Why I am glad I reload

[z7]

went to the range today with a friend who was wanting to sight in a new CORE15 rifle with a burris AR-332 sight on it. he is a Marine and knows his way around the M4 platform. it took 3 shots to get it close at 50 yds. over the next 10 shots it printed a 6" group. mostly it was around the POA but with odd fliers in all directions. I shot it and had the same issue. two shots where I was aiming, then two shots 4" right, then a shot 3" low. this was off a bipod with a rearbag support in an AR15. this type of accuracy was just not acceptable.

so we checked the gun, all seemed normal

then we checked the ammo, it was independence 5.56 nato 55g fmj (https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...ato-55-grain-m193-full-metal-jacket-boat-tail)

the seating depth was a little all over the place. one round the cannelure was not visible, the next was a middle cannelure seating depth with a visible crimp, a third was not seated up to the cannelure.

we decided to figure out if it was the ammo or the gun, so he shot some of my factory ammo, i think it was some Winchester Law Enforcement 55g soft point that I had laying around. this printed about 1" out of 5 shots at 50 yds.

my reloads performed similarly in his gun and I KNOW with 100% confidence what sort of QC is in place at MY ammo factory.

all in all we had a good day at the range, did some shooting, sighted in a new gun, and reaffirmed why I am glad I reload.

 

[thomas15]

I went into this hobby of handloading kicking and screaming. But once I had my press mounted, components purchased and took that long breath followed by pulling the handle, I would say that I've probably shoot less than 100 rounds of factory center fire ammo since. I have roughly 2000 rounds of factory 9mm, 1000 rounds 45 acp, 600 rounds 40 S&W and maybe 500 rounds 38 special in storage, all purchased before I started this over 3 years ago and have probably made 25K rounds or more at my bench.

I believe it's a one way door.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I resisted for a long time too. Initially, I got into it for the cost savings on pistol rounds, specifically revolver and 45. Since its opened me up to purchase guns in calibers I simply would have avoided if I was stuck paying for factory ammo (hello, .45-70 and .44mag). Ive more recently started exploring the benefits in the accuracy arena, discovering that I can handload quality / match grade .223 ammo for the same price as the cheapest blasting ammo, but printing much better groups. I too am hooked..... I was just going to reload .38/.357.... then .45..... got into .308..... 9mm.... 44spc/mag.... .45-70..... 223.... and soon, 10mm...

 

[dgod]

I started in 1985 loading 44 Mag, now I load 9mm, 45ACP, 45 LC, 357 Mag, 5.56, 30-30, 243, 308, 30-06, 300 Winmag. So yes, it is addictive, and contageous...

 

[Hondo 60]

Had some Fiocchi 223 ammo that measured about 5" at 50 yards.
Then shot some of my ammo & got about 2" at 50 yards.
This is why I reload.

I'm getting kinda shaky in my midlife (56) so I thought 2" was pretty good.
Ammo was nothin' special.
55gr BTFMJ over 26.0 gr of Varget OAL 2.225.
But my old AR15A1 likes it.
The new Diamondback 15B is a touch more scattered.

 

[Doublehelix]

Yeah, it really is a great feeling to see those small groups. I shot some of my factory ammo the other day (9mm Fiocchi), and it took me a minute to figure out why I was shooting so poorly!

It is easy to get spoiled with handloads, that is for sure.

 

[JimKirk]

I started loading .25/06 in 1969 ... have shot one box of factory ammo in two different rifles ... that's right ... one box between two gun .... but there ain't no count of how many reloads I shot in those same guns ... a truck load maybe ....

 

[entropy]

He's a Marine and he bought Independence ammo?

I started young, 9 for shotgun, 14 for rifle, 15 for pistol. Been at it a while. I'm glad I reload because I can load for value, and I can load for specific results. Once in a while I get lucky and the two coincide.

55gr BTFMJ over 26.0 gr of Varget OAL 2.225.

That's a good load. I got just over 1" at 100 from 25.5 and 26 off of sandbags, just under 2" off the bipod with the Axis. the factory forend on them are noodles.

 

[z7]

Handloading changes how you look at ammunition. Before i started reloading i shot whatever i purchased, i sighted rifles "close enough" and didnt shoot often. Now i verify that each new recipe yields acceptable results and change my sights based on the load.

I also shoot a whole lot more

 

[TrickyDick]

With a standard M91/30 Izhevsk mosin, surplus ammo was all over the place. Factory commercial ammo was somewhat scarce and relatively expensive.

So I started reloading 7.62x54R just because I liked it and was sick of corrosive ammo. That same mosin ended up grouping 1.5" with my handloads at 100 yards, standard iron sights.

Now I only buy the factory ammo for the brass when I have to.

Also, I have a Finnish M39 mosin that has never shot surplus ammo under my ownership, and the barrel is pristine.

 

[DownInTheDark]

I got into reloading because I was bored and heard it could save you money in the long run. Well it hasn't saved me any money, if anything I have purchased a bunch of oddball calibers I would have never owned. Would I do it again? Yes.

 

[Armored farmer]

I got started back about 1977.
My father was shooting trap and reloading before I was born. When I started reloading, he had a mec 400 single stage. As I got more involved in shooting,he bought a mec 650 progressive.
Together we were shooting 600 registered targets per week plus maybe 200 practice rounds.
I suppose I have reloaded a semi load of 12ga trap loads.
Now I reload 12ga, 20ga, 28ga, .410, .45c, .357,.45acp.,.30-06., .223, .30-30, .

