What % of hunters hand-load?
- Thread starter Duffy
- Start date
I've been an avid hunter and shooter for over 40 years, and I reload for every centerfire chambering that I use...but you know what? I hate reloading. I find it tedious drudgery that I tolerate strictly for the economy it provides. It doesn't save me money, but it does allow me to shoot more for the same money. Since 99% of my shooting is at inanimate targets of one sort or another, I'll keep loading, but I won't ever enjoy it. I use reloads for hunting only locally, i.e. deer, predators, varmints, etc. If I am spending serious money to travel on a hunt, I will use premium factory stuff...and I manage to do it without feeling that I'm committing a sin.
I can't imagine not hunting...
I use both factory, and handloads, about equally with no apparent difference whatsoever on a lifetime amount of deer, and plenty more years of hunting ahead of me...I load because I like to, not because they are any better than factory ammo...Factory stuff has come a long way IMO, and is every bit as good as most hand loaded ammo so long as you play with it to know what shoots in your rifle...
I load for my range guns, and the cals that are hard to get, or are obsolete ,because it saves me money, and I like to do it...Because I have the equipment I do load about 50% of my hunting ammo...If this wasn't the case I would shoot factory exclusively....
Use to load all my shotshells until we were forced to use steel, now I only load my turkey rounds, for far less money...
Because my son works there I only pay 10% over cost
...
The overall percentage of reloaders is quite small.
I have loaded my ammo since 1962, and have probably shot 5 boxes of factory ammo since then [not at game, though]
Most of this ammo came with rifles I bought or was given to me.
Factory ammo is quite good now days, with a much better choice than we had 5-6 decades ago.
That being said, I have several rifles for which "factory" ammo is not available, or is very scarce, so to me reloading just makes sense.
If I was starting out today with just one rifle, I doubt I would bother, but I am not in that class at all, and I do enjoy it.
There is something particularly gratifying about taking a game animal with a load you have developed yourself.
Regards, Eagleye.
I have loaded my ammo since 1962, and have probably shot 5 boxes of factory ammo since then [not at game, though]
Most of this ammo came with rifles I bought or was given to me.
Factory ammo is quite good now days, with a much better choice than we had 5-6 decades ago.
That being said, I have several rifles for which "factory" ammo is not available, or is very scarce, so to me reloading just makes sense.
If I was starting out today with just one rifle, I doubt I would bother, but I am not in that class at all, and I do enjoy it.
There is something particularly gratifying about taking a game animal with a load you have developed yourself.
Regards, Eagleye.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
That's sums up How I feel about it.
I could not imagine using factory ammo after all the gear I picked up and components horded over time. I also enjoy making it for a few select people too and take some pride in what they have been able to do with it.
I admit I dont' meet many people who reload and most who do are older than me.
That would be interesting to find out and I suspect your take on it may be correct.I was surprised the other day talking to a guy that has been sport shooting for many years and he doesn't know the first thing about reloading and he stated he has no interest in taking it up either.I know that I still find gobs of brass laying around in many of the places I shoot when I'm out in the boonies.
I have never hand loaded, but have been thinking about it for a long time. We just sold our house, and are in the process of buying another to move into in the Spring. It looks like I will have my own "Gun Room" so I plan to set up a corner in it for reloading. I like hunting with some of the old classics, some of which the ammo is not readily available for, so just makes sense. For example, I hunt moose with my Model 71 348WCF. I currently only have the 200 grain ammo, but am pretty sure mine - being an early gun - was set up for the 250 grain ammo that was out at the time. I want to start loading for the 250 grain ammo, as finding any is no easy task. Should be fun.
Matt
so I plan to set up a corner in it for reloading. I like hunting with some of the old classics, some of which the ammo is not readily available for, so just makes sense. For example, I hunt moose with my Model 71 348WCF. I currently only have the 200 grain ammo, but am pretty sure mine - being an early gun - was set up for the 250 grain ammo that was out at the time. I want to start loading for the 250 grain ammo, as finding any is no easy task. Should be fun.Matt
Just a head up, it's much more involved than just reloading a few rounds. You half to shoot groups and groups to test the best powder load, the best bullets over all length ect.... to determin the most accurate load.
If you just hunt with the rifle and shoot the rifle at game... It's not worth the cost and time of reloading.
If you just hunt with the rifle and shoot the rifle at game... It's not worth the cost and time of reloading.
I have never hand loaded, but have been thinking about it for a long time. We just sold our house, and are in the process of buying another to move into in the Spring. It looks like I will have my own "Gun Room"
Matt
I quoted Matt74 as well, since the above is in reply to him. I have to disagree that you have to shoot groups and groups every time, for every rifle and every use.
In Matt74's case he is loading hunting ammo for an older lever action Winchester. Odds are very good that there is no highly defined accuracy node(s) on that rifle and that most loads will shoot acceptably well. That means loading to the OAL that works with the cannelure and feeds properly is the priority and one traverse of charge weights should identify a load that shoots acceptably well for hunting big game at short-medium ranges. After that he simply loads up a couple of year's supply and the job is done.
If this was a very accurate precision/varmint rifle, then the load development would be much more involved, as you say. In this case it is horses for courses and all that precision work is simply extra effort for no good reason.
Mark
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I have never hand loaded, but have been thinking about it for a long time. We just sold our house, and are in the process of buying another to move into in the Spring. It looks like I will have my own "Gun Room"
Matt
Good choice and one I made mention of in an earlier post, #27 I believe.
Winchester has put through another production run of their 200gr Silver Tip loads and A while back I did happen to pick up some. Reloading is the way to go though but I don't believe Winchesters 200gr Silver Tip bullet is available as a component. I lucked out and bought two old boxes of them from a site member back east.
What I do have that is fairly readily available is the Hornady 200gr FP. A little harder to come by but they are around and I've picked up a supply is the Originals by Barnes in 220gr and 250gr.
A note of interest, Elmer Keith and Francis E. Sell were both quite fond of the 348 WCF and both advocated a 250gr load.
This is quite an interesting thread. For my hunting and varmint rifles, I handload because I am just plain anal. I have to keep tweeking for perfection. Once I reack a great grouping, I want better, particularly at the 300 yard range. There are so many variables, that it makes for a very interesting and satisfying hobby. For cowboy shooting and feeding my M14 and mini-14 - it becomes a question of economics. I can push out quality ammo at a fraction of the cost of factories and still get great accuracy. For instance, I found out that my mini 14 was not partial to the Winny white box, but was better with the Remington UMC and the PMC stuff. Load up some 64 grainers and the grouping was now outstanding at 100 yards.
