reloading info - The Firearms Forum

old semperfi · 11-06-2011, 11:05 PM

guys and girls please read and understand what im about to tell you.i reload and from time to time go to the reloading forum,i have been reloading for about 35 years or so and just maybe i can keep you and yours from being hurt.i see a number of people asking for info on different loads as far as bullit weight,and charge amounts for powder................never,never load a charge from info from someone else.if you cant verify it in writing do not do it..............the life you save ,may be your own.nuff said old semperfi

Rhuga · 11-06-2011, 11:51 PM

I am in total awe of all you folks that can re-load. I am sure that it is a science and requires a lot of commitment. When I go to the range I see all that brass. I hope it doesn't go to waste.

todd51 · 11-07-2011, 12:56 AM

Rhuga, reloading in not difficult but does require care and precision. I have found it an interesting and enjoyable addition to the shooting hobby. As Old Semperfi is advising use only the published data when reloading. Pick up one of the reloading manuals such as Hornady, Speer, Lymand or Lee and read through it. You find that anyone can become a safe reloader. Like Old Semperfi I have been doing it for over 30 years.

Regular Joe · 11-07-2011, 04:43 AM

I've been at for even longer, but I've just started reloading for a new AR-15. Sorting thru my range brass, I see a LOT of cases that have pierced primers. This means that someone loaded them to pressure that was far beyond safe. Others are much too hard to resize, because the cases have been "blown out" in a stretched chamber. This stuff leads to blown up rifles, which are well known for causing serious injury and death.
It's OK, and even "normal" to go looking for load data, but it's of utmost importance that you confirm that data from a known source, as noted above.
In .223 especially, I see a lot of people trying to develop loads for bolt action rifles that far exceed the safe limits of semi-autos. ALWAYS check.

jack404 · 11-07-2011, 05:09 AM

fair enough , here is Oz we have the SSAA ( ssaa.org.au )

folks submit loads and until a few years ago the folks who run it in a few states broke em up and tested em and then listed them

thats only 1 state now sadly ,

i have submitted a lot , maybe 50 approved ? more ? i'd have to look

these loads all come from approved , and also why when someone asks me back about a newer projectile or powder i cant say , i have range info but it aint listed and we are often a couple years behind products here

but as you say , you dont KNOW that and fair enough ,

and factory load books aint that expencive

carver · 11-07-2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd51

Rhuga, reloading in not difficult but does require care and precision. I have found it an interesting and enjoyable addition to the shooting hobby. As Old Semperfi is advising use only the published data when reloading. Pick up one of the reloading manuals such as Hornady, Speer, Lymand or Lee and read through it. You find that anyone can become a safe reloader. Like Old Semperfi I have been doing it for over 30 years.

Another long time reloader here, I've been at it for over 40 years. And I agree with everthing posted on this one. As stated, reloading isn't very hard, if I can do it anybody can! Please, only use those loads that are safe, as printed in your reloading manual. Never exceed max loads! Never experiment!

The Duke · 11-07-2011, 01:35 PM

Keep yer loading manuals up to date...Powder formulas change over the years...Had a fellow load up some .300WinMag from a manual about 20 years old...Checking an up to date manual, he was 3 grains over maximum using the same powder and bullet...Could have been interesting had he touched one off..

Rhuga · 11-07-2011, 02:09 PM

What is the savings between re-loading your own and buying them?

DixieLandMan · 11-07-2011, 02:11 PM

I can reload a .30-06 bullet for about 1/2 of what I pay for a box of 20.

CampingJosh · 11-07-2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhuga

What is the savings between re-loading your own and buying them?

It depends on which cartridges you're loading and how you value your time. I count my time as free because I reload as a hobby. (When I figure in how much it costs to go to a baseball game, I don't also add the $100 that I could have made had I been working instead, but I've seen people do that many times with reloading.)

Generally, buying the components to assemble yourself will cost between 40% and 75% the cost of buying comparable factory ammunition.

RandyP · 11-07-2011, 03:45 PM

Beginners benefit from starting with low-mid range plinking ammo - a bit of a safety margin then is 'built-in' to the process as they hone their skills. As regards it being 'rocket surgery' I always refer to this youtube video by the man himself Richard Lee, using his very basic Lee Loader (whack-a-mole)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc

Yes it can be as complex as the hobbyist chooses to make it, but it really IS this simple to make safe, reliable and accurate ammo. Regardless of it being made on the $30 Lee loader or a $30,000 Camdex machine....a round of ammo only has 4 parts, primer-case-powder-bullet. And regardless of the equipment used, they all combine those 4 components into that which goes bang.

Brisk44 · 11-07-2011, 03:52 PM

Also the different component manufacturers publish load data on the net which you can add to the data from your reloading manuals.
I figure I can load fifty Nine mm for under $5.00. About the same for .45. .44 and .45Colt for about twice that. Rifle depends on your components theres a wide variation.

jim brady · 11-07-2011, 10:28 PM

Good advice here. Never reload from data you did not see published in a current reloading manual. I'd go one step further - never shoot anyone else's reloads. Had an friend pester me into trying one of his loads in my rifle. Big mistake - lucky I only lost a piece of my rifle and nothing more than that. I won't buy or shoot anyone else's reloads, no matter who they are.

I've also been reloading for more than 40 years. The benefits that I've found are 1.) you can tailor your loads to YOUR rifle or pistol; 2.) you can produce ammo that is no longer readily available like .45/70 M73 and .30 M2 ammo (and some that never were commercially produced like 7.65 French Longe), 3.) you can at least CUT IN-HALF the cost of your ammo, and 4.) reloading is satisfying and enjoyable as a hobby, and finally, 5.) reloading makes shooting more often practical.

