There are many techniques discussed when talking about reloading ammo but I don’t see many articles suggesting that feel is very important to successful ammo making. Proper reloading “Feels Good”.
When you are performing various tasks, you can’t see what is going on inside the die so you have to depend on feel to determine how your ammo will come out.
I have a Dillon 550 progressive press. When something misses you can fell it in the handle. Most of the time it is a primer that goes in sideways on pistol or a neck collapsing or cracking with rifle. When everything is clean and lubricated I can pump out about 400 rounds of pistol per hour and about 250 in rifle.
I have found AR platforms to be hard on brass also, esp the .308 stuff. Extraction is hard on rims and ejection on case mouths. As stated below, if you shop around, buying the loaded ammo is cheaper for me than reloading it.
Here lately, I'm only reloading calibers that are difficult to find or extremely expensive. Hard to find .41 magnum and 7mm Bench Rest. .300 BLK and .44 magnum are ridiculously expensive, as is good .45 Colt and .45 ACP. Cowboy Action loads are so lame they scare me, I've chronographed some at 600 FPS. I cast all my pistol calibers, so that is still a cost saver, but those magnums are ment to be cooking, so I'll still load about 25% with store bought bullets. Haven't had a progressive press in twenty years, so I can "feel" every operation. With the cost of components, reloading ain't what it used to be, but it keeps me out of bars at night! Eod1sg Ret
Most of my reloading is revolver ammo - cause 100% I know it's my brass and also cause .45 long colt is damned expensive to buy off the shelf. I used to crank out .45 acp by the 100's, but don't shoot that much anymore. I can make 9mm, but seems more of a hassle when I can get range ammo on sale for not much more than what it costs to me to make it at home. I still got shelves full of .38 and .357 from back in the day, I'll wait until I make a serious dent in that before I load up those dies again.
Old guy taught me that.
ReplyDeletePay attention thru the whole process. It all has a feel.
I have a Dillon 550 progressive press. When something misses you can fell it in the handle. Most of the time it is a primer that goes in sideways on pistol or a neck collapsing or cracking with rifle. When everything is clean and lubricated I can pump out about 400 rounds of pistol per hour and about 250 in rifle.
ReplyDeleteFeel is definitely part of it. Can feel split case necks when expanding or seating bullet..
ReplyDeleteReloading for precision is a very time-intensive endeavor. Cases get handled multiple times, plenty of opportunity for inspection.
Range brass for 9mm: I dont pick it up unless i know it's mine. Glock unsupported chamber ruins 9mm brass.
I have found AR platforms to be hard on brass also, esp the .308 stuff. Extraction is hard on rims and ejection on case mouths. As stated below, if you shop around, buying the loaded ammo is cheaper for me than reloading it.
DeleteI’ve been reloading 9mm brass from my Glocks (all 2018 and newer) without an issue. What should I be looking for?
DeleteHere lately, I'm only reloading calibers that are difficult to find or extremely expensive. Hard to find .41 magnum and 7mm Bench Rest. .300 BLK and .44 magnum are ridiculously expensive, as is good .45 Colt and .45 ACP. Cowboy Action loads are so lame they scare me, I've chronographed some at 600 FPS. I cast all my pistol calibers, so that is still a cost saver, but those magnums are ment to be cooking, so I'll still load about 25% with store bought bullets. Haven't had a progressive press in twenty years, so I can "feel" every operation. With the cost of components, reloading ain't what it used to be, but it keeps me out of bars at night! Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteMost of my reloading is revolver ammo - cause 100% I know it's my brass and also cause .45 long colt is damned expensive to buy off the shelf. I used to crank out .45 acp by the 100's, but don't shoot that much anymore. I can make 9mm, but seems more of a hassle when I can get range ammo on sale for not much more than what it costs to me to make it at home. I still got shelves full of .38 and .357 from back in the day, I'll wait until I make a serious dent in that before I load up those dies again.
ReplyDelete