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Author Topic: Reloading???  (Read 2863 times)

Offline WACATHUNTER

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Reloading???
« on: November 08, 2007, 07:46:46 PM »
How cost effective and efficient is reloading???? 

I shoot my 257 Roberts and 300WSM about 200 rounds a year and am curious if I could save money by begining to reload.  I have plenty of cartridges, but am curious how tough it is to get started.  Will it be worth it money and time wise?  I know I could probably get a better load out reloading.  I currently shoot 117 grain Hornady SST's out of the 257 and 150 and 180 Ballistic Silvertips out of the 300 WSM. Thanks in Advance!
WACAT

Offline Bighorse

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2007, 08:24:26 PM »
A man after my own heart. 

I shoot a 25-06 and a 300 WM, WSM, and H&H.......

I also reload.

Start up costs are high and its easy to get mislead by marketing hype.  The nice thing is once you get going your really up and running.  You will shoot more and really develop a nice round for your particular firearm.

Although my 300 WSM did shoot factory Ballistic Silvertips just as good as anything I can produce.  But at 45 clams a box it had to stop.  I still like ballistic tips and the new combined technology rounds.

You will need the space for your reloading equipment and plenty of time to fiqure it out.  Its really scientific and some of the information out there is complicated.  The basic process is learnable with some good text and time.

Good luck

Offline high country

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2007, 08:40:20 PM »
well a RCBS rock chucker kit is 250ish, add a set of dies and shellholders for each, that adds 70ish bux. powder is 18bux and primers go for about 3bux, bullets can be had as cheap as 12/100 and go to the moon from there. for your 257bob you don't need fancy bullets, a good ol speer or hornady will be plenty for it's speed.

so you get 7000 grains in a pound of powder, in your 300 I am guessing 70 grains of powder capacity (a guess) so about 100 rds of decent ammo is gonna set you back;
$20.00-powder
$3.00-primers
$25.00decent bullets
assuming you have your own brass, you can be shooting for $10.00 a box in your 300, prolly about half that in your bob.

the really great thing is that you will end up shooting more, and likely find a bunch more accuracy.

Offline fremont

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2007, 09:00:11 PM »
Check out the Lee Anniversary reloading kit

www.midwayusa.com

Offline GoldTip

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2007, 08:33:37 AM »
Reloading is a very relaxing prospect for me.  Also, it's a good way for me to get out of the wife's hair when she and I are having one of "those" days! :dunno:

The great part is you get a much more consistent load if you pay attention, then you ever will with a factory load.  As High country said, you can probably be shooting a "premium" type bullet for around $10 a box, and your velocity and accuracy consistency will increase.  Yes, your first box of shells that you
load will cost around $350, but at 400 rounds of rifle ammo per year, it will be at a break even point pretty quick I would say.  Good Luck.

One piece of advice, I buy all my reloading dies either at a firearms show or off e-bay.  If you pay attention you can easily save probably 50% on those.  Now if your only going to load for those two rounds you've mentioned thats not that big of deal, and thats how I started.  I initially started just loading for my 300 winny and my 25-06.  Then I thought I should reload for my Dad's 300 weatherby, and probably my 9mm, and maybe for my 357mag, and 454 casull as well.  Maybe I could work up some loads for my 6.5x55 as well as my 22-250.  And I've never been truly happy with how factory loads shoot through my 30-06, and oh yeah, that 41mag pistol I picked up cheap I should probably reload for.  And your buddy needs you to reload for his 270win.  You see how it goes?  Next thing you know instead of reloading for the two guns you started with, you now suddenly have 18-20  :o different dies, and picking them up 50% off helps!  Oh yeah, father inlaw wants handloads for his 280!  You get the picture.
I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
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Offline WACATHUNTER

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2007, 08:01:53 PM »
Thanks for all the input.  It is something I need to seriously look into.  Any suggestions on some good books etc.
WACAT

Offline Bighorse

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Re: Reloading???
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2007, 10:09:14 PM »
 :)
So while your loading up for everyone else maybe you could help me out some too? ;)

I'd love some advice on getting a good load for my 41mag.

I've got some hard cast 265g hunting bullets for it.  I've tried two different powders Skor 800x and IMR 4227

So far 13.5 gr of 800x is where I'm at

Any suggestions?  Do you load a hunting bullet for that pistol?

 


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