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

.........it is like "Down in The Dark" said, it does not always save one $ but one does get more enjoyment firing his(hers) own ammo.(Is that P.C.?) I got into reloading twenty some years after inheriting my Dad's equipment. (He has been gone quite a while and probably would be happy where I am now.) Have been doing it now for about 5 years, anything from .380 to .460 S&W, mostly handguns & Wildcats including .357 Herrett. One may purchase, for instance 9mm for about the same price of reloading his own , but it is a hobby! And one can get better results at the range with "Homemade". Buy, for instance .357 Herrett brass, ? , no, make your own, it will give you something to do rather staring at the boob tube and save you $ plus give you a sense of pride and satisfaction once you hone in on your target!

 

[z7]

I don't get the argument that you can buy 9mm as cheaply as you can reload it.

$80 for 1000 115g rmr fmj (last purchase was $76 ish i think)
$30 for 1000 primers (on shelvesfor $24-$40)
$30 for powder.
$30 for once fired brass if you pay for it. I just pick up everyone elses usually.

Total is $140 per thousand rds. $140 per hudred or $7 per box of 50.

Quick search reveals the cheapest bulk pack is tula steel cased ammo at $160 or so and we are in the same boat my friend was in, cheap and crappy bulk ammo. Ill take my cheaper, more accurate handloads with my own quality control measures any day.

 

[cfullgraf]

I got into reloading because I was bored and heard it could save you money in the long run. Well it hasn't saved me any money, if anything I have purchased a bunch of oddball calibers I would have never owned. Would I do it again? Yes.

Reloading does save money, what you do with the savings, that is up to you. Some folks shoot more, some folks take the significant other out for a nice meal.

Besides, you could never enjoy old, obsolete cartridges or wildcat cartridges without reloading. I can enjoy shooting some old family firearms with reloads where factory ammunition is virtually non-existant.

I enjoy reloading, it is another hobby to occupy my time instead of watching mindless dribble on the television. I've lost count but at last count I can reload over 30 different cartridges plus four shot shell gauges.

Then, there is the fact that I can load more accurate ammunition for less than most factory ammunition.

 

[R. Cobb]

I've been reloading since the mid 80's,
Factory loads are not consistent enough for me.

For me working up loads, finding out where all the sweet spots are at in my rifle. Different powders, neck sizing and different techniques on reloading. Watching the groups get smaller and then open back then to grow smaller as the powder charge increases.
I shoot 75 to 100 yards. In my photo the grid are 1/2 " squares.

 

[R. Cobb]

 

[hdwhit]

Per the Midwayusa product description:
"The taper crimp is centered in the bullet cannelure for reliable feeding in semi-automatic firearms."

I don't think that z7 found this to be an accurate description of the product. You may want to contact Midway and let them know that the off-brand IMI ammunition they are selling is "significantly not as described". As far as I am concerned, they owe you either a refund or replacement with something that isn't junk.

...I KNOW with 100% confidence what sort of QC is in place at MY ammo factory.

Well said.

Except for 22 rimfire (for obvious reasons), every time I get a new gun, I buy a box of factory ammunition for it. That way, if there is a defect in the gun, the manufacturer cannot blame my handloads. I am very proud of the fact that after this initial "verification" everything my guns are fed are my own handloads.

I applaud z7 for not accepting the results of the factory loaded ammunition and trying other cartridges; including his own.

 

[RainDodger]

I don't load to save money. I load because of the joy of doing something in a precision way. For me, hand loading is just as much of the fun as the shooting part. On top of that, it's a very calming thing to do - relaxing and absorbing. I can get lost in my reloading shop for entire afternoons.

 

[mstreddy]

As many here, I reload, not because it saves money, it does! Even though the "savings" means I'm shooting more. I do it to have ammo, whether the lowly 9MM to the rare, nearly obsolete cartridge of years gone by.
Just how common in your parts is 7.7x58 Japanese, 6.5x50 Japanese, 30-40 Krag, 6.5x52 Carcano, and a few others? Even 45 Colt is not that common in South Florida, and when you do find it -- be prepared to pay a hefty ransom.

As others have mentioned, 9MM can be reloaded economically, I'm loading 124 gr plated rounds for $5.48/50. I can load 147 Gr subsonics for not much more, my current price is around $5.76/50.

In any case, it was really satisfying to have ammo during the height of the 2012-2014 Banic.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I don't get the argument that you can buy 9mm as cheaply as you can reload it.

$80 for 1000 115g rmr fmj (last purchase was $76 ish i think)
$30 for 1000 primers (on shelvesfor $24-$40)
$30 for powder.
$30 for once fired brass if you pay for it. I just pick up everyone elses usually.

Total is $140 per thousand rds. $140 per hudred or $7 per box of 50.

Quick search reveals the cheapest bulk pack is tula steel cased ammo at $160 or so and we are in the same boat my friend was in, cheap and crappy bulk ammo. Ill take my cheaper, more accurate handloads with my own quality control measures any day.

You are right, I am wrong! (no argument)

 

[z7]

You are right, I am wrong! (no argument)

No argument from me, i just cannot come up with a good reason to buy factory ammo unless you have lots of money and not enough time

 

[Hardtarget]

It isn't hard to justify this reloading hobby! I got into the game in the mid '70s almost by accident. A friend of a friend had a foot locker full of gear. Three of us bought it. They have NEVER loaded a single round. Never even came to see it. I've offered...many times. Even gave some of the first reloads. Seems like zero interest. I never even see my friends anymore. I've not moved...they just moved on.

So, I reload. I've added tools, parts, pieces, and "stuff" and now load 11 calibers. 'Lovin' every minit of it"...and have very little factory ammo now.

 

[rjbmjb]

I started reloading to save money. Like most who stick with the hobby, I found reloading to be enjoyable and satisfying (which is all the justification I need), and now I would continue regardless of the savings.