Pah! Amateur!!!!!!
Thinking of reloading,
- Thread starter Tikkat1x
- Start date
Of course he does .
that has blown my mind, i did decide not to after reading a particular post that made me chuckle, "But the first time you shoot something with your own home loaded cartridge, you'll be thinking that's the best couple of thousand pounds I've ever spent."
and as iv settled on the ADI gamekings at £20 per box iv decided there cheap enough, maybe one day
Envillegc1
Well-Known Member
Well, I started about 18 months ago.
It all depends what you want to achieve.
If you are getting good groups with factory and are say shooting 50-100 rounds a year its not really worth it.
There are also other things to bear in mind.
I think I am correct in saying home loading will vitiate your warranty.
To get the best out of it you also need measuring devices to find all your chamber measurements.
There are couses you can do which help, unless you have a mentor. I was fortunate that I did.
Dont forget if if goes wrong, it goes bang!!
That said I have had lots of fun and great success fine tuning things and have multiple rifles that I reload for.
Then it becomes more economic.
RCBS is good kit and the combined trimmer/shamfer tool a must.
It all depends what you want to achieve.
If you are getting good groups with factory and are say shooting 50-100 rounds a year its not really worth it.
There are also other things to bear in mind.
I think I am correct in saying home loading will vitiate your warranty.
To get the best out of it you also need measuring devices to find all your chamber measurements.
There are couses you can do which help, unless you have a mentor. I was fortunate that I did.
Dont forget if if goes wrong, it goes bang!!
That said I have had lots of fun and great success fine tuning things and have multiple rifles that I reload for.
Then it becomes more economic.
RCBS is good kit and the combined trimmer/shamfer tool a must.
Contrary to popular opinion a hand loading set doesn't have to be expensive or require a great deal of tools and space . There is way more ways to set about this , depending on your own individual requirements . There is always loading full sets coming up second hand, there are different tools the Lee hand press and arbour presses , bench rest style hand dies . Cheaper digital Scales etc .
In many occasions ( depending on your chamber and cartridge) you only need to size the neck , pop a new primer in and fill the case up ( yeah some cartridges and powders allow you to do this safely !) NOT ALL but enough .
Don't for one minute think you need a load of space and cash to throw at this in devour . What ever you do handloading / re-loading is cheaper in the long run and allows you to get re-supplies that shoot to your original zero / dope
Hey there are guys who dont use a box of 20 a year and those that shoot 1000 or more . Some who has an employer footing the bill and others that dont
In many occasions ( depending on your chamber and cartridge) you only need to size the neck , pop a new primer in and fill the case up ( yeah some cartridges and powders allow you to do this safely !) NOT ALL but enough .
Don't for one minute think you need a load of space and cash to throw at this in devour . What ever you do handloading / re-loading is cheaper in the long run and allows you to get re-supplies that shoot to your original zero / dope
Hey there are guys who dont use a box of 20 a year and those that shoot 1000 or more . Some who has an employer footing the bill and others that dont
Reloading manual definitely.
There's a few rifle builders that will talk you through a load work up, some will even sit with you for a morning to get you going, normally after buying a rifle *
Si snipe runs a reloading course that is fairly well regarded , yew tree (Richard sharman) also offers this.
There will be others i am sure.
Whatever you do , don't ever pay a gun smith to load develop for your rifle, it's absolute folly , unless you are sat with them and able to load safely by the time you are done.
If you just pay someone to do it,you'll have some accurate rounds , less money and still no idea how to reload , and the financial outlay will have surpassed or equalled what you needed to get a kit to get going.
There's a few rifle builders that will talk you through a load work up, some will even sit with you for a morning to get you going, normally after buying a rifle *
Si snipe runs a reloading course that is fairly well regarded , yew tree (Richard sharman) also offers this.
There will be others i am sure.
Whatever you do , don't ever pay a gun smith to load develop for your rifle, it's absolute folly , unless you are sat with them and able to load safely by the time you are done.
If you just pay someone to do it,you'll have some accurate rounds , less money and still no idea how to reload , and the financial outlay will have surpassed or equalled what you needed to get a kit to get going.
Rutland lad
Well-Known Member
Well. This makes interesting reading. At the risk of boring you more, here’s my backstory to reloading.
