Newbie Reloading Questions

Mumbles Marble Mouth

Mumbles Marble Mouth

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
81   0   0
Location
Lower Mainland
A few weeks ago, I decided I want to get into a new hobby so I've decided to get into reloading. I've been watching reloading videos by Iraqvetern8888 on youtube, reading on reloading, and comparing costs of reloading to factory ammo. I've got a bunch of questions I'd like answered if possible and some calculations I've made to be verified.

#1 - Would if be wise to purchase a cheap rifle to test my first few batches of reloads with before using reloads in my other rifles? All of my rifles are pretty expensive all are $1000 or over. I'm just concerned that I may make a rookie mistake well reloading and possibly damage one of my rifles.

#2 - Is there and actual bullet for the 7.62x39? I couldn't find an actual bullet for the 7.62x39 when glancing though a wholesale sports catalog so I'm wondering if there is bullets available for the 7.62x39 or if there is something else you're suppose to use. This will be for hunting loads for a CZ 527 Carbine.

#3 - Is it worth it to bulk load .223? I have two rifles, a CSA Vz 58 and a Ruger mini-14 that I use for plinking and I also have a CZ 527 FS I use for varmint hunting.

#4 - What is the average cost per shot to load decent hunting loads for .270win, 9.3x62, 7.62x39, .308win, 7x57, and .223? This is assuming you are using brass you've picked up at the range or brass that people have given to you and you're buying bullets and not casting your own. I've actually done my own calculations on this already but want to compare my answers to those who actually load these rounds already. I'll give an example of one of my calculations.

.270win
Primers: CCI $4 for 100 = 0.04
Bullets: Hornady 140gr SST $40 for 100 = 0.40
Powder: $35 per lb @ 55gr load/7000 = 127 rounds = 0.28 of powder per load
= 0.72 per shot

If my calculation is somewhere near correct, then .72 cents per shot vs $1.50 per shot of factory loaded Hornady 130gr SST is pretty good.

That's about all I have for questions for now. Sorry for if some of these questions are ridiculous. I'll probably be back again after reading and watching more videos for a week. I still have to learn about the different kinds of powders and such. I don't have anyone to teach me personally since I'm the only one in my whole family that's into firearms and hunting. I plan to have all the equipment and reloading by December. I plan to load .270win right off the bat and gradually build up to the other loads. I also plan to start casting my own bullets much later on down the road.
 
Don't bother reloading for 7.62x39 or 223. There is bulk ammo available for cheap. But for larger calibers like you listed just go slow and be sure of yourself. If you have the right powder charge, and the bullet is seated to the right overall COL. You aren't going to blow up the gun. After you gain confidence and try your loads you can experiment with increasing powder charges, and seating depths for accuracy.
 
1) a big mistake can kill load slowly take your time there is no rush don't drink ect. Squib load is about the worse that can happen for rilfe double load they tend to spill over the case comes down to what powder you load look it up and find something that if you double charge it will spill over makes it simple.

2) Yes there are actually bullets for it.

3) for 223 for plinking not so much the cheap ammo is hard to beat even when reloading for cost I found the same with 308 Win if I get steel case ammo it's cheaper to buy it then reload it.

4) Cost is hard to figure out it comes down to what powder you use because some get used up quickly some not so quickly if your reusing the brass or not (that's a large chunk) and type of bullets some are expensive.


With getting all the reloading gear to do it can add up to a large investment but loading something and going what a difference or wow that didn't work out well can be a lot of fun.

How many rounds do you shoot through?

Do you want a single stage press or proggersive for bulk loading you can save time with a progressive but if you screw up or something runs out and you don't notice you might be pulling allot of bullets.


Stuff you need

Press, Dies, scale Reloading data (hodgeons reloading center Free), Something to prep the brass (case tumbler or ultra sonic cleaner or both) Something to trim the brass something to remove the bur from it something to messure the length of the case and ammo after a case gage to make sure it will chamber correctly in all firearms. Then depending on the press you might need extra things for the size of the primers large and small the shells to hold the case your reloading for ect.

