. Either way since last October I have loaded some pretty dang accurate rounds and quite a lot of them. I would almost call it a sickness.

 

[swagbrdr]

Ponder this...

If you “handload” Something real special, feel it’s real dialed, go shoot, then replicate that said load...are you then just “reloading” Your hand loads?

Seems like semantics to me.

 

[LiveLife]

If you “handload” Something real special, feel it’s real dialed, go shoot, then replicate that said load...are you then just “reloading” Your hand loads?

No.

You would still be handloading if the load is dialed in, consistent and produces accuracy.

To me, reloading is mass produced with less accuracy and handloading is custom tailored with greater consistency and accuracy.