Handloaders here?

[rockyboi]

Seeing a friend adjust loads for his rifle and then checking out the results on paper got me thinking how many folks on this forum are really into that kind of reloading? It seems like a whole new aspect of the hobby.

 

[blaze_rave]

You can definitely spot some reloaders around here. It’s a whole different skill set that extends past just shooting. Some people are really passionate about precision handloading. I give it a try now and then, but there are others who are way more focused on achieving accuracy through reloading.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I'm addicted to the tuning loads for a rifle. Here's an example load tuning matrix.

(click on picture for larger image)

 

[oldcorps76]

I got into handloading gently about 25 years ago, with an RCBS Rock Chucker. Today, I have the Rock chucker, a RCBS Piggyback dedicated to only one caliber because it's so obstreperous to change calibers, a Dillon 550 I inherited from a friend, a ton of casting molds, wheelweight ingots, two Lee Production pots. Almost exclusively pistol, I do have the makings for bottleneck rifle but have not taken that plunge yet.

Political comment follows....

I used to get my wheelweights from Schwab Tires on Powers Blvd in Co Springs until the new management glared at me and said "we don't want anyone using our cast-offs to make untraceable bullets..." I'd rather crawl to work in a blizzard before I bought another tire from them.

 

[c-ne-elk]

I have been handholding centerfire cartridges for about 40 years now. (Dang I’m old!).

I have always had a Rockchucker single stage but have also had a Dillon 550 back when I shot a lot of metallic silhouette, for many years I also would cast my own bullets for competitions.

Oldcorps76 - that’s a shame to hear about Les S. And their stance on wheel weights ! With paper print dieing, Lynotype was also a hard to find metal which I used in my bullet casting.

There is great satisfaction in finding that highly precise round and it is very therapeutic to load. I shoot between 1,500 and 2,000 centerfire rounds a year so reloading is not an option for me to be able to afford shooting.

 

[oldcorps76]

I have been handholding centerfire cartridges for about 40 years now. (Dang I’m old!).

I have always had a Rockchucker single stage but have also had a Dillon 550 back when I shot a lot of metallic silhouette, for many years I also would cast my own bullets for competitions.

Oldcorps76 - that’s a shame to hear about Les S. And their stance on wheel weights ! With paper print dieing, Lynotype was also a hard to find metal which I used in my bullet casting.

There is great satisfaction in finding that highly precise round and it is very therapeutic to load. I shoot between 1,500 and 2,000 centerfire rounds a year so reloading is not an option for me to be able to afford shooting.

 

[oldcorps76]

Duplicate post, not sure how to delete the former, above this one.

A shame indeed. The guy was sneering when he said it. A typical example of what has moved into our state and ruined its politics. I'll shut up from here....

I have around 20 molds and used to cast everything from .380 to .45 Colt until I balanced the price of "blasting" bullets against the time it takes to cast. So I reserve my casting now for specialty things - Keith bullets of various calibers and bullets for BP handgun shooting. The remainder of the wheelweights go to those. For really precise applications like the Sharps, the nice NEI molds I managed to score deserve real alloys rather than the haphazard composition of wheelweights. I plan to make a bulk buy from Roto-Metals for that.

 

[Alan]

I have been handholding centerfire cartridges for about 40 years now. (Dang I’m old!).

I have always had a Rockchucker single stage but have also had a Dillon 550 back when I shot a lot of metallic silhouette, for many years I also would cast my own bullets for competitions.

Oldcorps76 - that’s a shame to hear about Les S. And their stance on wheel weights ! With paper print dieing, Lynotype was also a hard to find metal which I used in my bullet casting.

There is great satisfaction in finding that highly precise round and it is very therapeutic to load. I shoot between 1,500 and 2,000 centerfire rounds a year so reloading is not an option for me to be able to afford shooting.

Reloading really is therapeutic, plus finding that perfect load makes all the time at the bench worthwhile.