I reload 308 win and 45 acp I shoot other rounds but I don't reload them because it's not worth the cost to do so. 7.62x39 surplus you can never beat that in cost for reloading.

In the end you spend more money reloading then not reloading it all depends on what you want it does tend to shoot better with hand loads

If you shoot take your time with handloads if it doesn't go boom stop and inspect the firearm you might have a case with no powder it happens. The trick is a rythem to reloading taking everything you need putting it out doing 1 step at a time have them lined up and ready to fill check ect.
 
#1 no two rifles are the same. Every gun is a law unto itself.
develop a load in a cheapie and it most likely won't work well in a different rifle
 
The 7.62x39 will be for a CZ 527 carbine bolt action hunting rifle. Id like to reload hunting rounds for it. Commercial brass loads for 7.62x39 is pretty expensive. Reloading .223 would mostly be for the CZ 527 FS for best accuracy possible varmint hunting loads. The Vz 58 and Mini-14 would just get the leftovers the CZ 527 FS didn't use. The current .223 ammo I buy is the Federal Eagle for $10 a box.

Got a pretty good question here. If your rifle dents the casing from ejecting, can you still reuse that brass for reloading?

The reason why I want to reload is to shoot more than I currently do. Id like to shoot my hunting rifles more than I do now but commercial factory ammo is expensive and I like to run higher grade factory ammo like Hornady SST. Id also like to have the wider range of bullet grain options for different game animals. As of now, I shoot 100 - 200 rounds of .223 or .308 a week. The cheap Chinese 7.62x51 is usually really bad ammo. I've gotten a 130 round pack of that stuff where 4/10 rounds were cracked. I'll post a picture to show what I mean. This is just a light crack. They're some that are really bad.



I understand the initial cost for getting started will cost about $1000. I could take that $1000 and buy another gun, several surplus guns, or buy a lot of ammo. Or, I can use it to get into a new hobby that complements one of my current hobbies. I don't factor my time spent into the cost because its time well spent. I could either sit on the couch watching TV, or I could be doing something productive like reloading.
 
I find reloading extremely rewarding. Going to the range seeing guys with very expensive gear struggle to get 1 MOA out of factory loads while you're tack driving effortlessly with your hand loads is great. Being able to customize your hunting loads to specific game with optimal terminal ballistics is a more responsible way to hunt also. That being said it is a great hobby to get into. Your shooting cost will not go down however at least not in my experience. I find I pay less for ammo but I get more trigger time!
 
If the case mouth is dented simply work the mouth back round (or close to round) with the shank of a drill bit or a screwdrivers shank whatever you have, then resize and it should be fine. You may want to anneal the cases with a propane torch after a couple loads/resizes. Just heat till the case mouth turns a dull cherry in a dim lit room and drop into a bucket of water, dry and you are done.
 
#1 no need to purchase any other rifle then the one you are using, just be 100% sure and start lower then max and watch for signs
#2 there are 7.62x 39 for bullets, 123 grn by hornady and i think sierra just reccomends the.308 dia
#3 .223 you would only reload for specific hunting or accuracy, plinking you can usually find bulk cheaper
#4 cost for each you figure out by many factors but i think you are on the right track, just gotta shoot a few rounds and understand all the basics and your off to the races
 
Thanks for all the answers everyone.

Hahaha yea I've been told reloading to save money is kind of an oxymoron. You will save money on what you spend on ammo but you will shoot a lot more. I also like how reloading opens up more doors on which kind of guns you can own. Someone who doesn't reload is limited to what is abundantly available though factory ammunition well someone who reloads can buy the rifle that's chambered for an unusual round or one that is more rare than others. If I was into reloading before I got my CZ 550, I would of gotten it chambered for 6.5x55 instead of .270win.

What if the case is dented like this? Can you sill reload these?

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom