Who shoots factory ammo?

Why do you shoot factory ammo?

  • Dont know how to get started reloading

    Votes: 23 18.7%

  • Dont have time to reload

    Votes: 35 28.5%

  • Dont shoot enough rounds to warrant all the equipment to reload

    Votes: 45 36.6%

  • I like overpriced shells

    Votes: 20 16.3%
  • Total voters
    123
cereal83 said:
I buy factory. I don't know where to start reloading and I don't want to read any books to learn how to. I think you just buy a Lee's loader kit and go from there but it's always harder then that
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No offence, cereal, but that is a bit of a Homer Simpson approach:
"If something doesn't come naturally straightaway then give up on it.":redface:
Seriously, reloading isn't that hard.
In fact for any guy who's tinkered with a crotchety old car reloading is a walk in the park.:rolleyes:
More than anything it IS a case of following the basic instructions.
You can go as simple as you like or as complicated as you like and I don't think that it's too much to say that any firearm in the world could benefit in some way from good handloaded ammo.
Most people start handloading to save money and keep handloading because it becomes fascinating, even if you aren't an accuracy addict.
If handloading was about surgical precision and encyclopedic knowledge I certainly wouldn't be doing it.
But don't write it off before trying it.
Firing your own accurate handloads is like eating a good meal you cooked yourself or hearing that car start cleanly after you spent a few good hours on finding the problem.......it's VERY rewarding.
Moreover, taking game with an accurate handload is even more affirming.
It's also addictive.:D
 
With the exception of 'liking the overpriced stuff' choice, I'd have to say all of the above, but primarily because I don't shoot enough rounds to warrant it.
 
That brings up an interesing point when is it time to start loading, here is a couple of situations that are slamdunks

1 Rare ammo, just were do you find 25/35
2.The head you want to use is not used in factory ammo

This is excluding things like "it's fun" and "I want more accuracy"

For those of you that don't, what would cause you too start?
 
kombi1976 said:
No offence, cereal, but that is a bit of a Homer Simpson approach:
"If something doesn't come naturally straightaway then give up on it.":redface:
Seriously, reloading isn't that hard.
In fact for any guy who's tinkered with a crotchety old car reloading is a walk in the park.:rolleyes:
More than anything it IS a case of following the basic instructions.
You can go as simple as you like or as complicated as you like and I don't think that it's too much to say that any firearm in the world could benefit in some way from good handloaded ammo.
Most people start handloading to save money and keep handloading because it becomes fascinating, even if you aren't an accuracy addict.
If handloading was about surgical precision and encyclopedic knowledge I certainly wouldn't be doing it.
But don't write it off before trying it.
Firing your own accurate handloads is like eating a good meal you cooked yourself or hearing that car start cleanly after you spent a few good hours on finding the problem.......it's VERY rewarding.
Moreover, taking game with an accurate handload is even more affirming.
It's also addictive.:D
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I never said it seemed hard so i don't want to try it. I basically am not sure what to start out with. I am not rich and can't buy $400 worth of reloading stuff to start. I can however spend about $100-200. If I had somebody physically show me, it would be easier. I am also scared of screwing up on a bullet and when I really need to take that shot, the bullet trickles out of the barrel. I will read parts of a book to find good loads but I don't want to sit down and start readying a few books just to be able to do it
 
Most of my rifles have never seen a factory round. I started loading in 1964 or so, and I just enjoy the hobby aspect, as well as the results. I can tailor a load for a specific rifle that performs optimally for my purposes. As has been pointed out, one can load a bullet that just isn't available in factory ammo. I am a big Partition fan, so most of my hunting loads still get loaded with them. Try and find a factory load in the 8x57 that uses the Accubond or Partition!!
I am in the process of working with the Barnes TSX in a couple of chamberings at present, and so far the results are encouraging. Reloaders today have it sooooo good. So many options, so many great bullets. It is true that some factory ammo is also very good, but the reloader still has the edge. Regards, Eagleye.
 
martinbns said:
The only time I do it is to sometimes acquire brass for a new rifle.
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Me too. Sometimes. However, starting in September, I ask the hunters who start coming to the range to sight in their rifles if I can have that brass they're about to toss out. Makes me a pain in the ass (kind of cheap too, I suppose), but they are a great source of brass.
 
Does somebody want to maybe make a good guise and they can stickey it? Maybe make a guide on what to do for a budget starter kit, medium priced starter kit and a rich persons starter kit. It would be good. It would be nice to make my own ammo. Also if I need a bench to do this, I am SOL as I live in an apartment
 
I might start shooting more factory ammo...have shot some of the WW whitebox 223.....shoots actually quite well in my Classic...time to reload is getting scarce these days and I'm getting kinda bored with it lately...might try some factory stuff in my 7-08...any suggestions?....had a couple 30-30's that never saw a handload....
 
cereal83 said:
Does somebody want to maybe make a good guise and they can stickey it? Maybe make a guide on what to do for a budget starter kit, medium priced starter kit and a rich persons starter kit. It would be good. It would be nice to make my own ammo. Also if I need a bench to do this, I am SOL as I live in an apartment
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You don't get off that easy. There have been some very clever bench ideas posted by apartment dwellers, as well as people using the fold up workbench thingy (that's a technical term of course) from Black and Decker or someone like that. ;)
 
cereal83 said:
I never said it seemed hard so i don't want to try it. I basically am not sure what to start out with. I am not rich and can't buy $400 worth of reloading stuff to start. I can however spend about $100-200. If I had somebody physically show me, it would be easier. I am also scared of ######## up on a bullet and when I really need to take that shot, the bullet trickles out of the barrel. I will read parts of a book to find good loads but I don't want to sit down and start readying a few books just to be able to do it
Click to expand...
Right, all you had to do was explain.
I'm CERTAIN there is someone on this list living in Toronto who would be happy to give you a demo on reloading.
Better still, get a video on basic reloading.
I'm sure they're out there.
Lee Aniversary packs are an excellent place to start.
You don't have to read huge tomes.
Reloading adds up to this:
  1. Lubricate the body and inside of the neck with a thing coating of case lube.
  2. Put it into the case holder on the press and run it through the sizing die.
  3. Inspect the sized case for splits and other signs of wear.
  4. Prime the case using either a press system or a hand device like the Autoprime.
  5. Carefully measure out the powder load on the scales then pour through the funnel into the case.
  6. Seat the bullet in the case using the seating die.
It's that simple.
Now, you'll have to adjust the decapping rod in resizing die to properly fit the case and you won't need to lube the case body if you're neck sizing.
It's also easier to do each step in lots to cut down on time.
Between each stage you need to check you've done each case properly, like checking with a flashlight that you've put powder in every case and that the charge is identical in each.
You also, after a few reloads, may have to trim the cases but this is something you can deal with when the time comes.
You can adjust the seating depth and other things but the easiest thing to do is find pick a reasonable point, about 10% below the maximum for the powder you choose, and making up 20 rounds: 5 rounds each of 4 powder loads going up in 0.5gn increments i.e. 45gn, 45.5gn, 46gn, 46.5gn.
Take them down to the range and try shooting them to see which is most accurate.
You'll soon see which works best.
If you have questions just ASK!!
 
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I do, until I get a gun that won't group factory, or I get the time...:p

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