Reloading

[knowsnothing]

This week while making sales calls in Idaho, I was fortunate to do some long range shooting with a .338 EDGE. This guy reloads everything and has me a little jacked to start reloading myself. I feel if the cost was reduced enough I would probably be shooting more. Plus, now that Sportsman Warehouse left no one stocks my Vital shock HE rounds for elk. I would really like to get more range time with the handguns as well. My fear is that it will become like another piece of exercise equipment turning into some high price cloths rack. So now I am sitting here in my justification phase. Input is appreciated. If you were reloading and stopped, I would be curious on why. That previous post showing the process was dynamite. I also picked up a book today to read on the flight home.

And yes, the 300 grain bullet out of that .338 EDGE kicks butt at 1100 yards. He had one of those Night Force scopes. Really cool!!

[Archerysniper]

I have let my pistol and rifle reloading sit for the last 8 years just don't shoot them enough and no time to reload. Now the shotgun I reload constantly I shoot alot of ammo through one being on 2 trap teams plus practice and shooting around the house it is very cost effective plus i have the progressive loader so it's about 10 mins for 100 rounds.

It is a blast to tinker with your rifle and loads till you can get a dime sized group at a 100 yards though.

[knowsnothing]

I can imagine the number of shotgun shells. I didnt even think about that yet. Thanks

[KyleM.]

I have reloaded for a few years for my wife's 9mm Glock and my 357 sig Glock.

even though the 9mm rounds are considered cheap, i can produce them for 30% of the cost of the cheapest available and still be some of the most accurate you have ever seen.

Because of this we both practice A LOT, so she went from not being able to hardly hit the silhouette at 25 yards consistently, to nailing it at 100 yards (yes i said 9mm Glock at 100 yards consistent)

Plus if you have ever used a caliper on factory ammunition and the inconsistencies in so called premium bullets it would make you stop shooting for fear of your life and pressure variances (the 30% cost bullets are on average within 2-4 thousandths of an inch variance while factory ammo can be as much as 25 hundredths variance!!!)

now as for rifles, the accuracy factor from what i found w/ 243 ammo and 270 ammo is as follows:

You can find decent and even tack driving accuracy from factory ammo, you may have to take out a second mortgage for very much range time but hey, you get what you pay for from the factory, usually.

All that being said the same ammo can be loaded for roughly 60-70% of the cost assuming you re-use brass.

One thing I noticed that most do not seem to mention is the different weights and designs of the bullets you can load from each caliber to match your use, and you can tailor the speed to your rife/preference examples would be: varmint grenades, fmj, round nose, hollow points, fail-safes, partitions, you get the idea.

hope this helps, I find reloading almost as enjoyable as the range time and cost is more of a second or even third factor.

[Tator2k]

I've been reloading handgun and rifle for over 10 years. Do a lot of research and then call John at Gun Stop. He'll answer all your questions every time. I ask him something new each time I walk in there.

What I have found is you don't technically save money reloading yourself. You shoot more.

You have the up front cost of the hardware first.

On average, everything I shoot. I reload for about 40% the cost of retail. Does that mean I only spend say $10 on a box of 50 rounds? No, instead I still spend the same $22-25 but now shoot 100+ rounds.

I have some firearms that have yet to have a factory round through them.

I reload .380, 9mm, .38 sp, .357, .38S, .40, 10mm, .44, .45acp, .45lc, .50ae rifle: .223, .308, 30-06, 300 WinMag, 7MM mag

I used to shoot upwards of 15k rounds a year. Currently I'm only a few thousand.

[WalleyeGod]

Knows:

Shawn Carlock developed the 338 Edge in 2001 and has really got himself a very good cartridge using the RUM as a starting point so he has a lot of data and experience with his thumper. He puts on classes in Idaho for long range hunting and can be found through his company Defensive Edge. There are other thumpers out there like Allen Magnums, Weatherbys, Lapua's, etc.) and you can find out more information about them and some of these other boom dust demons over at long range hunting dot com. Len has himself a pretty classy HSOforum.

Here is a pic of my boom dust thumper and its cartridge. 270 Allen Magnum.

Necked down 300 RUM or 7mmRUM case to 270 then fireformed. Using a 169.5 grain bullet with a BC of .74 in front of 99gr of US869 powder at 3,300 fps. This is a Savage Action from a 300WM, Savage stock, Lilja barrel, 8.5x25 Leupold VX3, Ken Ferrel 20 moa base, Allen muzzle brake and aftermarket recoil pad. Recoil approx. like my 30-06.

Shooting these high BC bullets like here and what Shawn does with his 300gr Sierra's along with some other LRH rifle developers can really do some remarkable things at long range. Definately fun to learn.

Shoot straight,

WG

[waskawood]

I feel if the cost was reduced enough I would probably be shooting more.

I found the exact opposite to be true. I shoot more so that I can relaod!! It is a great hobby but one word of caution. Don't listen to WG. He can cause one to spend lots of money, but it's worth it........ Welcome to the hobby.

[Code-Man]

I think reloading is a dangerous slippery slope. Yes you save money once you find your loads but then you start planing with all the other loads. I got a great load now for my girlfriends 25-06 and got one for my 30-06 so now I will save money since i don't plan on changing loads.

I heard this from third party that glocks don't like reloads...Just third party telling me this no clue if it is true.

[WalleyeGod]

Allen brake and fluted Lilja barrel on the 270 AM.

Waska:

Yeh, got another friend to part with his moth eaten denaros. Bought Bert's slow twist 6Br recently. He is now looking for reloading components. Pretty soon I won't have to shoot any prairie dogs. Not.

Did I mention to you that my brother just got into the 1,000 yard club with my old Dasher. Prairie dog bit the dusty. He is driving that thing real well. It also has a Lilja barrel on it. Pic of area for the LR PD shot-New Mexico.

TTFN,

WG

[knowsnothing]

Thanks guys. It really sounds like it makes sense to give it a try. I was looking for a nudge but you guys pushed me off the fence.

WG: The 338 EDGE I shot was pretty cool. It had a ported barrel as well and also had a hair trigger. No kick or jump at all. His ranch had the ultimate set up for long range shooting. I have heard that name before. Is he the guy that did the video "Nothing under 1000 yards"? I spent a lot of time on the Longrangeshooting site before my elk and antelope hunt. That is the best thing about these forums. Lots of guys willing to point you in the right direction.

Thanks again guys

[WalleyeGod]

Knows:

Not sure of all Shawn's videos. I know he has one called "Send It". Have seen a little of that on utube. Cool stuff for sure.

WG