Reloader Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Just noticed that several people in this forum have mentioned rolling their own ammo. Why not swap techniques and what works for what... Right now my budget is tight but I gotta shoot so Im interested in the most economical loads anyone has been able to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbowhntr Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Re: Reload your own I will have to get back to you on this one. My buddy and I just picked up a press and dies and all the fun stuff. But I have yet to make a bullet. I will be reloading for my .270 and 7mm STW. Once I get a chance to play around I will let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Re: Reload your own Question to the Moderators...Im new here...obviously...what are the regs for posting actual load "recipies" Don't want to push this topic to far if its gonna fall flat cause all the numbers have to be left out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 29, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Re: Reload your own I'm shooting a 30-06 so FMJ military surplus is available...but that doesn't work for anything but paper punching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaCoyote Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] 7mm STW [/ QUOTE ] wacoyote likey likey wacoyote likey alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] Question to the Moderators...Im new here...obviously...what are the regs for posting actual load "recipies" Don't want to push this topic to far if its gonna fall flat cause all the numbers have to be left out... [/ QUOTE ] I don't encourage it and I will not publish data. Its too easy to fat finger something. There are too many people out there that want everything now. They don't want to work and test, they want to test a "pet load". I am not saying everyone here, but they are out there. I will give what type of powder, primer, bullet, case prep, etc., just not the powder weight. If any data is published, its definately, use at your own risk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own If you want to put together some cheap ammo, check out surplus powder and bulk bullets. Hi-Tech Ammo has great prices on surplus powder, Jeff Bartlett also sells surplus powder. Pat's Reloading is another supplier of surplus powder. Its not as clean or as fast as high end commercial powder, but it is a lot cheaper. I do use the stuff myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own Forget about full length resizing and just neck size your brass. You can do that if you are going to shoot the ammo in one gun only! It won't fit in the chamber of another gun. This will leave the shoulder alone and only reduces the neck! You will get better groups by doing this. You can buy neck-sizing dies by themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] There are too many people out there that want everything now. They don't want to work and test.....I will give what type of powder, primer, bullet, case prep, etc., just not the powder weight. If any data is published, its definately, use at your own risk! [/ QUOTE ] Sounds perfect to me...those were my exact reasons for asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Re: Reload your own Here is my current method/load: 1 Buy loaded ammo (mostly winchester FMJ) 2 Shoot it in the intended gun 3 Deprime and neck size only (RCBS press and Die, I do still use the expander ball) 4 Use a pipe cleaner to degunk the primer pocket and flash hole 5 Prime 6 Powder (RCBS powder measure, weigh every 5th charge) 7 Seat the bullet 8 Start back at 2 150 grain Speer Hot-Cor Spitzers (good bullet and tends to be cheapest at the only gun shop in town that sells reloading components) Aliant 2400 Powder (traditionaly a magnum handgun powder but Aliant lists it as effective in a 30-06 with half the total charge as most other recomended powders I can find. It sells for the same price per pound, so the net effect is a cheaper round.) CCI 200 primers Winchester once fired cases(see method) Bulk bullets online are cheaper but the shipping charges and minimum orders shut me down most of the time. I will check out the sites listed above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Re: Reload your own Good info Reloader. That expander ball has ruined more than one group. I have seen the expander ball induce .015" runout in a case. Here is my brass prep: Prior to loading any brass, I do the same prep. Doesn't matter if its once fired or virgin. First step I do is ream the primer pocket and debur the flash hole. I run the cases through my sizing die to true the case. Then run the case through an expander. I neck turn my cases to 90% coverage. I then resize the cases again, trim to a common length, debur the mouth. A 45 minute trip through the tumbler to clean the size lube from the case. Each case gets weighed on a digital scale and separated into groups. I will go with the biggest group and get rid of other cases that do not fall within 1% of the weight. Prime and load. When my ammo has been fired after this work, I only resize, tumble, and reload. I recheck the length after 3 reloads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhtr1 Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Re: Reload your own I started reloading my own when I was 16 years old, am now 43. I cant see myself buying store bought ammo. I have some of the old books with the higher level of charges before liability suits came about. This gives me something to do after deer season when it is still cold and wet. If you are shooting a semiauto you will need small base die and full length size the brass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Re: Reload your own My reloading equipment is a little limmited at the moment. I dont have a tumbler or a trimmer yet...both things i will need for better accuracy in my reloading. Ive been reloading off and on for 10 years but in the past ive always used my dads equipment and followed recipies he has worked up. I know most of the theory to get started but have only been doing it on my own for about 6 months. I look forward to this forum as a way to increase my understanding and get some new ideas to realy get some quality ammo and of course to keep shooting cheap enough to keep myself satisfied...oh wait that isn't possible...oh well I can dream... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] ...get some new ideas to realy get some quality ammo and of course to keep shooting cheap enough to keep myself satisfied [/ QUOTE ] I find I don't really save any money by reloading. While the cost per round goes down, I shoot more so the overall cost is about the same. I do become a better shooter though. I then work up loads and do some testing and wind up spending a lot more than just loading "good enough" ammo for hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted March 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] (AJ) While the cost per round goes down, I shoot more so the overall cost is about the same. [/ QUOTE ] Funny how that works, huh? I've been reloading for 3 or 4 years now. In my case, I was looking for more accuracy than standard storebought ammo. 'Course, that ended up with me buying a more accurate rifle, then getting more reloading gear, and the quest goes on. [/ QUOTE ] LOL I hear all that. With me I would shoot every day if I had the ammo...so I will pay the same as I woulda on factory...just get a bit more out of it. I will try and hold off on the excessive fideling with the expensive stuff...at least till i get another job...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted April 1, 2005 Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] I will try and hold off on the excessive fideling with the expensive stuff...at least till i get another job. [/ QUOTE ] I finally have a decent enough paycheck to allow me to do stuff, but now I don't have the time to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2005 Re: Reload your own Vicious cycle. Move out west...the time you save in commuting alone will give you plenty to reload... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted April 2, 2005 Report Share Posted April 2, 2005 Re: Reload your own I heard that! With gas prices, I am spending $100/week on gas (2 fill ups/week). I only live 25 miles from work. But the pay is not as good, so its a catch 22. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] I heard that! With gas prices, I am spending $100/week on gas (2 fill ups/week). I only live 25 miles from work. But the pay is not as good, so its a catch 22. [/ QUOTE ] Depending on what you do you may be surprised. The more specialized or skilled the job the less the cut in pay. I keep trying to get my father in law to move out here he is in medical research field and even giving up his 25+ years of seniority at the Bethesda United States University for Health Sciences he wouldn't give up much if any pay. As long as you stick with a major city like Omaha NE Des Moines IA etc the pay drop is less than the cost of living drop. I just moved out here a little over a year ago (from Virginia Beach) and am looking forward to my first NE deer hunt this fall...the does out here are bigger than the biggest buck ive ever seen in VA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2005 Re: Reload your own For deer here I am planning on a simple 150 gr Power Point and Reloader 15 powder. Cheap effective and my gun seems to like the Power Point in terms of accuracy, at least out of factory loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Posted April 4, 2005 Report Share Posted April 4, 2005 Re: Reload your own I have been loading my own for as long as I can remember, lost a finger nail in a Lee turet press at the age of 5, helping Dad load up some .222 Rem. I am now 43 and still love doing it, I have 4 sons of my own now and it is a family event now. No you don't save any money by doing this but it keeps you from going nuts in the cold snowy months with out something to hunt. What I do is get my powder in Kegs and have it down to 2 rifle, 1 shotgun and 1 handgun powder. This keeps me from getting the wrong one, had a friend blow a gun up this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wthomaslee Posted April 5, 2005 Report Share Posted April 5, 2005 Re: Reload your own use minimum loads in autos. dont try to load'em hot. the action cant take that kind of beating very long. it may even destroy the action the first time you shoot hot loads through it. or worse, blow up in your face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted April 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Re: Reload your own OK lets revive this post a bit... Any reloading tips or comments on reloading for some of the newer cartriges (WSM 204 etc). OR Why did you get into reloading...and why do you still do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Re: Reload your own [ QUOTE ] Any reloading tips or comments on reloading for some of the newer cartriges (WSM 204 etc). [/ QUOTE ] Same as the old cartridges. Check multiple sources for data. Watch pressure signs. Use common sence. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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