My first and only .243 (Remington 700), **** a group of about 2” at 100m, no matter who was shooting it. Then someone passed me some GECO 105 grain ammo, and voila, it was now a sub moa weapon. I was a suprised man to realise that all ammo didn’t perform perfectly in every rifle. A friend told me about the dark art of reloading and when I moved up to .300 WM I shot about 100 Sako 220 grain lead rds to familiarise myself fully with the rifle, then decided that with 100 cases already available that I’d buy the Lee reloading selection box and give it a go. That cost about £225. I was off and running. First load was with Barnes 180 grain TSX as I decided early to go non lead as it was definitely going that way. Those cases lasted at least 10 loads, due to me buying a collet system from Larry Willets. So - definitely cost effective for that batch of ammo, and much better in terms of accuracy and consistency.
Since then I’ve bought another press, and retired the Lee one. A new electronic scale, and retired the Lee balance scale.
All the stuff I’ve accumulated has made my life easier, and I now reload 6.5x55 as well as 300WM for myself, and I help a number of friends reload various calibres as well.
I find it therapeutic, and there is a great deal of satisfaction in making the round that makes the kill - but to give you balanced opinion, I must also have £300 of bullets and at least the same in powder sat waiting to be used ‘just in case’ and various other calipers and small tools have joined me along the way.
So - it’s a rewarding thing to do, but so are many other things in my life too.
If you’re fancying a go at it, don’t be talked into spending massive money. The Lee kit is fine to start with and makes a round as good as kit costing three times as much. There’s lots available pre loved, and most people on here are genuine and will help you as much as possible, but it is potentially very dangerous, so do it right.
Every time.
My first and only .243 (Remington 700), **** a group of about 2” at 100m, no matter who was shooting it. Then someone passed me some GECO 105 grain ammo, and voila, it was now a sub moa weapon. I was a suprised man to realise that all ammo didn’t perform perfectly in every rifle. A friend told me about the dark art of reloading and when I moved up to .300 WM I shot about 100 Sako 220 grain lead rds to familiarise myself fully with the rifle, then decided that with 100 cases already available that I’d buy the Lee reloading selection box and give it a go. That cost about £225. I was off and running. First load was with Barnes 180 grain TSX as I decided early to go non lead as it was definitely going that way. Those cases lasted at least 10 loads, due to me buying a collet system from Larry Willets. So - definitely cost effective for that batch of ammo, and much better in terms of accuracy and consistency.
Since then I’ve bought another press, and retired the Lee one. A new electronic scale, and retired the Lee balance scale.
All the stuff I’ve accumulated has made my life easier, and I now reload 6.5x55 as well as 300WM for myself, and I help a number of friends reload various calibres as well.
I find it therapeutic, and there is a great deal of satisfaction in making the round that makes the kill - but to give you balanced opinion, I must also have £300 of bullets and at least the same in powder sat waiting to be used ‘just in case’ and various other calipers and small tools have joined me along the way.
So - it’s a rewarding thing to do, but so are many other things in my life too.
If you’re fancying a go at it, don’t be talked into spending massive money. The Lee kit is fine to start with and makes a round as good as kit costing three times as much. There’s lots available pre loved, and most people on here are genuine and will help you as much as possible, but it is potentially very dangerous, so do it right.
Every time.
well F me, iv looked in the classified section 6 times a day for the last few months for nothing in particular, normally start in the firearms section, then to optics and clothing and footwear, since someone said reloading stuff comes up on here iv been looking in the other shooting items and other items, and iv seen nothing reloading wise, iv now just seen there is actually seen there is a reloading section
monarman
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking of selling all my reloading kit as my employer buys the ammo (and health & safety dictates that factory ammo should be used )..... I started homeloading 20 odd years ago but stopped as I wanted to just spend the time stalking. It's a satisfying hobby in itself and back when i started it did save money....
I read many manuals and gleened tips and advice from others who had been reloading longer....
If I was shooting for recreation instead of it being my job I may of gone back to homeloading, just for its therapeutic and relaxing mindset when doing it.
I read many manuals and gleened tips and advice from others who had been reloading longer....
