Any t4R-ers Handload?

[mesooohoppy]

i searched earlier and was surprised i didnt find a reload/handloading thread on here. anyone hand load?

here is my 550c:

right now i currently load 9mm, 223/556, and 308. i plan to jump into 300blk likely later this year after i repurpose an upper for 300blk duties.

i have been able to get my 556 loads down to sub moa for two separate rifles. one got as low as 0.52 @ 100 yds (5 shot group, none of that lame 3 shot crap). both were gas guns. the 308 is a bolt and i was using free projectiles i got from hornady (not the weight i wanted), but i was able to get down to 1.01 moa. this is the only large sized primer i load on my machine so i load 308 sparsely (getting the primer crap aligned can be tedious if my machine isnt clean).

if any of you load, post your setups or tips/tricks or stories!

 

[Bumbo]

I hardly find it to be worth doing anymore, but I have in the past. It’s a pretty exhausting workflow. It is also expensive if you want to do it right.

This was of course before I lost it all in a tragic boating accident.

 

[mesooohoppy]

I hardly find it to be worth doing anymore, but I have in the past. It’s a pretty exhausting workflow. It is also expensive if you want to do it right.

This was of course before I lost it all in a tragic boating accident.

i know the feeling, that is why i skipped a single stage and bought a progressive because i wanted to spend my time reloading efficiently. the only downside is progressives dont work all that well when you are prepping rifle or bottle necked cartridges. although there are some tips and tricks i use to be able to really speed up the process. i couldnt even imagine loading 1k rounds of 9mm on a single stage.

it is another hobby to get into itself, but the nice thing is once you buy the press and the other tools, you're pretty much set for life (tools wise, until you decide to get into another caliber), you just gotta buy the consumables. i shoot almost every weekend and got tired of shelling out for factory ammo so its a no brainer for someone like me.

if you load enough you can actually make your money back over time. its hard with pistol ammo being so low in cost right now, but with rifle not only can you save money, but you can create a load that is better than any factory load for your particular needs. i am still loading pistol and rifle cheaper than factory costs, but pistol isnt that far off.

 

[patkelly4370]

I started reloading about 5 years ago.
9mm, 38/357, 44spl/mag, 223/556, 762x39.
Lee Turret press that I can lock up and move around.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Hunter61]

I been rolling my own for about 5 years.
Currently for .308, 30-06, .223 & 30-30.
I also cast my own bullets for my 30-30 & .50 cal black powder.
I have stuff scattered all over the house but this is where most of the magic happens.

 

[Hunter61]

I hardly find it to be worth doing anymore, but I have in the past. It’s a pretty exhausting workflow. It is also expensive if you want to do it right.

This was of course before I lost it all in a tragic boating accident.

It's a labor of love. Can't buy factory ammo that shoots as well as ammo you put together yourself and there's always the challenge of tweaking it to make it better.

 

[patkelly4370]

For me, it's just a part of shooting.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[BackOff]

Old school. Collecting dust.
Tracers are fun!
.223/.308/.357Mag/.357Max

 

[mesooohoppy]

I started reloading about 5 years ago.
9mm, 38/357, 44spl/mag, 223/556, 762x39.
Lee Turret press that I can lock up and move around.

i like how you can take the press off your box. that is the one thing i never planned for (although i dont have an immediate need for it). smaller, movable setups have always intrigued me. its nice to have a big bench, but you really dont need a whole lot of space if you can stay organized.

I been rolling my own for about 5 years.
Currently for .308, 30-06, .223 & 30-30.
I also cast my own bullets for my 30-30 & .50 cal black powder.
I have stuff scattered all over the house but this is where most of the magic happens.

very cool, one day i will try casting my own boolits. until now though its mostly a time/quantity thing.

For me, it's just a part of shooting.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

i honestly didnt think i would get as hooked as i did. i think it was watching the groups shrink as i work my way up through a load. i would say it is now certainly a part of my shooting routine.

Old school. Collecting dust.
Tracers are fun!
.223/.308/.357Mag/.357Max

wow, ive only seen an old school press like that a handful of times. yours doesnt have the standard 7/8"-14 die thread, because its so old, correct? i love seeing old presses still up and running.

 

[Jeremy_A]

I use a Hornady lock N' load. Only because I shoot competitions. I only load 9mm and have the bullet feeder as well. I don't enjoy it, but is saves money and the custom loads are nicer. I usually use processed primed brass, the priming is the worst part of reloading. We have a local place that sells processed/primed for really cheap and they have a brass scrap program so I just swap old brass for it. Saves me from buying primers too! All I really buy is powder, which is so cheap (I use titegroup) and Bullets I get from Gallant Bullets, as they are Vet. owned and offer 10% discount... though they already have amazing prices!

 

[Bumbo]

It's a labor of love. Can't buy factory ammo that shoots as well as ammo you put together yourself and there's always the challenge of tweaking it to make it better.

I agree, it is a labor of love.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic hobby. My lack of enthusiasm has nothing to do with a lack of experience or knowledge. I understand all aspects of the process quite well.

For most all real world applications less competitive shooting… factory match is more than adequate as most still shoot under 1 MOA.

Plus… it’s not like I wasn’t getting the desired result. I just don’t find it to be a good use of my time anymore.

 

[Bumbo]

i know the feeling, that is why i skipped a single stage and bought a progressive because i wanted to spend my time reloading efficiently. the only downside is progressives dont work all that well when you are prepping rifle or bottle necked cartridges. although there are some tips and tricks i use to be able to really speed up the process. i couldnt even imagine loading 1k rounds of 9mm on a single stage.

it is another hobby to get into itself, but the nice thing is once you buy the press and the other tools, you're pretty much set for life (tools wise, until you decide to get into another caliber), you just gotta buy the consumables. i shoot almost every weekend and got tired of shelling out for factory ammo so its a no brainer for someone like me.

if you load enough you can actually make your money back over time. its hard with pistol ammo being so low in cost right now, but with rifle not only can you save money, but you can create a load that is better than any factory load for your particular needs. i am still loading pistol and rifle cheaper than factory costs, but pistol isnt that far off.

