Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: Zardoz on September 02, 2022, 11:04:48 PM

Title: Reloading Question.
Post by: Zardoz on September 02, 2022, 11:04:48 PM: Strange question for you reloaders? I don't have the equipment or the desire to learn about reloading rifle cartridges. But what I do have is about 120 rounds of shot brass. My Ruger 30-06 is finnicky about bullet weight, only seems to like 165 grains. Would it make make more sense to have someone reload my brass at 165-ish grains or just but new ammo? I want to get my hunting rig ready for a future hunt, but, dang, 165 grain ammo is expensive. I have a new scope that I need to sight in, but..Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :tup:
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: Stein on September 02, 2022, 11:12:09 PM: Buy new ammo. I wouldn't shoot someone else's reloads.

It's not hard to do or really all that expensive to get a basic setup to reload rifle. If you aren't interested in it, I would just buy quality factory ammo for hunting and then buy the cheaper stuff for target practice. In my rifle, the $25 a box Wally stuff hits almost identical to my hunting handloads.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: NRA4LIFE on September 02, 2022, 11:19:46 PM: At today's prices, just the price of powder, primers and bullets would be around a $1 a round to reload. If you can find them. Buy factory for now. I have a .270 that would not ever accept any reloads, only factory RP 150's. (Thanks H20hunter for the resupply).
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: jrebel on September 03, 2022, 07:44:52 AM: Do you have a friend or family member that reloads?? If so, have them show you the ropes with this rifle. Help them and learn at the same time. You never know…..you just might like it.

I have a couple friends that started their reloading careee on my bench and presses. One now has his own set up and the other is in the process of buying stuff. It can be very addicting.

If the desire and time is still not there after that….well suck it up and pay the high prices.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: C-Money on September 03, 2022, 07:56:17 AM: Just keep buying new ammo, seems to be hitting shelves better now. Like already said, If you have a friend or family member to get you going, Reloading is pretty enjoyable. As long as you are focused on the task, it is not super hard. The 30-06 is a pretty friendly cartridge to load for, lots of components. It is quite a good feeling filling the freezer with ammo YOU loaded.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: OltHunter on September 03, 2022, 08:25:10 AM: The reloading process is not about putting a certain amount of powder in and bullet and you're good to go.

You'll have to work up loads over quite a few range sessions too. Close to 100 rounds when it's said and done. If your not looking for extreme accuracy, you might be able to do it with much less.

There is something about harmonics that the factory 165 works for your rifle compared to heavier grains and the bullet composition and distance from the lands and how fast its coming out.

You most likely could get any sort of grain bullet to shoot the same out of your rifle reloading.

Buy the ammo, if you can find it.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: buckfvr on September 03, 2022, 09:36:58 AM: All reloaders weren't created equal. Buy new QUALITY ammo, until/unless you decide to tool up yourself.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: elkrack on September 03, 2022, 09:48:26 AM: Quote from: buckfvr on September 03, 2022, 09:36:58 AM
All reloaders weren't created equal. Buy new QUALITY ammo, until/unless you decide to tool up yourself.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: jrebel on September 03, 2022, 09:55:05 AM: Quote from: elkrack on September 03, 2022, 09:48:26 AM
Quote from: buckfvr on September 03, 2022, 09:36:58 AM
All reloaders weren't created equal. Buy new QUALITY ammo, until/unless you decide to tool up yourself.

:yeah:

This is true...but everyone learned from someone. In my many years of reloading, I have seen two primary types of reloaders. 1...the average joe looking to hunt with his reloads and is plenty happy with accuracy enough to kill out to a couple hundred yards. 2....precision reloading, sub MOA or better reloading and won't rest till they get there. Most people usually start as the first and progress to the second. Reloading is not a rocket science....just saying!! The people that mess it up, usually do so because they don't have attention to detail.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: Platensek-po on September 03, 2022, 10:09:03 AM: Quote from: jrebel on September 03, 2022, 09:55:05 AM
Quote from: elkrack on September 03, 2022, 09:48:26 AM
Quote from: buckfvr on September 03, 2022, 09:36:58 AM
All reloaders weren't created equal. Buy new QUALITY ammo, until/unless you decide to tool up yourself.

:yeah:

This is true...but everyone learned from someone. In my many years of reloading, I have seen two primary types of reloaders. 1...the average joe looking to hunt with his reloads and is plenty happy with accuracy enough to kill out to a couple hundred yards. 2....precision reloading, sub MOA or better reloading and won't rest till they get there. Most people usually start as the first and progress to the second. Reloading is not a rocket science....just saying!! The people that mess it up, usually do so because they don't have attention to detail.

This literally described me. I started to telos my own hunting ammo for various calibers and its now turned into a very fun hobby if getting the best accuracy I can. I spend more on components then I ever would on ammo but I lie to myself saying its cheaper. What I really mean is I get to shoot a lot more.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: dyhardhuntr on September 03, 2022, 10:21:59 AM: Reloading is great fun! It kills time in the off season and can teach you a lot about your gun. That said being fairly close to season I would buy good factory ammo. Then if you decide to try reloading you have some good brass to start with. I will warn you it is incredibly addicting! There are a lot of self proclaimed experts in this field. If you have someone you really trust that can help lead you in the right direction that would be preferred. When I first got into it I struggled with all of the info. I was fortunate though to have a coworker that has been doing it for 40 years and holds several world records in competition shooting to answer my questions. One thing he told me was to reload for accuracy and speed if you desire it will follow. Every gun is different though.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: hunter399 on September 03, 2022, 11:20:27 AM: Unless you know someone who reloads that you can trust to keep your best interest and life to .
Your a lot safer to buy off the self.
Now days factory ammo is pretty dang good.
Then you always need this person to reload for your rifle.
Since is sighted in to these reloads.

