Comments on: Ammo: Reloads or Factory?

By: UTAlumnus

UTAlumnus — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:36:44 +0000

I’m looking to get into reloading 9mm, 5.56mm & .243

By: allendavis58

allendavis58 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:37:50 +0000

Perhaps I’m lucky. Perhaps I was also smart.
I began hoarding primers years ago, when they were still selling for $20 per thousand. They currently sell for $30-$40 per thousand when you do find them.
When I began handloading back in the early 1970s, primers could be had for $10 per thousand!!!
I saw the price trend, so I sacrificed a lot just to build a stockpile of primers. I was still buying them when they hit $30/thousand, saving my stockpile. I’m so glad I did.
What I didn’t foresee was the high prices brass casings now command. Thankfully, I hoarded a butt-load of cases when they were either free or extremely cheap.
Powder is also an issue, but not as bad. In the early 1970s, a pound of Bullseye or Unique went for less than $10/pound. heheheheheh. Look at the prices today.

Scarcity of components is indeed an issue today, and they are much higher than they used to be. But they are out there.
And yes, factory ammo is hard to find, and prices are through the roof. But components can be found if you look really hard. Just be prepared for sticker price shock.

Handloading is still cheaper than factory stuff if you shop hard for components, and that isn’t always easy. Today;s factory ammo is tough to beat for accuracy, but I do it all the time. Homework, homework, homework and lots of research is all it takes.

By: allendavis58

allendavis58 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:10:42 +0000

Welcome to the club!!! Make sure you keep detailed, accurate records for every batch and round you load and keep lots of notes as well.
To assist your efforts, you should buy a chronograph and keep detailed records of your loading results as well. It will greatly assist you in building great loads.
My records indicate I’ve loaded well over 1.3 million rounds since I began as a kid. However, many of those rounds went to my Dad, my three kids (ages 33 to 30) and many friends.
I load for the .32 ACP, .380 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, 5.56mm NATO, 7.62x39mm, .30-30 Win., 8mm Mauser and the .45-70 Govt.
Like you, I’d be sitting at home wishing I was at the range rather than being at the range and pushing lead downrange.

By: allendavis58

allendavis58 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:44:39 +0000

I have one more loading that requires mention. It’s for my Hi-Power in 9 mm.
It uses a 115 gr. JHP from Sierra (although the Hornady version seems to work just as good). I use 4.9 gr. of HP-38 powder for an average velocity of 1263 fps, as standard deviation of 11.04 and extreme spread of 33.26 fps. This is also an extremely accurate, extremely consistent loading that produces wonderful accuracy. Recoil is pleasant, but quite sharp and abrupt — no big deal.
One might note that I seem to have a real liking for Hodgdon’s HP-38 powder. I do like it a lot in the 9 and the .45. It works for me. I’ve been told by many people that it’s actually identical to W-231. I know its a very fast-burning powder, almost as fast as the old standby Bullseye. In fact, I use it a lot in my .45 Colt SAA with 255 gr. Keith bullets for a gentle 750 fps and great accuracy.
I should also add that I cast all my bullets in two distinct alloys. One is the classic #2 alloy, which is fairly hard and resists leading. My other casting does use a softer alloy, with a bit less antinomy and tin. These bullets WILL EXPAND from my Hi-Power or 1911 and still not lead the barrel.
I don’t “hot-rod” any of my handguns. If I need more power, I simply go to a bigger or more powerful gun. After all, that’s why God and Elmer Keith invented the .41 Magnum!

By: allendavis58

allendavis58 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:32:56 +0000

I should add to my previous comment that I’ve began handloading in 1972 when I was 14. A neighbor introduced me with his RCBS Rock Chucker press. Since 1981, I’ve done all my loading on a Lee turret press, an excellent (and grossly under-rated machine). I wore out that press after 20 years of hard use and nearly 400,000 rounds. Since that press served me so well for so long, I bought another one just like it in 2004, although I struggled with buying the 4-station model, but was reluctant to have to buy a bunch of new turrets. I also decided I didn’t need the “progressive loading” features. I batch-load everything. I just like the turrets since I never have to adjust dies once they’re set properly.
Also, on the loads I previously commented on, all were loaded in Winchester cases with standard Winchester primers.

