Reloading as a hand craft, vs powered equipment...

[Cleftwynd]

With all the new equipment and technologies for reloading these days I have noticed a trend. More and more people are looking for more automated ways to reload their ammunition. With things like progressive presses, some even powered, motorized case trimmers, electric powder dispensers and scales, high tech case cleaning systems like US cleaners, there seems to be no end of new and improved ways to remove the most important thing about the joy of reloading, us! We the reloaders that enjoy getting more from our shooting and hunting sports.

I know this is just an observation from one persons perspective, and that my own reasons for reloading are not the same as the next guy, but I see a movement towards less hands on reloading these days, especially among those new to the sport. Most are looking for that extra edge in accuracy by making more consistent ammo, others need the volume for other reasons. However I hope the most important ingredient to making quality ammo doesn't get lost in the hyperbole, the man behind the tools.

There is something to be said for the basic hand tools used in reloading, from the lessons learned, to the reward you get when using ammo that had some hands on care and attention to detail. Many of us are using modern high tech tools and relearning what a past generation could have told us 70 or more years ago.

I am not saying there hasn't been some incredible advancements in our hobby, there has been many. I just sometimes feel that the "art" and "craftsmanship" is slowly fading away.

 

[yodave]

yes and no.............bulk stuff is loaded on machines that can produce.....my accuracy and match ammo is all built one round at a time.....some of which isn't even done on a standard reloading press but a modified beer bottle capper.............

When you load and shoot over 15 thousand rounds a year sometimes its nice to punch out ammo in bulk so it doesn't cut into your social life and shooting time, other times its more rewarding to tailor your match ammo one step at a time.....ymmv

 

[aheppner]

I don't reload for my pistols, just for my .223 and 30-06. All with a single stage RCBS and hand tools. Iv done about 600-700 rounds of .223 this year. Im shooting targets only, batches of 50 normally so if i want to tweak my load between range visits I can.

 

[ATOM]

yes and no.............bulk stuff is loaded on machines that can produce.....my accuracy and match ammo is all built one round at a time.....some of which isn't even done on a standard reloading press but a modified beer bottle capper.............

When you load and shoot over 15 thousand rounds a year sometimes its nice to punch out ammo in bulk so it doesn't cut into your social life and shooting time, other times its more rewarding to tailor your match ammo one step at a time.....ymmv

What he said.

 

[ivo]

For the most part I really don't have any disappointment seeing the "art" of reloading get faster, more accurate, more consistent, easier..... I used to load on an old Partner press with a beam scale and prep brass by hand. If I had to go back to those days I would seriously consider selling all my reloading gear and buy factory ammo. While I still reload on a single stage press, I would lose my mind prepping brass(especially trimming brass) then throwing charges and trickling. Good ridance to those days!

Just my opinion of course!

 

[Kayser Sose]

I spend a lot of time when I manufacture my own ammo. 308 Win, for an M14 type rifle btw.

I use a classic RCBS single stage, Redfield trimmer, RCBS pocket cleaner and champfer tool, individually weighed powder charges. This takes some time. As well, I try to process batches of up to 200 rounds, in steps; everything gets brought to trimmed-&-chamfered condition before washing, drying then priming (which can come later). So I have developed a system, and have come to realise that each round cost$! If only in the time that I take to craft

I can't bring myself to just crank the lever on the measure; I'd rather just by cheap ammo, à la MFS if being precise didn't matter.

I bet I could use a Dillon, but I can't yet bring myself to spend the money; also I like the compactness of my set-up. (tools are bolted to boards which get clamped to my bench)

fwiw

 

[Chinbullco]

Who has time to load 25 rounds an hour. An F-class weekend burns 200 rnds of ammo and usually involves up to 20 hrs of driving. Don't have time for 8 hrs at loading bench. I will use as many power loading tools as I can to get the job done. I use a hydraulic press and two Chargemasters. Imagine "Tim the Toolman's" loading bench.

 

[burnaby]

For bulk pistol ammo the faster the better. Make them to shoot!

 

[dead meat]

I agree with yodave, it all depends on the use. I`m getting set up to produce 223 for a semi auto, not going to spend a lot of time on fine tuned ammo for the me and my boys to go out and spray and pray with. If i can get cheap steel case stuff for that then that is what gets used. Not much sense in spend time building fine tuned ammo for the SKS either.