I did reload for a few friends.
Untill they decided to wait until two days before season to sight in there rifle,and needed more rounds made.
I made them more,but also said never again,never reloaded for anybody ever again.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: NRA4LIFE on September 03, 2022, 11:28:39 AM: I too just started reloading for 2 rifle calibers and it quickly spiraled out of control. I think it's because I bought so many guns. More guns=more dies=more powders=more bullets=more primers.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: Magnum_Willys on September 03, 2022, 12:05:46 PM: Quote from: NRA4LIFE on September 03, 2022, 11:28:39 AM
I too just started reloading for 2 rifle calibers and it quickly spiraled out of control. I think it's because I bought so many guns. More guns=more dies=more powders=more bullets=more primers.
Oh yea, better powder scale, press, annealer, trimmer, then load developement to test better bag, bench, radar, bipods it just keeps going in quest of the perfect load!
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: buckfvr on September 03, 2022, 01:07:51 PM: :yeah:
[/quote] jrebel

This is true...but everyone learned from someone. In my many years of reloading, I have seen two primary types of reloaders. 1...the average joe looking to hunt with his reloads and is plenty happy with accuracy enough to kill out to a couple hundred yards. 2....precision reloading, sub MOA or better reloading and won't rest till they get there. Most people usually start as the first and progress to the second. Reloading is not a rocket science....just saying!! The people that mess it up, usually do so because they don't have attention to detail.
[/quote]

Number 1, I classify as those merely seeking to duplicate factory ammo. That being said, I agree with it not being rocket science, but will mention how simple it appears for us once its in the rear view mirror. However, not knowing and just learning can be a serious task for many and then theres the pain and expense of deciding you dont like the powder, primers, bullets youve already spent a bunch of money on. I know I have tons of stuff in cabinets and drawers that I moved on from at one point or another. Now throw in the bad/wrong info you took to heart from a friend or on the internet. Theres enough garbage info out there to plug every toilet in the county.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: wadu1 on September 03, 2022, 01:51:38 PM: As @NRA4LIFE said "I too just started reloading for 2 rifle calibers and it quickly spiraled out of control." I now load for everything I own, except rim fire. Three presses for metallic and four for shotgun.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: Mulie87 on September 03, 2022, 01:57:13 PM: Quote from: wadu1 on September 03, 2022, 01:51:38 PM
As @NRA4LIFE said "I too just started reloading for 2 rifle calibers and it quickly spiraled out of control." I now load for everything I own, except rim fire. Three presses for metallic and four for shotgun.

:yeah: It’s definitely addicting. Started with a press for my then only rifle and 6yrs later I have four presses: single stage and progressive for metallic and shotshell, along with many more firearms.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: NRA4LIFE on September 03, 2022, 02:25:24 PM: That was me 30 years ago.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: timberfaller on September 03, 2022, 02:39:36 PM: Started reloading at the age of 14. A Lee Loader and small hammer. Don't even want to know how much $$$$$$ I've got wrapped up now at 67 :yike:

Like has been said, I reload for everything I shoot except rimfires! :chuckle: :chuckle:

And YES, firearms do have a liking for different bullets and powders. Brass not so much. I have one rifle that will shoot round nose better then any spritzer I've put through it. So I only use round nose to in it. Had a rifle that hated 120 gr bullets but would put 115 in one hole. :dunno: :dunno:

The FUN of reloading, can't beat it!!
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: NRA4LIFE on September 03, 2022, 03:16:26 PM: Kind of funny, when I started in 1987 and lived near St. Louis, there were only a couple manufacturers whose bullets were readily available, Hornady and Speer. Then in the very early '90s, Sierra opened their plant in Sedalia, MO. My buddy and I would go out there usually once a year to buy their seconds, and basically just goof off. I still use some of the same Hornady bullets to this day that I started off with.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: broadhead on September 03, 2022, 05:18:56 PM: Best policy is don't shoot someone else's reloads. Maybe your dad or something. But the fact that someone else could make a mistake and you get hurt because of it means it's a real bad idea.

As said before not all reloaders are of equal skill and some rifles take longer than others to.fomd the correct powder and bullet combinations. I have one rifle that shoots anything I've put through it so far very well and another that took me a year to find something it liked.

Some people aren't made for reloading too. Need to pay attention to details.
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: Zardoz on September 03, 2022, 07:28:30 PM: WOW, thanks for all the feedback from everyone. :tup: I don't really shoot enough anymore to reload, and it makes good sense not to trust a reloader I don't know. And since 1moa is good enough for my needs, I guess I'll just Bite The Bullet, and purchase the ammo I need. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Reloading Question.
Post by: elkrack on September 04, 2022, 09:10:23 AM: I was waiting for a meme :chuckle: