To load or not to load?

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TxPhantom

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Made the mistake of shooting a 1911 comander last weekend and now thinking about moving up to 45 cal. but ammo is a little costly. We now see why the 1911 shooters are so fanatical.
We shoot 9mm a lot which is fairly practically priced. We also shoot 380, 38+P, and 357 mag. Will be buying a S & W M & P 40 caliber very soon. Until now, I have never considered loading my own ammo. but if we start shooting 45's maybe I should consider it.
My question is, is it really practical, is storing gun powder in my home safe, does the equiptment cost a lot, can I get enough "how to" information to do it right? :confused:
And last, but not least, if I did this would you want to be my next door neighbor? :scrutiny:
 
Welcome! Check out the thread I started on reloading http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=209890 or post your own. There lots of good stuff here. Most will tell you reloading does save you some $, but most of all you can tweak the loads for the application. Standard for target or beef them up for more practical/reactive targets. Check out the handloading section.
 
Reloading is very practical. You really will not save any money. The reason is that we all seem to find a comfort level with what we are willing to spend on a project or shooting. So, you will most likely shoot much more, and spend about the same. That's usually what happens.

On powder and primer storage. I suggest that you not store both in the immediate location of the other, and both away from a flame source. It is completely safe. Also, do not store powder or primers around and petroleum products. This is not so much a safety rule, but a reloading rule. Petroleum based products will denature primers, and ruin powder.

Cost, you can find used equipment for next to nothing; don't scrimp on scales.

And yes, I would be your neighbor...errr ugh...You don't have a car engine hanging from a tree limb, do you?

Here's a good source: http://www.handloads.com/default.asp
 
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TxPhantom,

I just started reloading myself. It can be a bit frustrating to get up and running, but once you're set up it's easy and fun. Of course you have to be careful, but you have to be careful when using your kitchen knives too. As for powder and primers, they're very safe. Remember that modern smokeless powder is a propellant, not an explosive; it burns fast and hot, but will not blow up. Now that can of gasoline for the lawn mower that you probably have in the garage is putting of vapors that could easily explode from sufficient heat or spark. So if you're comfortable with a few gallons of gas in your house/garage/tool shed then you should be just fine with powder and primers. The primers can cook off when exposed to extreme heat, but if they're stored away from powder or other flammables then there's nothing for them to ignite, so, again, a very safe item. Loading 45 ACP will save you money/ make up for the cost of the reloading equipment more quickly than a cheaper round like 9mm. Once you have the press and scale set up you'll find that powder, primers, and bullets are cheap. The 45 ACP is also a low presure cartridge, meaning it' easy on the brass, so you can reload it many, many times. Anyway, I'll quit rambling now.
 
There really is no reason not to reload. Just store the primers and powder seperately in sealed containers. I figure that the POL (lighter fluid, cleaners and solvents0 in my closets probably create more of a hazard then does my few pounds of VARGET, Bullseye, Unique, and HS-6. You will not save much money when you start to reload, because you will shoot alot more.
 
Reloading is great.

Store powder and primers away from heat etc.....

I use 230-gr FMJ Montana Gold bullets, 5.5 gr WW 231 powder and a #300 CCI LP primer.

I'm about ready to order and start using Northeastern Bullet Company bullets, because cost including shipping is only $49.00 a thousand shipped to my door. Jacketed bullets of course cost much more thru Montana Gold at around $95.00 a thousand for #1's and for seconds which can contain a dippled bullet or two is approx $68.00 a thousand.

You will do much more shooting, by reloading.
 
LennyJoe,
The "you will not really save any money" is in reference to the idea that most people will simply shoot more, but for the same amount of money.:rolleyes:
 
Assuming you are shooting domestic .380ACP and .357 Magnum, you are already spending more on that ammo than what commercial .45ACP ammo costs per 50-rounds.

I used to reload until I spent many years in the Regular Army stationed all over the globe. I will (soon) be loading my own again sometime before Christmas. 10mm and .223 and .357s that I load will save me a bunch so I can shoot more!
 
Neighbor

Yep, I'd be your neighbor. Won't bother me a bit. Most have covered it, storage, cleaners, expense, etc.

The challenge in loading comes from developing a load you like, your pistols likes that performs well. I target shoot, and hunt with a handgun, and carry one every day. Load development is my challenge. It's tedious at best, but once you find a load that works for you under the circumstance that you will use it for, that brings the satisfaction. It can be mentally taxing at times as well. I keep a log book of loads I've tried, bullets, powders, primers, casings, and so on.
 
Reloading is one of those things you get hooked on.

Yes, you could save money by doing it (I'm sure my 550 has paid for itself at least twice) but there's more: You get better ammo! My ammo is more accurate and chronos more consistent than the cheaper target ammo and perhaps even as good as some of the "match" ammo available.

If you just shoot a couple of boxes now and then, I agree that you won't save money. But if you get into IPSC or any other type of competition, it's pretty much a necessity.

I've seen people claim 2 to 3 dollars per 100 rounds! Those folks are picking up lead from tire shops and ranges and melting it themselves. I shoot only jacketed or plated bullets now and I make 100 of any pistol caliber for $8.50 to $10.00. Not a huge savings with 9mm but the larger the caliber, the larger the savings! Buy large quantities of powder, bullets and primer and watch for sales. This is one of those "warehouse club" things where you have to spend now to save a lot later!

All that and it's actually a lot of fun too! Just be careful not to double charge! I had one and it's NASTY! Load your primers 100 at a time and when you're out of primers, stop count your rounds. If you have 99 bullets, guess what?? :what:
 
My question is, is it really practical, is storing gun powder in my home safe,
Click to expand...

Gun powder in your home is safer than stuff like WD40.
This is a picture of cans of gunpowder that were in my gun shop when it burned to the ground.
All the gun powder cans are intact. The top or bottom just pops out and the powder just burns.
The cans that are blown up were cans of WD40 and Black Powder.

F_powder_cans.gif
 
The biggest bang-for-the-buck is when you cast. I enjoy casting, and the lead is easy to find.

For most pistol rounds, cast bullets work just great.
 
Unless you’re sitting on a lot of disposable income the only way you’re going to be able to shoot a lot is to reload. It really is a cool hobby unto itself.

I reload rifles for precision (Cept for my FAL) and handguns for cost savings. I’ve also got some European calibers and obsolete calibers (BPCRs) that reloading is the only practical way I can shoot them. Just try finding 8X68S, 6.5X57, 40-70 WIN, .45-2.4” or .45-2.6” on a Wal-Mart shelf sometime. I find reloading for rifles relaxing, fun, and challenging. Handguns and shotguns, I just want to get it done so I can shoot, so I own progressive presses for both of those.

A sample of costs for reloaded .45 ACP:

With home cast bullets it costs me about $3.34 per 100 provided the kids at Sears Tire are up for a six-pack.
Commercial cast is right at $7.54 per 100

I buy my components in bulk, kegs of powder, cases of primers, and I just placed an order for another 7K in cast bullets. You’ve also got to factor in your time, which BTW if you buy a decent progressive press for handgun isn’t a big deal, 3-500 rounds an hour. I load big lots of ammo in the winter when it's dark early, so it's load or sit in front of the tube.

As the other guys pointed out though, in the big picture you won’t be saving any money, but you will be shooting a hell of a lot more.

Chuck
 
My buddy reloads, and while I don't think he is "saving" money, he gets a ton more value out of the money he spends, which is good.
 
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