Negatives to reloading ammo?

rtracer13

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Hey all,

I've been slowly considering reloading my own ammo cartridges and purchasing a kit (probably the RCBS Master kit, but still under decision) and had heard from someone that for hunting reloaded ammo wasn't a good idea, because it is more likely to jam from the casing being stretched from the process. I had never heard this before, and was wondering if there was any truth to it.

Also, are there any other negatives to reloading other than it takes more time than buying a box? :)
 
Lets see, I can load rounds for my .308 that shoot better in my rem700P than Federal Gold Medal Match or Norma match for about .75 cents a round instead of 3 dollars per round. You can get a case trimmer, and trim the brass whenever it has reached the maximum safe overall length. The cost savings and increased accuracy make reloading totally worth while. Do yourself a favor buy a good reloading manual like the Lyman 49th, it will walk you through reloading step by step. Better yet, find someone that already reloads and learn from them.
Someone who says that handloads are likely to jam has probably never reloaded themself, or has not reloaded properly!
You might save lots of money reloading down the line, or you might be like many of us, and just get to shoot 3 or 4 times as much!!
 
If you do all the reloading steps correctly, your ammo should be fine for hunting, and more accurate then factory. The main thing is to full length resize every case, and check to make sure length is okay or trim them, seat bullets to an OAL that fits the mag. and is not touching rifling in chamber(unlike target ammo), and you should be good to go. I run all hunting ammo through the mag. and chamber before I venture out hunting.
 
I would have to call BS on that, BIG TIME!!! Most guys here that reload probably do so for hunting rifles. And tell that person that when brass is stretched from the process, that's why we (reloaders) trim the brass back to specification. Oh, and don't forget to tell him the part where the ammo we load is alot more accurate than the stuff he buys off the shelf. I was on the fence for reloading but decided to get my feet wet with a starter kit. It's probably one of the best decisions I've ever made. Even my first ever rifle loads were great. I was able to find a load that gave me good accuracy and was still manageable to shoot.

I say go for it!
 
Start with a reloading manual and read the first section(s) on the procedures and benefits. Even if you decide not to reload, most manuals have ballistic tables that will come in handy and who knows? The information contained may settle an argument or two down the road when you run into those guys that claim they can hit a cigarette package at 1000yards with their 17remington.....
 
Your public library will get you some reloading manuals, if you ask.

They will address all of your questions.
 
Hey all,

I've been slowly considering reloading my own ammo cartridges and purchasing a kit (probably the RCBS Master kit, but still under decision) and had heard from someone that for hunting reloaded ammo wasn't a good idea, because it is more likely to jam from the casing being stretched from the process. I had never heard this before, and was wondering if there was any truth to it.

Also, are there any other negatives to reloading other than it takes more time than buying a box? :)

Your friend doesn't know anything about reloading.
 
Free reloading data reloadersnest.com The money you save reloading will only encourage you to shoot more and there goes your savings ! Vicious circle.Should start a reloaders annonomous. Signs of addiction include component hoarding,hrs spent researching data and finally in the later stages bringing more guns home from the range than you took.[to fool the wife] It's downhill from there..................Harold
 
The only downside IMO with reloading; The time you will spend at the bench, will sometimes get you in hot water with the Missus! :D

Its a great hobby, The satisfaction you get when you find that load that makes your rifle sing more than out weighs any cons you may have..... and when you take an animal with the loads you tested, tweaked and perfected..... Priceless!!

Cheers!
 
and had heard from someone that for hunting reloaded ammo wasn't a good idea, because it is more likely to jam from the casing being stretched from the process. I had never heard this before, and was wondering if there was any truth to it.

Lots of truth to it if you have no clue what your doing.


Read a manual or 2 and get at it.........
 
My uncle called BS on my reloading once so we did a test. The bet was if the rifle shot better with his stuff I paid for the experiment and vice versa. He did all the shooting so we didn't skew the results.

We used his 30-06 and his all time favourite factory ammo.

I didn't even see the rifle of know the twist of the barrel to do the reloads. I used 46 grains of Varget with a 165 grain Hornady SST seated to standard depth.

We hit the range and he was tickled pink when he shot a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards from the bench with his brand. (sorry, can't remember what it was)

I handed over the sandwich bag of reloads and he proceeded to shoot a five round group. He walked down range and I started to pack up because I already knew the results. He got back to the truck and promptly took out his cheque book. He shot a 3/4 inch group and know uses my reloader every September to pump out 100 rounds of his new favourite load. Never mind that those hundred rounds cost about the same as 2 boxes of his old "go to" ammo from Canadian Tire.

He hasn't bought his own reloader yet because he only has one rifle and never needs more than the 100 rounds a year. Plus it gives us an excuse to hang out and BS right before hunting season. But for a guy like me that puts thousands of rounds down the pipe for each of my rifles, it makes so much more sense.
 
There are definitely some downsides to reloading. For shotgun reloading the downside is the occasional power or shot spill. :eek:

For rifle reloading, it's spending hours developing loads only to find that a factory load from Canadian Tire shoots just as well. This happened once for me. :redface:

But the satisfaction outweighs the problems. The rifle of your dreams in a wildcat calibre can be yours often for far less. Until a factory develops a .270 load with a 110 grain V-Max I'll continue making my favourite coyote load. I've bought rifles that owners claimed wouldn't shoot well only to develop loads that worked.

And when that last box of your favourite factory ammo is sold you can make something better. :)
 
Downside is the time spent, I don't have a progressive press yet, so loading takes up a lot of my time....time I could spend shooting....:p
 
Some hacks give it a bad name for reliability. Do it right and its not problem. If concerned, do as Ben suggested and cycle the ammo through your rifle to ensure it chambers perfectly. You can either do it at the range, or on some rifles its easy to remove the firing pin.
 
Some hacks give it a bad name for reliability. Do it right and its not problem. If concerned, do as Ben suggested and cycle the ammo through your rifle to ensure it chambers perfectly. You can either do it at the range, or on some rifles its easy to remove the firing pin.

+1 always cycle hunting rounds

The only drawback is having all this ammo to burn. at 1/3 the price...
 
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