Is reloading necessary?

vitriol

vitriol

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Hi
After reading some of the posts in the precision rifle section I've been thinking about long range shooting a lot. I don't have experience at all, having only shot 22lr precision rifles almost 10 years ago (biathlon) and a .270 rifle once. Most of my gun experience is shooting handguns. For some reason, long range shooting is attracting me, and to make it worse, I discovered that there is a club + 2 ranges (farnham and st-bruno)very close from where I live. I read the 3000$ max gun thread, so I kind of know what could be good to start in this sport, but I am worried about something; It seems that everybody shooting long distances is reloading. I'm not equipped for reloading, and don't have the space where I live to do it. I'm also not rich, and can't and don't want to pay 3$ a round. The other thing is that I am of competitive nature and don't want to be limited by my equipment (I want a rifle that shoots better than me. Is there a way around this? Like cheap, commercial accurate ammo? Or some people reloading for others? I should add that I plan to shoot to 1000yds max.
Thanks a lot!
 
Factory ammo will definately be a limiting factor. If you can see a difference between factory and reloads at 100M, you will see 10x the difference at 1000.
 
First of all, StBruno is closed and Farnham is not open to the public.

To answer your question about reloading, YES it is a very big advantage to roll your own when you pass the 600m range.

The ability to choose a bullet with a high BC and push it at high velocity(safely) is the name of the game.

The alternative is to get match ammo which will give you accuracy with some lost in velocity, but will cost $$$$.

Reloading is not that expensive, you just need someone with experience that will guide you away from the crap we all buy and regret...

In regard to the space needed for reloading, the surface of a small desk is more than enought.

I would say that 2 square feet is the minimum surface needed.
 
Hi Vitriol, just to clarify things St-Bruno's range is closed for the next 2 years for decontamination:( but Farnham is open:D

For your reloading question; 2 majors advantage, first the cost, it will cost you about 10$ for 20 rounds loaded with all the best components there is on the market (Lapua brass and bullet, top quality powder and primer). Second, the quality of your ammo, when you load your own ammo you load it to match the specification of your own rifle, no commercial ammo can compete with that. Another thing, when you shoot long range (600y+) if you want to be competitve you will have to shoot VLD bullets (Very Low Drag). Personnaly I would suggest to first come to the range it will give you a chance to try it out, meet the guys and ask for advices after that that you could decide if you want to jump into reloading;)

ps:If you need more informations on reloading or you would want someone to load you a couple of rounds, pm me:) I'm from St-Jean sur Richelieu so you can pm me in french its gonna be much easier for me!:p
 
Just keep searching around on the net, you will learn more about that
can be had and what can be bought at what prices. Go to the range
and see what other people are working with. You can put a rifle together
and reloading equip. for reasonable if you take time. A lot of BR rifles
can be had from the US at pretty reasonable prices. It just costs a few
100 to get them here.
 
Preceision shooting is all about squeezing that last bit of accuracy out of your gun. Part of doing that (a LARGE part) is rolling your own ammo.

Myself, I can't understand why anyone WOUDLN'T want to reload, if they're into precision shooting.
 
I would say based on personal experience that you can buy match grade ammunition from Federal and Black Hills that shoots really well.

Or you can "roll your own" at about 1/3 to 1/2 the price. But the big advantage is the available premium bullets from the likes of Cartarucio and Berger that really squeeze the groups. Here are a few examples to wet your appetite:

7mmWSMand.jpg


The Berger 180 VLD has a BC (Ballistics Coefficient) of .698 according to the manufacturer. If you don't know what a BC is, then you need to get into hand loading after reading several good books on the subject. :)
 
If you are really intimidated at the thought of handloading - due to the cost of setup or whatever - you will certainly be limiting yourself to some degree. What you can do however, is have your rifle built for a specific factory load. That means that the rate of twist matches the bullet weight exactly, and that the throat is the exact length to meet the ogive of the bullet. Buy the cartridge you plan to shoot, take a sample round to the gunsmith, and he will do the magic.
 
vitriol said:
Hi
After reading some of the posts in the precision rifle section I've been thinking about long range shooting a lot. I don't have experience at all, having only shot 22lr precision rifles almost 10 years ago (biathlon) and a .270 rifle once. Most of my gun experience is shooting handguns. For some reason, long range shooting is attracting me, and to make it worse, I discovered that there is a club + 2 ranges (farnham and st-bruno)very close from where I live. I read the 3000$ max gun thread, so I kind of know what could be good to start in this sport, but I am worried about something; It seems that everybody shooting long distances is reloading. I'm not equipped for reloading, and don't have the space where I live to do it. I'm also not rich, and can't and don't want to pay 3$ a round. The other thing is that I am of competitive nature and don't want to be limited by my equipment (I want a rifle that shoots better than me. Is there a way around this? Like cheap, commercial accurate ammo? Or some people reloading for others? I should add that I plan to shoot to 1000yds max.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...

You don't have to spend a whole bunchh of maney to gget started, aand you will see the dividends pay off immediatly, as soon as you see the results of factory versus handloads, in score and price.

A lee anniversery kit is less than $150, and will have most verything you need to start, minus powder primers and bullets.
The equipment is a one time cost, so you only have to replenish your components, MINUS your braas, whiich you would be tossing, if you were only shooting factory stuff.

The laod can be very easily tailored to your rifle once you get going.
Cat
 
How crazy and how far are most going with hand loads to tailor to the rifle. Eg: a good set of micro meter dies, OAL gauge, checking bullet run out, etc. A good friend Mic's the cases for thickness etc. Is this really going to pay off? I realized weighing the cases and chucking the highs and lows and so on is common but do most spend the bucks to get this extra equipment?

Most using full length sizing or just neck?
 
You get a get a good digital vernier right now at lee valley for real cheap.
I don't foir the most part check run out on my rifles, except every now and then just for fun.

I don't weigh brass anymore, just use lapua.
however, you can use cheaper brass and sort if you wish

Building decent ammo is the start, being able to shoot that ammo in different wind and light conditions is much more diffifcult!:D

that is the most important part, but at the moment we are talking about handloaded versus factory ammo, so I won't hijack any ,more.

Get yourself a anniversery or other strteer kit, and let the games begin!:)
Cat
 
i suggest you not go meet ssgp2 and arrowhead at a range. It will just end up costing you an arm and a leg ;)

naw, actually do it. They are a cool bunch. Beware of ssgp2 taking pictures of you unknowingly while you shoot his rifle to be posted on the net later.:p
 
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Thanks for all the good tips. Seems that reloading is the only way. I was assuming much higher costs than what catnthehatt said.

I've been reading for a few hours about all the possibilities of reloading and all that seems very interesting. I guess I'll just have to decide what caliber I want now :D . I had a motorcycle accident in january and still have a broken leg, so reloading could be a nice project to spend my days.

Another question: Is that lee anniversary kit the best choice (quality, ease of use), or I'm going to want to upgrade a few things quite soon? I prefer to buy only once but good quality. Also where can I find these kits online (preferably a sponsor of CGN)?

Thanks!
 
TheCanuck said:
i suggest you not go meet ssgp2 and arrowhead at a range. It will just end up costing you an arm and a leg ;)

naw, actually do it. They are a cool bunch. Beware of ssgp2 taking pictures of you unknowingly while you shoot his rifle to be posted on the net later.:p
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I don't need anyone to help me spend money. I'm quite good at finding things I ABSOLUTELY need!:D
 
The payoff....

I have been reloading for more than 30 years. When I think of the amount of shooting and the money I have saved! Wow!!! :eek:

Just today I fired off 20 rounds of the above 7mm WSM 180 VLDs. Perhaps someone could tell us what the cost of that little excercise would have been had I used factory ammo. (Assuming match grade ammo is available for the 7WSM.)

Results. (Absolute dead center at 100 and 200, .6 moa in a little wind and mirage at 300. :D )

Reload1298s.jpg


PS: The green press on the far left is the one I bought for around US$90.00 thirty years ago. I still use it.
 
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