Handloading vs. Reloading

[MaterDei]

Honestly, I've tried real hard to search for the answer to this question but haven't been able to find it. You see, I was trying to find the answer so that I wouldn't feel so stupid having to ask the question.

So, under the heading of 'The stupidest question is the one not asked..." I submit the following question to this fine group of educated __loaders (fill in the blank with either 're' or 'hand', which ever applies to you).

What is the difference between handloading and reloading?

Go ahead and ridicule, I'm ready.

 

[mtnbkr]

Not much of a real difference IMO.

That said, if you wanted to get pedantic, you could say reloading is just replacing the components to create a new cartridge at factory specs. Just pick a recipe and go with it. Handloading could be used to describe the more detailed process of working up loads specific to your gun, setting the best OAL, the best bullet, the best primer, powder, etc. You're using the book as a guide, but tweaking the "recipe" to fit your gun and needs.

In the end, it's really the same thing.

Chris

 

[twowheel]

Handloading is a method of reloading.

 

[P95Carry]

If you wish to try and differentiate ... then as mtnbkr says ..... even if pedantic ...

You could regard ''reloading'' as just that ... progressive press .. set up for chonking out the max number in shortest time - and to an ''adequate'' recipe. Volume work if you like.

''Handloading'' might be decribed as the ultimate form of reloading .... single station press - all charges weighed to nth degree of accuracy ... and all done to refine the ultimate load for a given firearm.

Otherwise tho ... it's semantics! (IMO)

 

[swifter]

To my mind, and I consider myself a "handloader", and have been "reloading" for around 30 years .

A reloader essentially reloads to shoot. Shoot more, or more cheaply. They are the folks always on the look for the "best" deal on components, and become ecstatic at the thought of Dillon ammo pumps...

We handloaders, OTOH, are much more interested in quality than mere quantity, and grow more interested in "best" equipment than "best" deal...
We often own rifles that have never had a factory round fired thru them.
We are often thought snobbish and supercilious, but are generous with our knowledge and patience...
Loading ammunition is, to us, a worthwhile and fascinating hobby in itself, and not just a means to an end.

*** isn't there a smilie for :"Tongue in cheek?

Tom

 

[Ala Dan]

I think of the reloader as the old guy who fills
his musket up with powder from a powder horn,
has his piece primed, and then drops a .58 cal
"musket ball" down the barrel; with little or no
knowledge of the weight of the charge of FFG!

OTOH, a handloader is someone who is like
myself; a perfectionist! One who very
carefully chooses his/her components; and
likewise it very cautious when assembling
metallic cartridge's, carefully checking and
rechecking his/her work. Someone who is
striving for the highest degree of accuracy!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Steve Smith]

Swifter, what would you call me? I have many rifles that have never fired a round of factory ammo, and I can fire EACH into 1.5 MOA at 600 yards from a prone field position with iron sights. Ammo that good can certainly shoot better than I can, as I have hit a 3" spotter at 600 yards 5 times in a row, and I won the Expert Class Army Cup (600 yard match) at Camp Perry just last year (2003). I dropped 5 points out of 200. That is a low 600 score for me, but the winner of the Master class (which I am now) only beat me by two points and with fewer X's. You can look it up yourself. http://www.nrahq.org/compete/natpdf/cp446-03.pdf Now, that said, I have put good money into the best dies, but I am still using a Dillon "ammo pump." I manufacture all my rounds, from CO State Team loads, to NTIT loads to 600 yard loads on that Dillon. It is true that I have modified my toolhead to accept a powder check die as an additional powder accuracy check, but once I get into a groove of several hundred, the alarm just simply doesn't go off. The measure drops at +- .1 grains extreme, and that holds X ring at 600. I check the powder throw a few times before I start, and once at every 100 rounds. When I am done loading, I don't even wipe the lube off. To me, loading IS a means to an end, as long as the quality is acceptable. So, what am I?


Steve,
Slightly annoyed by the anti-Dillon user snobbery.

 

[Norm Lee]

definitions

Here's my modest proposal:

Handloading is the (usually careful) construction of ammunition, using largely manually operated tools.

Reloading is what you must do when your weapon runs dry.



Cheers,

Norm

 

[Thirties]

I guess there are some questions that just don't need asking.

Kind of like this one: what's the difference between a Yank and a Yankee?

 

[Quantrill]

RE-loading is putting a new primer, powder and bullet (etc.) into a previously fired case. HAND-loading is reloading (as above) and also putting in a primer,powder and bullet into a NEVER fired case. Quantrill

 

[swifter]

Steve,
I'd call you a High Power shooter. Glad you're happy with the rifle ammo from your Dillon, I never have been pleased with the primer seating or the powder throw, so now I just leave it set up for .45ACP, and load rifle on my single stages or use hand dies. Come to think of it, I just loaded a batch of revolver loads on my single-stages 'cause I couldn't face the hassle of making endless adjustments on the Dillon measure...(one of the two pieces of Dillon equipment I have always been disgusted with.)

Did you miss the reference to"tongue in cheek"? I had a couple guys in mind, but you weren't one of 'em. Sorry to ruffle your feathers with my attempt to poke fun at what I see as an overly serious lot of over-focused people...

Tom

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Quantrill beat me to it. The prefix "re" means "again."

 

[Steve Smith]

No, I didn't miss it, but it seemed to me like there was a lot of true felings behind what you were saying. The Dillon loads better than most people think. I shoot a game in which if I shoot 1 MOA all day, I win the match. The Dillon consistently makes ammo that shoots better than that, so it's up to me to do the rest. Try it, you might like it!

BTW, a few guys have worked out a micrometer adjustment shaft (from Mitutoyo micrometers) system for the powder measures. The measure shuttle is the same, but it has the micrometer shaft sticking out where the old bolt head used to be. I'm getting one soon, I'll take a pic and put it up.

 

[twowheel]

On my Dillon 550B, once I have worked up a load I label the powder measure and and save it then go buy another measure for subsequent work.

If I'm trying new powder or weight, I won't load 50 of em; for those I use an electronic powder measure/scale combo and make up some of the entire range I'm looking at. Then, after shooting, if one seems like something to load up a bunch, I'll go and set the Dillon for that load. I've discovered that for me, using for powder measure/scale for 10 rounds beats fiddling with the Dillon powder measure; above 10, I am able to set the powder measure up faster. I'm amazed at how I can judge the amount of adjustment necessary to achieve the weight I want. It probably comes with experience. But, in any event, the Dillon out produces my single stage press (Rockchucker purchased in the 60's) by a factor of about 10.

 

[snuffy]

option

For those that love to hate the dillon measure, there's an option. Get a case activated linkage from Hornady, for a Hornady or RCBS measure. It comes with all you need to use the lock & load measure or the RCBS type.



I should take a pic without the powder check assy. in the way. This one is set up for .223.



The micrometer adjustment is much more precise than a bolt. It also has graduations that can be written down to repeat.

 

[bigjim]

The only difference between a reloader and a hand loader is the degree of elitism.