Reloading = Irrational OCD

[Ghost In The Fog]

I don't think that is it....some stuff I would call OCD here others not.

Me personally I will check each and every powder charge and length.....it is calming to me. I will weigh a primed case, zero the scale charge the case and weigh it again. Some say that is crazy.....eh to each their own.....

Yes! Yes and YES!

 

[LiveLife]

When I was a kid people were meticulous, now in a world where no one can win and everyone gets the same awards, people that strive for perfection have some sort of disorder...

I don't think that is it....some stuff I would call OCD here others not.

And hence why this THR category is called "Handloading" and "Reloading".

For me, reloading is mass production of lower cost than factory ammunition to work in any SAAMI spec barrel with varying degrees of consistency and resulting accuracy. But handloading is production of custom tailored ammunition specific to a particular barrel with select components and care given to produce optimal consistency and accuracy.

While my range practice and plinking rounds are loaded using the cheapest available components on progressive presses without checking the primer pockets with bullet nose profile (typically FMJ/RN) and OAL that will work in any pistol, my match grade rounds were resized separately on progressive press (which allowed for checking of primer pockets and hand priming) and progressively loaded with more consistent components at OAL optimized for the match barrel with more consistent finished OAL from less shell plate tilt/deflection.

As I posted previously, this "touch" of OCD of resizing match brass separately and hand priming could be seen by many to be OCD but I see it as necessity to produce more consistent ammunition. It is for these reasons why I still prefer to reload rifle cartridges on a single stage press.

 

[mdi]

If my goal was to find a good load, one that does what I want it to, then record it and quit experimenting, I would have quit reloading years ago...

 

[Blue68f100]

When I got into Handloading 40 + years ago it was to make more accurate ammo for my rifles. This is still the case today but instead of just settling on one recipe I find that it's best to have options encase of limited supplies. I'm retired now and spend more time shooting and testing. This is possible since I only need to walk out of my house to my home range. Once I find a load that I like I may load a few 1000's if it's for my AR's. With handgun ammo I shrive for the most accurate I can make, too. Since the hand gun ammo is high volume rounds I use powders that meter accurately on my AP. So Handloading is my primary, with reloading the bulk once I find the loads.

All my shooting has brought a few of my neighbors together. So far I have taught 2 to handload (since I moved here last year) and most come over when I start shooting. One did not think there was any benefit to it till he saw my load development. He was surprised that small incremental changes in powder made such big changes on the target. He was once satisfied if his bullet would hit a 9" plate at 100 yrds., what his factory ammo did. Now he wants small groups. One of the benefits of living in the country. The other wanted to do some long range hunting. So I taught him the process to find the best for his gun. He's jealous of my Nightforce Scope (8x32) scope I use on my benchrest gun. Now he's hooked line and sinker, working on his other rifles. Thinking about hand gun ammo too.

 

[RandyP]

I reload because I enjoy operating a simple machine that produces something of value for a little sweat equity. I'm not an 'experimenter' and in fact use the same powder (Win 231/HP-38) for ALL my handgun caliber loads and one powder (H335) for .223. I'll pick a mid-range powder charge for each caliber/bullet weight and pretty much just stay with it. Now for many my process would likely be horribly boring. Fortunately for me and MY personality type, I don't care how others view my level of participation in any hobby - lol. I've spent 68 years to date striving to make ME happy and quite often I succeed. And that's why that ice cream joint sells all those different flavors. Whatever floats yer canoe tickles me plumb to death.

 

[Bart B.]

I've always considered reloading the use of fired cases stuffed with primer, powder and bullets.

Hand loading is the same but using new cases that have the other components put in for the first time.

 

[RealGun]

And hence why this THR category is called "Handloading" and "Reloading".

For me, reloading is mass production of lower cost than factory ammunition to work in any SAAMI spec barrel with varying degrees of consistency and resulting accuracy. But handloading is production of custom tailored ammunition specific to a particular barrel with select components and care given to produce optimal consistency and accuracy.

While my range practice and plinking rounds are loaded using the cheapest available components on progressive presses without checking the primer pockets with bullet nose profile (typically FMJ/RN) and OAL that will work in any pistol, my match grade rounds were resized separately on progressive press (which allowed for checking of primer pockets and hand priming) and progressively loaded with more consistent components at OAL optimized for the match barrel with more consistent finished OAL from less shell plate tilt/deflection.

As I posted previously, this "touch" of OCD of resizing match brass separately and hand priming could be seen by many to be OCD but I see it as necessity to produce more consistent ammunition. It is for these reasons why I still prefer to reload rifle cartridges on a single stage press.

But that is only the OCD definition of reloading. What is really going on for what is possibly the majority is people spending less per round so they can afford to shoot more.

 

[Armored farmer]

casting lead just don't appeal to me...yet.

What?
You don't like the idea of taking a half-hour for set-up and an hour for casting, and another half-hour for clean-up in order to save $3.00?

Despite this, I like casting my own bullets.

 

[Bart B.]

I respect a guy who has the balls to have a ball casting more balls!

 

[PapaG]

I admit to being CDO about reloading. Like OCD but in proper alphabetical order.

 

[Armored farmer]

Not OCD......
Therapy

 

[zb338]

I think all of us crazies are in the best of company. Where else could you find
a nicer crowd?

Zeke

 

[.308 Norma]

I admit to being CDO about reloading. Like OCD but in proper alphabetical order.

Ha! Good one PapaG!

 

[Hondo 60]

But Noooooo, I just cannot do that. I have to load up at least 8 or 10 different combinations in just a simple caliber like .38 Spl to punch holes at 25 yards and compare them;

Isn't that the whole idea behind reloading?
Am I missing something?
Isn't this normal?

I mean, I only have 12 different powders, atleast that many different types of bullets (projectiles - not loaded ammo) and 7? different types of primers.
Is someone trying to say this isn't normal?

 

[Walkalong]

I need to load up some plinker level (Light -158 @ 750ish) .357 Mag. I looked through my load log and saw different powders (WST, Competition, Clays, W-231, AA #2) that I was happy with at some charge weight, but I just bought a pound of IMR Target and am having a burning desire to try it first just to see what it does. I have always been someone who wonders what is around the next turn in the road.

 

[jmorris]

What?
You don't like the idea of taking a half-hour for set-up and an hour for casting, and another half-hour for clean-up in order to save $3.00?

That idea neve appealed to me either so I built my way around it.



It's worth noting that if I had OCD I would have painted it to look pretty by now.

 

[RealGun]

That idea neve appealed to me either so I built my way around it.



It's worth noting that if I had OCD I would have painted it to look pretty by now.

But there would have been the agony of picking the perfect color or doing it over 6 times.

 

[spitballer]

Tinkering is a sign of creativity and resourcefulness not OCD IMO, and in some cases we tinker out of necessity.

 

[Ghost In The Fog]

I admit to being CDO about reloading. Like OCD but in proper alphabetical order.

Good one! LOL

 

[aerod1]

If a person is not at least somewhat OCD afflicted he may want to reconsider reloading as a hobby and take up golf , needle point or knitting .