 

[scout]

I enjoy using the hand tools - you get a better feel for the cartridge, but production and fending off repetitive stress injuries have me mechanizing as many activities as I can.

 

[rgv]

I am not saying there hasn't been some incredible advancements in our hobby, there has been many. I just sometimes feel that the "art" and "craftsmanship" is slowly fading away.

Putting bullets on target (or game) is the hobby, art and craft for me and I think most people.

Reloading is just a way to get more practice for the same money. I don't think I've ever considered reloading a hobby.

But that's just me.

 

[hometownhero]

A few months after getting into loading I picked up a chargemaster combo. Best thing I have done. Everything else is still done by hand and with a single stage. The next big thing might be a power case trimmer as I hate doing that. 200 223 brass is hard on the hand.

 

[stubblejumper]

You don't need to sacrifice quality,or precision by using tools such as a power trimmer, powered deburring tool, or the Chargemaster unit.Every case can be just as precise, and every powder charge still get's weighed.

 

[Canuck223]

I have automated a fair bit of my reloading equipment.

Time savings and convienince were my primary considerations. However, my method is also geared to eliminate or manage some of the variables.

I process and prime brass in bulk.

When I am actually loading ammo, it's into cases I know have good rims, and flush seated primers.
My role while loading is largely just eyeballing the powder level.

 

[Cleftwynd]

I have many of the new gadgets as well, love the chargemaster, brass prep station, etc... However reloading is just as enjoyable as shooting for me, if not more so. I wonder how long it will be before we just dump bulk components into a machine, and come back later and put away the boxed ammo.

 

[hometownhero]

I have many of the new gadgets as well, love the chargemaster, brass prep station, etc... However reloading is just as enjoyable as shooting for me, if not more so. I wonder how long it will be before we just dump bulk components into a machine, and come back later and put away the boxed ammo.

I like reloading but I like shooting more so that would be pretty awesome. I want a cool label on the box instead of my scribble on masking take letting me know whats in the plastic box

 

[44Bore]

I would imagine that most of us that do much reloading do a combination. I use dillon square deals to load 9mm and ,45 ammo and can switch to .38/357. I mostly plink with the pistols so am only concerned with reliability. I still do some target shooting with the .44 special and load them on a single stage press. Plinking ammo for .223 a nd 7.62 x 39 is done in batches on a single stage. hunting ammo and .308 match and .222 varmint stuff is done in batches also but with much more care. Power trimmer and electronic powder dispenser used wherever possible. I started reloading because I shot a lot of cartridges that were not readily available at stores and view it as a hobby in itself.

 

[thump_rrr]

I get the pleasure and monetary reward of using my hands and brain 8-14 hours a day as an HVAC mechanic and gas fitter.
This has led to carpal tunnel syndrome in both my hands.
I still hand process all of my precision ammo one piece at a time using an L.E. Wilson trimmer and RCBS case prep tools and a Chargemaster.

As for anything used in a semi auto it gets trimmed on a Dillon RT 1200 and loaded on a Hornady LnL AP Progressive with a case feeder and bullet feeder.

I use a Thumler Model B wet tumbler so I deprime before cleaning which adds an additional step to all my brass cleaning.

I won't even try to put out 15,000 rounds a year on a single stage.
The 1,200 rounds of .308 I loaded last year was enough.

 

[Cleftwynd]

I hope I didn't come across as a "Fudd" or appear to disapprove of mass automated reloading. I definitely see the benefits and rewards of all styles, types, and methods of reloading. I was just wondering if any other hand loaders have noticed the trend of getting away from "hand" loading methods compared to mechanical and more automated means of reloading.

I am enjoying the responses from everyone, it's nice to hear what others need or want in regards to the hobby as well as their opinions on the evolution of the sport/hobby.

 

[thump_rrr]

I hope I didn't come across as a "Fudd" or appear to disapprove of mass automated reloading. I definitely see the benefits and rewards of all styles, types, and methods of reloading. I was just wondering if any other hand loaders have noticed the trend of getting away from "hand" loading methods compared to mechanical and more automated means of reloading.

I am enjoying the responses from everyone, it's nice to hear what others need or want in regards to the hobby as well as their opinions on the evolution of the sport/hobby.

Although I do enjoy the physical act of making the ammunition what a really enjoy is the journey from developing the load to chronographing the load, optimizing the load to get to the end result which for me is this.