Reloading pros and cons?

[DueceMcGurk]

Mr. Blue,
I started with a $109 Lee Classic Turret. Probably added another $150 in dies and accessories to reload 45 ACP. A big factor was that my gunner friend said, "Get it. I will teach you how."

The main advantage is that I could tailor my loads to fit my needs... plinking and later comp. An unexpected benefit was that it opened a window into the world of ammo and ballistics. Quite enjoyable for some of us warped shooters.

The cons are few if you enjoy getting deeply into shooting sports. Space requirements, complexity, need for concentration, study time may be negatives for some.

8 calibers and 50,000 rounds later, it was a good move for me. Add covid distraction and great gunners met, and it keeps getting better.

Avoid the red, blue, orange and green debates and enjoy reloading. You meet the nicest, most helpful (and crabbiest) folks in the CalGuns loading world.

Welcome!

[JoyfulJoker]

I just got an Xl750 and I’m new to reloading. You can use it as a single stage press or like a turret press until you get it down. That’s my plan. I’m expecting a drought through 2022 and have enough primers to squeeze by. I’m picking the ear of every reloader I meet and watching vids . I’ve got the Lyman Pistol and Revolver Handbook.
Any other book recommendations?
Everyone has got a different opinion. What works for one does not work for another. I plan on installing a powder alarm and lights . I went nuts buying ammo and reloading components from February until now where I am priced out. 60 cents a round for 9mm?!! .70 cents for .223 steelcase?!!

[FISHNFRANK]

[TKM]

I've never heard this before (I have both the 03FFL and the COE). I have mail-ordered to my door many times, but where do I look if I want to get better pricing from "wholesalers"?

http://www.thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/CurioAndRelicDiscounters

Ask your suppliers if they have a dealer program. Send them pics of your documentation if they do.

Brownells, Classic and Grafs have been very, very good to me.

I blame your so called friends for not telling you about this thirty years ago.

You are also exempt from the no-shipping of ammo law. You just have to find ammo dealers that are on board with the option. AIM and Brownells ship ammo right to my door.

[Cowboy T]

I have to say that I learned on a XL650. Zero loading experience before I got the press (a re-gifting from my father). Learning curve is steeper than on a single-stage, but while I'm not particularly handing with tools, I found that it wasn't insurmountable. I did do a lot of reading beforehand on the principles of reloading, so I did have a basic understanding of the variables that are important considerations. And I took it slow.

Since I only load for handgun, and I shoot a decently high round count per month, if I were to do it again, I would do it exactly the same. Buying a single-stage "just to learn" would be a waste of money to me.

I've found the opposite. That little single-stage on my bench actually gets plenty of usage, even though I've been reloading mostly progressively for the last 10+ years. All my load development is done on the single-stage. All my cast bullet sizing is likewise done on it. Same for fixing any "errant rounds" that might on rare occasion show up. I have that single-stage, a Classic Turret, and two Pro 1000 progressives. I guess it's like having multiple screwdrivers for the various things that we encounter in, say, auto mechanics.

[drkphibr]

[Mr. Blue]

So let me break down my initial thinking of the term pros and cons, and how it applied to this thread. I was curious about the pros and cons of:
*performance
*accuracy
*effect on firearm (compared to factory ammo)

I’ve often heard accuracy can be dialed in a bit with reloading.

[GeeBee49]

I also made notes about recoil in certain loads, especially magnum loads. Recoil isn't just about reducing the powder charge. It also has to do with bullet weight and faster burning powder compared to slower burning powder. At least I think it does.

Here's a burn rate chart if anyone's interested.

https://www.thearmorylife.com/forum/threads/powder-burn-rate-chart-nice-to-have.357/

[kcheung2]

Strictly on that limited criteria, there are no pros to reloading. Every one of those narrow requirements can be met with factory ammo....for a price.

What you didn't touch on was price, availability, and knowledge. If I can throw enough money at shops, I'll get plenty of great factory ammo. I won't know a thing about why it's great, and I'll be a lot poorer, but I'll have it. In the real world I can't afford to buy 1000 rounds in the same batch (why the same batch? that's the knowledge part) for $2-$3 per round but I can definitely afford the components to make 1000 for substantially less $$.

You'll hear a common claim among reloaders that they can make match grade ammo that rivals commercial match grade ammo. And yes it's a true statement. But what they rarely brag about, although they should, is that it only cost them a fraction of the comparable factory ammo.

[Cowboy T]

Oh, I do! I brag about it, because it's true. Not only is my own ammo better, it's way less expensive. I make match-grade 7.62x54R. Yep, Mosin-Nagant ammo! And I do it with Hornady 178gr BTHP's. How can this be when Mosins have 0.311" bores? Simple, one of my Mosins was bought as a barreled receiver (barrel was junk), sent off to McGowan for a rebuilding (with rebarreling). The barrel specified was a 7.62x54R chamber, but a 0.308" bore. Rifle also got a Timney trigger and a Boyd's pillar-bedded walnut riflestock, all purchased on sale. Oh, and a rebluing. Why did I do this? Well, 'cause I could. :-) Same reason people trick out their cars; just thought it'd be fun. Yes, this rifle shoots very well with my match ammo.

Now, let's talk handgun. My ".45 Colt Magnum" handload, very similar to a Buffalo Bore load, is about 1/10th the cost of buying it from Buffalo Bore. Their price is $80/box of 50. Mine is $8.50 for that same box. And my ammo is better because not only do I use softer lead for proper bullet obturation, but I lube the bullet better. Translation: no lead-fouling in the Super Redhawk.