Confused: How are handloads better than premium production?

[IntoForever]

Cost. When I'm shooting at closer range targets I use less powder. I get all the benefits of the training and save a few pennies per round with no humanly noticeable accuracy loss. I have found the minimum charges to cycle the weapon 100% of the time and known maximum charges and load per distance desired.

[HKMadness]

Im reloading .45 acp to save money. I didnt even "try" to make it more accurate, and ill be danged if i wasnt hitting a 1sq ft steel plate with my usp at 35 yards 8or9 of ten shots. With wwb i shot before that, it was more like 5/10. I am not 100% sure if the ammo was the factor, but i dont think the wwb or wally world stuff is crimped, that alone is known to increase accuracy. But with premium factory stuff, they cant add that special ingredient of love.

[joelogic]

Crimp increases accuracy? Interesting.

[CSACANNONEER]

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.

All I can say is that 've had two factory rounds blow up in my face. One was a premium Elly round the other was an older 9mm round manufactured by Winchester. A few years ago, several calgunners had their AR15s blow up while trying to shoot Remmington .223. The brass came from the factory without flash holes.

Comparing 100s of reloader's data to factory ammo isn't going to show anything since, each reloader and each factory has it's own QC procedures.

Finally, the original question in this thread was asking if handloads are "better" than premium factory loads. The answer is going to change for each reloader and what the ammo is trying to accomplish. But, for the most part, high quality handloads (not always "reloads") are superior to high quality factory ammo in both price and preformance.

[HKMadness]

Crimp increases accuracy? Interesting.

I may be wrong, i was once in 1999

kindly correct me if i am, but i recall reading that.

[Arcaporale]

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 bly 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.

While I'm still a novice reloader at most, I found out quickly that ammo is only as good as the reloader. Factory ammo is good, but reloaded ammo can be better. It can also be worse. Obviously components and equipment are factors as well. At first I was making some really crappy ammo, but 2500 rounds loaded now and I can't tell the difference in groups at 100yds between mine and decent factory.

Your quality control is probably the most important factor in making good ammo. Reloading allows you to choose a wide variety of components to experiment with so you can make the best ammo for your gun and particular application.

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[Peter W Bush]

I may be wrong, i was once in 1999

kindly correct me if i am, but i recall reading that.

Depends on caliber and a few other variables. I would NEVER crimp my bolt gun cartridges. Too much crimp in a handgun round will ruin accuracy, though.

[Cowboy T]

Customizing loads is the point to reloading not saving money.

Actually, I reload to save money, and oh, boy, do I save a lot per round. I also do it to ensure a supply of ammo should there be another shortage like in 2009.

The fact that I can tailor my ammo to a specific task that factory loads don't give me is another benefit. To my knowledge, no factory makes anything like my powder-puff .38 Special load, or my ".44 Special +P" load, and if they do, it'd cost a fortune. Does any factory make 7.62x54R cast bullet (150gr) loads that chrono at 1800-1900 fps?

Finally, my own .357 Magnum ammo gives me groups about half the size of the factory loads at 25 paces.

[sonnyt650]

...the reviews I read of this ammo's preformance is always compared to handloaded ammo as the pinnacle

Those reviews assume that reloaders take the time to figure out what shoots best from their rifles. Ever notice predominantly 168gr or 178gr Sierra MatchKing bullets are used in factory match ammo? Let's say your rifle prefers Hornadys or Noslers due to the shape, bearing surface area, or whatever -- you're SOL if you rely on factory ammo since you'll never know. If the components are the same and the attention to detail is the same (might need some convincing there) the ammo will be the same, no need to sugar coat reloading as having magical qualities unavailable to the big factories. It's the ability to stray from the factory loads where hand loads shine.

[Hornet_RN]

Customizing loads is the point to reloading not saving money.

yes...i totally agree

for example i make 3 different kinds of loads for Springfield .30-06

1) a light 150 grain LEAD hunting load with Sierra Gamekings for a Rem 700
2) a heavier 168 grain NON-LEAD hunting load with Barnes TSXs for a Rem 700
3) a really light 150 FMJ LEAD load for my Garand for NRA HighPower, light so that i don't destroy this 60+ year old action!

it makes more sense for me to handload these than to buy it at the store because it would definitely be cheaper. those non-lead loads are expensive enough being handloaded already!

[Ahhnother8]

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

Components are just components.

No, they are not!!


Minimization of tolerances!!

Bullets - .05+- grains
Powder - .02+- grains
Brass - .25+- grains
Seating depth - .0005"+-
Bullet runout - .0015"+-

Measure ANY factory ammo and the tolerances will be no where close to these...

[five.five-six]

.45ACP for $9/100 is a lot bettter than factory ammo

[Jonathan Doe]

Usually, firearms manufacturers chamber their guns to the maximum SAAMi spec. Typically, ammo manufacturers produce their ammo to the lower end of the SAAMI spec, dimension wise. Even premium match ammo has some tolerance built in to be able to chamber in various firearms.

When I load my own, especially ammo for longer range, my cartridge is tight in the chamber and the bullet is seated close to the rifling. There is no match for the reload if you know how to do it right. Besides, 20 rounds of 308 Win ammo usually cost me less than $10 when I reload.

[khw9mm]

.45ACP for $9/100 is a lot bettter than factory ammo

Can you tell me or PM me your components list and where you get them? $9/100 seems pretty darn cheap for 45acp. Thanks!

[Time of Flight]

Powder Valley my friend, Powder Valley...

He probably uses home cast boolits and promo....