What kind of shooter/reloader are you really? Did you change over the years?

My definition may not be other's definition, but to me reloading is buying factory, shooting it then picking up the brass (or picking up factory cases shot by others) at the range and reloading it maybe close to factory specs. Hand loading on the other "hand" is not only buying one more component......brand new brass (Maybe even esoteric brass), it's working up and developing special loads for a different purpose than typical "factory" that you only "reload" to copy at a better price.

As for the O.P.'s original pigeon holing list of loading hobbiests, I'm a moving target. Could never stay interested in "landing" anywhere for long. But I am a hobbiest....the hobby changes continuously, to keep it interesting. But I will say, I don't shoot as much at 73 as I did at 23, 33, 43, 53, or even 63. But I still love to find problems to solve.

 

Technically:

• Reloading - Reusing case and new/used components like pulled bullets
• Handloading - Using new case with all new components

Yes for most, terms "reloading" and "handloading" are interchangable.

But for some, term "handloading" means producing more consistent rounds than "reloading" either through use of better quality/sorted components and/or more consistent practice to reduce reloading variables.

Dang near. Those drill sergeants during boot camp sure were uptight about us grouping consistently to hit our targets. And my unit commander absolutely wanted all the firearms combat ready and reliable so we took new out-of-the-box 1911s and worked them over until they were buttery smooth like our well broken-in M16s and M60s.

And fortunately or unfortunately, my reloading mentor for USPSA matches was a seasoned bullseye/PPC match shooter who produced small groups at 25/50 yards with all of his revolvers/semi-autos and expected utmost reloading consistency like shaving bottom of FMJ bullets to weigh exactly same.

So starting out, I just thought such "handloading" practice was normal (Because I didn't know any better never having reloaded) and worked to produce my match rounds with consistent powder charge variance and finished round dimensions from the start.

And when my 45ACP/9mm then later 40S&W match rounds produced tighter double-taps consistently, other match shooters got curious while taping up my target holes. When they shot my match rounds out of their match pistols and got smaller groups, they were surprised that I loaded them on Pro 1000s (I had dedicated setup for each caliber).

So group of us took calipers, micrometers and scales to different match shooters' houses to measure consistency of powder charge variance and finished round dimensions. They found out my powder charge variance to be consistent without drifting (I told them that's why I used Pro Auto Disk as fixed volumetric disks couldn't drift) and finished round dimensions were comparable if not better than loaded on their different color presses (I exclusively used Montana Gold FMJ/JHP and Berry's plated for practice).

I did deprime, inspect primer pockets and hand primed separately (As taught by my reloading mentor) but I did not sort bullets by weight or cases by headstamp because "action pistol" matches did not demand utmost accuracy that of "bullseye" matches but I could have if I needed to improve reducing reloading variables further.

Over the decades, I learned finished OAL consistency didn't matter to accuracy if "chambered OAL" varied significantly to affect chamber pressure. So now I focus on reloading variables that affect neck tension to produce least amount or no bullet setback which is the result of case wall thickness, bullet diameter, how much bullet base is seated inside case neck as wall thickness increases (Hence why I seat 115 gr FMJ/RN shorter at 1.110" instead of 1.130" if enhanced accuracy is desired ... Like Atlanta Arms 115 gr FMJ Elite Match AMU who also decreased OAL from 1.130" down to 1.110" for their most accurate match round).

So for me, I consider myself "reloader" who utilize varying aspects of "handloading" from loading general purpose range blasting plinking ammo to firearm/barrel specific "match grade" rounds to produce smallest groups.

 

I would identify with at least 12 of the listed minor categories, really with my only exclusions being the categorical “shooters who like reloading” and “shooters who don’t know why they own guns but shoot anyway.”

So the breakdown is a little misrepresented, and obviously not applicable to any universal exclusivity where a majority of shooters would only fit one bucket.