I had a progressive and a single stage press. Different tools for different things, both were necessary in my workflow depending on the task.

I like that it’s a technical hobby and can further ones knowledge to a great degree, I used to really enjoy it.

Saving money is often times why people start to reload, but most seasoned people know/learn that saving money is more of a secondary benefit, most just end up shooting more volume making it a moot point. Fact of the matter is reloading is like working for less than minimum wage when you become limited on time due to work and life.

I would eventually like to pick it up again in the future if things settle down for me, I get all the benefits and advantages of doing it, but it’s a pastime not a requirement unless you are operating at an enthusiast level.

 

[KC T4R]

I can understand that, To each their own. I look at it as a stress reliever. Nothing like heading down to the reloading bench when I’m in some need of “me time”. It is not something I feel competes with my busy life.. I see it is a break from reality. Kind of like adding toys to the T4R!!

 

[mesooohoppy]

Saving money is often times why people start to reload, but most seasoned people know/learn that saving money is more of a secondary benefit, most just end up shooting more volume making it a moot point. Fact of the matter is reloading is like working for less than minimum wage when you become limited on time due to work and life.

i started reloading to save money, but then i became addicted to getting group sizes down. that is where the enjoyment starts to shine.

as previously stated, i dont look at it as 'work' because it is something i enjoy. its just a part of my shooting routine. i usually load on saturday and go shooting on sunday.

also, where i live only has a handful of stores where i can get ammo. i am basically at the mercy of what the guy has in stock. he will order me a specific type/brand of ammo if i really wanted to, but i will end up paying full pop for it and have to wait until he does a 'big' order. i cannot currently get ammo shipped to my house (hopefully that will change soon).

 

[Bumbo]

also, where i live only has a handful of stores where i can get ammo. i am basically at the mercy of what the guy has in stock. he will order me a specific type/brand of ammo if i really wanted to, but i will end up paying full pop for it and have to wait until he does a 'big' order. i cannot currently get ammo shipped to my house (hopefully that will change soon).

You make a point about ammo and availability… I remember a few years back there was some sort of ammo shortage which was driven by politics and a ban fear.

Whatever it was there was no inventory on store shelves and prices were sky high. The only people who had any stability were people who either stocked up or reload.

 

[BackOff]

wow, ive only seen an old school press like that a handful of times. yours doesnt have the standard 7/8"-14 die thread, because its so old, correct? i love seeing old presses still up and running.

This Herter's uses standard RCBS dies.
I had to get an adapter for the case holder.

I was mainly doing tracers because i got a couple big bags of mil surplus pulls. 1999 (just the bullet, not the built cartrige)
Its really amazing what happens when you shoot...that you dont see.
When a bullet strikes something hard, stuff flies all over the place.

And the .357 Max because i couldn't find it. That Max is a pain to reload, resize die was getting so much friction, straight up pera-stuck a case, trashed the die.
Case-slick turned into case-stick over the years i guess.
I need to find some new high-tech case-slick.


...i remember when you could not get .22 to save your life, back after that one scare.

 

[mesooohoppy]

This Herter's uses standard RCBS dies.
I had to get an adapter for the case holder.

I was mainly doing tracers because i got a couple big bags of mil surplus pulls. 1999 (just the bullet, not the built cartrige)
Its really amazing what happens when you shoot...that you dont see.
When a bullet strikes something hard, stuff flies all over the place.

And the .357 Max because i couldn't find it. That Max is a pain to reload, resize die was getting so much friction, straight up pera-stuck a case, trashed the die.
Case-slick turned into case-stick over the years i guess.
I need to find some new high-tech case-slick.


...i remember when you could not get .22 to save your life, back after that one scare.

interesting. i have heard about older presses needing an adapter for the new-er style shell holders as well. ive only seen one instance where a press was so old, it didnt use the standard die thread and an adapter had to be made.

the 357 max looks like a straight wall cartridge. were you using a carbide die? if not, that may have been your problem. ive read a bunch online that a lot of people recommend carbide dies for handgun specific calibers to aid with sizing. i use the hornady wax because it wont dent bottle neck cases like the alcohol based solvent lubes do (if you apply too much). the downside to the wax is i cant just throw everything in a bag and tumble in the lube. i have to hand lube each case.

id love to try tracers one day but i hear they are hard on the throat of the barrel. unfortunately i dont have an area that i feel comfortable shooting tracers. one day though!

 

[Hunter61]

I agree, it is a labor of love.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic hobby. My lack of enthusiasm has nothing to do with a lack of experience or knowledge. I understand all aspects of the process quite well.

For most all real world applications less competitive shooting… factory match is more than adequate as most still shoot under 1 MOA.

Plus… it’s not like I wasn’t getting the desired result. I just don’t find it to be a good use of my time anymore.

Good shoot'n!

 

[Hunter61]

i started reloading to save money, but then i became addicted to getting group sizes down. that is where the enjoyment starts to shine.

That's how it started with me too. I thought I could shoot more without spending any more money.
But there's always a need for a new gadget for the reloading bench, another powder to try, another bullet brand/weight to try.............:doh::biggrin2:

 

[Bumbo]

But there's always a need for a new gadget for the reloading bench, another powder to try, another bullet brand/weight to try.............:doh::biggrin2:

Isn't that the truth... I ended up with multiple competition seating dies for the same cartridge due to how/where the seating stem engages the ogive.

The closer you get it to the ogive, the more consistent the result.