The logistics of owning multiple calibers
- Thread starter gspn
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For my CZ 52 and Mosin Nagant 91/30? I shoot mostly surplus ammo. I reload for everything else that's centerfire.
It all rather depends on what YOU view as rarely shooting. A couple boxes a year max? Might not be worth buying the dies or bullets IMHO. A couple boxes a month? - worth it to me. At present all my reloading is done with one powder Win 231/HP-38 - if I needed to start investing in a whole bunch of different ones? I might just shoot Tula or Herters steel case.
It all rather depends on what YOU view as rarely shooting. A couple boxes a year max? Might not be worth buying the dies or bullets IMHO. A couple boxes a month? - worth it to me. At present all my reloading is done with one powder Win 231/HP-38 - if I needed to start investing in a whole bunch of different ones? I might just shoot Tula or Herters steel case.
like most others here, reloading for the guns you have is usually enjoyable and allows you to shoot them more often for less money. as someone posted, a bunch of the calibers you posted are variations of the same cartridge so it's just a different setup vs. new dies. that helps a lot with some of the smaller volume cartridges (10mm as an example).
but overall like most, any time I buy a new caliber, the first thing I budget is dies, brass and bullets. I have a few rifles that if I didn't reload, I couldn't afford to shoot them. $80 for a box of 20 rounds vs. $8 to reload that same box is pretty simple math.
but overall like most, any time I buy a new caliber, the first thing I budget is dies, brass and bullets. I have a few rifles that if I didn't reload, I couldn't afford to shoot them. $80 for a box of 20 rounds vs. $8 to reload that same box is pretty simple math.
bigedp51
member
Posting removed.........
I'm refusing to share my humor with Walkalong
I'm refusing to share my humor with Walkalong
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Searcher4851
Member
I just reload for the guns I shoot regularly, in calibers that cheap ammo isn't available for. When I shoot store-bought ammo for the other ones, I always save the brass until I've aquired enough to make reloading that caliber more attractive. Once I have enough brass that would about equal what a set of dies would cost me for that caliber, it's time to start reloading that caliber instead of continuing to buy loaded rounds. That's my system to determine if I'm shooting enough of a caliber to warrant reloading it. I've been shooting for long enough that I currently reload for every caliber I own, but that was the process for determining the order, more or less, of which caliber would be the next to start reloading for. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it's worked for me over the years.
BeerSleeper
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Several guys now have posted that they load calibers they don't own.
My question to that, is, how do you work up your load? I don't like to load more than a box of a loading, until I've shot some of it to see how it shoots.
My question to that, is, how do you work up your load? I don't like to load more than a box of a loading, until I've shot some of it to see how it shoots.
ReloaderFred
Member
bigedp51,
You made a joke and the OP took it the wrong way and his reply was over the top. The two posts were deleted in the interest of keeping the thread on track. It was nothing personal towards you.
I didn't delete them, but I agree with the Moderator who did.
Hope this helps.
Fred
You made a joke and the OP took it the wrong way and his reply was over the top. The two posts were deleted in the interest of keeping the thread on track. It was nothing personal towards you.
I didn't delete them, but I agree with the Moderator who did.
Hope this helps.
Fred
duck911
Member
I've found that I reload only where it makes sense both economically, as well as performance wise.
I reload most of the rifle and pistol calibers I own. These guns would be used for target, hunting. or home/self defense:
9MM
.357 Mag
.44 Mag
17 Fireball
204 Ruger
.223
22-250
.243
.260
45-70
What I DON'T reload for:
--.25 ACP pocket pistol: Rarely shoot it and don't plan on using it for anything useful. A box of 50 factory rounds has lasted me 8 years so far...
--.270: My main deer rifle. Cheap Federal powershok 130 grainers shoot lights out in my rifle and drop deer in their tracks. I shoot perhaps 20 rounds a year. No point in reloading right now, in my mind.
--7mm-08: Spare/sons rifle. It's a good candidate for reloading but it simply does not get shot enough.