Go a step further and cast your own bullets and you can save even more.

jack404 · 11-07-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

Keep yer loading manuals up to date...Powder formulas change over the years...Had a fellow load up some .300WinMag from a manual about 20 years old...Checking an up to date manual, he was 3 grains over maximum using the same powder and bullet...Could have been interesting had he touched one off..

Duke they did similar here with .303 ammo across the board

most .303 LE's are getting old and a well worn ww1 one may be suffering metal fatigue by now ...

so they asked for and revised the figures downward

11-06-2011, 11:05 PM	#1
old semperfi Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: i live in southern indiana,old country boy at heart Posts: 1,506	reloading info guys and girls please read and understand what im about to tell you.i reload and from time to time go to the reloading forum,i have been reloading for about 35 years or so and just maybe i can keep you and yours from being hurt.i see a number of people asking for info on different loads as far as bullit weight,and charge amounts for powder................never,never load a charge from info from someone else.if you cant verify it in writing do not do it..............the life you save ,may be your own.nuff said old semperfi -->

11-06-2011, 11:51 PM	#2
Rhuga Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 645	Re: reloading info I am in total awe of all you folks that can re-load. I am sure that it is a science and requires a lot of commitment. When I go to the range I see all that brass. I hope it doesn't go to waste.

11-07-2011, 12:56 AM	#3
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,572	Re: reloading info Rhuga, reloading in not difficult but does require care and precision. I have found it an interesting and enjoyable addition to the shooting hobby. As Old Semperfi is advising use only the published data when reloading. Pick up one of the reloading manuals such as Hornady, Speer, Lymand or Lee and read through it. You find that anyone can become a safe reloader. Like Old Semperfi I have been doing it for over 30 years. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

11-07-2011, 04:43 AM	#4
Regular Joe V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 269	Re: reloading info I've been at for even longer, but I've just started reloading for a new AR-15. Sorting thru my range brass, I see a LOT of cases that have pierced primers. This means that someone loaded them to pressure that was far beyond safe. Others are much too hard to resize, because the cases have been "blown out" in a stretched chamber. This stuff leads to blown up rifles, which are well known for causing serious injury and death. It's OK, and even "normal" to go looking for load data, but it's of utmost importance that you confirm that data from a known source, as noted above. In .223 especially, I see a lot of people trying to develop loads for bolt action rifles that far exceed the safe limits of semi-autos. ALWAYS check. __________________ Around here, we don't say "Oh shucks", or "oh man". We say Oh BAMA!!

11-07-2011, 05:09 AM	#5
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: reloading info fair enough , here is Oz we have the SSAA ( ssaa.org.au ) folks submit loads and until a few years ago the folks who run it in a few states broke em up and tested em and then listed them thats only 1 state now sadly , i have submitted a lot , maybe 50 approved ? more ? i'd have to look these loads all come from approved , and also why when someone asks me back about a newer projectile or powder i cant say , i have range info but it aint listed and we are often a couple years behind products here but as you say , you dont KNOW that and fair enough , and factory load books aint that expencive

11-07-2011, 01:35 PM	#7
The Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 813	Re: reloading info Keep yer loading manuals up to date...Powder formulas change over the years...Had a fellow load up some .300WinMag from a manual about 20 years old...Checking an up to date manual, he was 3 grains over maximum using the same powder and bullet...Could have been interesting had he touched one off.. __________________ Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

11-07-2011, 02:09 PM	#8
Rhuga Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Henderson, Nevada Posts: 645	Re: reloading info What is the savings between re-loading your own and buying them?

11-07-2011, 02:11 PM	#9
DixieLandMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 607	Re: reloading info I can reload a .30-06 bullet for about 1/2 of what I pay for a box of 20.

11-07-2011, 03:45 PM	#11
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: reloading info Beginners benefit from starting with low-mid range plinking ammo - a bit of a safety margin then is 'built-in' to the process as they hone their skills. As regards it being 'rocket surgery' I always refer to this youtube video by the man himself Richard Lee, using his very basic Lee Loader (whack-a-mole) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeEl9wZyabc Yes it can be as complex as the hobbyist chooses to make it, but it really IS this simple to make safe, reliable and accurate ammo. Regardless of it being made on the $30 Lee loader or a $30,000 Camdex machine....a round of ammo only has 4 parts, primer-case-powder-bullet. And regardless of the equipment used, they all combine those 4 components into that which goes bang. __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP Last edited by RandyP; 11-07-2011 at 03:48 PM..

11-07-2011, 03:52 PM	#12
Brisk44 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Contributor Posts: 1,747	Re: reloading info Also the different component manufacturers publish load data on the net which you can add to the data from your reloading manuals. I figure I can load fifty Nine mm for under $5.00. About the same for .45. .44 and .45Colt for about twice that. Rifle depends on your components theres a wide variation.

11-07-2011, 10:28 PM	#13
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,073	Re: reloading info Good advice here. Never reload from data you did not see published in a current reloading manual. I'd go one step further - never shoot anyone else's reloads. Had an friend pester me into trying one of his loads in my rifle. Big mistake - lucky I only lost a piece of my rifle and nothing more than that. I won't buy or shoot anyone else's reloads, no matter who they are. I've also been reloading for more than 40 years. The benefits that I've found are 1.) you can tailor your loads to YOUR rifle or pistol; 2.) you can produce ammo that is no longer readily available like .45/70 M73 and .30 M2 ammo (and some that never were commercially produced like 7.65 French Longe), 3.) you can at least CUT IN-HALF the cost of your ammo, and 4.) reloading is satisfying and enjoyable as a hobby, and finally, 5.) reloading makes shooting more often practical. Go a step further and cast your own bullets and you can save even more. Last edited by jim brady; 11-07-2011 at 10:29 PM..