Reloading vs factory loads
- Thread starter fuel80guy
- Start date
This pretty much covers it!
Pretty well summed up.
However, once in a while, a person will find a factory load that shoots so well in his rifle that it is difficult, if not impossible, to match by reloading.
Rare, but does happen.
I am not in the habit of ever buying factory ammo, but my pal found a factory load in his 270 that was a true "zinger", shooting 3-shot groups out of his Remington 700 that were right around ½moa consistently.
My advice to him?
Go out and buy all the 270 ammo of that lot number you can find, since it will be hard to beat!
Regards, Eagleye.
However, once in a while, a person will find a factory load that shoots so well in his rifle that it is difficult, if not impossible, to match by reloading.
Rare, but does happen.
I am not in the habit of ever buying factory ammo, but my pal found a factory load in his 270 that was a true "zinger", shooting 3-shot groups out of his Remington 700 that were right around ½moa consistently.
My advice to him?
Go out and buy all the 270 ammo of that lot number you can find, since it will be hard to beat!
Regards, Eagleye.
Well i just started reloading recently in 22-250 and today in 223 and it hit me why am i doing this.
I started on low end with varget for the 250 and the gun loves it so no changes yet.
I made up some 223 today to test with h335 as per a phone call to hodgdens.
I would think for the load amount you would get better quality control in factory rounds per volume than say my lee anniversary powder dispenser or am i wrong?
I started on low end with varget for the 250 and the gun loves it so no changes yet.
I made up some 223 today to test with h335 as per a phone call to hodgdens.
I would think for the load amount you would get better quality control in factory rounds per volume than say my lee anniversary powder dispenser or am i wrong?
A rifle that will not throw factory bullets accurately probably will not throw handloads accurately, reloading is not a cure for a rifle that is not working correctly, but if you have a rifle that groups pretty well with factory loads, perhaps you can tailor a load that will shoot better. Probably lots of the loads you try will only shoot as well as factory loads, and a few will shoot worse.. The journey is fun, and when you find a load that does what you want in terms of accuracy and velocity, it is a very good day.
I have a good respect for factory loads; they're very well developed and consistently manufactured. It's amazing that they work so well in such a great variety of firearms. It's often difficult to come up with a handload that meets factory performance, without some work.
However, with a bit of work and some fine-tuning, you can usually find a load that exceeds factory ammo. Even if not, though, handloading gives you reliable access to a MUCH wider variety of ammunition. Want to try some screamer 95 grain varmint loads for your .260? Or perhaps some low-recoil plinker ammo for your 30-30 with cast bullets? You have zero factory options out there.
However, with a bit of work and some fine-tuning, you can usually find a load that exceeds factory ammo. Even if not, though, handloading gives you reliable access to a MUCH wider variety of ammunition. Want to try some screamer 95 grain varmint loads for your .260? Or perhaps some low-recoil plinker ammo for your 30-30 with cast bullets? You have zero factory options out there.
I would have to respectfully disagree with this statement. Unless you're talking about super high end factory ammo just about every rifle I have reloaded for has recognized a 50% reduction in group size over factory ammo on my first reload attempt, without even working up loads, neck sizing, etc.
Yeah I have had the same results. Factory ammo is manufactored in a very general way because it has to be used in a variety of rifles. When you get rid of that generalness and load specifically for one rifle the results, for me anyway, have been dramatic.
joseaventurero
Regular
- Location
- now in pickering ontario
sweet spot
how did you know when you find your sweet spot
how did you know when you find your sweet spot
Since Superformance got out, it is hard to handload to their velocity but usually your hanload will srink groups, like somebody said earlyer sometimes it is not worthed to reload, my wife 243 tailored reload was giving an honest sub moa, the first time i tried Superformance 95 gr SST it give of the bat a .6 --.7 i am not reloading for her rifle no more and i bought the 11 boxes left at Le Baron, case close for many years... JP.
the only factory stuff that was really good in my 270 was NITREX ammo made by Speer (Grand slam bullets in nickel plated cases) it was absolutely awesome...It would shoot 3 shot groups that were touching.....and discontinued
how did you know when you find your sweet spot
When your groups are at their smallest.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Superformance shoots amazing in my 223 as well but $21 a box + tax is tiring after awhile. My handloads are close but not as small
