Confused: How are handloads better than premium production?

[Uriah02]

I'm not talking about from the custom charging your ammo to a specific rifle. For example I can go buy a box of FGMM for $35, or save the money and load it myself (hypothetically) but if I load it to the same specs as the FGMM why would it shoot any better?

I ask because I've been shopping around for some premium production ammo (5.56 NATO/.308) and be it Black Hills, FGMM, or M119LR the reviews I read of this ammo's preformance is always compared to handloaded ammo as the pinnacle. Components are just components, is it because the press I buy for home use is more consistent then the company's mass production method or what? If so, does that mean those who use single stage make better ammo then those with a progressive? I don't want to spend $1+/rd if as a novice loader I really can make match quality cartridges with better consistency then the high end production ammo for the lower price of their components.

[NotEnufGarage]

You can make quality cardtridges with better consistency for much less than the cost of premium mass production ammo.

Not only that, but you can tailor your ammo to exactly what you're using it for.

After developing rounds for specific uses (100 yd sub-moa, long range, etc.) with different projectiles, powders, primers and charge weights, you'd be able to reproduce those results anytime you want to, whereas the premium production ammo comes in one configuration, that might not be best for all those scenarios.

Depending on how far you want to get into it, you have control over all of the variables. Case length, volume (or weight), seating depth, powder charge, primer type and of course projectile all play into how the round will perform, from round to round. The premium production ammo gives you control over none of these.

At some point, the quality and performance differences start to minimize, once you've got your process down, but if you get into measuring case volume and/or weight, consitency can improve. I have no idea how picky the commercial producers are about case volume/weight, projectile weight, etc. but these are steps you can add to your process to improve consistency.

Also, being able to shoot 3 times the amount of ammo because you reloaded it rather than bought it will probably help your all around outcome.

[NytWolf]

if I load it to the same specs as the FGMM why would it shoot any better?

IMO, if you loaded it yourself, even to the same specs as the manufacturer's, your loads would shoot better because of consistency, assuming you were careful in all you do. Most likely the manufacturer would have a machine loading theirs, so with regular wear and tear on the machine, their loads will be slightly off from cartridge to cartridge. It is true nowadays, that manufacturing consistency has come a long way, but there still isn't someone monitoring every charge.

[kmca]

+1 to everything said, however, if you don't match a load to a particular rifle, you're missing out on a lot. If you are satisfied with 1-2 MOA groups, find a suitable factory load. If, however, you like to see one hole groups, you're probably going to have to hand load for a particular rifle.

[joelogic]

Customizing loads is the point to reloading not saving money.

[iareConfusE]

Customizing loads is the point to reloading not saving money.

I reload to save money :|

[Latigo]

Factory loads won't perform the same in every rifle even if it's the same make and caliber. Handloading allows you to profile your cartridge loads for one specific rifle.

[kurac]

Handloading allows you to control the QC. I know there is no way a factory can inspect each component along the way and at each step in the process and still offer a finished product for the price that they do. I can since my time is not factored into the cost of each finished round to me.

Likewise, if you do a lousy job at reloading, you would be better off just buying premium ammo

[CSACANNONEER]

There is really no comparision. If factory ammo was the best, benchrest shooters and top competitors would all be using factory ammo. For some games, factory stuff is fine but, for precision shooting, you need to load for that particular barrel at that particular point in it's life for the elevation and air density that you are going to be shooting in.

[NoJoke]

It would be interesting to actually put the theory to the test.

Anybody keep stats on squib loads etc for factor vs their handload? Then get data from a few hundred shooters and compare/look at trends.

[joelogic]

I reload to save money :|

Pretty hard to save money reloading .223 and .308 compared to Wolf. But you save if you dont count time.

[jimmykan]

Because I put love in every round I make.

[Peter W Bush]

I VERY highly doubt that people reloading for precision have had problems with squibs.

[khw9mm]

Reloads are better. Customization for your particular barrel/gun and cost factor....about 1/2 of the price of factory match ammo.

[DVSmith]

Handloading allows you to control the QC. I know there is no way a factory can inspect each component along the way and at each step in the process and still offer a finished product for the price that they do. I can since my time is not factored into the cost of each finished round to me.

Likewise, if you do a lousy job at reloading, you would be better off just buying premium ammo

Could not agree more! I buy factory match grade ammo and reload. If I don't feel like spending the time to prep brass and check components for defects I shoot the factory stuff. When I have the time to do the job right, I shoot my own loads.

BTW, even when I am being really type A I will have a round or two that get messed up for one reason or another. I just have a better chance of catching small flaws that hinder consistency.