By: allendavis58

allendavis58 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:10:19 +0000

I have a load for my 9mm Hi-Power using a 125 gr. LRN bullet using 4.0 gr. of HP-38 which consistently yields an average velocity of 1063 fps, with a standard deviation of ONLY 6.63 and extreme spread of ONLY 21.7 fps. And I can consistently shoot sub-1-inch groups at 25 yards with it. I routinely shoot an 18″ x 24″ steel plate target at 75 yards in fairly rapid fire, and I rarely miss. It is also 100% reliable. I wouldn’t hesitate to rely on this load for self defense. After all, I’ve NEVER seen factory ammo of ANY kind as good as this load.
Likewise, I have a load for my 1911 using a 225 gr. LRN using 5.0 gr. of HP-38 that averages 851 fps, a standard deviation of 8.71 and extreme spread of only 30.2 fps. It also produces extremely small groups at 25 yards. I don’t think factory ammo could possibly match this load. And after 35,000+ rounds, I’ve only had one minor malfunction with this load, and it was after firing about 1,000 rounds in a single session, and the gun was dirty when I began. The round failed to fully chamber. All I had to do was bump the back of the slide and things went smoothly thereafter.
While components are definitely much more expensive than they were 30 years ago, I can still shoot a lot more with home-rolled ammo than even bulk commercial ball ammo.
It is tough to beat commercial 5.56 mm ammo, so I don’t load much for it since I don’t save enough money to justify handloading, but that steel-cased Russian 7.62×39 mm is impossible to beat except for a highly customized AK I have, and I use only American nickel-plated cases for it. I can shoot 6-7-inch groups at 600 yards with it.
Overall, I still prefer handloads.

By: micko77

micko77 — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:21:47 +0000

I reloaded on single-stage press only for about two years; it’s now reserved for rifle, seldom-loaded pistol calibers. My Dillon has had well over 600k .38/357′s through it. I cast a fair share, buy some cast bullets, some jacketed for the rare instances jackets are needed. I was fortunate to have stocked up on both powder and primers for my primary calibers, and have sufficient brass to go a few years minimum. I use factory ammo only for self-defense and the occasional shotgun deer slug, buckshot loads for the house guns; otherwise all reloads. One darn good reason for wheelguns; they’ll run what fits, from 500 fps. to 1500+, as appropriate to gun. Only centerfire rifle is a 30-30 single shot Topper that I have enough brass, powder and primers, as well as 110 gr. bullets for, molds for 170′s. Thank heaven for Unique!

By: Kent

Kent — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:43:16 +0000

In a cost-per-round comparison, hand loads win hands down over factory ammo, especially today in Obamaland, but in terms of total expenditure, it’s probably a wash, at least that’s been my experience.

When I first started shooting seriously on a regular basis, my shooting time was limited by the cost of factory ammo. So, I started reloading. Reloading significantly reduced my cost-per-round, as intended, so I started shooting more, much more. In the final analysis, I was spending at least as much (probably more) money as I was when I was shooting only factory ammo.

I look at it this way, the more I shoot, the better shot I (should) become, and that’s what it’s all about for me. That said, I’m all in for hand loading, big time.

By: Mike Kerwood

Mike Kerwood — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:48:04 +0000

I`m the “Match Director”,for our local rifle range,in Alaska,where we shoot rifles matches every Sunday evening,in the Summer Season. We alternate between shooting 22 rimfire at 50 & 100 yards,and “Varmint For Score” at 200 yards. The 10 ring at our 200 yard target is .9″ or 9/10″ in diameter. If you don`t reload,you don`t stand a chance of ever winning. It takes 25 record rounds,to complete a 200 yd Rifle Match,and unlimited sighters.Factory Ammo will do 1 M.O.A. in a good rifle,and if that satisfies you,that`s great. But I `m the type who`s never satisfied,and always looking at ways to make smaller groups,not just one 5 shot group,but an “Average or Aggregate”. It helps come Hunting season,when that trophy animal is only going to give you one shot,and you`ve been shooting all summer & have the confidence to take the shot,Humanely,and the trophy home too.Factory Ammo has come a long way,but the smallest groups are always with “Handloads”,Mike Kerwood

By: VinnieL

VinnieL — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:24:43 +0000

Reload. Heck you can’t buy the stuff. I have reloaded since 1979. After becoming a very accurate shooter, it is the next step, being able to recycle used cases into new rounds especially when you can make them function as good or better than factory stuff. There is no reason to put full velocity loads through your firearms just to shoot paper targets. Makes the firearms last a lot longer doing it that way. I load .38 Spcl/.357, 9mm, 45 ACP, 45 AR, .45 Colt, 380, and .30 carbine now. Might get into .308 if I decide on the Springfield M-1A. I hope the people who are hoarding ammo and components lose their shirts on it when the supply catches up with the artificial demand.