If I was shooting for recreation instead of it being my job I may of gone back to homeloading, just for its therapeutic and relaxing mindset when doing it.
so chaps. iv just about agreed to buy some reloading gear, just about everything i need to get going,
so my next question or questions are, about primers, powders and (not wanting to get the terminology wrong) bullets/Heads/bullet heads
there's obviously all sorts about, so where on gods earth do you start, i may nearly have the gear but as yet im no where near making a start, and i will be in no rush until
iv gained a lot more knowledge,
thanks.
lee
so my next question or questions are, about primers, powders and (not wanting to get the terminology wrong) bullets/Heads/bullet heads
there's obviously all sorts about, so where on gods earth do you start, i may nearly have the gear but as yet im no where near making a start, and i will be in no rush until
iv gained a lot more knowledge,
thanks.
lee
Ade8mm
Well-Known Member
Reloading is not a mystical thing . It is quite easy. It may save cost. You WILL get more accurate loads if you work at it.
It need not be expensive. A set of dies and a Lee Hand-loader (and a Manual - essential)
Take your time and enjoy the journey.
I learned from a book, and load .222 .243 and 8 x 60. (even reform my own brass for the 8mm). Been reloading 20 years. Still got my guns my hands and my eyes.
Take it easy and work up from minimum loads. A bit like tying a fly and catching a trout on it.
Shooting your dinner with a home-load just tastes better
Edit.. And keep accurate records !
Ade
It need not be expensive. A set of dies and a Lee Hand-loader (and a Manual - essential)
Take your time and enjoy the journey.
I learned from a book, and load .222 .243 and 8 x 60. (even reform my own brass for the 8mm). Been reloading 20 years. Still got my guns my hands and my eyes.
Take it easy and work up from minimum loads. A bit like tying a fly and catching a trout on it.
Shooting your dinner with a home-load just tastes better
Edit.. And keep accurate records !
Ade
Just spent a pleasant afternoon working from home trimming, flash hole & primer pocket uniforming and then neck turning a number of 6mm PPC cases.
I’m told it’s worth it so hopefully this will also be the Op’s experience.
K
I’m told it’s worth it so hopefully this will also be the Op’s experience.
K
im picking up my new gear next weekend, just need a 223 die set and ill be good to go, ishReloading is not a mystical thing . It is quite easy. It may save cost. You WILL get more accurate loads if you work at it.
It need not be expensive. A set of dies and a Lee Hand-loader (and a Manual - essential)
Take your time and enjoy the journey.
I learned from a book, and load .222 .243 and 8 x 60. (even reform my own brass for the 8mm). Been reloading 20 years. Still got my guns my hands and my eyes.
Take it easy and work up from minimum loads. A bit like tying a fly and catching a trout on it.
Shooting your dinner with a home-load just tastes better
Edit.. And keep accurate records !
Ade
the money side of it doesnt matter, im just writing off the cost of any equipment i buy, as long as the other bits dont cost more i will be happy, i just know i will enjoy the prosses,
iv plenty of time on my hands and a big double garage, heated with a long work bench so i will set up in there and get at it
crow juice
Well-Known Member
Well the biggest thing you are going to get is "equity" in every round you send down the barrel. Every round is a round you designed , manufactured ,and shot. The end result is a target that shows your prowess as a shooter or animal " if you hunt" killed etylically with a properly placed shot and the perfect bullet for your application.im picking up my new gear next weekend, just need a 223 die set and ill be good to go, ish
the money side of it doesnt matter, im just writing off the cost of any equipment i buy, as long as the other bits dont cost more i will be happy, i just know i will enjoy the prosses,
iv plenty of time on my hands and a big double garage, heated with a long work bench so i will set up in there and get at it
The first dear I killed with a hand load was my greatest trophy (even though it had no antleters ) because every part of the kill required my skills to achieve right down to the bullet going down the barrel.
I have a Lee set of dies for .223 for sale if you’d pm me?im picking up my new gear next weekend, just need a 223 die set and ill be good to go, ish
the money side of it doesnt matter, im just writing off the cost of any equipment i buy, as long as the other bits dont cost more i will be happy, i just know i will enjoy the prosses,
iv plenty of time on my hands and a big double garage, heated with a long work bench so i will set up in there and get at it
It's this your OF set for reloaders?“It’ll save money” they said, “It’ll be fun!” they said….LOL!
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It’s a sickness…
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