The broader questions of:

• Do you shoot factory ammo?
• Do you reload?
• Do you handload?
• If yes to either reload and/or handload, do you enjoy it or is it a means to be able to shoot?
• Would you shoot factory ammo if it were as affordable and as accurate as reloaded or handloaded ammo?
• Do you compete?

Personally, my reloading/handloading motivations and philosophy really haven’t changed much in the last 30 years. I reload/handload as a means to an end - on a matrix of availability, accuracy, and affordability, I reload/handload anything I can’t get, can’t get cheaper, or can’t get with equal performance. Effectively, I know the value of my time, and I balance that with performance and cost. I COULD pay custom loading companies to produce my ammo, but the cost increases approximately threefold. If I don’t need extreme accuracy or specialty products, then I balance availability and demand with cost - I’d happily hunt with factory ammo in almost any rifle I own. I’d happily shoot factory ammo if I can buy it cheaply in bulk for 3 gun competition. I would have loved to have bought factory ammo for cowboy action shooting, but loads for 44mag weren’t readily available, and the few which were occasionally available in smaller quantities were ridiculously priced. I doubt I’ll ever reload shotshell ammo ever again. I doubt I’ll ever cast bullets ever again.

But I also have done a lot of case forming for different wildcats over the years, and don’t mind doing so. When I want something, I’ll get it.

I HAVE debated hiring someone to reload for me. I’m doing more to monetize my time, and it has quickly become more unfavorable to spend so much time on unmonetized or under-monetized activities. I could pay a pretty decent wage to someone to run my presses, and I’ve automated most of the activities to minimize production variability risks and defects. So THAT might be the end of my bulk reloading/handloading days in the coming year.

 

As a young competition shooter with more time than money, I reloaded for economy.
Now as an old geezer with even more time and plenty of money, I reload out of stubbornness.

 

What's the difference between "practical" and "realistic" limits?

 

You're missing a category: a shooter who reloads to make the most cost efficient accurate ammo. My favorite powders are Titegroup, Bullseye, Unique and 2400. For example, H110 will get you better velocity, but it takes about 30-50% more powder for a 100-150 FPS gain in some loads. It's cost inefficient. I don't need the 100-150 FPS.

I will also buy factory when it is a good price.

 

I like the picture of the old can/canister of Hercules Red Dot by DuPont. I still have a partial 4 pound keg of Herco by DuPont.

 

Ha Ha ; I used to be that 2b3 fellow ,then I came to MY senses and am Now a confirmed 2b2 Guy .

I've often wondered how many shooters ,Hunters , bought a particular Rifle or pistol and bought 1 or 2 types of ammo ,shot their guns and realized they weren't sub MOA . Thus Became frustrated and sold them or made em hanger queens !. I bought a .308 off a frustrated Hunter years back ,swore the Rifle was Junk and I didn't really want it but the price was so cheap , I BOUGHT IT . Sold the scope for 1/2 the cost of the Rifle . So had $180.00 in the Rifle
Turns out 1 St. thing I found was Scope was lose . I removed the action checked fit and pillar bedded it free floating the barrel . Checked lugs ,lapped one side a little more than the other . Got it all cleaned up went and shot #20 rounds through it ,cleaned it again and put some hand loads down it . Surprise Surprise turns out it stays right around 1- 1.25 MOA and will do so after #15 shots . NO tack driver but a Decent Hunting Rifle and that's exactly what it was , a Browning A Bolt Medallion Hunting Rifle with nice wood .

Sometimes expectations run higher than practical reality .

 

A lot. Too many. Yup, folks like us can get a bargain like that once in a while and that’s good for us - but it’s bad overall for the shooting sports and gun owners in general. Don’t mean I’m going to pass up a bargain because some yayhoo spent a bundle on a good rifle and is happy to take a loss because it won’t shoot Wally World ammo to their expectations. Nope, I will take the deal if it’s a good one but I’ll also be sure to tell that yayhoo it’s not the gun and a good handload will turn their gun into what they expect it to be. Probably.