--30 Carbine: My grandfathers. Plinker only, and I don't plink enough to warrant reloading for it. And, I will never hunt with it or use it for home defense, so no need to doctor up any special loads
--all shotguns: factory ammo
--rimfire (obvious)
--Duck911
I reload most of the rifle and pistol calibers I own. These guns would be used for target, hunting. or home/self defense:
9MM
.357 Mag
.44 Mag
17 Fireball
204 Ruger
.223
22-250
.243
.260
45-70
What I DON'T reload for:
--.25 ACP pocket pistol: Rarely shoot it and don't plan on using it for anything useful. A box of 50 factory rounds has lasted me 8 years so far...
--.270: My main deer rifle. Cheap Federal powershok 130 grainers shoot lights out in my rifle and drop deer in their tracks. I shoot perhaps 20 rounds a year. No point in reloading right now, in my mind.
--7mm-08: Spare/sons rifle. It's a good candidate for reloading but it simply does not get shot enough.
--30 Carbine: My grandfathers. Plinker only, and I don't plink enough to warrant reloading for it. And, I will never hunt with it or use it for home defense, so no need to doctor up any special loads
--all shotguns: factory ammo
--rimfire (obvious)
--Duck911
Hondo 60
Member
WOW!!!!! Now that, I'd pay to see.
Sounds better than any museum.
Fishslayer
Member
To begin with I never turn down cheap or free brass. Ya never know. I also don't buy guns that take ammo I can't buy at WalMart. Milsurp is an exception, of course. Not gonna beat $80/440 round spam can I don't think...
I reload for all my pistols. That would be .38/.357 Magnum, 9mm & .45ACP.
Most reloaders have a "powder trinity." Meaning 3 burn rates they use for most of their pistol reloading. Mine is Bullseye, W231 and 2400. I can load just about any pistol round with one of those. Many people prefer H110 or Blue Dot over 2400. Some might like Red Dot better than Bullseye. HP38 is the same powder as W231. Personal preference and local availability play a part here.
As for quantities, I use Bullseye the most so I keep a few pounds of that around. I don't load as much Magnum ammo with the 2400 but the loads are 14gr apiece, so... A lot depends on the individual...
Here's Hodgdon's burn rate chart. It gives an idea of how fast the different powders are.
http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html
Rifles? I mentioned milsurp. The rifles I own take either rimfire or cheap commie ammo. But I do have a pretty large stash of .308 & .223 brass if I ever need it.
I reload for all my pistols. That would be .38/.357 Magnum, 9mm & .45ACP.
Most reloaders have a "powder trinity." Meaning 3 burn rates they use for most of their pistol reloading. Mine is Bullseye, W231 and 2400. I can load just about any pistol round with one of those. Many people prefer H110 or Blue Dot over 2400. Some might like Red Dot better than Bullseye. HP38 is the same powder as W231. Personal preference and local availability play a part here.
As for quantities, I use Bullseye the most so I keep a few pounds of that around. I don't load as much Magnum ammo with the 2400 but the loads are 14gr apiece, so... A lot depends on the individual...
Here's Hodgdon's burn rate chart. It gives an idea of how fast the different powders are.
http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html
Rifles? I mentioned milsurp. The rifles I own take either rimfire or cheap commie ammo.
But I do have a pretty large stash of .308 & .223 brass if I ever need it.
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788Ham
Member
ReloaderFred,
What powder do you use more for your .375 Win.? I've got a Win. Big Bore 94 in the .375, usually reload 200 gr. FP for it, bullet selection is skimpy if one doesn't cast, I don't. Thanks.
What powder do you use more for your .375 Win.? I've got a Win. Big Bore 94 in the .375, usually reload 200 gr. FP for it, bullet selection is skimpy if one doesn't cast, I don't. Thanks.
ReloaderFred
Member
788Ham,
I've been using Reloder 7 powder in my .375 Winchester. I cast all my bullets for this caliber and have been shooting a 265 gr. gas checked bullet. Mine is a Marlin 336W that was rebored by JES Reboring: http://www.35caliber.com/index.html
Jesse did an excellent job and had my rifle back to me in less than a week.
Hope this helps.
Fred
I've been using Reloder 7 powder in my .375 Winchester. I cast all my bullets for this caliber and have been shooting a 265 gr. gas checked bullet. Mine is a Marlin 336W that was rebored by JES Reboring: http://www.35caliber.com/index.html
Jesse did an excellent job and had my rifle back to me in less than a week.
Hope this helps.
Fred
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