What kind of performance can I look forward to with reloads?

41 Colt

41 Colt

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I'm getting into reloading for the cost saving, not really to work on a special load that will give me amazing match grade accuracy.

I have been shooting 95% American Eagle through my pistols and AR. It's been relatively inexpensive and decent performing ammo. Can I expect my reloads to perform on par with AE at least?
 
Absolutely, you may not intend to pursue the accuracy road, but you might go down it anyways, this is probably inevitable
 
When I started reloading my groups sizes were cut in half without really trying that hard. That is compared the cheapest ammo I could find. So you'll end up with ammo of much higher quality for less money than you'd pay for the cheapest stuff.
 
You might start reloading to save a few $ but with a little experimenting you'll find that load that outperforms everything else and you'll never buy factory again. Besides its something to do thats gun related when you can't go shooting and you get to buy all this cool gear and explain to the significant other how much money your saving. :evil:
 
Factory has the goods, so you still stand to gain in Accuracy , maybe with a lighter load, or a heavier one, bullet weight, and powder , and primers will all change things, bullet in maker and design, powder by maker , and burn rate/ amount used. Primers by maker, and power setting:D.std/mag,
Cases vary in amount of volume, standard of measure, ie Match versus by the bag. and on and on....:D
 
M_A_T_T said:
Can I expect my reloads to perform on par with AE at least?
Click to expand...

I've never had good results with AE rifle ammo...
Any other brand does better than AE for me.
My reloads do better than any other brand.

AE is teh suck.
 
Same answers as above bud. Before I started reloading, I thought...aw yea....accuracy is all in the gun and the shooter. Factory ammo is as good as any. Well, that is just not the case. Yes, good equipment does make a difference, but......doing a proper load development....tuning the load to your specfic gun WILL. Not might....it WILL tighten up your groups.

Using the same bullets, brass, primers, and powder.....the only difference between cartridges being the charge (weight) of the powder. In my 300 win mag, starting at the bottom of the load chart and working up in 0.5 grain steps will slowly make groups go from just barely being on an 8.5x11" piece of paper to crunching down into a 0.750" group. Once I go over that magic number (powder weight), the groups start to spread out again.

You'll be surprised at what your gun will do once you've got that magic recipe figured out. It can take a while to get it. Trying different bullets and powder...doing a load development for each one until you find something your gun really likes is a time consuming and sometimes frustrating process.
 
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Save money?

Yah right...I did the same 30+ years ago. First it's cheaper, after paying off the equipment needed. Then when you realize how much better you are shooting you start to experiment...
It's so cheap to reload these accurate rounds that now you can afford to shoot more and more and more.
When I used to buy my rounds I might shoot 100 a year with all my rifles combined. Now I do that at one sitting, with 4 different rifles.
It will be one of the BEST investments you will make for enjoyment and improving your skills...but not for saving money!!
 
As for saving money???? You tend to shoot more as you have more ammo on hand when you reload. But great satisfaction when a load development comes together and the pattern shrinks to almost nil. I reload for all my calibers except .22. Some loads have become unbeleiveable ( .223, 270, 30-06 and .222) and others still need some work. Even my 100 year old Winnies hit targets at 200 yards. It can be very rewarding and reloading is the only way to go at the recent rise in ammo prices.
 
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