 

Yeah ; I didn't really know the guy ,he was a friend of a friend who used to hunt with a group I knew . The offer to buy came round about ,so I said I'd buy it and did . I know when I first bought some firearms ,I to was disillusioned . Heck I figured ALL guns hit the point of aim soon found out the lollipop wasn't universal . I remember I bought a Lathi 9mm ,damn thing shot really accurately ,just NOT where the sights pointed !.
I will say one thing it NEVER jammed but I had NO sight adjusting tools back then and peddled it .

One has to face facts ; Now days Rifles are made with economy in mind but are also far more accurate than yesteryear ,same with ammo . It simply comes from experience technological advances in materials and designs . People are the Biggest X factor ,IMO

 

I am 2a2ii and 1e. I’m good at it like I’m good at yoga and rock climbing

 

Too many choices that aren't exact fits.
I grew up reloading because that what Dad did. He and Mom were raised in the depression so they didn't want to spend an extra penny on anything.
Only what we needed. I grew up reloading and hand loading all my ammo, then later, all of Dad's and my brother's ammo.
I totally lost touch with what factory ammo cost until recently and Holy Snipe!
I always bargain shop for components like most of us do.
I like to shoot and I reload and handload so I can reach my objectives on shooting needs.
I won't buy something that I can make better, and cheaper my self.
I also reload and handload because of the poor quality control I see in factory ammo. Quite a few duds turned in for disposal at the range I shoot at.
Pretty much all the brands they sell for range ammo. Mine is better than that because I can afford to take the time to make it that way.
I don't know how that rates in your list of descriptions, I don't know what all the terms you used mean either.

 

This thread wasn't meant to be "serious" in narrowing down exactly what kind of shooters/reloaders we are rather "fun thread" to casually look at what kind of shooters/reloaders we might be and how we changed/progressed over the years/decades.

And since you enjoy shooting/reloading and prefer reload/handload over factory, you probably fall into the subcategory of 2a2:

2a2 - Shooter who likes reloading and also likes shooting (Will hardly/never buy factory)​

 

The ONLY way I could afford to shoot to the extent I desired was reloading ,it came down to a matter of economics . I later realized the accuracy benefits by changing components or altering load recipes . NO two firearms are made exactly the same ,no matter who or how they're produced .
I proved that back decades ago . Purchased Two near sequential Serial #'d AR's from the Old Bushmaster . They are TACK DRIVERS ,however NOT with the same loads .

I have to say I must disagree with regards to poor quality in factory ammo , I see just the opposite . Take Federal as an example , I'd stack their Premium ammunition up against anyone's . Is that to say it will shoot as well as hand-loaded ; NO but for factory manufactured ,I'd run it in competition . The vast majority of us hand-loaders ,have had umpteen years of experience to do ladder tests recall past knowledge of combinations which we proved in OUR Guns . Factories DON'T have OUR Guns , they have TEST BARRELS and hardly a fair comparison .

WE TUNE our ammunition too OUR GUN ,so as to obtain superb accuracy as well as reliability . Generally speaking a High volume hand-loader might do 50-1000 rounds a week ?. A factory produces 10's of K's per SHIFT . Hardly an apple to apple comparison but further illustrates MY point . We hand-loaders have that unique ability to CHANGE components ,where as Factories are COMMITTED ,as they've run ballistics and pressure tests ,along with bullet combo's for a UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE purposely built cartridge .

I can't and won't speak for others but I know for a fact , MY Hunting loads are NOT as accurate as say MY Target loads and I DON'T care . I'm concerned with the BULLET Choice as to IT'S TERMINAL PERFORMANCE and being inside of a 2-6" circle at 200-500 Yd. is ANIMAL DEAD accuracy . That being said I DON'T use 180 Gr. solids or blunt nosed bullets for paper punchers . Many Factory ammo manufacturers do .